More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth
We haven’t talked much about farms and food lately as part of the resistance, but here in Maine we have scores of organic and traditional small farms and your support for these two bills will support the farmers who feed us and our families daily. Oppose the White House’s short-term farm-aid plan: Trump’s plan to provide 11 billion dollars for Big Agriculture, and 1 Billion for “specialty farming” which includes small family farms and organic farming is patently unfair.
Call Senators King and Collins and House Rep Golden to urge them to speak up about this discriminatory farm-aid bill. ALL farmers are being hurt by Trump’s tariffs, and small and medium farms should not be left behind. And while you are on the phone ask King, Pingree and Golden to Support the Domestic Organic Investment Act which gives Organic farmers the capacity to expand their businesses. Collins is one of the co-sponsors – so thank her for that. (Thanks to Shelly for this action)
Please consider asking your State Representative and Senator to support LD 1383, a bill to end our complicity in all genocides and the persecution and detention of our neighbors by keeping our state’s investments aligned with our values.
You can learn all about the campaign in this one page toolkit from theThe Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rights with easy links to background info on LD 1383 and where folks can write their own letters to reps in just minutes.
Ask our Senators and Congressional Representatives to demand a resignation or begin impeachment proceedings for Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense. He is now guilty of war crimes due to his ordering the killing of wounded combatants on a boat blown up twice in September by US drones. Both King and Collins voted AGAINST his nomination in the first place. For more information on this go here. The Impeachment bill is H. Res. 935.
They should demand his immediate resignation NOW. Articles of Impeachment are on the way for RFK Jr. as well. (Thanks to Dave for this information.)
While you are at it, Ask Representatives Pingree and Golden to support the No Unauthorized Force in Venezuela Act bill presented by Seth Moulton and others. (This war on Venezuela is about OIL – Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, and it is a distraction from the…..EPSTEIN FILES)
Congressman Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran who served four tours in Iraq, emphasized that the legislation is urgently needed in light of recent developments. For a live stream broadcast of his press conference go here.
Support libraries: Senator Jack Reed (RI) and Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) have introduced the Right to Read Act (H.R.6640 / S.3365), landmark legislation that invests in school libraries, strengthens literacy, and defends students’ freedom to read. Send an email to support this act. Libraries are crucial elements of resistance to demagoguery and oligarchy. Send an email today to support this act. Go to EveryLibraryhttps://www.everylibrary.org for more information on this act.
Mutual Aid
ActivateMaine has created a site, SNAP Into Action: “a statewide effort to help those who are affected by the freezing of benefits due to the Government shut down.” Even though the Government is “open” now, hunger issues continue for people around the country.
Heating Assistance: If you have friends, neighbors, or need support for Heating Assistance, Li Heap funds have been authorized for Maine, Click here to learn more about applying for LIHEAP assistance. Collins and King were involved in pushing that this money get released after the Government shutdown.
Arts and Politics!
Consider boycotting Spotify and canceling your subscription to them: To participate in the boycott of Spotify for their running of ads recruiting for ICE, visit this Indivisible page for more information, and for ready-made materials you can post online and use in other ways to encourage others to cancel their subscriptions, visit this page. According to Indivisible Bangor, Pandora is running the same ICE recruiting adds. Pandora is a subsidiary of SiriusXM. Spotify’s stock has dropped 13% in the past month.
Indivisible Bangor suggests you stop using Spotify free version and instead try some of these options: We’ve got instructions (and some suggestions on alternatives) here. (I have found another fun streaming site alternative, Soma.FM, based in San Francisco. They are listener supported and feature an eclectic selection of channels, including holiday, soul, and groovy pop! And another fun and quirky alternative, also based in California, is Luxuriamusic.com. (Thanks to George from Indivisible Bangor for these suggestions)
GOT MORE TIME? HERE ARE SOME MORE ACTIONS (just pick one!)
- Join the Maine People’s Alliance in bringing your story to our Congresspeople: Are your insurance rates going up? Did you lose SNAP benefits – the MPA wants to hear your story and use it to fight for Mainers in the ongoing shutdown budget battle. Fill out this form and tell your story here.
- Call or email our Congressional Representatives to publicly condemn the administration’s use of our Military to create havoc in Blue Cities: It is time to publicly denounce these unconstitutional, king-like actions of our Executive branch. Where is the outrage? Go to 5calls.org for a script on this request.
- Call Governor Mills and our Congressional Representatives: Ask Mills to deny any request from the Trump administration to deploy National Guard Troops for local law enforcement; Ask our representatives to sound the alarm about the use of US Military to intimidate and harass peaceful, public protests. Go here for wording on this.
- From Linda: I testified in support of LD 99 in 2020 and was thrilled that it was passed into law. LD 99 requires MainePERS to divest from all fossil fuel investments. The MainePERS Board was given until December 31, 2025, to comply with this law and has made almost no forward motion. If you would like to sign our petition in support of divesting, it would be appreciated.
- From Topsham Representative Rafael Macias: Rafael is sponsoring LD 1383 in this coming legislature starting in January to require PERS to divest from all war related industries. More information on this below in the StateWide Action section. (See above for more information on this.)
- Consider volunteering and/or donating to one of the worthy immigrant support organizations listed below: Capital Area New Mainers Project, Mainers for Humane Immigration, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, (all Maine based), and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, go here to donate to the Capital Area New Mainers Project.
Statewide Actions
- Ask your local Maine Representative and Senator to support LD 1383 “An Act to Require State Divestment from Perpetrators of International Human Rights Violations.” This bill prohibits Maine from investing its funds from any companies, entities, persons or financial institutions that are “associated with” a “perpetrator state”. For more details see the attachment below. The Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rightsis responsible for this campaign, see their one page toolkit here, and write a letter to your state legislative representatives.
- Online Meeting with Graham Platner: The Maine People’s Alliance is holding an online conversation with Graham Platner TODAY at 5 pm; you can sign up here to take part in the conversation.
- Home Depot Actions: Sign the petition that is demanding that Home Depot stop complying with ICE, personalize this letter to Home Depot corporate headquarters making the same demand, for more actions such as going to your local Home Depot and delivering a letter to the manager go to Ice Out of Home Depot. This month Indivisible Mid Maine and Bangor Indivisible are holding vigils near Home Depots in their area. Join us. (Thanks to Indivisible Mid Maine for these actions!)
- More ICE resistance: Maine’s ICE Watch Hotline Training: Get trained to field, verify, and document potential community ICE sightings and provide trusted, reliable information on ICE activity to immigrant communities. NO I.C.E. for Maine (noice4me): Learn more about this effort to reign in ICE. Here is the number for the ICE Watch hotline in Maine: 207 544 9989
- Mid Maine Indivisible has a great weekly newsletter – To sign up: go here. Indivisible Bangor has a great daily newsletter and actions go here to sign up. If you are in the Mid Coast area consider joining Audacity – learn more here. The Bold Coast Civic Alliance has a newsletter as well as the Hancock County Democrat. Cumberland County Indivisible newsletter go here. Greater Portland Indivisible, go here. We are developing a great ecosystem for resistance communications in Maine.
- Check out the No Kings Alliance page for updates about actions that you can take to continue building the pro-democracy movement, building and protecting our communities. (Thank you to Indivisible Mid Maine for this suggestion)
Thanks to the work of our intrepid Resistance Inspirationalist, Elizabeth Leonard, Indivisible MidMaine is sponsoring an MLK day event that has limited seating – Indivisible Mid Maine Remembers and Honors Dr. King – Monday January 19th, 1-4 at the Playhouse at Waterville Station (the old RailRoad Square building). The event will include the viewing of a documentary, discussion, and the opportunity to donate winter clothing for folks who need it. To sign up go here, remember, space is limited! Join us and help build the Mid Maine community of resisters.
With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere! As always, throw a little sand in their gears!
Emanuel
“Most Maine people, regardless of political party, want an immigration system that works. A fair and reasonable set of rules that allow people who want to live here and contribute to this country to earn the right to become a citizen. I don’t know anyone — aside from our president and his allies — who wants our federal government to separate young children from their parents, arrest and abduct U.S. citizens or normalize hateful terms like “garbage.” Governor Janet Mills
SOLIDARITY
It’s a piece of cake to email or call with these links!
The names of our senators and representatives listed below are links that go right to their official congressional contact form pages. The telephone numbers are links that should open your phone app to call that number. It’s that easy!
Senator Angus King
DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta: (207) 622-8292
Senator Susan Collins
DC: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
DC: (202) 225-6116
Portland: (207) 774-5019
Waterville: (207) 873-5713
Congressman Jared Golden
DC: (202) 225-6306
Bangor: (207) 249-7400
Caribou: (207) 492-6009
Lewiston: (207) 241-6767
Find your State Representative:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Find your State Senator:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Our government in Augusta:
Governor Janet Mills
Email Governor Mills
Call (207) 287-3531
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows
Contact Secretary Bellows
Call (207)626-8400
Attorney General Aaron M. Frey
Contact Mr. Frey
Call (207) 626-8800
Questions or comments? Contact George!
