Dear OSTPDX Members,
Today’s news that Representative Greg Walden of OR02 will not be seeking reelection was a bit of a surprise but satisfying after all of the hard work that our members put in to Jamie McCleod-Skinner’s 2018 campaign to flip that seat. I’d like to think that the persistent constituant pressure on Walden, many of them Indivisibles, contributed to his decision not to run again. Walden is one of a growing list of Congressional Republicans that will not seek reelection. This news presents an opportunity for Oregon and is the perfect segue into our Fall Kickoff Meeting with Swing Left tomorrow! I hope to see you there!
Announcements
Tomorrow: Changing the Course of History
Effective Grassroots Engagement
In the 2020 Elections
OSTPDX invites you to participate in the Oct 29, 2019 fall kickoff meeting. We are delighted to host Erica Goldman, Regional Organizing Coordinator for Swing Left. She will present Swing Left’s outcomes-based strategy to win key elections in the eleven “super states” – the states that can help the Democrats retake the White House, flip the Senate and turn state legislatures blue.
You will learn how you can take action to engage with voters in the super states by writing letters, participating in fundraising or on canvassing. The night of the meeting we will participate in a letter writing campaign to help get out the vote for an upcoming key election in Virginia. Let’s help turn the Virginia General Assembly blue and end anti-democratic gerrymandering. RSVP here, we need to know the number of attendees to have sufficient materials for our action item.
Place: Subud Center 3185 NE Regents Dr Portland Oregon
Time: Program starts promptly at 7:00 PM doors open at 6:30
OST-PDX Activist Reading Group
The next meeting of the OST-PDX Activist Reading Group will be held on Thursday, December 5th at 7:00 pm at the home of Ken Rosenberg: 2130 NE Knott Street, Portland. The reading is still being voted on and will be announced when determined.
Want to learn more about the Impeachment Inquiry and the Impeachment Process?
Actions & Events
A member of the Indivisible North Coast Oregon (INCO) leadership team, Rep. Mitchell won the HD 32 seat by a healthy margin in 2018. Following the Oregon GOP Senate walkout over HB 2020 and the formation of Timber Unity, Timber Unity leaders targeted Rep. Mitchell for a recall effort. They are doing this not because they accuse her of any wrongdoing but because they don't like how she voted on certain bills, including her "yes" vote on HB 2020.
Among the tactics of this well-funded effort are petitions mailed directly to voters in envelopes that resemble mail-in ballots and also paid signature gatherers. If Timber Unity succeeds in getting 4,883 signatures on the recall petitions by Dec. 4, a recall election will be held in January. If Mitchell is recalled through this election, county commissioners in her district would choose another Democrat to fill her seat, presumably one who is friendly to the Timber Unity cause, as is our State Senator (Betsy Johnson). Whoever is in that seat would then run for election in November 2020. It's all incredibly expensive and wasteful in terms of energy, time, and money. Click here for details.
Here are ways you can help:
Door-to-door canvassing in Astoria every Saturday from now till Dec. 4, 11 am. Register here and you'll be contacted with an exact location.
Because of the recall, Rep. Mitchell has been forced into campaign mode while she's also recovering from the Living Donor kidney donation she made last week (to a stranger). You can help by donating to her campaign.
INCO is postcarding district voters to voice support for Rep. Mitchell and urge them to reject the recall. If you’d like to help write postcards, contact Deb Vanasse at debvanasse@gmail.com and she’ll coordinate to get addresses to you.
Impeach Trump Now (and ask Republicans #OneSimpleQuestion)
Activists nationwide are joining together during the upcoming November recess (November 2 through Veterans Day, November 11) to tell House Democrats we have their backs and ask Republicans #OneSimpleQuestion: whether they think it's OK to ask a foreign power to interfere in our elections.
Every member—Democrat and Republican—needs to remember the oath they took to protect the Constitution, and speak out publicly in this moment to say nobody is above the law. Sign up to get the latest updates and calls to action.
“Nobody Is Above the Law” Mass Impeachment Eve Mobilization
DemCast USA has joined a broad coalition of grassroots organizations that are planning to motivate the public to hit the streets on the evening prior to the House impeachment vote.
The actions are not being organized by a single group, but by the “Nobody Is Above the Law” coalition – which consists of dozens of pro-democracy grassroots groups and organizations like CREW, Indivisible, DemCast USA, MoveOn, Public Citizen, Stand Up America and more. Sign up: Mass ‘Impeachment Eve’ Mobilization Planned by Grassroots Coalition
Actions by Indivisible Oregon
Our Tuesday ask: While Trump commits impeachable offenses, so does his Attorney General William Barr. Barr has politicized the justice department to the point where it is doing personal, impeachable work for Trump. Trump and Barr must be stopped. The action will be posted on Tuesday October 1st at 6:00 AM. The link is indivisibleor.org/actions
Other Events:
Find a Town Hall near you with The Town Hall Project.
October Monthly Event: Climate Justice! October 30th from 6-7:30 pm
County Resolution Opposing Fossil Fuel Infrastructure: October 31st from 9:30-11:30
Supporting Immigrant & Refugee Survivors: November 1st from 9:00-12:00pm
Canvass #2 for the PPS Teachers Levy! November 3rd from 11-2pm
Solar Action Night! Save the ITC + Basics of Solar: November 7th at 6:30-8:30
Defend DACA, Home is Here Rally: November 12th from 10:30-12:00 pm
Walking Meditation: Thawing ICE-November 14th from 12:00-1:00 pm
Gov. Brown: The Time is Now #StopJordanCove-November 21st at 11-12:30
Articles
Check out DemCast! It’s grassroots media by the people, for the people. Read why DemCast is so desperately needed. If you’re on Facebook, Demcast Oregon is now up and running.
Visit our website – www.onesmallthingpdx.org – like our Facebook page -- https://www.facebook.com/One-Small-Thing-150519055702228/ -- follow our Twitter account -- @onepdx.
Regards,
Sara McKinney