This Week: Electing the Candidates WE choose
Mother’s Day in Trump’s America
From Upstate New York to Minneapolis, this Mother’s Day is a difficult one for many families. In Minneapolis, Renee Good’s children lost their mother as a result of the actions of Donald Trump’s violent and out of control ICE agents.
Thousands of other mothers have been separated from their children because they or their children have been disappeared by or illegally detained by ICE.
This Mother’s Day, IMV wishes a happy holiday to those who are remembering or celebrating their mothers or the mother-like figures in their lives, and all those who are mothers or who “mother” the people in their lives. But we also mourn the evil of a rogue regime that:
delights in separating and dividing families,
starts wars and supports attacks on civilian targets so that mothers see their children killed, and children lose their mothers for nothing but vengeance and oil,
refuses to fund health care, child care, and housing that mothers need for their families and
is trying even now to strip women of the ability to make their own decisions about whether or when to become a mother.
Let’s make Mother’s Day more than a Hallmark card day. Let’s make it a day of real action. Today, in honor of Mother’s Day, make a call to Congress and demand an end to funding ICE and war in Iran.
School Board Elections Coming Up!
We’ve all heard the stories of anti-public education, anti-inclusion, and anti-LGBTQ Christian Nationalists trying to get elected to school boards. Add to that candidates sometimes running out of personal grievance or personal financial interest (corruption), and it can feel daunting to go to the polls on school board election day without knowing who’s on the ballot.
IMV has long supported members and friends who run for school board by helping them get on the ballot through petitioning, informally endorsing candidates, and sharing information through our networks — including making Get Out the Vote (GOTV) calls as election day nears. Over the years, we’ve had some success, including James Paul in Utica and Colt Brumm in Holland Patent. Many IMV members have also served on local school boards and bring insight and experience when we step in to support campaigns.
We are asking every IMV member to go to the polls on Tuesday, May 19th, to support your school district’s budget and vote for candidates committed to inclusive public education that centers children and teachers.
It can be hard to learn about school board candidates. Below are a few local candidates IMV members have brought to our attention through their community involvement, political action, and shared values:
Utica: Sonia Marte, Mohawk Valley Latino Association board member
Holland Patent: Meghan Gillan, nurse and mother of two
New Hartford: Shahida Dar, longtime faculty member in physics and engineering, MVCC student club advisor, and advocate for women in STEM and for diversity and inclusion
If you have a 2026 school board candidate recommendation for fellow IMV members, please let us know so we can publish it next week before the May 19th elections!
May Day Recap
Thanks to everyone who participated in May Day solidarity actions across the region!
IMV’s Bridge Brigade had a tremendous turnout!
In Little Falls, 18 volunteers held signs reading “$4 People Not War” and “Healthcare Not War/ICE.”
More than 40 volunteers gathered at the Marcy thruway overpass with American flags and signs including “People Over Billionaires,” “Tax the Rich,” and “Fed Up? Step Up.”
We estimate that more than 6,000 motorists saw our messages.
May Day events in Utica, Syracuse, and Hamilton were also well attended, giving members a chance to connect with one another, labor allies, and local activism networks — all while honoring the commitment to “No school, no work, no shopping” for the day.
Great job, everyone!
Let’s Talk IMV Strategy for the 2026 Elections!
Join us for our IMV Elections 2026 Conversation on Wednesday, May 20th from 6:30-8:00pm.
We are heading into what may be the most important elections of our lives. This fall is the last chance we may have to put a check on the anti-democratic, anti-majority rule, unlawful, and unconstitutional authoritarian power grab by Republican leaders.
IMV is on the front lines, and we need to be strategic, methodical, and committed heading into this election season when it comes to our coordinated efforts as grassroots volunteers. We’ll be looking at election results from the past few cycles to identify opportunities and priorities. What work will we do? How will we prepare ourselves with the electoral skills we need? How will we reach voters outside our group?
IMV members who are interested in learning about and being part of the discussion about our group supporting local candidates in 2026 are welcome to join this 90 minute call. Register here to attend
Help Jon Lipe Get the Mohawk Valley 1st Independent Line!
There’s a big “all hands on deck” petition day tomorrow:
Bonus Petition Launch–Lipe for Assembly
Saturday, May 9th, at 10 am.
Meet up at Jervis Library, 613 N. Washington Street, Rome.
This will be one of our big pushes to get the 2000 signatures needed. Just show up in comfortable shoes. You can be paired with someone, or bring a friend.
We will also be collecting signatures for Sheriff Rob Maciol and congressional candidate Blake Gendebien — they are also seeking an independent ballot line to go along with the Democratic line.
Right now, petitioning is the best way to translate direct action into votes. Securing this ballot line will earn us 1000 or more votes and bring us to victory.
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Why does it matter to be on the Mohawk Valley Independent Line?
In 2024, the 1110 votes that Marianne Buttonschon received on the Mohawk Valley First independent line meant the difference between winning the election and losing.
We are also collecting independent petitions for a couple more weeks on our regular days—just show up at the times and locations below.
Pickup and Drop-off Locations:
★ Sundays in Rome: – 4:30 pm (thru May 17)
Dunkin, 1155 Erie Blvd W, Rome, NY 13440
★ Tuesdays in Whitesboro – 6pm (thru May 19)
Dunham Library – 76 Main St, Whitesboro, NY 13492
★. Thursdays in Utica
Utica Public Library – 6:30 pm (thru May 14)
303 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13501
SAVE THE DATE!
IMV June 2026 Meeting
Wednesday, June 3
6:30-8:00 pm
Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street, Utica
Call Congress this Week
Tell Elise Stefanik you don’t want more of your taxpayer dollars going to ICE and Border Patrol: Use our tools to call your Republican representative. The GOP is working on a reconciliation bill that could give ICE and Border Patrol up to $140 BILLION more to fund concentration camps and militarized deployments to US cities. It’s vital they hear from constituents now. Calls are most important, but after hours, you can use our email tool, too.
Tell Rep. Mannion to fiercely oppose the new GOP effort to shovel billions more dollars to ICE and Border Patrol. The GOP is using the budget reconciliation process to attempt to force Congress to shower even more taxpayer funding on these unaccountable agencies. We need every Democrat loudly united against this legislation.
Tell your Members of Congress to end the illegal war on Iran. The Trump regime breezed through the 60-day deadline for getting congressional authorization for the attack on Iran, compounding the illegality of this disastrous war. Trump is brazenly defying congressional authority, and it’s time for Congress to take their power back, uphold their constitutional duty, and use the War Powers Resolution to end this war.
Climate Crisis Working Group
Keep Calling to Defend NY’s Climate Law — And Show Up for Lobby Days
Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed amendments to weaken New York’s landmark climate law through the state budget process, and the budget deadline has now been extended. That means there is still time... and continued public pressure matters.
Defend New York’s Climate Law! Call Daily Until the Budget Passes!
Use the following messages when contacting lawmakers:
1. Call GOVERNOR HOCHUL (518) 474-8390
"Hi, I'm ______ and I'm calling to tell Governor Hochul not to GUT our climate law! We already have the solutions we need for a smooth, affordable transition to clean energy. Implementing the climate law as written is our best chance to protect New Yorkers from fossil fuel prices that are skyrocketing because of wars, extreme weather disasters, and pipeline buildouts.”
2. CALL SPEAKER HEASTIE (518) 455-3791 AND
MAJORITY LEADER STEWART-COUSINS (518) 455-2585
Hi, I'm ________ and I'm calling to urge ________ to stand strong against Governor Hochul's proposed rollbacks to the climate law. All 3 of Hochul's proposals are harmful, dangerous, and completely unacceptable! You must reject them. Now more than ever, we need clean and renewable energy to protect New Yorkers from volatile fossil fuel prices and the worst impacts of climate change."
Please also ask Speaker Heastie to pass the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power act; ASAP bill (A.8758) and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A.1749). Tell him NO MORE AMENDMENTS!!
Calling after hours is fine-just leave a message.
ALBANY LOBBY DAYS:
Climate Crisis Working Group chair, Maggie Reilly, attended the May 6th Lobby Day and Rally for the ASAP Act. Rallies in Albany are both a great way to keep your spirits up and influence the Governor and legislators. We the People calling and showing up are our counter to industry lobbyists and money.
RSVP: bit.ly/5-11-26 if you can attend on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Albany to put people over plastic and help pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!
Volunteers Needed for IMV Table at Pride Festival
The Oneida County Pride Festival is happening on Saturday, June 6th, from 10am to 4pm at the Clinton Arena in Clinton. IMV will have a table at the event and we’re seeking volunteers to help share information about IMV, voting, and upcoming actions. The Pride Festival is always a well-attended event, making it a fantastic opportunity to grow our community and share our message. If you can volunteer for any part of the day, set up, or take down, please contact Kathy Wojo kwojcie1@twcny.rr.com
This is a perfect bite size, local and especially fun way to build our power.
Local Events & Rallies
ROME: Saturday, May 9th, 12–1:30 pm, Protest Against Trump’s Authoritarianism in Rome. We gather on Black River Blvd. near the Erie Blvd. intersection beside Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome. This peaceful weekly demonstration features music and creative signs.
UTICA: Thursday, May 14th, 4–5 pm, IMV weekly protest at the Pirnie Federal Building, 10 Broad St., Utica. Bring a sign (extras available) as we protest Trump’s authoritarianism, unnecessary war, and complicit officials.
Website: indivisiblemv.org
Follow us on Bluesky: @Indivisiblemv.bsky.social, on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
