This Week: We Push Back, We Show Up, We Come Together

Apr 24

What Winning Looks Like.

This week in Virginia, people of Virginia voted in favor of redrawing Virginia's electoral maps —pushing back against efforts to tilt the rules of the next election before it begins. State Senator L. Louise Lucas, who represents the 18th District, said afterwards: “Virginia sent a message: if you try to rig the system, we fight back. If you try to take power from voters, we will take it right back.”

This weekend gives us two chances to do the same. Join us at the Communities, Not Cages Rally in Rome tomorrow, and then come together Sunday in Utica for the Indivisible Mohawk Valley April Meeting.

IMV April Meeting: “What’s Next after NK3?”

IMV’s April meeting will feature an activism fair—a one-stop shop to plug into political action in the ways that interest you. Get involved in:

May Day volunteering
Letters to the editor
Bridge Brigade
Climate Crisis Working Group
Posters and visibility
Refugee & immigrant support
And more

We’ll also discuss our electoral strategy this year, from postcarding to canvassing and direct voter outreach.

Sunday, April 26 | 1:30–3:30 pm
Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street, Utica

RSVP so we know you're coming! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/936263/

Communities, Not Cages Rally Tomorrow!

April 25 is the Communities Not Cages: National Day of Action to Stop ICE Warehouse Detentionto oppose the Trump administration's expansion of ICE warehouse detention and its attack on the due process rights of immigrants and all Americans.

ROME: Saturday, April 25, 12–1:30 pm, Communities, Not Cages: National Day of Action. Bring signs encouraging communities that are fending off concentration camps and human warehouses! Bring signs in support of immigrants and refugees, and everyone who has been swept up in mass detention and deportation.

Please sign up to let us know you’ll be attending our local event: https://www.mobilize.us/disappearedinamerica/event/942579

Make Your May Day Plan – Friday, May 1

Coming on the heels of our historic projection of people power on No Kings Day, Indivisible is joining May Day Strong, labor groups, and other allies for a massive day of nonviolent economic disruption.

The billionaire class is profiting off environmental destruction, democratic backsliding, and the erosion of our social safety net. On May Day, we’re putting that power dynamic into focus and reminding them where real power lies. It is with the people.

There are many ways to participate...from refusing to shop at that big box store, to walking out of work or school, to attending a demonstration. However you join, it matters.

We Demand:
1. Tax the rich so our families, not their fortunes, come first.
2. No ICE. No war. No private army serving authoritarian power.
3. Expand democracy. Hands off our vote.

Locally, IMV encourages “no work, no school, no shop.” We are also asking members to take part in a positive, proactive community action. Here's a menu to choose from:

★ Option 1: May Day Strong “Together We Stand” – Syracuse
12-2 pm, James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse. Participate in a big, fun rally in Syracuse. IMV is one of many co-sponsors. Because when the billionaires break every rule, it’s going to take more than a rally to stop them. More information.

★ Option 2: Friday, May 1st, 5:00-6:00 "Workers over Billionaires" Honk & Wave Rally and Food Drive on the Hamilton Village Green. "On May Day and everyday ~ support small business not corporate billionaires."
Updates at: madisoncountynydems.com,

★ Option 3: Bridge Brigade Bonanza (Herkimer & Marcy)
We need 16 people at both the Herkimer (5-6:30 pm) and Marcy locations (4-6 pm) so that we can hold signs facing both directions of thruway traffic.

Volunteer for Marcy: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/939538/
Volunteer for Herkimer: https://mobilize.us/s/r7ps29

★ Option 4: Citizen Action May Day Event – Utica
6-9 pm, at DeSales Center, 309 Genesee Street, Utica. This will be a shared community solidarity meal with music and speakers on a variety of social justice topics. To register for the event: https://mobilize.us/s/FL00Gg

Want to volunteer?

Contact: John Furman
Phone: 315-725-0974
Email: cnymayday@gmail.com
or fill out the volunteer form: https://forms.gle/zcf8e9Xs9E3tJLvt5

Climate Crisis Working Group

Keep Calling to Defend NY’s Climate Law
AND
Call or Email Regarding Proposed Data Centers in the Mohawk Valley

1. Governor Hochul is threatening to weaken New York's landmark Climate Law through the state budget. The budget deadline has been extended while lawmakers negotiate.

Please Take the Following Actions to Advocate for the Climate Law.

CALL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS every day until the budget is passed with the following message:

Hi, my name is __________and my zip code is___ and I’m calling to urge ____to stand strong on NY’s climate law. Now more than ever, we need clean and renewable energy to protect NYers from volatile fossil fuel prices and the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

Also ask the Assembly leaders to support the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power act; ASAP bill (A.8758) and THANK the SENATE LEADERS for passing the bill! (S.6570). When our leaders stand up for us, it is important to thank them so they know we are watching!

You can leave a message if it is after hours.

Call Senate Leader: Andrea Stewart-Cousins Albany 518-455-2585 or 212-298-5585.

Call Assembly Leader: Carl Heastie Albany 518-455-3791 or 718-654-6539

2. CALL or EMAIL by May 1st: Public Comment Regarding the Proposed Mohawk Valley AI Data Centers

Two AI data centers have been proposed for the former Remington Arms site. AI data centers typically create few jobs, but use enormous quantities of water and energy. Although the developers claim that the site will be a "fossil-fuel-free, 100% electric site supported by the region’s clean energy resources,” the full environmental impacts are not known and they have not shown full transparency.

Residents of the Mohawk Valley can make a public comment on the Brownfield Cleanup Program applications for Sites C and E by sending a copy of this Template to NYSDEC. The template also contains great information to better understand the issue.

Email or call:
Kelly Hale, NYSDEC
hale@dec.ny.gov
315-235-0332.

The deadline for public comments is May 1st!

3. Save The Dates: Albany Lobby Days!!

✓ May 6th (Lobby Day for ASAP Act)
✓ May 11th (Beyond Plastics Lobby Day)

Local Events & Rallies

Join Us!

ROME:
Saturday, April 25th, 12-1:30 pm.
Communities Not Cages: National Day of Action to Stop ICE Warehouse Detention.
We will rally along Black River Blvd. near the intersection with Erie Blvd. on one side of Fort Stanwix.

UTICA:
Thursday, April 30, 4–5 pm
Pirnie Federal Building, 10 Broad St.
Bring a sign (extras available) as we protest authoritarianism, unnecessary war, and complicit officials.

Tell Congress: Vote NO on Additional Funding for War with Iran

The Pentagon is preparing to request at least $50 billion, possibly more than $100 billion, in additional funding for the war with Iran. The first six days alone cost $11.3 billion, and total costs are already nearing $15 billion.

Worryingly, some Democrats who oppose the war are now open to voting yes on supplemental funding.

Call your members of Congress and urge them to vote NO.

House: https://indivisible.org/actions/no-war-iran-house/
Senate: https://indivisible.org/actions/no-war-iran-senate/

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.