"We Ain't Buying It"

Join a Targeted Boycott: "We Ain't Buying It" 

Many of you have been advocating for more economic boycott campaigns to build on the successes of the campaigns against Disney/ABC in reaction to the Jimmy Kimmel firing, Tesla (because of Musk's DOGE), and Avelo Airlines, a commercial airline that took Trump regime contracts to disappear immigrants on their planes. 

Here is a targeted campaign that relies on all of us to not only boycott specific companies on specific days (very measurable in terms of impact) but also to share the campaign, get our friends and family members to sign, and spread the details on our personal social media accounts.  

The "We Ain't Buying It" campaign is taking direct aim at

• Target, for caving to this administration’s biased attacks on DEI;

• Home Depot, for allowing and colluding with ICE to kidnap our neighbors on their properties; and

• Amazon, for funding this administration to secure their own corporate tax cuts.   

The action is specifically for Nov. 27-Dec. 1st so it includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

The information you need is here: https://weaintbuyingit.com/

How to Participate

• Full Black Out: Don’t buy anything from Target, Amazon or Home Depot stores during this week. Use the time and money to connect with those you love, and rediscover what matters.

• Redirect Spending: Skip the companies undermining democracy. Shop small, local, or with businesses affirming our humanity.

• Join the Movement: Pledge to be a conscious consumer.

• Amplify: Spread the word. Share the message in conversation and online.

• Use and SHARE the Toolkit: Get the word out about this economic action so we can hit the billionaire’s pockets where it hurts! Share now! 

Not active on social media? One thing you could do if you are motivated to make a difference is print copies of the flyers in the toolkit and post them in your community. Small businesses may be happy with the message that shoppers should buy from them, not those three big companies.  

We continue to urge everyone to participate in Indivisible's Campaign against Spotify: "Cancel Spotify: Don't Stream Fascism."  Those details are here. 
 

Rep. Mannion, Sen. Schumer, and the Resistance to Republican Cruelty

Sen. Chuck Schumer

Thanks to everyone who made calls to Sen. Schumer's office to let him know what you thought of his leadership of the Senate Democrats in recent days.

Didn't call yet?  Do it today: 
Sen. Schumer's Syracuse office: (315) 423-5471
Sen. Schumer's DC office: (202) 224-6542

We can't know whether Schumer supported the defection of eight members of his caucus to vote for the cruel bill that funds ICE extra while it strips healthcare funding from millions of Americans, or whether he simply could not keep his caucus united.  If you want to express your view that Sen. Schumer should step aside from the leadership role in favor of someone who can keep the Democratic caucus in the Senate united in fighting the Republican race to authoritarianism, there's a rally in front of his Syracuse office today:

Step Aside, Senator Schumer Rally,
Friday, Nov. 14th, 12:00-1:00 pm
James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13261
Join Syracuse area Indivisibles outside Sen. Schumer’s office. “We are calling for Senator Chuck Schumer to step down as Minority Leader of the Senate. At a time when Democrats swept local elections both locally and all over the country and when we saw the largest public outcry against the Trump agenda with the recent No Kings rallies, we were in a good position to negotiate. One core responsibility of the Minority Leader is to keep the party’s senators aligned around strategy and messaging. And yet Chuck couldn’t keep eight senators from defecting. With key midterms and a changing electorate ahead, a change in leadership will help the party reset and present a new face.” Registration link and details.

Rep. John Mannion

Thanks to everyone who called or wrote to Rep. Mannion and asked him to vote no on the Big Bad Budget Deal that the Republican led Senate sent to the House this week. He stayed strong against Republican complicity with Trump's cruelty and voted NO on the funding bill again this month.  Congressman Mannion released a statement about his vote: 

“As I have said all along - I will not support a funding package that fails to address skyrocketing health care costs, leaves my constituents vulnerable to unbearable premium hikes, and fails to rein in the lawlessness of the Trump administration. 
As open enrollment begins, seniors and working families are feeling the real-world impact of the Trump budget bill. The largest cuts to health care in our history are driving up costs just as the subsidies that help millions of Americans make ends meet are set to expire. Passing another short-term extension without addressing these provisions will only make matters worse. 
We must confront the health care affordability crisis. The Senate’s commitment to hold a vote on extending ACA premium tax credits is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough — the House must do the same.”

Call Congressman Mannion today and thank him for his NO VOTE on the funding bill.  He has been strong for months, and has repeatedly called out the undemocratic and cruel actions of Trump and his Republican House colleagues.  He understands that we are in an existential crisis for democracy and there's a ticking clock.

Republican Cruelty

If you can, write a Letter to the Editor and express your opinion of the way that Republicans held food and healthcare hostage for weeks just to get more power. They are the real problem, of course.  Let the public know that Democrats tried every possible tactic from shutdown to negotiation and no matter what, Republicans would not agree to save healthcare subsidies so millions can keep their health insurance. They didn't care if families went hungry.  They didn't care about people at all, only about making sure that billionaires got their massive tax cuts. 

New Times & Locations of Rallies This Week

Even if you can only come for 20 or 30 minutes, put on your boots and coat and join a rally. We have new times and rallies to share this week. It's getting dark early post-time change.

Friday, Nov. 14th, 12-1 pm.  Today. We've been invited to join our Indivisible friends in Syracuse as they rally outside Sen. Schumer's office (see above or calendar below). 

Friday, Nov. 14th, 3:30-4:30 pm (new time)  Today.  Join the Kirkland Dems for a monthly rally on the Clinton Village Green.  

Saturday, Nov. 15th, 12:00-1:30 pm, Black River Boulevard & Erie Blvd. near Fort Stanwix in Rome.  This group has been gathering weekly--now for the 17th week in a row!  Bring non-perishable food items. They will be donated to Connected Community Schools' food drive.  

Thursday, Nov. 20, 3:00-4:00 pm. Location: Corner of Burrstone Road and French/Champlin Ave.  Park at Zion Lutheran Church (630 French, New Hartford) at the far end of the lot or park at the vacant building next to Friendly’s on Champlin Ave. If you have mobility concerns park in the Church lot right in front of the Burrstone Rd entrance.  No special theme.

Dress for the weather.  We continue to build connection and community by showing up together regularly and we let the public know that there is strong opposition to Trump, MAGA, and Project 2025 authoritarian policies. 

Bridge Brigade Update

Apart from No Kings rallies, our most popular social media posts are photos from the Bridge Brigade. Thanks to the hardy folks who stand on the footbridge over the Thruway in Marcy with big signs.  Anyone can help with this effort. Here's how: 

Bridge Brigade Sign Party Monday Nov. 17, 6:00 – 7:45 pm at Dunham Public Library (76 Main Street, Whitesboro).  Help create the large banners that we display on bridges and at rallies. These eye-catching signs attract plenty of attention and play a key role in raising public awareness.

No Bridge Brigade on Friday Nov. 14.  Instead, people can go to monthly Clinton Rally on the Green.

Flip NY21: Elect Blake Gendebien Fundraisers
 

"On Monday, November 17th, Blake Gendebien is holding a holiday fundraiser at the 3 Fellows Inn in Rome and would love to see you there! Blake is the Democrat dairy farmer running to replace Elise Stefanik in Congress. He was selected as the Democratic nominee in the special election earlier this year and was so successful that Trump and Johnson withdrew Stefanik’s UN nomination to hold the seat. Now that Stefanik is running for governor, she is again leaving her seat wide open, making this one of the best opportunities around the country for Democrats to win and take back the House! 

We are $6,000 away from our goal for this event, and every dollar we invest now helps us jump on this open seat opportunity by securing the staff, offices, advertising, and resources we need to win next year.

In a few weeks, we will also be holding a joint event with Congressman Mannion and would love to see you there as well."  

• A Rome fundraiser this Monday, November 17th at the 3 Fellows Inn: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/11.17rome (holiday themed!)

• A joint fundraiser with Congressman John Mannion in Clinton, NY on December 5th: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mannion-gendebien

Climate Crisis Working Group

Local Presentation on Plastic, Saturday, November 15th:

The ubiquity and dangers of plastic in our environment and bodies has been in the news recently. Kim Cameron, Research Scientist at Cornell and ESF will be speaking about “Plastic Pollution and the Road to Activism” at the League of Women Voters, Utica and Rome branch, on Saturday, November 15th from 10:15am-12pm at the Dyson Energy Center in Utica. The meeting and presentation are open to all. Attend and learn how to chip away at single use plastic-the stuff that is used once and thrown away. 

Disappointing Climate News for New Yorkers:

While New York passed the CLCPA in 2019, on its way to becoming a world leader in combating climate change by implementing this most aggressive climate law…Governor Hochul has decided to stop all progress in transitioning New York to a clean, renewable energy economy. She has decided to put politics and profit over the welfare of New Yorkers by ignoring science and siding with Trump and his fossil-fuel billionaires. 

We have urged Governor Hochul to protect the citizens of New York State…be on the right side of history…be a leader who will give our youth hope…for it is their future that is on the line. Hochul’s recent decisions regarding the climate lack moral conviction and leadership.

Governor Hochul’s approval of the NESE pipeline and the permits for expanding cryptomining at Greenidge shows she listened to the voices of the oil & gas billionaires and not those of reason. Her next move has been to stall the All-Electric Building Act which is under fire from a small group of Assembly Democrats- and Governor Hochul is reportedly taking their ill-informed pushback seriously!

Lt. Governor Delgado and other climate organizers are speaking out on these decisions. https://delgadoforny.com/lieutenant-governor-antonio-delgado-new-york-communities-for-change-citizen-action-of-ny-third-act-upstate-and-third-act-nyc-slam-governor-hochuls-approval-of-the-nese-pipeline/

WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN OR GIVE UP: SAVE THE DATE!

​​Albany Mobilization, Thursday, December 11th: Governor Hochul: Don't Move the Goalposts, No Gas Expansion in New York!

 Immigrant Solidarity Training on Zoom

At a recent meeting, many of you expressed interest in getting organized to support immigrant communities in the face of ICE swarms and arrests and threats of mass deportation of our neighbors.  Here is a next step for those who want to learn more about how to organize in solidarity: 

Organizing with Care: Building Community Through Solidarity
Saturday, Nov. 15th
3:30-5:30 pm
Register for the Zoom call now.

An authoritarian crackdown is attempting to create fear and encourage silence as people see their jobs, healthcare, and even their families being ripped away without warning. The message: You are alone, and no one will come to your aid if you deny or defy us.

But we can instead bring the collective together to pool our power, resources, and knowledge. So, let’s learn how to do that with careful intention and specific planning.  At this call, you’ll learn how to help your community thrive by taking peaceful, nonviolent, and lawful collective action against authoritarianism in support of our immigrant and targeted neighbors from our partners at Solidarity Pledge.

Solidarity Pledge is a movement born from the understanding that in times of crisis, our fates are interconnected. Learn about who we are and why we act, working to build a decentralized infrastructure for civic participation and community that will catalyze sustainable, coordinated, visible, and replicable acts of principled resistance to authoritarianism and abuse of immigrant families, and bring people into long-term organizing formations.

Join Indivisible and Solidarity Pledge for an interactive training on what it means to be a solidarity organizer—someone who connects people, builds networks of care, and mobilizes action for justice.

Participants will gain tools, confidence, and a clear path to help their communities thrive and take collective action. Together, we’ll explore how solidarity can strengthen our movements, deepen our connections, and ground our work in care, courage, and shared values.
 

Sarah Reeske's Social Media Masterclass

You heard about it at the Fall Fiesta on Sunday.  Now we're asking you to sign up.  Indivisible One NYS is hosting a training series for people who want to learn how to use social media more effectively for political messaging.  Sarah has been working on this training for a while--and New Yorkers are the first in the country to get these workshops.  Here's the link for interested folks to sign up for the masterclass. It is designed for people to go through the entire track--not just one session.  

Session 1 will be recorded instead of done live and sent to everyone who fills out the form. All sessions will be recorded. Registration links for live Zoom calls will be sent to those who fill out the form. 

Here are the dates: 
Session 1 -Watch the video on your own.  Understanding how social media works and the 5 platforms we'll be focusing on
Session 2: Wed, 11/12 @ 7-8pm- How to use social media engagement tools, and share your story
Session 3: Tuesday, 12/2 @ 6-7:30pm- Video editing skills workshop
Session 4: Wednesday, 12/10 @ 7-8pm- How to support your Indivisible group's social media accounts and participate in a social media day action

Sign up here if you want to commit to this important learning opportunity. 

Statewide Indivisible Call: NY Health Act

On Wednesday, November 19th from 7-8 pm Sarah Reeske is hosting a statewide call focusing on the New York Health Act, facilitated by Executive Director Melanie D'Arrigo of the Campaign for NY Health. Come learn about the bill that would create a single payer healthcare system for our state as well as the campaign's organizing plan to get it moving through the 2026 legislative session. Register here.
 

Rome Rally for LGBTQ+ Rights

The November 22 Saturday Rally in Rome has a special focus.  Please invite friends and family to join you! 

Rally for LGBTQ+ Rights in Rome
Saturday, Nov. 22nd, 12:00-1:30 pm
Along Black River Blvd near intersection with Erie Blvd. near Fort Stanwix, Rome

Join Oneida County Pride Alliance, Concerned Citizens of Rome and IMV for a special rally in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the country.  As we honor Intersex and Transgender Days of Remembrance, we also need to make it known that Oneida County stands for all our rights. Bring trans and pride flags as well as signs for LGBTQ+ rights. Other signs protesting Republican assaults on rights and Trump authoritarianism also welcome at this weekly rally. 
 

IMV December Meeting: Save the Date

Mark your calendar for our December 2025 IMV Meeting. Tuesday, Dec. 9th, 7-8 pm on Zoom.

Our focus will be on framing and messaging skills that we will all need to use in 2026 as we battle to bring voters to our side, flip Congress, and win more seats at every level of government.  This meeting with be set up as a practical training session, well worth your time. 
 

Whew!  That Was a Lot!

We know we are asking a lot of each other.  Courage. Time. Solidarity. Community. Coordination in working groups. Strategic action. 

We're in a race against time to beat back the Trump-led Republican plan for authoritarianism and fascist single party rule.
We're in a race against time to get back some power in Congress--and wherever we can--to slow those anti-democratic designs.
We're in a race against time to chip away at the pillars of support propping up an autocratic regime--billionaires and huge corporations, the courts, and more.
We're in a race against time to protect Constitutional rights, affordable health care and all the things that people need to build thriving lives for themselves and their families. 

Thank you for picking an action and following through. For showing up.  For mustering courage. For doing the work. 

We need everyone in the fight.
We ARE the fight. 
We were made for this moment.
 

Website: indivisiblemv.org
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