It is VP Harris' birthday on Sunday, Oct. 20th, and we know what she really wants as a gift: your time and effort to reach voters and convince them to go to the polls and vote for her and the Democrats!  She has committed herself 110% to protecting reproductive freedom, the rule of law and democracy, and access to a fair economic system.  We need to have her back on her birthday.

Please join IMV for a special Kamal Harris Birthday Canvass.  We promise to make it productive, fun, and delicious!

Join special guest Senator Chuck Schumer on Zoom for our big Yes on Prop 1 Phonebank TONIGHT 6-8 pm! This year our rights and abortion are on the ballot, and New Yorkers have the power to close dangerous loopholes in our State Constitution that leave our rights vulnerable to the whims of extremist politicians and changing political tides. Our rights are not negotiating chips, and every New Yorker deserves to be protected from government discrimination. That's why we must flip the ballot this November and vote "YES" on Prop 1! Join us, TONIGHT from 6-8 at our Planned Parenthood co-hosted Phone Bank!

You know that it's true. MAGA must be defeated at every level and in every possible race--or we risk losing our futures and freedoms--and the traditions and norms of our democratic republic. They've got a plan to reverse women's rights, LGBTQ rights, quash gun reforms, and a green economy that takes the climate crisis seriously, and hand over the wealth of our country from the laborers who have created it to the billionaires who hoard and hide it.  Their plan is to decimate the federal government --from FEMA and NOAA to the Department of Education and Head Start. We can't let them win. But unless we come together and do the work to get out voters to polls, they will.  That's why every day between today and Nov. 5th matters. Every day and every action.  Read on to see the things you can do now:

Friends, there are just 33 days until Election Day!  Let's reach as many voters as we can and make every day count! 

If you have not found a way to plug in yet to the electoral action and need some guidance, reach out to us ASAP.  There is something for everyone, and every effort makes a difference. No one wants to look back at this month in their lives and think, "I wish I'd done more." 

Read about three actions you can take to help get the word out to voters about the NY Equal Rights Amendment, a constitutional amendment on the ballot that is designed to protect all New Yorkers from discrimination. 

And, something for everyone this weekend.

Join Indivisible Mohawk Valley for our September 22nd monthly meeting. This will be the best canvass launch ever because everyone who canvasses will get free coffee/drink and dessert, so grab a canvassing buddy and come join us.

First time canvassers are welcome! We'll pair you up with an experienced one and teach you how to talk to voters about supporting Harris/Walz and all Democrats on the ballot. We'll be talking to friendly voters.

Canvassers get a free Kamala Harris lawn sign!

We're Within the "Margin of EFFORT"

Lots of people who don't normally talk politics were doing so in the past few days, as their excitement grew following Kamala Harris' excellent debate performance (and the other's guy's disastrous one). It's always good to have voters excited, energized, and enthusiastic about the Democratic ticket!

However, our job is to remind friends and neighbors in New York that since we don't live in a presidential battleground state, we need to focus on our congressional and state elections.

Please join IMV for our rally today!  Share your enthusiasm for Kamala Harris and our other Democratic candidates with passing motorists and connect with other local political activists.

Labor Day weekend is a wonderful time to spend relaxing with loved ones.  While you do that, please make sure that your family and friends understand why the labor movement is behind Democrats in this election.

You're invited to join IMV on Tuesday, August 27th to have pizza, knock on doors, and connect with our Democratic Congressional Candidate, John Mannion.

Make Calls, Knock Doors. DO SOMETHING

On Tuesday night, Michelle Obama was clear about the assignment: She reminded us of what Kamala Harris' mother told her: "Don't just sit around and complain...DO SOMETHING." Then she went on:  "So, if they lie about [Kamala Harris], and they will, we've got to DO SOMETHING.  If we see a bad poll, and we will, we've got to put down that phone and DO SOMETHING.  If we start feeling tired, if we start feeling that dread creeping back in, we've got to pick ourselves back up, throw water on our face, and DO SOMETHING.  We've only got 2.5 months to get this done. Only 11 weeks to make sure every single person we know is registered and has a voting plan. So we can't afford for anyone to sit on their hands." 

We had a fabulous OneNYS Indivisible call last night, thanks to Sarah Reeske, our statewide organizer.  Our first agenda item was Prop 1 (AKA NYS Equal Rights Amendment).  Research tells us that our conversations with voters --including family, friends, and coworkers, will make the difference in getting the ERA passed. If you want more information about how to have those conversations HERE is the tool you need.  The ERA is a constitutional amendment to protect the civil rights of all New Yorkers, including for reproductive freedom and abortion. Read on to learn more.

It was wonderful to see so many of you at IMV's annual potluck picnic yesterday even if we did have some rain. We had a great crowd, including several people at their first ever IMV event! Our elected guests included Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon and Utica School Board member James Paul with an update on the new Superintendent who started last week (see how our efforts to elect James in 2022 paid off!?), as well as candidates Adrienne Martini (122nd Assembly), James Meyers (State Senate-53rd), and Paula Collins who is challenging Elise Stefanik in NY21 in a district that covers more than 15,000 miles and 15 counties. Candidates meet with us because we do the work to help them win!

If you're FIRED UP about Kamala Harris for President! please join IMV at our:

Honk for Harris Rally

TODAY (Friday, Aug. 2) at 4-5:30 pm
Oneida Square, Utica

Please park on the street (Genesee, or surrounding streets)--not at Dunkin Donuts

Indivisible has asked for groups to hold celebratory events supporting Harris for President. IMV will host a Honk for Harris rally on Friday, August 2nd from 4-5:30pm at Oneida Square in Utica. Bring signs in support of Kamala Harris. We always provide extras, so join us. Click in to register, and share with your friends. Help get the word out to people excited for Kamala Harris to come to our rally.

Not inspired enough? Check out the first official Harris for President ad and share it by email and on social media. Then register for our Honk for Harris Aug. 2 rally!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our July IMV meeting! We exchanged a lot of information and ideas for direct voter contact, community building, and messaging in the coming months. And we missed you if you were unable to attend.

Once again, if you've been paying attention to the news, you might have had a rough week, and might even be succumbing to news-related despair syndrome.

We have an antidote for that.
And here it is:

July 2024 IMV Meeting

It's been a rough couple of weeks in the news Between local tragedy, the Presidential debate, and cascades of terrible SCOTUS rulings, you may be feeling worn out and even a bit hopeless. We recommend taking a break from the news if you can, for at least a couple days, this holiday weekend. Enjoy weather, connect with family and friends. get out in the garden, spend some time at the pool or lake, or attend a parade.

Then, show up to connect with your political activism community. We're gathering!

Thank you to every one of you who helped in any way with the Democratic primary election!

No matter how you helped support a candidate or encouraged people to vote, know that we appreciate you!

Now, with the primary behind us and Senator John Mannion the winner, it's time to move forward in unity, and commit wholeheartedly to:

1) Defeating Brandon Williams and flipping NY22

2) Spreading positive messages about President Biden and what Democrats have been doing and will do to help Central New Yorkers and all Americans if we have a Democratic Congress and White House and Democrats representing us in Albany.

3) Building a strong political activism community in coalition with other groups like Democratic committees, labor unions, and progressive parties, groups, and issue advocates that share our values.

June 24th marks two years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and federal constitutional protections for abortion. Let's be honest. Dobbs was a huge loss of freedom and rights.

On Sunday, June 23rd we are shining a light on Trump and MAGA Rep. Williams and showing the power of the movement fighting back against them to protect our personal freedoms and reproductive rights. We're doing it Utica, where we had hundreds march when we learned Roe was being overturned in 2022. Let's see another huge crowd!