“Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you.” — Ralph Nader
TONIGHT! All-Member Meeting — Playing the Long Game: Lessons from North Carolina
Don’t miss our meeting tonight, February 24th, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., via Zoom, to prepare for the midterms and beyond.
You must register for this event to receive the Zoom link.
What can we learn from North Carolina? It has overperformed its expectations in the last two election cycles. By some metrics, it has been the best-performing swing state, even though Trump has won. What lies underneath its strengths? What is the plan to take it to the next level in 2026 and 2028? How can we help? And what can we learn? Speakers Jeff Blum, Chair of All In for North Carolina, and Olivia Zalecki, Deputy Director of Strategy and Development for NCAAT in Action, will answer these questions in a lively panel discussion format.
Celebrate a Victory! The Power of Protests! The Power of the People!
Standouts, bridge brigades, and protests are effective in using the power of the people to bring change for the better.
A coalition led by Nathan Phillips, including BURN, Bearing Witness, Mass 50501, JALSA, and Newton Indivisible, planned a massive protest against National Development (ND) (ND) in Newton Lower Falls, on Tuesday, February 24, for allowing ICE to use their parking lots adjacent to the Burlington ICE headquarters. To avoid the protest, ND agreed to the coalition’s demands that ND: (1) not allow ICE to park in their lots, and (2) tow any vehicles illegally parked in their lots. In view of our success, the ND protest has been called off.
Action of the week: Get ready for No Kings Day on March 28th!
Volunteer to help make the Third No Kings Day in Newton a huge success. Fill out this form, and the planning committee will get back to you on opportunities.
Invite your family and friends to join millions of others in showing the world that this nation belongs to its people, not to kings. Register here (through Mobilize) to attend.
Come and bring friends to hand out flyers at the Newton Centre and Highland T Stops on Wednesday, March 18, Thursday, March 19, Friday, March 20, and Tuesday, March 24 through Friday, March 27, from 7:30 am until 8:30 am. To sign up, email Susan at rallies@newton-indivisible.org.
End Activism Paralysis and Burnout
Are you having trouble figuring out what you should be doing? The leader of the Ripple Effect Institute offers advice on turning your care into action over the next 90 days. To decide how to maximize your effectiveness, consider (a) opportunities close to you, (b) what you refuse to make normal, (c) what you can sustain, and (d) what you are willing to put on the line strategically. The “Activist Burnout? ” video (YouTube) provides details and argues that one of the beauties of diversity is that, when everyone focuses on what they care about the most, everything is addressed.
Roundtable Conversation with Community Members
Every Saturday at 1:15 pm after our noon to 1:00 p.m. standout in Newton Centre, and Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Please join your community and Newton Indivisible Executive Committee members to share your thoughts, connect with others, and make plans as we navigate these turbulent times. At Sandwich Works, 827 Beacon Street, Newton Centre. Contact info@newton-indivisible.org for more information.
Rein in ICE (week 4)
Tell your federal representative to defund DHS because we cannot afford it, and DHS is eliminating its own popular programs, like Coast Guard rescue. And as proponents of democracy demand that: (1) DHS agents clearly identify themselves and reveal their faces; and (2) the Bivens Act of 2025-36 be enacted so that federal agents can be held liable for any constitutional violations. Our demands enable victims to hold federal agents accountable because Trump’s DOJ will not.
Read Why Congress’s ICE “Reform” Proposals Won’t Work by deray and Campaign Zero to learn why some ideas for reform are unlikely to be effective.
Discuss What Massachusetts Can Do With Jonathan Cohn
How can Massachusetts provide security and ensure meaningful representation when the federal government’s trustworthiness feels so uncertain? Register here and join us in the FUUSN Alliance Room, 1326 Washington Street, Newton, on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7:30 p.m., to explore this important question. Jonathan Cohn, Policy Director of Progressive Massachusetts, will speak and take questions about:
- Rescind MA 287(g) collaboration agreement with ICE
- MA Immigrant Legal Defense Act
- MA Data Privacy Act (selling location data)
- Protect Millionaire’s tax, which funds schools and social programs
- Stop MA bill H.4744, which rolls back clean energy
Jonathan Cohn has helped expand Progressive Massachusetts’s legislative agenda, strengthen its candidate questionnaires, and represent the organization in statewide advocacy coalitions focused on voting rights, immigrants’ rights, and economic justice.
Elections Action Team
This week, we are focusing on textbanking NC and TX voters with VoteRiders and contributing to a letter campaign to help preserve voting integrity in Georgia. Visit the Elections Action Team Webpage for our weekly list of actions you can take.
Listen to/watch The Pernicious Myth of Voter ID Laws for important context on our current activities from the 2/21 episode of the Civil Discourse podcast.
Be Heard by Mayor Laredo
Attend one of Mayor Laredo’s listening tour events. The next event is Thursday, February 26th, at 7:00 p.m., at Day Middle School, and events continue until March 15th. Ask Mayor Laredo how Newton will protect protesters. Registration is recommended but not required to attend. Download the Laredo Listens PDF Flyer.
Rallies Action Team
Join us for our 50th RESIST standout in Newton Centre on Saturday, February 28th, at the intersection of Beacon and Center Streets from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. We encourage those who are best able to withstand the weather to join us every Saturday during the winter months. We also encourage photographers to show their solidarity before taking any pictures. Bring your own signs. Take a look at The Big List of Protest Signs for ideas. Contact us at rallies@newton-indivisible.org for more information.
Save the date: Singing Resistance Community Singalong
On Sunday, March 1st, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Boston’s Back Bay with song leaders from BVocal, Boston Area Singing Circles, and more. Learn the songs, feel connected, get ready to take action. All are welcome! Contact singing@newton-indivisible.org for more information.
Singing Resistance values include beloved community and non-violence. Take a look at the Singing Resistance Songbook and the Singing Resistance Toolkit.
Bridge Brigades around Boston
There are numerous Bridge Brigade efforts throughout the Boston Metro area. Newton has three active groups. Visit our Boston Bridge Brigades Action Team page on our website for dates, locations, and how to join one of the local Signal chats to stay up to date on these actions.
Please share photos and videos with our Storytellers Action Team
If you have photos or videos related to Newton Indivisible activities that you are willing to share with our Storytellers Action Team, please use our upload link to share them for use in our newsletter and social media channels.
More opportunities to take action
Please visit the Opportunities to Take Action page on our website for a listing of important ongoing initiatives. The list is updated weekly along with our newsletter.
Donate to Newton Indivisible
You can donate to Newton Indivisible to defray our operating expenses.
Contribute newsletter items
To submit items for inclusion in our Newsletter, please send them to newsletter@newton-indivisible.org and include an image if possible. Submissions will be edited for brevity and clarity.
Brought to you by the Newton Indivisible Executive Committee: Kia, Rachael, Larry, Pat, Erica, Karen, and David. To send a message to the leadership team, use our Contact Form or email info@newton-indivisible.org.