Today is Veterans Day, and we honor our veterans for their patriotism, willingness to serve, and sacrifices made for the common good of our nation.
Action event of the week
Please join us at our next in-person member meeting for a Bringing Down a Dictator watch party.
In this difficult time, it can be reassuring to be surrounded by like-minded neighbors and friends while learning about powerful new ways to fight authoritarianism (while eating popcorn).
Sunday, November 16th, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at FUUSN (The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Newton), 1326 Washington St., Newton, MA, 02465.
We will watch this inspiring fifty-minute documentary directed by Steve York with narration by Martin Sheen that tells the story of the student group in Serbia that built a coalition using laughtivism and other tactics to help bring down Slobodan Milosevic.
A discussion will follow: What can we take away from this film? What can we bring to our activism? How can we use humor to advance our causes while having our spirits lifted?
This month’s meeting is brought to you by the Laughtivism Action Team, email us at laughtivism@newton-indivisible.org if you have any questions.
Save the date for our next virtual meeting
Our next virtual member meeting will take place on Sunday, December 7th from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom.
An RSVP form will appear in the next newsletter. We meet every other week, alternating between in-person and virtual meetings.
We protect our community with whistles
Many of us heard Governor Pritzker’s discussion on NPR Sunday night about how whistles are being used in Chicago, and we agree that whistles are a great safety device!
Download the PDF of the Whistle Zine for our own local guide to the use of whistles.
Newton Indivisible will have whistles available at upcoming events, starting with this week’s standout in Newton Centre.
Senator Slotkin delivers speech on Trump’s authoritarian playbook
We recommend watching Elissa Slotkin’s recent speech on how Trump is ready to bring the full weight of the government against Americans he perceives as enemies. Why? Because he has one goal: making sure he and his ilk never have to give up power.
Elections Action Team
From the Elections Action Team, here are this week’s opportunities and calls to action:
PHONE BANKING OPPORTUNITY
11/16/2025 (Sunday) — Phonebank with MassDems for US House Special Elections (with training for first-timers), sign up here
POSTCARDING
11/12/2025 (Wednesday) — Postcards For Democracy Beginner Bootcamp (virtual), sign up here.
IMPORTANT INITIATIVE (OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS)
VoteRiders is a national organization that provides support regarding voter ID requirements to voters. It provides training and resource materials. Training is available on alternating Wednesday and Thursday evenings through December 10th for this important initiative.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
The following is an excellent companion to Susan Elsen’s excellent presentation (download PDF) at last week’s member meeting, we recommend “8 Alarming Ways Trump and Republicans Plan to Undermine 2026 Elections” from Defending Democracy with Marc Elias, it is available as a YouTube video or a podcast episode (hopefully you no longer use Spotify).
Rallies Action Team
Join us for the 34th RESIST! Weekly Standout brought to you by the Newton Indivisible Rallies Action Team. We are there every Saturday in Newton Centre from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please bring a sign, see The Big List of Protest Signs for ideas.
The Rallies Action Team will collect donations for Project Bread to support our neighbors losing SNAP benefits. Please bring cash.
The Urgent Care Clinic for Democracy will be in attendance to cure all your ills.
Laughtivism Action Team
Join our group in planning our next action. The next meeting takes place on Wednesday, November 12th, at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. RSVP using this form to get the meeting link.
Bridge Brigades Action Team
Newton Bridge Brigade
Join Newton Indivisible every Thursday on Kendrick St. over Route 128, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., share our message with thousands of your fellow citizens as they drive by! Our next time will be Thursday, November 13th, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Highlanders Visibility Brigade
The Highlanders Visibility Brigade stands out on Highland Street over the Mass Pike on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Rain cancels. There is parking in the Second Church lot on Highland. Please join us (for all or part of the time)!
Boston Area Bridge Brigades
Visit Local Visibilities to find other bridge standouts all over the Boston area, or email info@newton-indivisible.org for more information.
Ongoing initiatives we support
What’s next after No Kings Day?
The fight hasn’t ended. Visit this page to see this week’s action: suggestions you can carry out right now! Bookmark the page and revisit it weekly for a new way to resist—one action, one story, one stand at a time.
Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington
Standouts at the Burlington ICE facility at 1000 District Ave., Burlington, MA 01803 take place:
- Every Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., stand in solidarity with Indivisible Waltham and Bearing Witness to bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of our government. Click here for more information and to join us.
- Every Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., GAIN (Greater Assabet Indivisible Network) continues their Justice 4 at Burlington ICE, same location and instructions as Wednesdays, contact info@massgain.org or justice4all.thu@gmail.com for more information.
- Every Saturday, join No Fear Street Theater for protests from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Stand up for immigrants two blocks from the Burlington ICE office at Burlington Mall Rd. at District Ave.
LUCE Hotline
The LUCE Defense Hotline (617-370-5023) is a statewide ICE watch hotline that operates from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day and is staffed in multiple languages. If you suspect ICE activity in your neighborhood and are unsure it is ICE, call the hotline to report it.
You will find sign-up links on the LUCE website to volunteer for their multilingual hotline or you can volunteer to get involved with your local area LUCE watch hub as a verifier. An organizer will contact you about inviting you to a verifier training. This training serves as an orientation to LUCE, even if you do not want to be a verifier, there are many other ways to get involved.
General Strike
Join the movement. The General Strike is a decentralized network of people and organizations committed to striking once we reach 3.5% of the U.S. population, or 11 million people. They are collecting strike cards so they know when it will be time to strike. They don’t have a traditional leader or hierarchical structure.
Blackout The System
The primary organization supporting an economic blackout in November is Blackout The System, which has called for a nationwide boycott from November 25 to December 2, urging participants to refrain from working and spending money as a protest against corporate greed and the U.S. economic system. This movement aims to demonstrate collective power by halting labor and financial activity during the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
Don’t Stream Fascism: Cancel Spotify
Indivisible is supporting the Don’t Stream Fascism: Cancel Spotify initiative. Spotify is running ads recruiting ICE agents and the ads target vulnerable populations, promise signing bonuses, and normalize fear and intimidation in our neighborhoods. Spotify claims these ads comply with their policy, but the truth is streaming hate is not neutral. It’s a choice. Refuse to fund it. Refuse to ignore it.
Brought to you by the Newton Indivisible Executive Committee: Kia, Rachael, Larry, Pat, Erica, Karen, and David.