Were you active with Mobilize the Vote during the election season? Were you one of 200+ volunteers phone banking, vote tripling, writing vote forward letters and more? If so, we REALLY need you to weigh in on our future work. You are the engine that drives us forward and we must hear from you as we plan our make plans 2021. If you have already completed the survey, Thank You. If you haven’t, here’s your second chance. This survey is anonymous, short and interesting and the deadline is February 16. Then, it’s back to work. Top of the agenda is redistricting, of course, and advocating for virtual testimony at the Ohio Statehouse.
The Ohio legislature is hard at work. Two republican House Reps are looking to pass a bill establishing June 14 “President Donald J. Trump Day” to celebrate “one the greatest presidents in American history.” More than 30,000 lies, two impeachments, separating babies from their mothers and an insurrection earns him his own day in Ohio - replacing Flag Day.
And our Governor wants some budget money for a marketing campaign to lure young talented people to Ohio because it is a “progressive” state. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?, an old and tired expression but really fits this one. Take a look at what we could have if our legislature reflected our beliefs.
Vote them out? We can’t. The elections are rigged by gerrymandering. The only chance we have, for the NEXT 10 years, to fix it is to work on ending gerrymandering through REDISTRICTING. Nothing will change without fair districts. Consider these opportunities to better understand the redistricting process:
Feb. 9, 7 PM. Speakers bureau training, Learn more about redistricting and get prepped to join the Speakers Bureau so you can lead presentations and spread the word about the need for fair districts. https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZ0rcu6qpzssGdD8bhC8PDY5yR4ig...
Feb 22, 7:00pm Train the trainer for Community Mapmaking Facilitators (Mon) For those who are interested in learning how to facilitate community conversations to create community maps using DistrictR redistricting software. https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZMrdu6qpzovGtV39wJos6GdAT-U...
March 3, League of Women Voters Ohio’s 2021 Virtual Statehouse Day! League members and supporters from throughout the Buckeye State will come together virtually to hear about the latest policy developments from national and state-level experts on redistricting, voting rights, and more. https://lwvohio.salsalabs.org/2021-lwvo-virtual-statehouse-day-event/index.html
We must have the opportunity for VIRTUAL TESTIMONY so we don’t have to drive to Columbus where most of the wahoos in the statehouse are maskless. Checkout this article and tweet with photos from a committee hearing (ahem)super spreader event this week in Columbus.
Take Action now to allow for virtual testimony in Ohio Republicans control our state legislature and they would like to shut our voices out of the democratic process. We need to act now to make sure we are not silenced when we need to speak up - especially to end gerrymandering.
The Ohio House currently bans all virtual testimony, while at the same time not requiring masks or social distancing in committee hearings.
The Legislature needs to let Ohioans testify VIRTUALLY for/against bills. Prohibiting virtual testimony forces Ohioans to risk their lives to participate in government.
DOES PORTMAN HAVE A SPINE?
Ask him to grow one. Let's make sure he casts his most important vote ever - so we never have to deal with trump in elected office again:
Here is some wording to get you started for an email or letter you can write to Senator Portman to demand he convict when the issue is voted on in the Senate
Dear Senator Portman,
There can be no doubt that the riot at the Capitol was the direct and intended result of former President Trump's continued and baseless attacks on the electoral system. He called the mob to Washington, he promoted the false idea that Vice President Pence could change the outcome of the election, and he told the mob to go to the Capitol. All of this occurred in plain sight -- the evidence is clear.
Mobilize The Vote 2020 is part of OPAL (Ohio Progressive Action Leaders) a state wide coalition of groups working together to turn Ohio blue. They are providing many of the tools we use, you will receive event confirmation emails via the OPAL account-but really, it's just us!
