Week of 04/07/2024

Saturday, April 13th 9:00AM – 11:00AM
Postcard Parties are Back!  Kaldi’s Social House 3100 10th St N, Arlington, VA
First Up – Georgia via Reclaim our Vote. Stamp donations are always appreciated

Wednesday, April 17  5:00PM – 6:00PM
Voter Readiness Working Group
#VoterRegistration #PollObserving #EarlyVoting #More
Let’s work together to ensure that every eligible voter in Virginia is ready and able to participate in the upcoming elections. Join us for the next Voter Readiness Working Group meeting to learn about our coordinated efforts with Progressive Orgs, Campaigns and Local Dem Parties and how you can get involved. Reach out to Kathleen Murray for more information and stay tuned for updates on our progress towards protecting Virginians’ voting rights. Together, we can make a difference! Zoom Link Here

Thursday, April 18th – 7 PM (come when you can and stay as long as you’d like!)
Postcards for Georgia! Arlington, VA
We’ll be partnering with Reclaim Our Vote, a nonpartisan primarily volunteer-run campaign that focuses on increasing voter turnout through postcard-writing, texting, and phone-banking. In the future, we’ll also offer opportunities to engage other swing-state voters through Vote Forward. Please RSVP to Sue so we’re sure to have enough pens and postcards on hand: [email protected] Address: Sue Rieth and Bob Hirama’s / 3154 North 20th Street, Arlington 22201

Monday April 29th  6:45pm – 8:00pm
WofA Membership Meeting
Save the Date! Details to follow!

April 1 – May 31
Indivisible National will Match donations to WofA!
Between April 1 – May 31, Indivisible National will be playing fairy godmother and matching all donations to WofA. Your contribution will help cover costs for Zoom; postcards; our website and other shenanigans to ROCK the Vote! Donate HERE Thank you!

Saturday, May 4th, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Community Organizers’ Summit at Cascades Library
If you’re interested in attending please use the below form to help us plan an event that will be as productive and beneficial as possible for all in attendance. The goal is to connect as many Northern Virginia organizers as possible in one room so that we can strategize together and find collaboration opportunities. Note that this summit will not be open to the public or to candidates/elected officials, pre-registration will be required once more details have been put together. Link to Form: https://forms.gle/qYT3HrzeAGneWV8L8

ONGOING ACTIONS

Now – November 5 
2024 Beyond Arlington Campaigns Page (updated regularly)
Tons of volunteer opportunities: phone banks; text banks canvasses and more. 2024 Beyond Arlington Campaigns Page

Saturdays starting April 6
Register Voters at Arlington Farmers Markets
This year, it’s even more crucial to register new voters and encourage early or in-person voting. We’ll need everyone’s commitment to ensure our presence is felt at the Farmers Market. Starting April 6th, we’ll be running the voter registration booth every Saturday from 7:45 AM to 12:00 noon until Election Day. During July and August, we’ll be there every other Saturday. Please sign up for a shift or two HERE

Wednesdays, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Rural Youth Volunteer Recruitment Phone Bank – with Beyond Arlington
Come join Beyond Arlington, the Young Democrats of North Carolina, the YDNC Rural Caucus, and the North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) as we mobilize progressive young voters ages 18-35 to volunteer with NCDP.  This virtual phone bank will take place every Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm. https://www.mobilize.us/ncdems/event/590415/

Important Dates
Tuesday, June 18: Democratic Congressional Primary
Friday, Sept. 20: Early voting begins
Tuesday, Oct. 15: Deadline to register to vote
Friday, Oct. 25: Deadline to request absentee ballot mailed to you
Saturday, Nov. 2: Last day to vote early
Tuesday, Nov. 5: General Election (President, US Senate, US House of  Representatives)

ICYMI

From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Update from Planned Parenthood Action Fund: 
On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court issued long-awaited decisions on both the ballot initiative to limit government interference and a challenge to the state’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. By upholding the 15-week ban, the court reinterpreted the Florida Constitution to permit the state to ban abortion. It also paved the way for a six-week abortion ban signed by Governor Ron DeSantis to take effect next month (May 1st) — devastating access for the entire region. 

As The 19th reports, a six-week ban could make it impossible for some people to get care in Florida. Earlier this week, Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood Action Fund president and CEO, joined The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to discuss the decisions. “We should not be living in a world where in an entire region of the country, we are no longer free and able to…make decisions about our own health care, where we actually have to travel out of state in order to get the care that we need.”

The ruling will have major implications, not only for Floridians, but for the South as a whole. The 19th reported that since June 2022, Florida, home to more than 60 abortion clinics, has seen one of the nation’s largest increases in abortions. In the first year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the state recorded over 20,000 more clinic-provided abortions than it had seen the year prior, according to data analyzed by the Society of Family Planning. And the effects of the 15-week ban have already been devastating for Floridians. Since the ban went into effect over a year and a half ago, many have been forced to travel long distances out of state to access care.

The second decision allows Florida voters to decide in November whether to amend the Florida Constitution to explicitly limit government interference with abortion. After the decision, Lauren Brenzel, the Campaign Director for the Yes on 4 campaign said: “Polls have consistently shown well over 60% of Florida voters support limiting government intrusion in the personal health care decision of accessing abortion care. Floridians value their freedom from government interference, and they will make that known loud and clear with their votes in November.”

With Floridians already feeling the impact of abortion bans, reproductive freedom is on the line. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the coalition running the Yes on 4 campaign, is now turning their attention to educating and persuading 60% of voters to support the ballot initiative and limit government interference in abortion.

The good news is that the issue appeals to voters across the political spectrum, and the campaign is led by those closest to the people and patients affected by the abortion ban. Voters from every perspective agree that decisions about pregnancy should be between families and their health care providers, not the government. Amendment 4 champions must follow the lead of the Floridians Protecting Freedomto avoid misinformation and ensure voters are hearing succinctly how this amendment will limit government interference in abortion.