We hope you are enjoying the holiday season! We are writing with an announcement and two important year-end actions.
We are pleased to announce the addition of two new members to our Steering Committee - Veronica Navarette and Matthew Schmidt. Veronica has been a key contributor to IndiMarin over the last year as a lead organizer of the Marin-wide protests such as Hands Off and NoKings. Her professional expertise as an events and marketing specialist is a major asset to our team. Matt led our canvassing efforts for Prop 50 and also contributes behind the scenes to our systems and tech management. His professional expertise is in Information Technology and Customer Experience management. We are thrilled that both will be joining the Steering Committee with a special focus on our Marin-based programs.
1) UC Unbowed: Virtual Town Hall to Protect Higher Education - January 8 from 6 - 7 PM
The Trump administration’s escalating campaign against American colleges and universities threatens the core values that make higher education a cornerstone of American democracy: academic freedom, learning and inquiry free from undue government interference, and educational opportunity for all. In California, we have an opportunity to proactively advocate with the leadership of the University of California leadership to stand firm for higher education’s mission and values in the face of pressure from the Trump regime.
IndiMarin is a co-sponsor of a virtual Town Hall on January 8 from 6 - 7 PM which will cover this new initiative. Attendees will hear from leaders protecting higher education and learn about UC Unbowed, a new network of alumni and allies who are calling on UC leadership to stand firm for higher education’s mission and values, for all members of its community, and for the democratic freedoms it was founded to uphold.
Sign up for the Town Hall here.
Sign the UC Unbowed petition here.
2) Write DNC Chair to protest decision to NOT release post-mortem report on 2024 election
On Thursday, DNC chair, Ken Martin announced that he will not release the DNC postmortem report on the 2024 election which is based on hundreds of interviews with operatives in all 50 states. Chair Ken Martin ordered a postmortem report after he assumed his post and said it would help the party learn from mistakes. Now he says releasing it would be a distraction. Read more here.
We believe that this is an extremely misguided decision and encourage all of you who agree to email Ken Martin at MartinK@dnc.org. Below is a sample letter from the Chop Wood, Carry Water Substack for inspiration. But please customize your version for maximum impact.
Sample letter:
Chair Martin,
I’m writing as a Democratic voter and volunteer to respectfully ask you to reverse your decision to not release the DNC 2024 autopsy report. How are Democrats going to learn from our mistakes if we don't have any concept of their depth and breadth? Showing fearlessness, transparency, and a willingness to admit where we’ve gone wrong is how we win voters back! Continuing to retreat from accountability is how we ensure that we keep losing them.
Thanks.
Thank you for your ongoing activism. We look forward to working together in the new year to win back Congress and begin the healing process that is so needed in our country.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year!
~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Veronica, Matt, Laurie, Joy, Maryann, Andie and Susan
