[2024-02-20] Organizing Notes 26: Support ORMA’s Three Endorsed Candidates For Democratic State Committee, Building Coalitions and Ways to Take Action!

ORGANIZING NOTES

February 20,2024

        When We Organize We Win

Join Community and Labor struggles that make a difference

Building a Coalition in the Streets

On March 2^nd ORMA members and friends have an opportunity to build a broader coalition of people in motion.  In Boston and in 32 other state capitals The Poor Peoples Campaign is launching a campaign demanding an end to poverty in the richest country on earth and a ceasefire in Gaza, leading to an end to the war.  This is a call for ORMA members to join at 10 AM outside the Old State House (State and Washington in Boston) before marching to the Common at the 54th Regiment Memorial at the Capital for an 11 AM rally.

Just this week, the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the country’s oldest and most prominent Black Christian denominations, called for the United States to end its financial aid to Israel, citing the need to separate from a genocidal war.  The Poor Peoples Campaign under the leadership of Bishop William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, has its base within the Afro-American Community.

As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, the March 2^nd event gives ORMA an opportunity to gather in person, bring our banners out of the closet and put our energy and passion on display.

Support ORMA’s Three Endorsed Candidates For The

Democratic State Committee!

Rand Wilson, is endorsed for a Ballot seat in the Second Middlesex district, (Map). Wilson says, “We have to change the rules, not just the rulers. If elected, I will work with other like minded DSC members: 1) For more grassroots organizing on issues (especially in emerging red areas of our state); 2) To maintain our party’s diversity goals while achieving a majority-elected, more accountable state committee; 3) To create incentives (and possibly guardrails) to limit the influence of “Dark Money” in our internal party elections (as in state primaries).”

Michael Gilbreath, who’s endorsed in his campaign for a Caucus seat in Middlesex and Worcester, (Map)  “… would work to find ways to get party leadership to more aggressively promulgate the existing party platform, find ways to get local ward and town committees to educate themselves about the platform, and use it as a tool in local community organizing and committee recruitment.”

Dylan Clark held a caucus seat from the Worcester and Hampshire district, (Map), but decided to run for a Ballot seat to make room for another progressive on the DSC. He says,  “My reasons to serve (and to hopefully continue to) are to hold space as someone committed to the ideals of democracy and justice and as a skeptic of the connected and powerful.”

Receiving over 60 % of ORMA members’ votes, all three candidates were active in Bernie’s campaigns and saw it was important to continue that legacy on the Democratic State Committee.

Now we need to get out the Democratic vote for MIchael Gilbreath, running for a Caucus seat, and all registered voters should be encouraged to vote for Dylan Clark and Rand Wilson in their ballot seat races. Voters for Dylan and Rand must live in the district, but do not need to be a registered Democrat to vote; “unenrolled voters” should ask for a Democratic Party ballot. If you would like to support any of these candidates with phone banks, canvassing, or financial support, please let us know and we’ll put you in touch with the campaigns. Support a DSC candidate

Instructions for voting “Ballot” seat candidates Rand and Dylan in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline: February 24, 2024

Online registration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on February 24, 2024

By mail: must be postmarked by February 24, 2024

Vote by Mail Application Deadline: February 27, 2024 at 5 p.m. (received in office)

In-Person Early Voting: February 24, 2024 – March 1, 2024

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 am until 8 pm

Instructions for supporting  “Caucus” candidate Michael Gilbreath:

The election for the Male Caucus seat in the Middlesex-Worcester senate district will take place on March 23 at a “District Conference”. Those eligible to vote are “representatives” elected at local caucuses in each of the 12 communities in the district prior to March 23. To be elected as a representative, you must be a registered Democrat and attend the caucus in your community. Caucuses take place between Feb. 24th and March 17th. You can find a list of specific caucus dates here, or call Michael at 508-942-8095.

Get the Word Out: Single Payer/ Medicare for All Saves Lives and Money!

The goal of this forum is to increase participation in the single-payer campaign within the District. For more detail see this link: Description of Forum

To join the group, fill out this form Join Planning Group.

If you live in Watertown, Waltham or Newton, or anywhere in the 10th Middlesex District, please consider joining a group of organizers from the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care (Mass-Care) and the Massachusetts Progressive Action Organizing Committee (https://linktr.ee/mpaoc), which are organizing a forum in the District on the use of the Mass-Care savings calculator (https://masscare.org/muni-calc/) in town government.

To join the group, fill out this form Join Planning Group

Join others with Progressive MASS to take action with our partner organizations to protect democracy and promote civic engagement, in the company of your friends and neighbors. You will write postcards, make phone calls, and take other actions on a range of issues ranging from voter registration, voter turnout, and progressive state policy.

                 SIGN UP HERE

On the 2nd Anniversary of the Ukraine War and the 140th Day of the Destruction of Gaza: Rally To Demand Ceasefire in both Gaza and Ukraine!  Saturday 24, 1PM, Downtown Crossing, Boston

Let’s show the Massachusetts Poor Peoples Campaign that they can count on Mass. Peace Action to show up in large numbers on Saturday morning, March 2. The event starts with a 10am march from the Old State House in Boston (corner State and Washington Streets) to the steps across the street from the State House on Beacon Street where the rally takes place at 11am.

Tell your legislators to support a minimum wage increase in Massachusetts!

For the first time in years, the start of the new year didn’t bring wage increases for Massachusetts workers who are most impacted by rising costs of living.

$15/hour is not enough to afford

basic needs in our state!

Send Your Letter to legislators to support $20 minimum wage HERE!

We are looking for people to testify in person or in writing to the State Legislature about the importance of raising the minimum wage from $15 to $20  if interested please email https://ourrevolutionma.com/contact-orma/

Anna Jaques in Newburyport got a tentative agreement – they now have signed or tentative agreements at every MNA unit in the Merrimack Valley!

Many, many thanks to the many of you who helped make that happen. Read details below

Anna Jaques in Newburyport (tentative agreement)

      If you would like to work with ORMA Members on

• Climate Change
• Community-Based Alternative Emergency Response Teams
• Ranked-Choice Voting
• Housing For All       

ORMA depends on your support to continue Bernie’s Political Revolution to create a society, a politics, and an economy that works for everyone, not just billionaires, corporations and the political elite.

If you value Organizing Notes and its twice a month distribution schedule, please make a donation to ensure its continued existence.

Invest in Change Now!

Please send requests for action items, articles or upcoming events

for the next Organizing Notes to 

beccobrien.orma@gmail.com by Thursday, Feb. 29th

We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!

Campaigns End, Movements Endure