ORGANIZING NOTES
February 18, 2025
|
Did The Democrats Choose A Loosinng Strategy By Mistake?
|
Bernie Sanders Launches “National Tour To Fight Oligarchy”
|
Senator Bernie Sanders is hitting the road once again, launching a National Tour to Fight Oligarchy in an effort to mobilize working-class Americans against the growing dominance of billionaires and corporate power. The tour kicks off on February 21 in Omaha, Nebraska, and continues in Iowa City, Iowa, as Sanders aims to connect with voters across ideological lines—including those who previously backed Donald Trump.
In a video announcing the tour, Sanders called out billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zucherberg, and Jeff Bezos for hoarding wealth as “modern-day kings” while everyday Americans struggle. He stressed that the fight against oligarchy is not just an economic issue but a battle for democracy itself, as corporate greed fuels authoritarianism. Sanders emphasized unity across race, religion, and background, urging people to stand together against a system rigged for the ultra-rich.
This tour is a clear push to energize the progressive base at a critical political moment. With growing dissatisfaction toward corporate-friendly politics, Sanders is making the case that true economic justice requires mass mobilization. His message is clear: working people—whether Democrat, independent, or former Trump supporters—must unite to take power back from billionaires before it’s too late.
Watch the Video Here
|
Trump Rolling Bck Climate Progress –
States MUST Push For More!
|
Reversing Climate change isn’t only about ending the use of fossil fuels. That will only stop the bleeding, it won’t heal the wounds, and we are currently destroying the single most important resource we have for healing, urban and forest tree canopy, at a devastating rate — nearly 5,000 acres every year in Massachusetts.
ORMA and the Trees as A Public Good Network are launching a State-wide legislative and organizing campaign to Protect and Restore urban and forest tree canopy. We will be actively working to strengthen and pass Municipal Reforestation legislation and bills to protect and make “forever wild” significant portions of the Commonwealth’s forests. Strong protections for what exists and resources to restore what has been lost are the core of this campaign to protect the natural resources that protect us!
And with the Trump administration aligning itself with, indeed putting itself in service to, the climate criminals of the fossil fuel industry it is time to take action to make them pay for the damage they have knowingly done.
Mass Power Forward (MPF), the largest coalition of climate organizations in Massachusetts (including ORMA’s Climate Crisis Working Group) has set its priorities, targeting three critical campaigns: Make Polluters Pay, Protecting People from Utility Profiteering, and Better Air Quality for Environmental Justice.
Urge your legislators to Co-Sponsor Priority Bills here
If successful, MPF’s campaigns, combined with the ORMA’s drive to protect and restore urban and forest tree canopy, would make an important material difference in the lives of residents across the commonwealth, further establish Massachusetts as a leader in Climate Justice efforts at a time when Trump is trying to erase the concept as much as the communities it is intended to benefit, and further establish the need to hold climate criminals accountable.
We urge you to take action today to support these important campaigns!
The first step in these campaigns is building legislative support for the Natural Solutions legislation, and the legislation embedded in MPF’s priorities. Click here to send messages to your state Senator and Representative urging them to become co-sponsors of these critical bills.
|
Transparency Action Hour
Tomorrow, Wednesday February 19, at 7:00 pm, join Act On Mass, Progressive Mass, Sierra Club MA, and Progressive Democrats of Mass for a Transparency Action Hour on Zoom!
|
Join Progressive Mass as they kick off a series of Activist Afternoons phone banks. Each week, PM will be calling MA voters about important progressive legislation and encouraging them to contact their state legislators.
This week, on Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 pm, join PM virtually to make phone calls about the Corporate Fair Share bill, which would make large global mega-corporations pay the state’s existing corporate tax rate on a higher share of the excess profits they conceal offshore, raising hundreds of millions of dollars in new annual revenues. RSVP HERE!
|
Join the Working Families Party Call Team
|
Calling voters is one of the most effective ways to hold politicians accountable and help WFP candidates win!
Working Families Party is putting together an All-Star Team of WFP Callers! This team will jump into action when we urgently need to hold our representatives accountable and support 2025 WFP-endorsed candidates running for local elections across the country.
SIGN UP HERE!
|
Protecting Our Immigrant Communities kicked off at the State House last week and is now starting their cosponsorship campaign!
To help kick off the campaign, please send a letter to your legislators by using this link: bit.ly/poic! Make sure your legislators know you expect them to pass the Safe Communities Act and the Immigrant Legal Defense Act. You can find these fact sheets and a description of the POIC campaign right here.
|
Urge your State Legialators To Suppor Bills IN PM’s Legislative Agenda!
|
Join the Massachusetts Campaign to Make Polluters Pay
|
Save the Date:
-
Dem Convention Sept 13th in Springfield
-
The Town and Ward committee caucuses for electing delegates will take place between March 29th and May 18th. Requirement to be a delegate is membership in the Democratic Party and presence at the caucus Link to MA Dem Website to find your ward or town committee
|
Mass Power Forward:
People Over Corporations
|
Mass Power Forward is taking bold action in 2025 to put people over corporations—and they want you to be part of it!Join them Thursday, February 20 at 6:00 pm via Zoom to build a cleaner, fairer Massachusetts together.
|
Join MIRA and at-large Councilor Henry Santana’s office for a presentation IN SPANISH about your rights. Learn about your basic rights, how to respond in different situations, and how to protect yourself and others from ICE.
This is a virtual event which is confidential and free and open to all. Register here / regístrate aquí!
|
With all the changes and dysfunction recently, both in MA and at the federal level, it can be hard to know how best to channel your efforts to have impact. If you want to learn how to harness the power of local press to make your voice heard in these turbulent times, join Act on Mass for a training on letter-to-the-editor and op-ed writing!
The training will be held via Zoom on Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 pm. RSVP here to join!
|
In a victory for abortion activists, a Missouri judge has temporarily blocked abortion restrictions that remained in place despite voters approving a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights. The ruling allows providers to resume care without unnecessary barriers.
Judge Jerri Zhang ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood, striking down regulations that required pelvic exams for all abortion patients and imposed strict, medically irrelevant building requirements. Advocates argued these rules were designed to limit access rather than ensure safety.
Following the decision, Planned Parenthood of Great Plains announced that abortion services would be reinstated immediately. President Emily Wales called it a “triumph for all Missourians,” affirming the rights of patients and providers.
Although Missouri Republicans continue efforts to undermine the amendment, reproductive rights advocates remain committed to defending access, celebrating the ruling as a critical step in protecting constitutional rights.
|
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, February 27th
We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!
|
Campaigns End, Movements Endure
|
|
