Review Session: Activism for Durham

Information and resources

Apr 20, 2025

Hello dear Durham Dems Action readers. This newsletter has gone from 400 to over 1200 followers in just 9 weeks. We are all fighting for our democracy and to protect ourselves and our neighbors. Durham Dems Action began as a way to let people know what actions they can take to fight back against the extreme right wing agenda of the GOP and Project 2025: locally, statewide and nationally.

There have been (unfortunately) so many opportunities for action, given all the horrors, that it is often difficult to know what to include in these posts. Rather than an exhaustive list, we try to have a little something for everyone, including daily phone calls, precinct meetings, protests, pack the NCGA gallery, town halls, canvassing, phone banking. And we try not to send out posts too often; we know that there is a deluge of information.

Because we have some new folks, here’s a review of some basics. This is a long post with a lot of words; take your time to review.

BUILDING BLOCKS

STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES FOR ACTION: Pick your lane.

We recently got a request for more local and state actions, especially in the NCGA. One of the issues about the NCGA is that Dems are in a true minority. Even though we have a one vote advantage in the House, so that the GOP doesn’t have a supermajority, that is more theoretical than real. Our caucus does NOT stick together like the GOP. The leaders are trying to change that, but right now Dems are mostly powerless to change most bills, although they are not powerless to speak out, which they are doing. And every once in a while they can sneak an amendment into legislation.

What we can do is support our Democratic legislators, register voters and GOTV by canvassing and phone banking. We can throw sand in the gears to slow things down by showing up to pack the gallery. For example, the anti-DEI bill GOPMAGA were going to introduce was delayed for two days and has not yet been brought to the floor because our folks showed up two days in a row and filled the gallery.

Go over to the NCGA and meet with your Dem legislators. Bring them a cupcake, if you like. Their job is thankless right now. Or call to thank them. This is a link to our Durham NCGA members. In the House, Vernetta Alston, Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers and Marcia Morey and Senators Sophia Chitlik and Natalie Murdock are all amazing. We are so fortunate that they represent us.

For city and state information, here are a few useful resources. Feel free to add more that you are aware of in the comments.

https://linktr.ee/Durhamgotv created by Bull City Indivisible. This has links to both Durham City Council and NCGA House and Senate Dashboard
Follow Democracy Out Loud on Substack, which has a subgroup very involved in the NCGA.
Check out these social media accounts (IG especially): Durham Dems, Julie von Haefen, Woodson Bradley, Theodore Nollert, The Hometown Holler, Anderson Clayton (NCDP Chair), Sydney Batch (our Senate Minority Leader), Bull City Indivisible , Beverly Mahone and Sophia Chitlik. There are many more; if there is one you find helpful please share in the comments.
Check out Everyday Election Activism, by Marilyn Hartman
Neighbors On Call/C2C for canvassing/phone banking in neighboring NCGA districts
Down Home NC for rural organizing
Flip NC is focused on taking back the courts.

THE NC SUPREME COURT IS A PRIORITY

This is essential. We must ensusre that the BOE certifies Justice Riggs’ win in the 2024 race. We may need to spring into action to “cure” ballots that shouldn’t need curing. If you know ANYONE who is challenged and was an overseas voter, please share. And share the link below on ALL your social media.

From The Real Steal:

“April 18, 2025 -- Griffin Challenge Action Item

➡️ Please share THIS LINK far and wide!!! ⬅️ Overseas voters being challenged by Griffin should use this link to tell us how to find them.

This lets NCDP reach out to challenged voters if there is something they need to do to cure their ballots. Most of the challenged voters are in the military so they can be particularly hard to track down. Let’s help them ensure their ballots count.

PS – the legal battle is confusing AF right now. Don’t stress about those details. We’re focusing our energy on getting this google form into the hands of as many challenged voters as possible.”

The most important thing we can do is work to get the Supreme Court race certified for Justice Riggs and then to work to re-elect Justice Anita Earls in 2026. Then, we will have to elect 2 Democrats to the court in 2028 and only then will we have a chance to have fair maps in NC and rid our state of extreme gerrymandering after the 2030 census. There will be much attention paid to the Senate race; arguably in NC our Supreme Court race is of equal or greater importance.

For those of you relatively new to NC, we used to be the most progressive state in the South. NC voted for Obama in 2008. Then, in the off-year 2010 election, ALEC and Project Redmap swept state legislatures and began the process of voter suppression and unpopular policies through extreme gerrymandering. Justice Cheri Beasley lost her bid for re-election to the NC Supreme Court (by 401 votes) in 2020. In 2022, we lost more seats and flipped from 4-3 Democratic control to 5-2 MAGA control. The new court reversed previous district lines that reflected the state’s almost even split between parties; Democrats lost 3 congressional districts.

One way you CAN help is to donate. All those lawyers defending Justice Riggs’ victory are expensive. Part of their strategy is to use up all our money so we have nothing left to fight to re-elect Justice Anita Earls. From $5 to $500 and everything in between would make a difference. Donate here.

Calling our Members of Congress is essential.

People always ask, does it make a difference? The answer is YES. Senate and House offices keep a tally of those calling on any particular issue. GOP voters usually outnumber Dem voters 4:1. So yes, we must call. Daily if possible. For example, calls led to action, by Cory Booker and Chris Van Hollen and that led to more media attention, creating a positive feedback loop.

1.Download the app 5calls.org

This makes it super easy to call and they provide a script.

Alternately, put these numbers in your contacts. Calling one of the local offices sometimes increases your chance to talk to a live staffer.

Thom Tillis: D.C. (202) 224-6342 Raleigh (919) 856-4630 Charlotte (704) 509-9087

Ted Budd: D.C. 202-224-3154 Raleigh 984-349-5061 Wilmington 910-218-7600

As always, feel free to paraphrase, improvise or just say what you care about. You don’t need to know a lot, or be an expert. Just say what you care about. Feel free to improvise.

A great review: Everything You Need to Know about Calling Your Reps by Emily Amick
Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood Carry Water also has daily actions and phone scripts.
Call when something impacts you or NC. For example, the regime’s refusal to release FEMA funds for Helene relief should be distressing to all North Carolinians; call our Senators and say, “ Where are you on this issue? Why aren’t you standing up for your constituents?”

Earlier in the year, we did a “how to call your reps” review session. Would another be of interest now?

SHOWING UP IN THE STREETS

We believe that showing up for protests, mass mobilizations, boycotts and strikes matters. When even David Brooks says so, you know it’s a thing. We are changing the narrative and forcing people to pay attention to the destruction.

To recap: Political scientist Erica Chenoweth has studied protest and regime change. From a 2019 BBC article:

“Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.

In each case, civil resistance by ordinary members of the public trumped the political elite to achieve radical change…

Looking at hundreds of campaigns over the last century, Chenoweth found that nonviolent campaigns are twice as likely to achieve their goals as violent campaigns. And although the exact dynamics will depend on many factors, she has shown it takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in the protests to ensure serious political change.”

DOING GET OUT THE VOTE WORK

Knocking on doors, calling voters, writing postcards, organizing precincts are essential building blocks for our democracy. Talking to neighbors, listening to voters’ concerns, communicating ideals all have an essential place in this work. We have a great deal of work to do before the 2026 election; early voter contact is more effective than right before an election. So, we will ALWAYS encourage you to sign up for Durham Dems door- knocking and phone banking. If you sign up for a Mobilize event, you will get a weekly email with opportunities. And we will try to include that link in this letter as well.