Sunday assignment: email Dems in the NCGA: Uphold the vetoes (and some good news).

Backpack drive continues, other actions and events.

We may not be able to change the minds of our feckless MAGA Senators, but perhaps we can put some pressure on DEMOCRATIC lawmakers in the NCGA. For example, Rep. Dante Pittman initially voted FOR the anti-LGBTQ bill. Many contacted him, especially those working on his re-election through NOC/C2C. He now says he will uphold the Governor’s veto.

A few EMAILS TO WRITE. Don’t be daunted by the text. Easy instructions follow: just copy and paste.

Governor Stein has vetoed a number of harmful bills:

Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI (anti-DEI), Firearm Law Revisions allowing people to have a handgun in private schools, The Power Bill Reduction Act which eliminates target dates for carbon reduction by electric companies (anti-climate),
The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, which requires increased cooperation with ICE (supports kidnapping and lack of due process), Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors Act which would recognize only two sexes in NC, not allow birth certificate modifications and more. (anti-LGBTQ)

These bills have such nice names and do such terrible things.

Now, in the General Assembly, we have a chance to uphold the vetoes and keep those bills from becoming law. But we need to have EVERY DEMOCRAT in the HOUSE vote to uphold the Governor’s veto. Too many were absent or voted for some of those bills for that to happen.

I just tested this and it took about 5 minutes on the computer to copy and paste and personalize each one just a little:

1. A group email to send. These Representatives all voted FOR the “Power Reduction Bill” :

<Mike.Colvin@ncleg.gov><Garland.Pierce@ncleg.gov ><Nasif.Majeed@ncleg.gov><Dante.Pittman@ncleg.gov><James.Roberson@ncleg.gov><Charles.Smith@ncleg.gov><Shelly.Willingham@ncleg.gov>

Script (as always, personalize as you like):

I am aware that you voted to allow utility companies to ignore carbon reduction efforts. As the impact of climate change becomes clear with increasing frequency and intensity of storms and flooding, like we’ve seen in North Carolina and nationwide this past year, we need to continue to work towards carbon reduction, not give power companies a free pass to speed up warming. Please uphold the Governor’s veto. Thank you.

2. Call or email Rep. Carla Cunningham Carla.Cunningham@ncleg.gov704-509-2939 was the ONLY Democrat to vote for the ICE bill. We need her vote to change.

Suggested script:

“Please uphold the Governor’s veto on the anti-LGBTQ bill, the cruel bill supporting ICE, who are kidnapping innocents off the streets without due process, and the bill which blocks diversity, equity and inclusion in NC. In fact, please uphold ALL of Governor Stein’s vetoes. Thank you.”

3. Email these Reps and ask them to be present for the votes to uphold the Governor’s vetoes: <Cecil.Brockman@ncleg.gov><Aisha.Dew@ncleg.gov><Nasif.Majeed@ncleg.gov><Rodney.Pierce@ncleg.gov><Brian.Turner@ncleg.gov><Amos.Quick@ncleg.gov>

Script: I am aware that the NC House will try to override Governor Stein’s vetoes of bills harmful to North Carolinians this week. As a Democrat who works to elect Democrats in NC, I ask that you please be present and unified so that Democrats can protect us all from these hateful bills, harmful to our families, neighbors and the planet. Please vote to uphold all the vetoes. Thank you.

4. Email Rep Willingham <Shelly.Willingham@ncleg.gov>

Suggested Script:

Please join with your Democratic caucus and vote to uphold Governor Stein’s vetoes, to make North Carolinians safer from gun violence, extreme weather due to the climate crisis and illegal GOP power grabs in the NCGA. Guns are the number one cause of death in children and adolescents. Do we want that to increase?

We’ve seen the impact of extreme weather in NC over the past year; we shouldn’t allow utility companies a free pass to worsen the climate crisis.

Thank you.

---

Here is a link to a document with who voted how the first time (too many Democrats voted FOR these bills), who was absent and who you can contact asking them to vote to uphold the Governor’s veto. Thank you to Democracy Out Loud Legislative Action Team for your work on this and to Mark for bringing it to my attention.

Other calls to make:

Jess Craven recently wrote that there are so many horrible things; it’s hard to know what to call about. She suggested relying on 5calls.org or your trust 5calls app. I’m going to suggest that this week, as well. Just open up the app or webpage, choose a topic and call.

TWO ACTIONS AT THE NCGA Tuesday July 29th.

📅 1. Tuesday, July 29th at 10AM Sign up HERE

Join the North Carolina Democrats as we pack the gallery of the General Assembly to stop SB 266, an outrageous GOP bill that would raise energy bills on working families while killing clean energy progress. (THIS IS THE POWER BILL REDUCTION ACT MENTIONED ABOVE)

Governor Josh Stein vetoed this dangerous bill to protect working families. But now, Republicans in the General Assembly are returning to Raleigh to try and raise your energy bills instead of passing a budget.

We’re rallying at the Old Capitol Grounds, then marching to the General Assembly to pack the gallery and make our voices heard.
📍 Old Capitol Grounds at 1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC

2. FOLLOWED BY protest of dangerous bill HB958:

Wednesday July 30 6 pm virtual phone bank

WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK

Justice Allison Riggs won, but the Griffin List remains. They are still trying to remove these voters.

Help vulnerable voters get their voter files ready for the 2025 election.

SIGN UP HERE

Join Justice Anita Earls and NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton as we reach out to voters on the Griffin List and beyond to help folks make any needed updates to their voter registration information.

Let's make sure our neighbors across North Carolina have everything they need to do so confidently.

Wednesday July 30 also: One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism

Sign up here for this training by Indivisible. The first one was inspiring and useful, sharing how we grow the resistance to this attempt at authoritarian government.

Other opportunities for engagement

For a list of more weekly protests check out the Durham Resistance Hub calendar.

The Griffin List, redux.

ONLINE REGISTRATION REPAIR TOOL for the Griffin List is HERE

An online search tool updated daily to reflect the current list of voters who must provide their N.C. driver’s license/DMV ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number to election officials to ensure they can vote a regular ballot rather than a provisional ballot. Filter the results below or download the current list (CSV). Note: This table may take a few seconds to load due to the size of the dataset. For more information on the Registration Repair Project, please visit ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair.

Democratic Men of Durham:

A coalition dedicated to uniting men from all racial, generational, and economic backgrounds under the values of the Democratic Party. Our purpose is to rebuild trust, foster connection, and re-engage men across Durham by creating space for real conversation, civic involvement, and community-driven action. Together, we aim to ensure that every voice is heard and that all men see themselves reflected in the future of our party. The QR code below will take you to the DMDC membership form! Or find it here

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Backpack drive for Union of Southern Service Workers continues! Consider donating what you can.

The Union of Southern Service Workers is organizing a backpack/school snacks drive for schoolchildren on August 8 at Forest Hills Park.

These workers have fast food jobs, or are CNAs and other minimum wage workers who don’t make enough to make ends meet, let alone buy new backpacks for their kids.

Can Durham Democrats show up for our USSW neighbors? Not just at protests with our energy and signs, but with mutual aide for our community.

The GOP has taken 3 million dollars from Durham Public Schools this year; the NCGA is using funds that our public school kids need and giving them to kids in private schools for vouchers. Let’s support those among us whose lives have been impacted by the cruelty of MAGA politicians in Raleigh and in DC.

Please donate to this special Durham Democrats’ fund for kids and families of the Union of Southern Service Workers for backpacks and the snacks to go in them:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bookbags

If you can donate $30, that will buy a small kid backpack. Big kid backpacks are $50. But donate what you can and together, we as neighbors and Democrats can make a difference. We know these are hard times for many of us. Please give a little if that’s what you can do. (Please make your donations by July 31 so there is time to purchase the backpacks before the distribution event on August 8.)

We will also be reaching out to local Indivisible groups and activist groups to ask them to donate, and to the people who signed up and attended the John Lewis event on Saturday.

(Backpacks need to make it through the whole year, have a computer sleeve and water bottle holder and be for all ages. That’s why we decided to have a fund rather than have people donate supplies.)

Saturday August 2 10:30 am Raleigh HUMAN CHAIN

Register here More info here

A coalition of grassroots organizations, including several Indivisible chapters, Engaged Durhamites for Democracy and Democracy Out Loud!, are partnering with Wake Women Have Mercy and 50501 to create a human chain as part of the next mass mobilization on August 2nd.

We are partnering with an already planned rally called, "People 4 Democracy" organized by Dieter Mediation, Common Cause, Raleigh Boots on the Ground (gun control), and Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic. Their rally will take place at Halifax Mall in Raleigh at 10am on Aug 2. As they begin to march, we will form our Human Chain. This will occur close to 10:30am.

P.S. the good news:

At last nights NCDP Unity Dinner, Gov. Cooper spoke. He asked everyone running for office to please stand up. The crowd applauded.

Then….

He said, “I’m not sitting down, am I?” The crowd went wild. Folks, we have a candidate.

Finally…

I share this quote from an email a fellow activist sent to me after we met at the Durham County Courthouse to stand strong the morning after ICE showed up. I was tired that day, and I guess he could tell. I think right now we could all benefit from his encouragement. Thanks, Mark, your words really made a difference.

“Hang in there brave warrior. Remember, you don’t have to do it all. We’ve got your back. Be good to yourself. We need you. You are a beam of light. You make a huge difference. Blessings!”