Chop Wood, Carry Missouri 2/14

Hey, Team Missouri!

Happy Valentine’s Day! And welcome to the newsletter!

As you may know, Missouri is a former bellwether state that has voted in large numbers for the Republican presidential candidate ever since the 2008 election, but still managed to pass the abortion rights Amendment 3 in 2024. So, we have a lot of work to do, but there is definitely hope for passing more positive, progressive legislation in the future. Thanks for signing up to help us get there! Keep reading for calls and actions.

Make Your Voice Heard and Hold Your Senators Accountable

First off, please make sure you put the following numbers in your phone and have them handy! There are some really important calls to make pertaining to national shenanigans in today’s Chop Wood, Carry Water, but this newsletter will be reserved for MO-specific actions.

Senator Josh Hawley: (202) 224-6154

Senator Eric Schmitt: (202) 224-5721

And speaking of holding our senators accountable, my Indivisible STL co-leader led a gathering at our senators’ St. Louis offices on February 5^th to demand accountability for their complicity in the takeover of our government by an unelected billionaire and the illegal federal funding freeze, as well as to halt the nomination process for Russell Vought. Read more about that here.

Stopping Anti-Immigration Bills and Building Community

A coalition of immigrant service providers, attorneys and organizers have created the Rapid Response Line, which people can call at 314-370-7080 to report any ICE activity from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Click here to learn about the hotline.

In addition, two dangerous anti-immigrant bills are going forward in the state senate despite public opposition.

SB58 creates an offense of improper entry into Missouri, punishable with a $10,000 fine and deportation, gives the governor the authority to assist other states in militarizing the border, and creates a double punishment for undocumented folks who commit a felony. Even after 34 testified against and only 3 in favor, the committee still voted to advance this bill to the full Senate for debate and a vote. Voice your opposition here.

SB72 creates a bounty hunter program, which would pay people $1,000 to turn in anyone they suspect is here without authorization. It also creates a new felony charge for being undocumented in Missouri, punishable by life in prison and without eligibility for probation, parole, conditional release, or release, except by deportation within 24 hours of being taken into custody. With 60 opposed and just 1 in favor, the committee still hasn’t killed this bill. Voice your opposition here.

You can also join the Missouri Immigration Policy Coalition on February 18 for Hispanic Capitol Day. The group will be telling elected officials that we want Missouri to be a welcoming home for ALL. You can bypass the registration fee by using the code ADVOCACY2025. Register here!

Join a Group!

I recommend that you join one of the many resistance groups here in Missouri and meet some equally activated people! This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a good place to start, and I will add to it with every subsequent newsletter.

Indivisible

Indivisible started as the Indivisible Guide, a Google Doc guide to organizing locally to pressure your elected officials to resist Trump’s agenda. It caught fire as millions of people picked up the guide and organized their own local Indivisible groups to put the guide into action. These new Indivisible activists formed a nationwide movement of people taking matters into their own hands to build their own power through collective action.

There are several different local Indivisible groups throughout Missouri. Please click this link to find the group nearest you!

Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC)

MOVPC is a non-partisan statewide network of advocates who collaborate to advance free, fair, and accessible elections in Missouri and build a pro-democracy movement rooted in civil rights movement building. They also have a state legislative tracker on their website!

Sign up for their email alerts so you can make your voice heard about Missouri election bills.

Please join their next call on Monday, Feb. 17 at 10am. Register here.

Missouri Equity Education Partnership (MEEP)

MO Equity Education Partnership’s mission is to advocate and mobilize for inclusion, diversity, equity, academic integrity, and accessibility for all individuals in all aspects of community life.

Sign up for their next event, “Five Things You Can Do Now!” on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7pm.

Abortion Action MO

Abortion Action Missouri envisions a world with stigma-free abortion access and reproductive freedom for all. Their mission is to foster and sustain a Midwest movement for control of our bodies, lives, and futures. The organization will have regional base meetings on Feb. 19 and 20. Click here to see those events and more.

They will have a Community Engagement Escort Training on Monday, Feb. 17 at 6pm.

Moms Demand Action

Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They pass stronger gun laws and work to close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. They also work in their own communities and with business leaders to encourage a culture of responsible gun ownership. They know that gun violence is preventable, and they are committed to doing what it takes to keep families safe.

Join their virtual statewide member meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 8pm.

Click here to find more upcoming monthly meetings and events.

Let’s do this, Missouri! I look forward to sharing more opportunities and working with you all to make our state a better, kinder place to live.

Thanks for reading!

Anna & Jess