Political Violence is Never Acceptable

Michigan’s Primary is August 6, 2024

Political Violence is Never Acceptable

We stand with President Biden in condemning Saturday's shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania. Political violence is a direct assault on the principles of our democracy. It threatens the freedoms we Americans hold dear. Political violence is not appropriate and not acceptable.

Many across our state have raised their voices to reiterate this message, including Gov. Whitmer - herself a target of political violence, Lieutenant Gov. Gilchrist, AG Nessel, Secretary of State Benson, Senator Stabenow, Senator Peters, and others.

All of us must reject violence and dedicate ourselves to working in the American tradition of settling our differences through dialogue and mutual respect.

Sunday night the President spoke to the nation from the Oval Office, urging that we remember, that, while we may disagree, we are not enemies, we are neighbors, co-workers and friends. If you missed it, you can watch the full speech, as broadcast by ABC, on YouTube link below.

Thank You Strawberry Festival Marchers!

Once again this summer the Houghton County Dems stepped out and marched in a parade. We’re grateful to all who turned out to march. The marchers had a hot day, but it was offset somewhat by a good amount of clapping and cheering, and maybe some strawberry shortcake afterwards!

PROJECT 2025: “Among the Most Profound Threats to the American People”

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RIGHT WING’S 900+ PAGE PLAN TO TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

You’ve likely heard about Project 2025, which has been getting more attention from the press in the past few weeks. It’s a plan that’s part of a “Presidential Transition Project” put together by a large group of right wing organizations led by the Heritage Foundation. Project 2025 outlines actions these right wingers intend will be taken should there be a second Trump presidency.

The plan calls for, among other things:

• restricting access to medical abortions

• eliminating overtime protections from hundreds of thousands of American workers

• rolling back civil rights protections for minorities and the LGBTQ+ community

• slashing Federal funding for renewable energy

• eliminating Head Start

• eliminating the Department of Education and privatizing college student loans

• reducing food assistance for millions of Americans

AND THAT’S JUST THE START.

Project 2025 is scary stuff. Newsweek says that “critics have described Project 2025 as ‘a significant move to an authoritarian government’ and likely to ‘destroy American democracy.’"

While Donald Trump has claimed recently not to know anything about Project 2025, CNN estimates that 140 people who worked in the Trump administration had a hand in Project 2025, including six Cabinet Secretaries and four Ambassadors.

There are a number of resources being put together by various organizations to educate the public about Republican plans to remove American’s rights and protections. Below are a few we think are worth your time:

• Democracy Forward is a national legal organization. (It’s their work that we quoted in the title of this item.) They have put together a 48 page, easy to read “People’s Guide to Project 2025”. You can learn more and read their guide here.

• If watching rather than reading is more your style then check out Media Matters for America’s series of web pages on Project 2025. They’ve put together a number of media clips related to the plan. Find it here.

• If you’d prefer to listen, the June 25th episode of the Why is This Happening podcast with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes features an illuminating interview with historian and Georgetown professor Thomas Zimmer, who has studied and written extensively about Project 2025. You can find the podcast here.

• NPR’s Studio 1A has an even shorter podcast about Project 2025. It’s part of their “If You Can Keep It” series. Find it here.

Watch the President’s Full Speech in Detroit

President Biden spoke before a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit this past Friday. Click the YouTube video below to watch the whole speech.

So You Want To Become A School Board Member?

Time is running short if you’re still on the fence about running for your local school board. THE FILING DEADLINE IS JULY 23RD. Our Candidate Recruiting Committee urges all who are interested to learn more and run!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO FILE AND RUN FOR A SEAT ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:

• The Candidate’s Guide put together by The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) takes you through the process of becoming a School Board candidate, and helps you understand what it takes to be an effective School Board member.

• MASB is also offering Virtual Candidate Forums throughout June and July to answer questions from prospective candidates. Information on the dates and times of the Forums is available in their Candidate’s Guide.

• The Great Lakes Political Academy (GLPA-LEAD) is offering a virtual training session for School Board candidates. This day-long training covers the key issues facing school boards, how to persuasively handle controversial issues in education today and the nuts and bolts of running for school board. The training will be offered on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 AM to 3 PM. Sign up here.

Second Highway Clean Up Tomorrownesday

COME JOIN US FOR THE SECOND HIGHWAY CLEAN UP OF 2024! 

The Houghton County Dems will be out again for our second clean up of the summer as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. Our stretch of highway is M-26 from just past Goat Hill Rd heading out of Ripley, and on through to Dollar Bay.

We’ll get together to clean our stretch of highway tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17th at 5:30pm. (Rain Date is next Wednesday, July 24th). Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags. 

THE FORECAST IS FOR A HIGH IN THE 70S, BUT AS SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE AND FORECASTS AREN’T ALWAYS RIGHT, WE STILL URGE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES.

Please join us so we can continue this very worthwhile community service. Hope to see you there!

WHEN: Wednesday, July 17th @ 5:30 PM

WHERE: Park along M-26 at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Road heading out of Ripley

If you’d like to volunteer to join the highway clean up crew contact Barb Turuc at [email protected] or leave a message at (906) 523-1233 

Coming Events - Mark Your Calendars (and Volunteer!)

We still have summer activities and events coming up and we’d love to have you join us! Below is the list of our remaining annual summer activities. Mark your calendars and volunteer:

• August 10 - HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMS CONVENTION: Pursuant to the Michigan Democratic Party’s Call to Convention on Saturday, August 24th, all County and District Conventions across Michigan shall occur on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Our County Convention will convene at the hour designated in our local Call to Convention, which will be issued no later than July 26th. The purpose of our County Convention will be to elect Members and Alternates to the State Convention Committees and to consider resolutions to be forwarded to the State Party. NOTE: Delegates with eligibility to vote at the County Convention shall be the members of the MDP residing in Houghton County whose membership was renewed at least thirty (30) days prior to the County Convention held on August 10, 2024 - which is July 11, 2024. (Precinct Delegates, Democratic elected officials and Democratic nominees to partisan offices residing in Houghton County may become members that day when they register at the County Convention.)

• August 16 and 17 - PASTY FEST: We’ll have a booth again this year at Pasty Fest in Calumet. Come join us as we talk to folks, hand out literature, and soak in the celebration of what the Fest producers call “the magical product of Cornish cookery, the pasty!”

• August 22 thru 25 - HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR: We staff a table every year to engage with the public and distribute literature. We’ll have our button maker and materials ready for the kids to create their own button designs, while we chat with the adults.

• Labor Day Weekend - LABOR DAY PICNIC: Each year we gather over Labor Day Weekend to picnic and connect as we get ready for the fall campaign season.

If you’d like to volunteer for any of these activities let us know. Just leave a message at (906) 523-1233 or email us at [email protected]

Our Next Monthly Meeting

HCDP Monthly Meetings: Unless otherwise communicated our monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Potluck at 6 PM, Meeting at 7 PM. In the conference room at the Houghton Super 8, and by Zoom (starting at 7 PM).

NEXT MEETING: August 7th

Governmental & Community Meetings

TUE JULY 16
The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info can be found on the Village's website. 

The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:00 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information on the Council, it's committees, and minutes of past meetings can be found on the Village’s News & Events webpage.

WED JULY 17

The City of Houghton is considering upgrades to several public parks, and is seeking input from the public. A Houghton Parks Improvement Open House will be held Wednesday from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Houghton City Center at 616 Shelden Avenue. The targeted parks are Garnet Street Park, West Houghton Neighborhood Park, and Woodhaven Park. Residents who cannot attend the session may submit written comments to [email protected], or by US mail to City of Houghton, P.O. Box 606, Houghton, MI.

Governmental meetings are scheduled throughout the month by bodies from the County Commission to City, Village and Township boards, committees and commissions; as well as local School Boards and the Copper Country Intermediate School District.

Check by phone or on the particular governmental website for meeting notices in your community. Your participation in local government meetings lets your elected and appointed officials know you are interested in their work, and can provide you with the opportunity to speak about your concerns during public comment periods