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WHERE WE STAND
As we all know, last week Charlie Kirk, a political activist and close ally of Donald Trump, was murdered as he spoke to a student group on the campus of Utah Valley University.
In our July 16th newsletter of last year, after the assassination attempt against then former president and presidential-candidate-again Donald Trump, we made clear where we stand with a lead article titled Political Violence is Never Acceptable.
In that item we said, “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.”
We have not wavered in that sentiment and of course we continue to stand by those words today. We do not consider our political opponents our enemies. We do not advocate for harm to come to them. We do not condone violence. We believe that real, meaningful change is best achieved through peaceful means - peaceful protests, our votes at the ballot box, and candidates who stand up for what is right.
We are not blind to the fact that in today’s America there are those who do not share those sentiments. In the flurry of words spoken and written in the days since Kirk’s murder, too many voice a desire on the right for “revenge” against “them”, whoever the speaker perceives “them” to be. In this past week we’ve been the direct recipients of phone calls expressing just such misplaced anger.
We see the rush to judgement by some leaders on one side of our national politics to heap blame on the other. This is a challenge, and it’s one that we, and our nation, must rise to. Stand firm and know that, as the song says, we, as a nation, shall overcome.
While all this is going on, we are also heartened by recognition in the polls of the public’s discontent with Trump and the actions of the current administration. Many commentators have pointed to Charlie Kirk’s success in bringing young people into the MAGA-sphere, but few in their rush to judgement have considered the current drop in approval ratings, especially among the young, to this administration (just look at the “Ages18 to 34” line among Trump’s own voters in the chart below). As the Trumpists lose their shine, it stands to reason that Republicans are running the risk of losing even more support by seeming to exploit this tragic shooting with their overt calls for blind vengeance (See the comments of Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller and VP Vance over the last couple of days).
In the days and weeks ahead we urge that all of us keep steady and remain focused on what we are fighting for, and how best to achieve it - through firm convictions, peaceful protest, and voting in support of candidates who stand up for what is right.
ACTION MEETUP TOMORROW
THE SEPTEMBER ACTION MEET UP WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH AT THE SOUTH RANGE VFW.
COME JOIN US! PIZZA AND SODAS WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT FEEL FREE TO BYO OR BRING A DISH TO SHARE.
FALL HIGHWAY CLEANUP SEPTEMBER 22ND
COME JOIN US FOR THE FALL HIGHWAY CLEAN UP!
Need a break from the headlines and a chance to reconnect with nature while doing a good deed for our community? Join the Houghton County Dems as we head out on the road again this fall for our highway clean up. We’ll be cleaning our stretch of highway as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program — M-26 from just past Goat Hill Rd heading out of Ripley, and on through to Dollar Bay. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags.
Join us on Monday, September 22nd at 5:30 PM. Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd on M-26. Not sure where that is? Here’s a handy link to a Google Maps page for directions to the meeting point. (Please do not block the driveway on the Canal side of M-26.)
Questions? — Need any clarifications? Call Barb Turuc at (906) 370-5496.
HEALTHCARE FOR ALL TOWN HALL OCTOBER 15
JOIN US ON OCTOBER 15TH AT FIFTH & ELM IN HANCOCK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MICARE PROPOSAL BY MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS.
The Houghton County Dems have partnered with other local progressive groups to sponsor a Healthcare for All Town Hall.
MiCare is a proposed universal, publicly funded health care plan that would provide every Michigander comprehensive, high-quality coverage, without deductibles, co-insurance, co-pays, or caps. MiCare would maintain and add to today’s health care provider network, bringing savings to patients, employers, and providers by reducing administrative costs, resulting in direct savings for the vast majority of Michiganders.
WHEN: 7 PM Wednesday, October 15th
WHERE: Fifth & Elm, 426 Quincy Street, Hancock MI
RSVP: We respectfully request your RSVP so we have an accurate headcount for Studio Pizza and refreshments! (Click the button below or scan the QR code in the flyer above).
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY IS SEPTEMBER 27TH
Volunteers at the 2023 KNHP National Public Lands Day clean up
“National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes.”
Locally, the Keweenaw National Historical Park is looking for volunteers to join a clean up effort at the Industrial Core, located within Keweenaw National Historical Park boundaries and adjacent to the village of Calumet. The clean up effort will take place from 9 AM until noon on the 27th.
For more information and to volunteer for this clean up effort, please visit the National Environmental Education Foundation event posting.
KI TO HOLD LOCAL “NO KINGS DAY 2.0” ON OCTOBER 18
The No Kings coalition of pro-democracy groups, including the ACLU, nationwide Indivisible, the American Federation of Teachers, Public Citizen, SEIU, MoveOn, and dozens of others announced last week that the next No Kings action will take place October 18th.
Locally, Keweenaw Indivisible has taken the lead in organizing what they are calling No Kings 2.0 in the Copper Country, to be held at noon on October 18th. Additional information will be forthcoming as planning progresses. (Find the Facebook event here.)
The nationwide Indivisible group said in their announcement that, with Trump "doubling down on his authoritarian tactics," the need for sustained opposition has only grown more clear since the earlier actions.
Trump, said Invisible, "is disappearing immigrants to sprawling concentration camps, sending troops into our cities, threatening to interfere in elections, rigging maps to steal power from the voters, and orchestrating a massive giveaway to his billionaire allies as families struggle. Trump is ramping up his attacks on our rights and democracy, but we’re not backing down. On October 18, we're taking to the streets in more cities and in larger numbers to remind Trump, his cronies, and those on the sidelines looking for hope: America has no kings."
If you’d like to assist with this event or otherwise become involved with Keweenaw Indivisible, you can express your interest in joining Keweenaw Indivisible here.
Governmental & Community Meetings
TUE SEP 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 Council's web page.
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 web page.
Today is National Voter Registration Day. There will be groups on campus at Michigan Tech to register voters and distribute information. Members of the Secretary of State’s office will be available inside the Van Pelt & Opie Library to directly register individuals. This event is hosted by the Michigan Tech Voter Engagement Coalition, and all efforts are non-partisan. More information on this event can be found here.
WED SEPT 17
According to the City of Hancock’s Events calendar, the Hancock City Council meeting previously scheduled for 6 PM Wednesday night HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
SUBMIT A RESOLUTION
This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
Contact us by email at [email protected] or by text or voicemail at 906-523-1233