You don't have to be a full time activist to fight Trump. You can be what I like to call a Lunch Hour Activist: someone who calls their representatives and does other quick action items on their lunch breaks.
Here are a list of seven things you can do in ONE lunch hour to make a difference. Scripts are included!
(And if you've like to read more about the issues discussed below, see the Sources list at the bottom of the page.)
Call the Department of Justice and ask them to audit the vote due to Russian interference.
Russia launched cyberattacks at the US during the election and considering Putin's fondness for Trump, there's sufficient evidence to suggest that Russia's interference with the election helped get Trump elected. You can call the Department of Justice (DOJ) to encourage them to audit the vote. That number is (202) 353-1555.
Here's a script:
Hi, my name is [Name] from [City, State]. I'm concerned about Russia's interference in the US election and believe the election was swayed in President-Elect Trump's favor. I think it's important that the DOJ investigate this. If there's nothing to hide, no evidence will be found anyway, so there's nothing to lose. But if something was found, the American people deserve to know.
Call Jason Chaffetz and ask the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to investigate Trump's financial conflicts.
A government is a kleptocracy when those in power exploit their country's people and resources to further their own wealth and power. And that's exactly what we'll have if Trump's conflicts of interest are not addressed---he could easily use his political power to further his business gains.
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) is head of the House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform, the committee which should investigate Trump's financial conflicts. As yet, they've made no moves to do so. You can call Chaffetz at his DC office at (202) 225-7751 and his Utah office at (801) 851-2500 to encourage him to investigate.
Here's a script:
Hi, my name is [Name] from [City, State] and I'm concerned about Trump's financial conflicts of interest, particularly how he might use the presidency to further his own business interests and financial gain. I believe it's important for the President of the United States to be beholden to the people, not to any business interests, especially when they're his own business interests. I find Trump's reluctance to disclose his tax records and unwillingness to put his business in a blind trust (that doesn't include his children) worrisome. I would like the House Committee on Oversight and Reform to investigate Trump's financial conflicts. If there's nothing to hide, no evidence will be found anyway. But if there are conflicts of interests, that's something the American people deserve to know.
Take Paul Ryan's phone survey about the Affordable Care Act.
Millions of Americans have benefited from the Affordable Care Act, more colloquially known as Obamacare. If Trump repeals it in part or in full, the consequences could be disastrous. Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, wants people's input on Obamacare. You can call (202) 225-0600 to take a phone survey (answering questions using your keypad). It literally takes about three minutes.
Call Governor Kasich (R-OH) and encourage him to veto the 6- and 20-week abortion bans currently up for legislation.
This is important even if you're not from Ohio. As the old saying goes, "So goes Ohio, so goes the nation." If a swing state like Ohio is able to pass such harsh restrictions on abortion, the bigoted legislators emboldened by Trump's win will do the same in other states. At present, Ohio, a state with three of the country's major cities, only has eight abortion clinics for the entire state.
The House and Senate have passed a "heartbeat bill," which bans abortion after a heartbeat is detected, thus outlawing abortion after 6 weeks. Most women don't even know they're pregnant at 6 weeks, especially if they weren't planning it, so a 6-week ban on abortion is effectively a complete ban on abortion.
The heartbeat bill passed the Ohio House and Senate, so it's headed to Kasich's desk now. A separate 20-week abortion bill is also on Ohio's legislative docket, so while you're encouraging him to veto the 6-week abortion bill, encourage him to veto the 20-week one, too, should it come to his desk. You can call him at (614) 466-3555.
Here's a script, though note that it's been modified for those outside of Ohio. If you're from Ohio you can just say what city you're in.
Hi, my name is [Name]. (Although I'm not from Ohio,) I'm extremely concerned about the 6-week abortion ban as its passing could lead other states with legislators emboldened by Trump's win to push similar measures. Most women don't even know they're pregnant at six weeks, so a 6-week ban on abortion could effectively mean a ban on abortion outright. Not only is this unconstitutional, the law would likely be struck down in courts, which would mean an epic waste of taxpayer dollars. Not only that, it's important that we recognize women as the intelligent humans they are, fully capable about making their own decisions about what's best for them, their bodies, their families, and their circumstances. I urge you to veto the 6-week abortion ban, and the 20-week abortion ban should it land on your desk, too. Women need to make healthcare decisions with physicians, not politicians.
You can also email Kasich's office here and here.
Call your senators and tell them Jeff Sessions is too racist to be Attorney General.
Trump has appointed Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as Attorney General. Jeff Sessions is just as racist, if not more so, than anyone wearing a white hood and burning crosses. Sessions is so racist he prosecuted black people for voting during the Civil Rights Movement. It bears repeating: they were trying to vote and he prosecuted them. Sessions is so racist he was turned down for a federal judgeship in 1986 due to concerns about his unabashed hatred of black people. It's not like he's gotten any better. He was too racist then, and he's too racist now.
The reason it's important to call your senators about Sessions is because the Senate has to approve the appointment. First the Senate Judiciary committee approves the appointment, then the full Senate. Considering that Republicans hold the majority in Congress, I don't doubt that they'll approve Sessions for Attorney General.
Find out who your Senators are and contact them at the number provided. Here's a script:
Hi, my name is [Name] from [City, State]. I'm concerned about Jeff Sessions' appointment as Attorney General. Sessions has a dubious track record that includes a laundry list of racist offenses, including prosecuting black people for voting during the Civil Rights era. It's important that the Attorney General uphold the law and the Constitution, and it's vital that the Attorney General dole out justice equally for ALL Americans. I don't think Jeff Sessions is capable of doing that. I urge you to reject his appointment when it is brought before the Senate and work toward bringing someone to the table who's more suited for the job.
Support Republicans who are going against their party to fight Trump.
When you hear one horror store after the other about things the Republicans are doing, it's hard to believe some of them are going against their party to fight Trump. But there are some! And you can thank them and encourage them to sway their counterparts to more reasonable goals. The Republicans against Trump will most likely have more influence in their party than Democrats on the other side of the aisle will, so this is a good time to buddy up to the ones with good sense.
For example, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) do not agree with Trump's staunch immigration stance. They support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a bill which offers protection for "Dreamers," the population of young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and often have no memory of their home countries. They're just as American as anyone---this is their home.
As Fight Trump 2017 says, "Dreamers have been able to receive two-year work permits that allow them to work and pay taxes, receive in-state tuition, and most importantly, protection from deportation. Many Dreamers did not know they were undocumented until they tried to apply for a driver’s license or for college. There is currently no path to citizenship for Dreamers. If Trump decides to repeal DACA, the information these young people submitted in good faith could be used to track them down for deportation. Some now have children who are US citizens."
Here's a script:
Hi, my name is [Name] from [City/State]. I wanted to thank you for your support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Dreamers are just as American as any of us, regardless of where they were born. I'm so glad you support Dreamers being able to receive work permits that allow them to pay taxes, receive in-state tuition, and not have to worry about deportation. I was so happy to hear you support DACA, though I wish more of your fellow Republicans would do the same. I encourage you to talk to them and do your part to make them see the value in supporting Dreamers, too.
Sign up for the emails lists at Fight Trump and Injustice Boycott to get small daily action items emailed directly to you.
There are so many small things you can do every week that can really add up and make a difference. Collective action is a powerful thing. If you enjoyed these action items, sign up for the email newsletters of Fight Trump and Injustice Boycott.
Your voice matters. Let's make it count!
Sources:
Russia's interference with the US election: here, here, here, here, and here.
Trump's conflicts of interest: here, here, here, here, here, and here.
What might happen if Obamacare is repealed: here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Ohio heartbeat bill: here, here, and here.
Jeff Sessions is a racist: here, here, here, here, and here.
DACA and Dreamers: here, here, here, and here.
