The Power of Collective Action

Dear Friend, 

Sitting on a little island in the Salish Sea, it’s easy to wonder if our efforts to protect democracy are doing any good. We contact elected leaders, write letters, show up for protests, boycott enablers, and support fellow fighters? Does it matter?

The answer is yes! Indivisible Whidbey is one of THOUSANDS of community-based groups, large and small, all over the country, standing up to the racist, fascist regime that is our current national leadership. Together, hundreds of thousands of small and large actions have an impact. Change is not happening as quickly as we would like, but it is happening. Together, we are creating a path to a better future. It’s hard work and discouraging at times. But collective action is what we can and must do now and in the years ahead.

Elections
The biggest potential for change in 2026 is through the mid-term elections. Significant wins will allow us to stop the free rein that right-wing nationalists currently enjoy. Indivisible Whidbey is committed to having an impact at the local, state, and national levels. What are you willing to do?

1. Canvass on Whidbey Island, talking with moderate neighbors about voting for change.

Three upcoming canvass trainings are scheduled:
Sign up for canvassing training on March 11 at Freeland Library, 6–7:30 pm.
Sign up for canvassing training on March 14 in Oak Harbor, 10–11:30 am.
Sign up for canvassing training on March 17 at Coupeville Library, 6–7:30 pm.

2. Canvass in-state but out of our district: Washington Congressional District 3 representative Marie Glusenkamp-Perez may be facing an opponent in the Primary. Stay tuned to learn how you can help ensure this district is represented by someone who supports democracy and civil rights.
3. Travel to another state to help flip a critical congressional seat.

4. Participate in a phonebank or textbank to contact voters in another state to flip a critical congressional seat

Sign up here by email or on the website.

Postcarding
Write letters and postcards to voters in other states, persuading them to vote for change. Join us at the Freeland Library on February 25 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. Everything you need to write and send the postcards will be available there. You can also pick some up to fill out at home. 

Sign up to write and send postcards by email or on our website.

This is the time to think about 2026 and your role in shaping the future of our country!

Town Halls
Make your voice heard at an upcoming town hall with State Senator Ron Muzzal and State Representative Dave Paul:

Saturday, February 21, at 11 am 
The Center, 51 SW Jerome Street, Oak Harbor
Submit questions in advance here. 

If you’re not sure what to ask, take a look at this document that shows Sen. Ron Muzzal’s and Rep. Dave Paul’s positions on upcoming bills.


State Representative Clyde Shavers has also announced a town hall on Whidbey next week:

Thursday, February 26, 4–5 pm
Whidbey Island Nordic Hall, 63 Jacobs Rd, Coupeville


Zoom Training Opportunities
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) is offering two Zoom trainings:

Rapid Response Network, March 6 from 6-8 pm. Training will cover how to monitor reported violations of immigrants' rights, support affected families, and build community leadership.
Know Your Rights, March 11 from 6-7:30 pm. Training will cover how to support yourself and your community during encounters with immigration enforcement agents.

Both sessions will be in English and Spanish. Register here on WAISN's website.

Lobby Days
Lobby days are opportunities for citizens to meet with legislators to persuade them to support bills that align with their values or to oppose ones that don't. Our legislative advocacy team met virtually with Representatives Paul and Shavers in early February to discuss bills on education, childcare, voting rights, and Flock cameras. Both representatives shared our views on these issues. Senator Muzzall has not responded to our calls or emails.

Take Action Network (TAN)
The 2026 Legislative Session ends on March 12. This final month is all about budget decisions. Take a look at TAN's list of suggested actions to see where you can influence funding (enroll in Take Action Network here on the Indivisible Whidbey homepage).

The Senate passed the controversial Millionaires’ tax, SB 6346, and the House has yet to vote on it. HB 2724 will align with SB 6346 to establish a new 9.9% tax on annual income over $1,000,000 to fund education, healthcare, and small-business tax relief. Click here and sign in "pro" in support of the bill for the House Finance Committee's upcoming hearing.

Sign in Pro to support HB 1710 (Concerning compliance with the Washington Voting Rights Act of 2018). This bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate. It introduces a pre-clearance requirement to help prevent vote dilution and the abridgment of voting rights. When covered jurisdictions with a history of discrimination wish to change their voting policies, the law will require them to obtain the Attorney General's pre-approval before implementing the new policies.

Support SB 5906 (Prohibiting ICE from entering schools, daycares, and hospitals without a judicial warrant): Sign in "Pro" for the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee's Public Hearing. This bill has passed the Senate and is now in the House. It prohibits immigration authorities from entering nonpublic areas of facilities such as early learning, K-12, higher education, healthcare, adult family homes, and some election sites without a warrant or court order. It also prohibits employees of these facilities from collecting information on students' or their family members' immigration status.

The SAVE Act is still a threat with its proposed documentation requirements that would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, including married individuals who have taken their spouse’s surname. Click the TAN link here to contact Senators Murray and Cantwell and express your concerns about the act. 

In Memoriam: Reverend Jesse Jackson
Indivisible Whidbey joins the nation in mourning the Rev. Jesse Jackson. We stand on his courageous shoulders as we give our all to promote democracy and equity.  His outspoken leadership continues to inspire us. He worked to ensure that the Bill of Rights applied to people of all races and economic statuses. We follow in his footsteps as we protect free and fair elections open to all citizens, freedom of speech, freedom to gather, and freedom from unlawful arrests and seizures.

In Solidarity,
Indivisible Whidbey Steering Committee