85 days until the election. Let's go!!!!!!!

Here’s what’s next: Showing up. That’s ALWAYS next. Because showing up — knocking doors, making calls, protesting — is what makes a difference. That’s why both Missouri and Kansas saw huge primary wins. We the People took control of our government and made our voices heard. The work has just begun.

We have 85 days until the next election. Candidates need our help. BUT, both candidates and elected officials need to know we are watching their actions and their words. We WILL hold them accountable and we WILL vote accordingly…in large numbers. Want to help a candidate but not sure how?

• Fill out the volunteer form on their website or message them on social media.

• Contact your local party headquarters and ask what you can do.

This week, take a look at all the available ways you can connect and participate.

✅ Pick two or three! Send us pics and we’ll share them next week! Tag us on social media or email us at: info@bootsonthegroundmidwest.org

“But what does protesting really do?”

Ugh. If we had a dime for every time we heard that, we wouldn’t ask for donations. (See link at the bottom of the newsletter.) Here’s what protests do:

• Regular protests provide visible reminders to our community that we are NOT OK with what’s going on. (And we are NOT OK.)

• They give others permission to join us. That person who’s on the fence? They see us and they realize they can stand up too.

• It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded people, express your frustration, and support our community. Here are three weekly protests you can join:

🌻 Kansas:

• 75th & Metcalf | 9:30 - 10:30 am | Every Saturday - This protest also collects food for Peggy’s Pantry, a no-barrier pantry at 8435 Russell St in OP. This week’s item: canned tuna.

• 87th & Mauer | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Every Saturday - Great community feel!

• 7011 W. 121st Street, Overland Park | 3:00 p.m. | Every Friday - Roger Marshall’s Office

🫏 Missouri:

• 4685 Mill Creek Pkwy, Kansas City, MO |12:00 - 2:00 pm | Every Saturday

• 4110 S Lee’s Summit Road, Independence | 4:00 - 600 pm | Every Friday - Bridge Brigadiers

• 10111 State Line Rd, KCMO | 3:00 - 4:30 pm | Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday - Tesla Takedown

Being informed, watchful and vocal about the illegal ICE detainments in our community will ultimately be the way we overcome. If you haven’t yet attended an informational training, sign up now! You’ll learn how ICE operates, how they target our neighbors and what you can do to help.

There will also be opportunities to get involved by joining our Mutual Aid group, court watchers and community observers. Location will be provided after sign-up and prior to event.

✅ Tuesday, August 11 | Lenexa, KS | SIGN UP HERE

Show your support for our immigrant neighbors with this stunning sign — and support two of the most worthy non-profits in our area, El Centro and Center of Grace.

Put the sign in your yard or window. Do you live in an HOA that doesn’t allow signs? You can still buy one and we’ll donate the sign to an Olathe small business. Or just make a donation!

All profits from the $20 sign go to support El Centro and Center of Grace. (A note on the design: The vibrant images overlapping around the border are drawings of the origin countries of many of our neighbors.)

✅ ORDER YARD SIGNS HERE.

Across the metro area, some 1,500 cameras track our movements. These Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR), often called Flock, are installed by municipalities to ostensibly help solve crimes. But, concern is growing because data is stored for 30 days and can be accessed by law enforcement through Flock's network, which allows agencies to share information across jurisdictions without a warrant.

Join us to hear from Samuel G. MacRoberts, General Counsel and Litigation Director for the Kansas Justice Institute. He has successfully prosecuted ALPR cases and will share insights into the legal implications. We'll also hear from our Lenexa neighbor who was targeted by Lenexa police through ALPR cameras after writing an op-ed that criticized them. He'll give an overview of how cameras are deployed in our area.

DONATE: Please bring items to donate to Growing Futures Head Start: Diapers and Pull-ups in sizes 4-6, and little one's undies (girls and boys) sizes 4T-5T and up.

✅ Monday, August 17th | 6:00 p.m. | Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church | 9400 Pflumm Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215 | REGISTER HERE

Anti-choice advocates are trying to repeal Amendment 3 from 2024, the “Right to Reproductive Freedom” measure Missouri voters already approved. The upcoming Amendment 3 would ban abortion in the state, except to protect the life of the mother, or, up to 12 weeks, in cases of rape and incest.

Join us to learn about Amendment 3 at the August Boots Meet Up KCMO. We will have a speaker from Abortion Action Missouri present information that will be critical to understanding the amendment — and what you can do to support women’s healthcare in Missouri.

DONATE: Please bring non-perishable food for the pantry at South-Broadland Presbyterian Church. Suggested: ready to eat/easy open food, evaporated milk, period products.

✅ Wednesday, August 19th | 6:00 p.m. | South-Broadland Presbyterian | 7850 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO | REGISTER HERE

Join us at Servaes Brewing Company on August 26th at 7:00 p.m. We’ll play some super-rad Music Bingo to support JoCo Mutual Aid.

✅ Dress as your favorite era, buy lots of bingo cards ($5 each) and donate baby formula and diapers.

The Boots on the Ground calendar offers a curated list of action items in Kansas and the KCMO metro.

Please submit items for the calendar to: calendar@bootsonthegroundmidwest.org

First, thanks for being part of the resistance. We need every one of you!

We keep our work free because we want everyone to have access to information and resources aimed at preserving democracy and fighting authoritarianism.

You can support through Substack by opting for a paid subscription. Or, you can donate through here. Thank you so much!