It’s go time, voters.
Only 20 percent of registered voters show up for the primaries in non-presidential years. If you’re reading this, you’re not among the 80 percent who sit the election out.
But you know people who are.
Share these resources! (And if you haven’t voted yet, let’s go!)
MO Absentee Ballot — No Excuses Absentee voting has started!
Vote NO on Amendment 4 and Amendment 5
Info on KS Dropboxes
Vote NO on the Kansas Supreme Court measure
Are you an Election Day Voter?
Be sure you know your polling place and set aside time to vote.
Also, check out the Kansas City Star’s voting guide — and share it with friends.
Join us for two pop-up rallies to remind Missourians to get to the polls and vote NO on Amendments 4 and 5. Here’s why these rallies matter:
They provide proof that voting a certain way — in this case, “no” — has support.
They often persuade “soft” or “unmotivated” voters to get to the polls. (Well, if they can stand on a street corner, I can show up and vote!)
They remind the community to pay attention to our local government.
✅ Tuesday, July 28 | 4:30-6 | Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd & Troost
✅ Wednesday, July 29 | 4:30-6 | Paseo and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Last week, we partnered with El Centro to host a vigil and rally to support our immigrant neighbors in Olathe as they navigate the fear and pain of escalating ICE raids.
About 130 people heard community leaders talk about the grief our neighbors feel; the beauty our immigrant neighbors bring to our schools; and the need for faith leaders to stand up and be loud about the moral and legal injustices happening in our communities EVERY DAY. (Stay tuned to see the full video on our YouTube page. Here’s the Johnson County Post article.)
Here’s a way we can ALL show support EVERY DAY. Order a yard sign for your home or business.
All proceeds from the $20 sign go to support El Centro and Center of Grace, which provide services for our immigrant neighbors in Olathe. (A note on the design: The vibrant images overlapping around the border are drawings of the countries that many of our neighbors come from. )
✅ ORDER YARD SIGNS HERE. Choose from any message below.
One of the most impactful ways we can challenge the rise of white Christian Nationalism, is by engaging faith leaders. Faith leaders from every religion can unite to bring a powerful voice and unwavering image of unity. If you are part of a religious community, start a conversation with your faith leadership. Help them understand why this moment is so important. Here are some tips to start the conversation:
Make an appointment in advance. Don’t try to catch them quickly after a service.
Frame your conversation as an exploration, not a debate. “I’ve been thinking about [an issue in the news] and wondered how our faith’s teachings might frame it.”
Ask what they’re hearing from others in your own community and throughout the faith community as a whole.
Ask them if they would be willing to have more public conversations about the topic.
Here are a few organizations that are working hard to engage faith communities in action:
Kansas Interfaith Action (This group is a force!)
✅ Tuesday, Aug. 4 | 6:30 - 9 p.m. | Burg and Barrel | Downtown OP
🥳🥳🥳 Mark your calendars for our election night watch party. Doesn’t matter if we’re rooting for different folks in the primary. At the end of the day, we’re all for democracy. And there will be snacks! SIGN UP HERE
Join us at a Community Hub in August to chat about the primary election, hear what others are working on, and most importantly, connect! No single meet-up or action is going to solve our problems, but building strong communities is what will see us through.
Last month in Community Hubs we talked about why we keep coming back to these small-group meetings. A few typical responses...
Helps us feel energized
Small size makes it more comfortable to share
Good chance to ask questions or find a mentor
The format of the hubs is always evolving. If you haven’t been in a while, come again to see what we’re up to now. Your participation is what makes BOTG Community Hubs – and our pro-democracy work – truly impactful! Attend whichever hub works for you.
August 1 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Waldo | South Broadland Presbyterian | Register Here
August 3 | 1:30 - 3:00 pm | Leawood | Leawood Library | Register Here
August 5 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Merriam Library | NE JoCo | Register Here
August 6 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Shawnee | TBD (check Mobilize for updates) | Register Here
August 6 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Lenexa/Overland Park/Olathe | Shawnee Mission Unitarian Church | Register Here
August 6 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | NEW! Midtown | Kansas City Oasis | Register Here
ICE agents at an Olathe apartment complex.
Every day, masked and armed agents abduct people from Kansas City and Johnson County streets in broad daylight.
Neighbors are being detained without due process. They are taken from their cars, workplaces and homes without a warrant and with no opportunity to call a lawyer or their family. They’re then quickly shipped from facility to facility so attorneys and family can’t find them.
These are NOT criminals. These are mothers and fathers who bought into the American dream and moved here to make a better life for their family. (Did you know it’s not a criminal offense to overstay a visa and be here undocumented. It’s a civil offense.) Only 3 percent of people who are detained have committed a felony.
This is not the America we want. We cannot normalize para-military activity in our streets, which is why we must bear witness to what is happening — and call our elected officials and voice our rage.
Join us for a Community Defense Training to learn more about how ICE operates — and how we can stand up for our immigrant neighbors.
✅ Tuesday, August 11 | 6 p.m. | Lenexa | RSVP here (Required. Address will be sent before event.)
We all have different amounts of time and capacity to show up for the resistance. What matters is that we stay in the fight. Our democracy is in serious peril so every action counts.
Here are five to choose from. We’d love to hear what YOU DO this week to show up for our country and our future. Let us know on our socials or email us at: info@bootsonthegroundmidwest.org. We’d love to share your stories. (First names only!)
1️⃣ Remind three people to get to the polls. (Or even one person!) To make it easy, share the voting information above. Doesn’t matter if you text, email or call. Just get them there.
2️⃣ Phone bank for a cause. Spend one hour phone banking. Training and support is always provided — and you can do this from your couch. A great place to start?
ACLU of Kansas is sharing voting information this week at 6 p.m. July 28 and July 30. Sign up here.
Kansans United for Impartial Courts is talking about VOTING NO every night this week at 6 p.m.
Find a candidate you support. They’d LOVE the help this week.
3️⃣ Wear your values. Wear a button supporting a cause you’re passionate about. It may start a conversation, get people thinking — or show others they aren’t alone.
4️⃣ Check in on a neighbor. The resistance relies on a strong community network. If you have an isolated or lonely neighbor, check in and see if they need anything.
5️⃣ Support and champion an immigrant-owned business. Sure your local grocery store has cinnamon or cheese. But make your purchase have an impact by supporting an immigrant-owned business. (Bonus points: Leave a positive review.)
We want to make sure our newsletter continues to deliver. Take our poll.
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!
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