We all know that in November, we ALL need to vote. But, honestly, that’s not going to be enough this year. These are extraordinary times, so they call for more than casting our own ballots. We CAN beat the extremists, but ONLY if we push ourselves.
Boots on the Ground Midwest was founded specifically to motivate people to take action….NOW! So here are your marching orders:
Start talking. Tell everyone you know how important it is to vote in November. Also, know that social pressure gets people to the polls. (A well-known study documented this.) Kansans — stay tuned for information about to join our Voter to Voter team.
Learn who’s running. We focus a lot of attention on federal races — and we should! But the folks we send to the statehouse have a profound impact on our quality of life.
In Kansas, all 125 House of Representative seats are up for re-election. See the full list of candidates here. Find out what house district you’re in here.
In Missouri, 17 Senate seats and every state Representative seat is up for election. Here’s a list of all candidates. Find out your district here.
Give something. Every candidate needs one of two things from us: our time or our money. Figure out what you can give — then follow through. The stakes have NEVER been higher.
We have 71 days left until the midterms. Let’s look back and feel good about the role we had in changing course!
Take our quick poll about getting involved in the general election.
Two area city councils will discuss whether to codify the Halo Act in their communities this week. The Halo Act, passed last year despite a Gov. Kelly veto, makes it a federal crime to come within 25 feet of a first responder on duty. The law is intended to make it difficult for people responding to ICE raids to record and witness the detainments.
However, the act violates our first amendment right to record law enforcement — and its vague wording creates a messy situation for municipal officers called to enforce the law. (ICE officers can’t arrest U.S. citizens who they allege are violating the act.)
Yes, both of these ordinances are already covered by the Halo Act at the state level. But when cities pass these as standard operating procedures they are normalizing the blatant disregard to our first amendment rights. Contact your city councilperson to voice your opposition. The HALO act does not make our communities safer.
Olathe residents: YOUR City Council is discussing this tomorrow, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Olathe City Hall. Residents can sign up to speak and voice their opposition. Here are the guidelines.
Overland Park residents: YOUR City Council is voting on Ordinance No. POC-3529 tonight 8/17. This formalizes the HALO Act as a City ordinance, not just a state law. Here is the link to the agenda.
Across the metro area, some 1,500 cameras track our movements. These Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR), often known as one of the brand names Flock, are installed by municipalities to ostensibly help solve crimes. But, concern is growing about misuse and privacy violations.
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.
✅ TONIGHT Monday, August 17th | 6:00 p.m. | Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church | 9400 Pflumm Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215 | REGISTER HERE
✅ NOTE: This week marks the National Week of Action Against ALPR’s. The Kansas City Chapter of the DSA is hosting a series of educational forums on the topic. Learn more 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
JoCo Mutual Aid offers no-barrier support to organizations in Johnson County that fill in the gaps, especially with our immigrant community.
Join us at Servaes Brewing Company for music bing. Dress as your favorite era, buy lots of bingo cards ($5 each) and donate baby formula and diapers.
✅ Wed. Aug. 26 | 7 p.m. | Servaes Brewery | 18921 Johnson Drive. | Shawnee
Sign up isn’t required but it can help us with headcount.
Donate to our supply drive! We’re collecting diapers, formula, underwear and hygiene items for El Centro and Center of Grace. You don’t even have to get out of your car!
✅ Sat. and Sunday | Aug. 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Drop off locations: Saint Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, 13890 W. 127th St.; Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church in Lenexa, 9400 Pflumm; First Lutheran Church in Mission Hills, 6400 State Line Rod.
Join the Boots on the Ground protest every Saturday! We also collect food for Peggy’s Pantry, a no-barrier pantry at 8435 Russell St in OP. This week’s item: canned black beans
✅ 75th & Metcalf | 9:30 - 10:30 am | Every Saturday
This month Indivisible is matching our donations. Our goal — to send thousands of postcards to unaffiliated voters. Those voters are often ignored by party-specific outreach but they play a critical role in getting people elected.
➡️ With the match, your $15 donation, would mean we can reach about 50 voters.
➡️Y our $25 donation, would allow us to reach about 80 voters.
The match runs through August. We’re so grateful for any amount you can give. Boots on the Ground is a 501(c)4. We are an all-volunteer group and 100 percent of the donations we receive goes back into efforts to preserve our democracy.
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
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