MARCH 2023

President Biden State of the Union Takeaways.

Ohio Train Derailment Prompts Calls to Investigate Federal Oversight of Trains by Rail Workers

Oxford High. Sandy Hook. For some Michigan State students, shootings are nothing new.

Disinformation Researchers Raise Alarms About A.I. Chatbots.

Honoring Pathbreakers.

Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States. The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

Presidential Update.

Republicans are threatening default and economic catastrophe unless they can force through their agenda. And while they are continuing to keep that agenda secret, virtually every Republican budget over the last decade has included repeal of the Affordable Care Act and deep cuts to Medicaid. This agenda would raise health care costs for seniors, working families, and Americans with pre-existing conditions—and cause millions of people to lose their coverage. More than 100 million people with pre-existing health conditions could lose critical protections. Tens of millions of people could see their prescription drug coverage scaled back. 40 million people’s health insurance coverage would be at risk. Over 7 million seniors and people with disabilities could receive worse home care, and nursing care could suffer, with ballooning wait lists for those still in need. Millions of people could lose access to substance use treatment or mental health care.

Take Action.

We still need accountability for January 6th. A growing number of voters, businesses, churches, and civic organizations are pledging to defend democracy from attempts to overturn our elections, as we saw in 2020. People in positions of authority in the media and in Congress lied—and in many cases continue to lie—about the election being stolen. Those lies led to a deadly attack on our Capitol. Many rioters have been arrested, but the instigators of the mob are still at it. It’s time to defend democracy against those who sought to overturn it.

Elect Women.

Whomever you are. Wherever you have been. You have the opportunity right now to be heard and make a difference. There are state and local political opportunities for Democratic pro-choice women just like you with a drive to serve and the courage to run.

National Day of Action: Stop Dirty Banks!

We knew anti-choice extremists wouldn’t be satisfied with just overturning Roe, nor would they be discouraged by the 2022 midterms, which definitively proved that the vast majority of Americans support the right to abortion. NARAL volunteers across the country are fueling the fight at both the state and federal levels to pass proactive legislation that expands access to abortion care and to block efforts that further erode our freedoms. But it will take all of us doing everything we can to build the future we want.

Tens of millions of Americans in 32 states will see the pandemic boost to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits expire at the end of February. Programs like SNAP aren’t glamorous. If you think they are, you should try living off $2 per meal. SNAP must be expanded, not cut. It’s up to Congress to say that in the richest country in the history of the world, no one should go hungry. 

Recent Events!

Upcoming Events!

March 8 – International Women’s Day

March 12 – The Oscars

March 13 – NCAA Basketball March Madness Begins

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day – Get the MAGA snakes OUT of our country!

March 21 – Break up with the banks who fund NEW fossil fuel projects Day of Action

March 28 – The Movement and the “Madman” Premieres on PBS

May 1 – Heather Booth receives 2023 Puffin Award for a lifetime of social change organizing

May 17 – Midwest Academy Awards – 50 Year Anniversary

Ukraine.

From long-time movement singer/activist Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) with a version of the wonderful peace song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”

Newsletter Created by Cara Homick and Samantha Cotter