Illinois
Related: About this forumCalling all Illinois DU members, especially in the Chicago area
The GOP is truly terrible at policy, and governance, but they do understand how critically important it is to run candidates for office at every level of government. From local school boards, to library boards, to town and township posts, the GOP recruits people.
By doing so, the GOP inspires people to run for office, and these people spread the GOP narrative. And to be honest, often Democrats look instead to state wide or national offices, and ignore local races. But remember that Sarah Palin got her start running for mayor of a tiny town in Alaska.
In my area, 2 local, very progressive women are running for offices in Palos Township. The township is located southwest of Chicago. It has been the site of many protests, mainly concerning a racist Trustee who frequently posts her Islamophobic brand of hatred on Facebook. And she often identifies as a Palos Trustee, using her status as a local politician to strengthen her message.
If you are interested in learning more about the Palos Township situation, I am including a link.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-palos-township-dispute-st-1007-20201006-55ecsoeszjfahnrk6p25rpgm6i-story.html
These women are both very active in the community, and one in particular is active in nearly every progressive cause there is.
The reasons I am writing, and posting this, are twofold. To spread the message that people are actively fighting against every form of hate, and to ask the DU community to consider making a donation via Act Blue.
I am including links to their Facebook pages, a well as a link to ActBlue, and a link to volunteer for anyone who is interested. Volunteer opportunities include text messaging and phone banking. Please, if you can, consider donating, and consider volunteering.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mervatefortrustee/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/tammyforclerk/
Donation Link: https://bit.ly/contributetm
Volunteer Link: https://bit.ly/volunteertm
LuvLoogie
(7,539 posts)I'll check out your links and see if I can swing a donation.
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)And if you can, check out the volunteer link as well.
Please, if you are on Facebook, link to their posts as well.
LuvLoogie
(7,539 posts)I will try to make time to help, too
AllaN01Bear
(23,007 posts)and nobody really noticed them and they did it for 50 years , or more .
dutch777
(3,447 posts)...all politics is local. And, we are not going to build a better and more inclusive Democratic party unless we start at the local and grassroots level. I posted earlier about way too much of a gerontocracy at the national Dem level, despite my love and respect for all that Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and many others have done over many decades of service. We need to plant seeds at home and the original post on this string speaks to that concept well.
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)And yes, we need younger people to step up.
BunnyMcGee
(475 posts)i will make a donation, Wheaton here
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)And if you can, check out the volunteer link as well.
Please, if you are on Facebook, link to their posts as well.
I personally know both of them. They are very smart, active in community affairs, and they would make great additions to the Twp. Board.