Join the Rutland County Democrats in supporting inclusion!

Join the Rutland County Democrats in supporting inclusion!

Please join us for our next meeting on June 14th as we discuss our work to elect candidates who represent our values and to build the kind of future that we want to live in. Part of this effort includes standing up for our most vulnerable neighbors. That’s why we’re so excited by the work that’s being done to pass a Declaration of Inclusion in every town in Rutland County. You’ve probably already heard about this, an effort that’s already making national news!
We encourage every town to adopt their own resolution. To read more about the declaration and to find talking points, you can go here. If you would like to work on this in your town, but you aren’t sure how to get started, email us and we’ll put you in touch with people who can help.
Join us in passing our own Declaration of Inclusion!
We will be voting on the passage of a Rutland County Democratic Committee Declaration of Inclusion at our June meeting.
When: Monday June 14th at 7 pm
Where: Join the Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99369836255?pwd=MnQvcTFrZXZ1dGUvVmVaUGxQenpwdz09
Meeting ID: 993 6983 6255
Passcode: 236786
Or call 646-558-8656
Read the draft meeting minutes from our last meeting: https://rutland-democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/RCDC-Meeting-Minutes-Apr-2021.docx.pdf
And let us know what you think of our draft Declaration of Inclusion, modeled on the declaration that’s being passed across Rutland County:
The Rutland County Democratic Committee condemns racism and discrimination of any type and welcomes all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability, and will protect these classes to the fullest extent of the law.
As a committee, we formally condemn discrimination in all its forms and commit to fair and equal treatment of everyone in our community.
The Rutland County Democratic Committee is committed to providing a space where the most marginalized can feel safe.
Hope to “see” you on June 14!

Tomorrow May 8th at 4 pm Voting Rights Demonstration in Main Street Park in Rutland

Republicans are after our voting rights

Republicans have introduced 361 voter suppression bills in 47 states. If they succeed in taking enough state legislatures, they can call a Constitutional Convention and rewrite the Constitution with new voting restrictions. They could introduce property requirements, as Steve Bannon hoped, or worse.

We may never see another Democratic President in our lifetimes.

The lives of our most vulnerable community members are at stake!

Stand up for voting rights

Castleton Indivisible is inviting the public to join them in a national day of action to fight for voting rights.

When: Saturday May 8th from 4 – 5 pm
Where: Main Street Park in Rutland
What: Hold signs to educate the public and to show our support for federal measures to save voting rights:

Pass S1 to end voter suppression https://indivisible.org/resource/people-act-strengthening-our-democracy
Pass HR 4 John Lewis Voting Rights Act https://indivisible.org/resource/democracy-reform-john-lewis-voting-rights-act
Pass HR 51 DC Statehood https://indivisible.org/resource/making-democracy-reform-priority-dc-statehood
End Filibuster https://indivisible.org/resource/congress-101-filibuster

On Republican voter suppression legislation: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/state-voting-bills-tracker-2021

If you can’t make the May 8th demonstration:
Please talk to your friends and family in other states about the importance of these issues. And you can check out the links above for more information from Indivisible. You can record a video about the importance of DC Statehood and more! (Check out this video made by Mary Droege, Rutland County Democratic Grassroots Chair and Castleton Indivisible Co-leader: https://twitter.com/IndivisibleTeam/status/1377761436089389076?fbclid=IwAR1I9SMWjeHeFxP90NjznYwE0RzNfiJRRLxUITPtpS_zI9l0e-lgjaAjrZM)

Event guidelines
Face masks and six foot distancing required. Please stay on the sidewalk. Do not block traffic or passersby. Signs welcome. If you are going to bring a pet, please limit this to service pets only.
By choosing to attend this Event, you are committing to participate non-violently and to work to de-escalate confrontations with others. You are also acknowledging that you are solely responsible for any injury or damage to your person or property resulting from or occurring in the course of your participating in the Event. If you are going to bring a pet, please limit this to service pets only.
More Specifically:
· Avoid profanity (even when we’re subjected to profanity)
· Do not chant or shout.
· Respect each other’s physical space and keep at least 6 feet between everyone. If someone approaches us in a confrontational manner, we will yield the space.
· Ensure your safety
o Don’t go out unless at least one other ally is with you
o Always keeping a look-out for potential threats
o Consider filming but do so in a way that’s not obvious lest the act of filming spark an altercation
· Help us make sure that newcomers are on the same page with us about what we mean by non-violence and de-escalation, and if they aren’t then physically and verbally separate yourself from them so that we are not held responsible for the actions of outsiders.
· Avoid arguments with passersby who engage us; ask questions and try to evoke empathy with personal stories; always end on a good note even if they disagree by wishing them a good day. For tips, see https://indivisible.org/resource/organizing-mainly-about-listening
· Do not stand in front of other groups’ signs because that is a form of escalation.
· If an altercation breaks out, be ready to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable by physically surrounding them or providing them a means of escape from the scene. Remember that people in more marginalized positions than you are not necessarily safe even if you feel safe.
· Remember that you’re not there for yourself. The most effective thing you can do is practice non-violence, showing that you believe in standing up for others even in the face of cruelty and hate, and swallowing your knee-jerk response to act out of anger and hurt.
Hope to see you there!