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Good Trouble Rally: Thursday

Good Trouble Rally: Thursday

Hello CRAGgys!

Finally, it's summer in the UP!

Don't forget to include a few minutes to save democracy in your summer plans. Good Trouble Rallies are Thursday, July 17th. Local action groups convene regularly. Some public body meets somewhere every single week; take 30 minutes to show up and express your opinion.

Good Trouble Lives On

Good Trouble is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people. 

Houghton Rally

Marquette Area Actions

To remind us of the legacy of John Lewis, who popularized the term "good trouble," Craig W. forwarded these recommendations:

  • John Lewis: Good Trouble is a 2020 documentary film about the life of civil rights activist and U.S Congressman John Lewis:
    • “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, say something. Do something, Get in trouble. Good trouble.” John Lewis  (1940-2020) 
    • “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not a struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get into good trouble, necessary trouble.  We will find a way to make a way out of no way.” John Lewis, 2018.
    • See also John Lewis’ speech at the August 28, 1963 March on Washington, original draft and as delivered.  Bill Moyers & Company

News updates

ICE in Michigan

The budget bill is supercharging Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into a national militarized police force with unprecedented resources and powers. Austin Kocher is a good source to track ICE data.

  • The rate of ICE arrests in Michigan has more than doubled over last year.
  • Only about 5 ICE arrests are reported in the UP. However, Chippewa County is holding 31 immigration detainees, up from the typical 8-12 in 2023-24. Three other Michigan county jails hold ICE detainees.
  • A giant private facility in Baldwin, MI has reopened to house up to 1,800 detainees, with expected annual profits of $70 million. Brave protesters showed up on July 4th to oppose its opening and expose the egregious behavior of GEO, which own this prison. GEO donated over $500,000 to elect the president. More info from the group No Detention Centers in Michigan.
  • Only 7% of people detained this year have been convicted of violent crimes. Others have minor traffic or property offenses. Two thirds have no criminal record.
  • Both MI Attorney General Nessel and Senator Slotkin are demanding that ICE agents be required to identify themselves and not be masked.

Public lands give-away

Our public lands have suffered a calamitous attack from the horrendous budget bill signed on July 4th. While the country was focused on the disastrous cuts to Medicaid, congress was busy giving away our shared heritage to corporations. An initial plan to sell one million acres was defeated, but many worse provisions are now law. Jim Pattiz at More Than Just Parks has a comprehensive analysis. A few points:

  • The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be required to expand logging on public lands every year, without regard for ecological, recreational, or financial impacts.
  • Oil and gas companies are receiving huge handouts in the form of required leasing, reduced royalties, and pay-to-play fast-track environmental reviews.
  • Four million acres of our public land must be put up for COAL leasing immediately (within 90 days).

Our task is to superglue the budget bill to any representative who voted for it, especially our own Cajun Jack. Attach his name to every bad impact and don't let voters forget. I plan to start mentioning his name during my statements.

More environmental news

  • Whitefish populations are collapsing in Lakes Michigan and Huron because of the invasive dreissenid mussels. Lake Superior is not currently affected because our low calcium water restricts the mussels.
  • Surprise! I just discovered that we live next door to... Singapore, whose sovereign wealth fund is a large land-holder in the UP. (This is not a big worry compared to any other news these days, just interesting.)
  • Smoke and fires. 2025 is the second worst recorded wildfire season for Canada (after 2023). Many fires are burning in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with smoke reaching us here in the UP. Canada has useful animated smoke forecast map. Climate change is a key driver of these fires; forests and grasslands continue to be hotter and drier than historical norms. Congressional republicans from Wisconsin and Minnesota complained to Canada about the smoke, right after voting to undermine U.S. climate mitigation effort.

Actions

  • July 17th, Good Trouble Lives On: Actions in Houghton, coordinated by Keweenaw Indivisible. Please register to assist in planning.
  • Buyout Medical Debt in MI-01!
    • Donate to cancel medical debt. Your $1 donation eliminates about $100 of debt.
    • Stronger Together: A Fundraiser to Wipe Out Medical Debt in our Community. Tuesday, July 29th, from 6:00-9:00 at Small Craft, Hancock.
  • One Million Rising—a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. Online, 3 session. Register with Indivisible.

Michigan Voter info

  • Houghton County will have four millages on the August 4th ballot (exact wording for each is shown at LWV).
    • Safe and Effective County Jail- Vote Yes
      • >> Public info sessions on the jail:
        • PLD Library Houghton 7/21 6pm
        • Calumet Twp Hall 7/22 6pm
        • Laird Twp Hall 7/31 6pm
    • Canal View millage renewal (at a lower rate);
    • Elder nutrition millage for Meals on Wheels;
    • Copper Country ISD bond proposal for construction and remodeling.
  • Statewide petitions
    • Decline to Sign. Watch out for anti-voter rights petitions. Two groups are about to start soliciting signatures to add repressive "proof of citizenship" language to the Michigan constitution. DO NOT SIGN THESE PETITIONS.
    • Instead, look for the Raked Choice Voting (RankMiVote) petitions that are coming soon. SIGN THESE! (if you are eligible.)

Places to engage locally

An elected board meets somewhere every week. Check the calendar for details.

Many government actions threaten our local communities. Speak up!

And let me know if you go and what you learn. Remember, this is a long process. Showing up multiple times builds trust and demonstrates to people with diverse viewpoints that you don't have horns.

Why and how to attend local meetings

Events and meetings

The CALENDAR has details on events. Please send your events.
I have started a list of Pro-democracy organizations in the UP with contact information. (Please share additions and corrections.)

Ongoing:

Details are on the CALENDAR.

Houghton/Hancock

Marquette

  • Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, Yoopers Unite, a gathering of local pro-democracy groups, at LoveMarq Church, 728 W. Kaye Ave, Marquette.
  • Marquette: Every Saturday morning from 11:30-12:30, between 40 - 80 people have been assembling at the Marquette Post Office, standing in support with long-established Citizens for Peace & Justice.
  • Join Lake Superior Region Indivisible

Albatross

Weighing the Albatross chick. (livestream, but check the video highlights; it's always night when I look.)

Thanks for all your support

Stay Well

Sarah

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Jamie Larson
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