Supreme Court & Project 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court ended its session with a chilling ruling granting blanket immunity to Presidents for all "official" acts. The ruling effectively immunizes former President and likely GOP nominee Donald Trump from past and future assaults on democratic norms, and kneecaps efforts to prosecute him for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In a scathing dissent, Justice Sonya Sotomayor declared that "the President is now a king above the law," able to commit any crime as long as it is done in their official capacity. The majority opinion, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, also paves the way for future Presidents to weaponize the Justice Department against their political enemies.
The Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. the United States is the latest in a series of opinions that"bolster" Project 2025, the jaw-dropping 900-page playbook assembled by the Heritage Foundation and 100 conservative groups to guide the transition if Trump is elected in 2024. Comments by Project 2025 architect Kevin Roberts should be a wake-up call to everyone who cares about this country. A reminder that the next President is likely to appoint at least two Supreme Court justices. The only hope we have for enacting court reforms is a Democratic trifecta. Democracy and our freedoms are at stake in this election. Learn more about Project 2025 and its impact in two upcoming webinars:
On Tuesday, July 9th from 1 - 3:30 p.m. the Center for American Progress will present Project 2025: Exposing the Far-Right Assault on America. Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani is among the featured panelists. Register here.
Floridians for Democracy will host a Q & A with Andra Watkins, curator of the substack blog, "How Project 2025 Will Ruin Your Life" on July 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. Register here to attend the virtual presentation.
Sample Ballot for August Now Available
The Duval County Supervisor of Election has posted the sample ballot for the August 20th State Primary and School Board Election. DEMS at the Beach will vote on candidates for U.S. Senator vying to face Rick Scott in November, as well as County and Circuit Court judges. Find your sample ballot here. For information on the primary races and candidates, check out the BAM 2024 Election Guide.
Recasting the Past: From Confederate Monuments to
Symbols of Peace
Dr. Andrea Douglas will share her Charlottesville, Virginia community's journey to remove and recast Confederate monuments on Friday, July 12th from 6-9 p.m. at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center in downtown Jacksonville. The community event, which features a reception, presentation and Q&A, is sponsored by Take 'Em Down Jax, the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, and a host of community partners with funding from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Douglas is the founding executive director of Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. RSVP and find more information here.
Mark Your Calendars!
BAM and the Beaches Democratic Club are supporting Jax NOW in a postcarding event on Yes on 4! Super Saturday Day of Action July 20th at 4:30 p.m. The groups are reaching out to potential voters whose petition for the abortion ballot measure was rejected due to signature mismatch or an issue with their registration. Jax NOW will supply the postcards, postage & mailing list. We need volunteers to write a message urging recipients to check their voting status, update their signatures on file with the SOE and VOTE in November! Similar events are being organized around Jacksonville.
More Ways to Get Involved!
Learn How to Register Voters: Jax NOW & the Women's March of Jacksonville are sponsoring a virtual Voter Registration Training by the Duval County Supervisor of Elections today (Monday, July 8) at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here.
Voter Outreach for School Board Races: Public School Defenders Duval County and Families for Strong Public Schools need our help with voter outreach in two key School Board races with Moms for Liberty candidates (Districts 3 & 7). While the Beaches don't have a School Board race in the 2024 election, the entire board votes on issues that affect us. The groups are organizing nonpartisan canvassing to remind voters, particularly NPAs, about the August School Board election. NPA voters need to know the school board vote is open to everyone and urged to support candidates committed to public education. Sign up here.
Over the Fence: Sign-up for Neighbor 2 Neighbor and talk to 10 like-minded people who live near you! Contact Nancy Staats if you have questions. N2N, a proven tactic for increasing voter turnout, launched in June.
Text Voters: Join the Duval DEMS Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 - 7 p.m. for an online textbank and urge voters to GOTV. No experience needed! Register here.
Help Flip State House District 16: We need a state representative who will actually work for us in Tallahassee. Please find out more about District 16 candidate Rachel Grage and volunteer! Canvassing has started! She needs our help to flip the seat and chip away at the GOP's supermajority.
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