Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, our country celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his courage and perseverance in advancing racial, economic, and social justice. Groups locally
and around the country have sponsored activities focused on unity and service.
Coincident with this and other MLK observances today, Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States --- a stark juxtaposition of vision, character, and moral leadership. We will refrain from listing all the reasons he should not be President and the very real threat he poses to our democracy. Instead, we honor MLK by offering an opportunity to demonstrate Help Over Hate, and some sage advice on surviving so we can speak out and fight for things that matter over the next four years.
Help Over Hate
Join BAM and Indivisible affiliates nationwide in marking Inauguration Day/MLK Weekend by demonstrating Help Over Hate. This effort is designed to help the people most likely to be targeted in the Trump administration, uplift our communities, and grow our movement. BAM’s project is to organize a donation drive for Lutheran Social Service’s Refugee Services program and to offer some hands-on support at the program’s warehouse facilities. Among the 2,500 LSS assisted last year were refugees from Haiti, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. You can get involved in two ways: by donating needed household items to the resettlement program and/or by joining us to volunteer for 1-2 hours at the LSS warehouse. Thanks to everyone who donated and volunteered to date! If you haven't responded yet, it's not too late. Find out how to donate or volunteer here.
12 Survival Tips
The inauguration is a reality check. By the slimmest of margins, he is the 47th President. We can not be silent (or silenced) over the next four years. A Daily Kos community contributor recently proffered 12 Tips for Surviving the Next Few Years. Here are a few that resonated with us: Don't bathe in his craziness, choose joy, choose kindness, celebrate victories, and WORK WORK WORK for 2026 and 2028. What can you do to save democracy? Get involved with BAM and other organizations addressing issues that interest you. Together, we are stronger. We pledge to pick our battles, work hard, and advocate effectively!
Nix the Noms: Oppose Dangerous Cabinet Picks
The evaporation of GOP opposition to Pete Hegseth, Trump's wholly unqualified nominee for Secretary of Defense, at his Senate confirmation hearing last week underscores the importance of taking action now. A committee vote on Hegseth's nomination, followed by a Senate vote is expected this week. FL Senator Rick Scott, a member of the Armed Services Committee, voiced his strong support for Hegseth during the hearing and lauded his willingness to take "the U.S. military from woke to lethal." He needs to hear from us about the unacceptability of Hegseth and other dangerous nominees: RFK, Jr, nominated for Secretary of Health & Human Services; Tulsi Gabbard, for Director of National Intelligence; Kash Patel, for FBI Director, and Russell Vought, to lead the OMB. Remember, his office is keeping track of emails and calls. Click on the nominee to contact Scott through the Action Network, or contact his Jacksonville office at 904.479.7227. You can also check out Nix the Noms, a new website from Indivisible, which is working with a coalition of progressive groups to organize a full-court press this week against selected nominees. Let's lend our voices to this effort!
We're Ready for 2025!
Thanks to everyone who completed BAM's recent membership survey! The information you provided is helping to shape our agenda for the coming year. Among the key recommendations:
State and national issues are important to us, but so are issues closer to home. We want more opportunities to advocate locally.
In-person gatherings help us network with like-minded people. We want a mix of in-person meetings with guest speakers and virtual events. We also like action-oriented activities, like postcarding.
Coalition-building, and member training and education are important roles for BAM.
Topics that excite us the most include: environmental protection & climate change; reproductive rights & access to abortion; following and influencing good & bad legislation; voting rights & voter suppression, and electing more Democrats.
We need help planning our membership meetings in 2025! If you have ideas and would like to get involved in planning BAM programs email us! Click here for a summary of survey results.
Happening This Week
California Wildfire Relief - It took less than a nano-second for the devasting wildfires in California to become political fodder. Please consider contributing to relief efforts using this vetted list from DemCast.
Duval DEMS chair Daniel Henry will provide an overview of how the Beaches and Jacksonville performed in the 2024 election compared to the rest of the state at the Beaches Democratic Club meeting on Tuesday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m. via ZOOM. RSVP here. Click here for the ZOOM link.
Voter Registration - Learn everything you need to know about registering voters in this virtual training by the FL DEMS on Thursday, January 23, or January 30 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Get more info and register to receive the ZOOM link here.
Government 101: Get Ready for the 2025 Session - The ACLU of FL will host a virtual advocacy training on Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. to help you prepare for the upcoming FL legislative session. RSVP here.
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