October 2022
IT’S GO TIME!
“When we fight we win.”
-- Marilyn Wilbur, organizer for Worker Power/CASE
Recently California Governor Gavin Newsom decried the overly timid response too many Democratic leaders take in fighting the threats Republicans pose to the people of this country and to democracy itself: “These guys are ruthless on the other side,” Newsom said. “Where are we? Where are we organizing, bottom up, a compelling alternative narrative? Where are we going on offense every single day?”
We can answer that! Airlift is right where Newsom implores us to be, and has been from Day One. Our partner groups are organizing on the ground, bottom up, 24/7, building progressive power by channeling community members’ concerns into a compelling alternative that engages people in the political process like never before. Thanks to Airlift’s supporters—this means YOU!—our partners have been able to do the year-round work of building infrastructure and trust among people we need to become part of a winning coalition. Not just in this election, but for the long term. Your generosity has funded deep listening, civic engagement, training and education, registering and turning out voters, fighting voter suppression, and so much more.
Now the midterms are upon us, and it’s time to bring everyone’s hard work to electoral fruition. We all know it’s a heavy lift, especially since the many voter suppression laws enacted by GOP-dominated state legislatures will be in full swing for the first time. But we are determined.
At Airlift’s most recent Frontline Event, “Yes We Can!,” headliner Robert Hubbell and panelists from Airlift partner groups Carolina Federation and Worker Power (formerly CASE) spoke with passion and hope about what we still need to do to win in this final stretch. (See below how you can phone bank for Carolina Federation.) They advised us not to be distracted or demoralized by incessant poll coverage. Each reiterated, “It’s all going to come down to turnout.” Margins matter, and our partner groups excel at making politics relevant in people’s lives to turn them into voters. Abortion is a good example–it’s the first issue unaffiliated women bring up on the doors with Carolina Federation organizers, and a lead conversation on the ground for Worker Power too. As Hubbell noted, 2022 is not a typical midterm environment, “This is the first time in history a constitutional right has been taken away from citizens. We have demoted women to second-class status.“
The inspiring panelists spoke of their work rooted in the tradition of struggle, which guides their–and Airlift’s–commitment to the long term. In the words of Hubbell, “Stay the course, keep the faith, and leave nothing to chance. We don’t have to convert everyone to our cause. Just enough of them to make a difference. We can do that.”
Let’s go make a difference.
ON THE LINE: NEW GEORGIA PROJECT
CHAMPIONS VOTER PROTECTION
Georgia Republicans have been on the forefront of efforts to suppress voting in poor and minority-dominated districts. Countering this, Airlift partner New Georgia Project (NGP) has been a national leader in supporting and protecting voters--in the courts, with political power brokers, in the media, and on the ground.
Aklima Khondoker, NGP’s Chief Legal Officer, is clear that the civil rights struggle never ended. A common voter suppression strategy is to reduce the number of polling places—especially in nonwhite areas--to create long lines. During a recent election, at a polling place on private property, the owner called the police to shut down voting at 9:00 pm saying there was a disturbance. The only “disturbance” was NGP volunteers encouraging people to hang in there and make their vote count. Aklima’s presence and knowledge of the law were crucial in persuading police to let voting continue.
But it’s also on the human side of things that Aklima’s efforts pay off. During another recent election, once again with long lines, Aklima helped a voter by holding the hand of the woman’s three-year-old daughter so the voter could use the bathroom. Comfort is a word Aklima Khondoker uses a lot. That’s because intimidation and discouragement are the techniques most often used to try to stop voters. When a local polling place at a familiar neighborhood church is moved to the intimidating environment of, for example, a police training academy, it means a lot to voters if there’s a familiar face to greet, encourage, and direct them. And, of course, to call in legal advisors if a ballot is being challenged. Anybody in Georgia can challenge any ballot. The voter then must show up to a challenge hearing. NGP accompanies people to make sure their votes count.
Personal outreach is a particular specialty of Tiffanie Mackey, NGP’s Lead Faith Organizer. Tiffanie organizes volunteers to provide guidance and moral support to voters at polling places. They also monitor the voting process. Many are community faith leaders, a natural outgrowth of Georgia’s tradition of polling places in churches. As some polling places have been moved out of churches, it’s been natural for clergy to go with their congregation and lend assistance if things get confusing or frustrating. This has grown into what NGP calls their Poll Chaplaincy Program.
Tiffanie tells a story typical of the shenanigans that Poll Chaplains confront. A pastor at a local church called her from a school polling place to report that two precincts had been set up there. It turned out that a polling site had been changed to the school just that day, meaning two precincts were voting in the same building, with almost no indication of which voters should go where. It was guaranteed to waste people’s time and cause mass confusion and frustration.
Fortunately the Poll Chaplain was there to help. Tiffanie notes, “That’s a lot of the experiences we get. Poll Chaplains calling to say, ‘I can’t believe I’m calling you with this, but here’s what I’m facing on site.’ When I got there she was wearing her collar and folks were stopping her and saying ‘can you help me?’” The pastor spent the day calmly and kindly directing people where they needed to go. “That’s kind of our message,” Tiffanie laughs. “Stay Calm and Stay Kind and Vote.”
Tiffanie has nothing but great things to say about her heroes: NGP volunteers. They all go through her training, then frequently go back to their churches and bring more volunteers. Organizing themselves in shifts, one volunteer brought her husband and kids and just stood outside talking to folks for hours as they walked up. Tiffanie recalls telling her, “‘You could have left an hour ago!’ And she said, ‘I know but we’re just having so much fun talking to folks!’ So it’s a lot of good community conversation.”
That’s how it is with most of the Poll Chaplains, who have signed up again this November. They say, “I just had such a good time. Especially going through the pandemic, folks are just happy to get out and talk to their communities.”
So the civil rights struggle continues. And NGP continues to be in communities to keep morale high and voters voting.
NOW IS THE TIME!
“Now is the time to implement and execute the plan.”
--Theo Luebke, Co-director, Carolina Federation
Your support for Airlift has helped us get to this point, and now it’s time to bring it all home. Your donations are especially crucial in this final GOTV stretch. They’re what’s classified as c4 action money (as opposed to tax-deductible c3 education money, which is more limited in scope). Although c4 contributions are not tax-deductible, they provide our partners with the resources to do what c3 contributions can’t cover. Airlift money now means partners can directly persuade for (or against) specific candidates and ballot measures, lobby more effectively, hold elected officials accountable, and engage in a more partisan manner.
As Lisa Tracy from Movement Voter Project notes, grassroots groups are experiencing shortfalls in their c4 fundraising this year. Closing the gap is critical in the three months leading up to the elections–especially now that right-wing SuperPAC money is pouring in.
Donate by Check. Send a check directly to:
Airlift, PO Box 617, Corte Madera, CA 94976
Donate Online at ActBlue. Just click the button:
Host an Airlift@Home Party on Zoom or in your home! For more information, contact Alison Whittaker at alison@airlift.fund.
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about Airlift and our events. Share this newsletter and the link to the Airlift website.
Volunteer for Carolina Federation’s PHONE BANK. Their phone banks are especially good for beginners because they have both staffers and volunteers who orient and train new folks
Above all: Help us meet our $1M goal–and increase the wins in the midterms–by giving generously.
Thanks!
FIELD NOTES
MOVE Texas livestreams National Voter Registration Day–with plenty of music and reasons for young people to vote. See for yourself.
Dream Defenders are on the forefront of fighting for Student Debt Relief AND Hurricane Ian Relief: impassioned advocates, always there for Floridians in need.
Down Home North Carolina launches their biggest Rural Voter Outreach ever! They’re also laser-focused on preventing the return of the Republican supermajority in the state legislature. Watch this to see why.
