May 27,2026 Newsletter

Indivisible North Quabbin
Blog: http://nqindivisible.blog.spot.com Email: Indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmaill.com

Fighting for Free and Fair Elections for All in 2026

We cannot be going backwards with the latest Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  But we are, and all who believe in democracy need to know that millions of people could lose their right to vote in free and fair elections.  We should support voting projects that are working on election issues and figure out ways to get more people to vote when only 64% of eligible voters in the country voted in 2024.   In Massachusetts, it was 68%.  Can we get it to over 85% or higher in Nov. 2026?

For the next six months many people agree that one of the key efforts centers on protecting the vote and getting millions of people out to vote.           

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutted the Voting Rights Act, and the nation’s congressional district lines remain in flux, even with midterm primary elections already underway. For now, Republicans have potentially gained up to 13 seats this year — five in Texas, four in Florida and one each in Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. Indivisible No. Quabbin has a Voting Team (20 people) working on voter registration, postcard mailings to Georgia, and voter suppression.

"Democracy doesn't sustain itself. It depends on whether citizens remain engaged and committed to the idea that every vote should carry equal weight.” -- Allen Feliz

HEALTH CARE   – PROTECT OUR CARE

Washington politicians slashed $1 trillion from our healthcare safety net in their “One Big Ugly Bill” in July, and they intentionally delayed the pain until after the November elections. They are trying to hide the devastating consequences from voters. People are mobilizing for Seven Days in June (June 1-7) to force them to answer for it before we vote - and to memorialize those who have died from lack of access to healthcare, and the many more who will once these cuts go through.  You can join a Vigil at 7:15 p.m. in Northampton. Meet in the Parking Lot of the Bridge St. School off Main St.

Local Actions in North Quabbin Region

Sat., June 6th from 11-12noon –“Protect Our Care” Stand Out

 

Indivisible North Quabbin will be part of the Seven Days in June to highlight healthcare issues for all people in this country with over 15 million people losing healthcare coverage.  Special signs will be used on Sat., June 6th to highlight our concerns.  This visibility event with signs will help us inform people about some of the issues and impacts of the “Big Ugly Bill” after the November election.  

Voting Team

The Voting Team has 20 people working on several projects that include sending postcards, voter registration and voter suppression.  The next full team meeting will be on Thursday, May 28th at 5:00 at the 1st Universalist Church at 31 No. Main St. in Orange.  If you are interested in working with the Voting Team send an email to indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com

The postcards are part of a voter registration campaign by a group called Field Team 6. We chose this group because the addresses are to people who live in Democratic leaning districts who do not have cell phones or email addresses, so they are less likely to be inundated with political messaging. An independent analysis of some of the Field Team 6 2024 postcard campaigns showed that 20% of people who received a postcard from them registered as a Democrat and a high percentage of those people voted in the 2024 election.

Another sub-committee is working on voter registration.  The third subcommittee is working on voter suppression and hopes to send letters to the editor and have other opinion pieces published in local newspapers to educate people about this national issue. 

 

Mutual Aid (Community Outreach and Self-Sufficiency–COSS)

ORANGE FOOD PANTRY

The Orange Food Pantry is now open on Saturdays from 12-2 for those who cannot come on Thursday. (You may only shop 1 of the days each week)

The Orange meal site has moved meal service days from Thursdays to Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30

DONATIONS have slowed down lately and there is still a need. Favorite items are hygiene products, jams and jellies, microwaveable and no-cook meals.  

If you are interested in working with COSS send an email to indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com 

 

 State Legislation to Support

PROTECT Act now in Conference Committee of MA State Legislature

PROTECT ACT for MA –   Contact your state legislator (both Senate and House) to urge that they work to get the Conference Committee to act quickly.  Once the committee files its report, it cannot be amended; both chambers must immediately take a simple "yes" or "no" vote before sending it to Governor Maura Healey. See https://miracoalition.org/news/senate-releases-version-of-the-protect-act/ for details on the stricter Senate version.  The Conference Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 27th at 1 p.m.  See https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5702.

 

Steering Committee and Planning for Future Events

    On May 16th a small group of 16 people met for food and a discussion of what people feel are important activities.  Key points seemed to involve setting up an Outreach/Communications Committee, a Special Events Committee as well as expanding the Steering Committee and working to involve more young people.

 

   Some Wins for the Week 

See Common Dreams “Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Graham Platner in Maine”  https://www.commondreams.org/news/bernie-sanders-graham-platner?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=2

Other things to celebrate

•  Massachusetts collected more than $3.1 billion in revenue from the state’s 4% tax on high-income earners over the first 10 months of the state’s current fiscal year. That’s a 20% increase over the $2.5 billion collected at the same point last year.

• On Thursday, federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin dismissed Justice Department lawsuits trying to force those states to hand over detailed voter data, including birth dates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers, the AP reported. Those rulings were the latest in a run of defeats that also includes AZ, CA, MA, MI, OR, and RI; the DOJ has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia for that data and has appealed several of the losses. - 50501 Friday Briefing

• Courts in Colorado and Kansas  sided with transgender minors seeking access to gender-affirming care, barring federal and state attempts to block their treatment.  - Jess Craven

• A federal judge dismissed human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. - Jess Craven

• The Senate’s referee killed a billion-dollar ballroom heist.  Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Republicans broke Senate rules when they tried to slip $1 billion into a Secret Service bill—including $220 million for Trump’s “free” ballroom. Trump phoned Majority Leader Thune and demanded she be fired. She still has her job. Trump lost his billion. - Scott Dworkin

• Both the Senate and the House postponed a vote on the reconciliation bill. Since Trump has been adamant about his June 1 deadline this is a really big deal. Your calls (in conjunction with Trump’s self-defeating behavior) are WORKING! Let’s keep them up!  - Jess Craven

Indivisible North Quabbin – Orange, Erving, Warwick, Wendell, New Salem, Petersham, Athol, Phillipston, Royalston

 

 

 Reminder

JOIN US for PLANNING, FOOD, COMMUNITY- BUILDING, and DECISION-MAKING on SAT., MAY 16TH at 12:15

 

Who? -- All Indivisible North Quabbin people – Come after the Stand Out or just join us for this Important Planning and Community Building Meeting.

 

Why? –  Goal – What strategies and plans should we have leading up to November elections?  

 

Where? -- 1st Universalist Church (31 N. Main St. in Orange, MA)

 

When? --  After Stand Out -- 12:15 - 1:30.

We will also serve some food – finger foods, and beverages.  If people would like they may bring finger foods to share, but it is not necessary.  Join the discussion and help us all make important decisions together.

  Email:indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com

 

Indivisible North Quabbin already has working groups that are working in several areas such as

voting team, mutual aid (e.g., support for Orange Food Pantry), and communications.  

• Buy Postcard Packets to send to people in Swing States who may not be registered. Buy 15 postcards with stamps for $10 or 15 for $1 without stamps.

• T-Shirts, Buttons and other merchandise will also be for sale.  

• Join us on May 16th to help figure out our strategies and plans leading up to the November election.

 

Join Us for Important Meeting to Develop a Plan and Make Decisions

Newsletter - May 7, 2026

 

WORKING ON ISSUES THAT GO BEYOND STAND OUTS -  JOIN US FOR PLANNING, FOOD, COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND CONVERSATION

All Indivisible North Quabbin people are invited to a gathering on Saturday, May 16th at 12:15 at the 1st Universalist Church (31 N. Main St. in Orange, MA) for food (finger foods), conversation and planning about projects to work on during the next six months leading up to the November mid-term elections.

Indivisible North Quabbin already has several working groups that are working in several  areas.  These include voting issues, mutual aid (e.g., support for Orange Food Pantry), a group of trained peacekeepers, steering committee and Rapid Response Network.  We need more people to help with this work and help plan for other working groups people might want to work on in the coming months.  Join us on Sat., May 16th to help figure out our strategies and plans leading up to the November elections.

Active Working Groups -- Join Us May 16th.  See what you might want to work on with us.  Bring your own ideas!

Voting Team 

 The Voting Team has three subcommittees that are working on voter suppression, voter registration, and postcard projects.  Each subcommittees meets and works on their project with the whole Voting Team of about 20 people meets once a month. People working on Voter Suppression are doing research to educate themselves with plans to write articles for newspapers and this newsletter along with other activities to educate others.  The subcommittee working on Voter Registration did several activities at Mount Wachusett Community College and local libraries.  This group can help people register online and check their registration status.  

The subcommittee on the Postcards Project has postcard packets available at Stand Outs and will have them at the May 16th event.  Each packet  has 15 postcards, addresses, scripts and an explanation about why we chose the campaign of Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia, which is the most vulnerable senatorial race. We are reaching out to register voters in that state. Packets with stamped postcards are $10 and without stamps are $1...all proceeds go toward creating more postcard packets. As the campaign season ramps up, we are looking for people who will commit to writing a packet per month to reach our goal in the 7 North Quabbin towns of 7000 postcards. Postcards are also available at every standout and at Stage on Main (17 South Main St, Orange; open Wed-Sun).  Check out the Voting Team at May 16th Event.

Mutual Aid 

At this point the work mainly provides support to the Orange Food Pantry.  The Community Outreach and Self-Sufficiency had as its goal working with people on various issues such as learning skills and sharing them to build community resiliency.  In October when the Orange Food Pantry had been closed for almost six months, we did a food drive at No Kings 2, and people really stepped up.  In the rain on a Thursday in late November volunteers worked with a couple of staff with the Franklin County Community Meals Program to distribute food from pop-up tents in the rain to local residents.  The Orange Food Pantry is now open and serving over 100 households a week.  They are now open on Saturdays from 12-2 p.m. for people experiencing food insecurity.  

The Orange Food Pantry is part of the Franklin County Community Meals Program (FCCMP).  This organization is now doing their 2026 Annual Campaign to raise $180,000.  You can help by giving and writing Orange Food Pantry in the memo so the money helps the site in Orange. Each dollar provides the equivalent of two nutritious meals.  You can also volunteer at the Orange site.  Several people from Indivisible North Quabbin are at the site at 81 E. River St. on a regular basis on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and now Fridays.   Tom, also a member of the INQ Steering Committee, is a regular volunteer on Thursdays.

Peacekeepers -- This is a group of 18-20 trained peacekeepers who have done both in person and online trainings.  They helped with all three No Kings events in Orange (June, October, and March).  Usually 2-3 peacekeepers are present every Saturday at Stand Outs to answer questions, do the crowd count and remind people of the non-violence code for Indivisible.  Over the past six months the number at regular Stand Outs is between 60 and 80 with a disciplined group continuing our visibility event in the North Quabbin.
Steering Committee -- This group of 10-12 people meets every week before the Stand Out to discuss various issues and plan special events. 
Getting Involved -- If you are interested in find out more about the above working groups, you can email indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com and attend the May 16th gathering.  We are also looking for more ideas for working groups as we continue this important work.

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE -- POSTED BY INDIVISIBLE NORTHAMPTON THIS WEEK:

• For 75 days, Republicans held DHS hostage—demanding $70 billion in new taxpayer dollars for ICE—while TSA agents missed paychecks and FEMA sat frozen. Yesterday, the GOP caved. The House passed legislation reopening DHS—without a single dollar for ICE. Democrats never bent the knee. - Scott Dworkin
• The Second Circuit ruled unanimously that ICE can’t lock up immigrants indefinitely without a bond hearing. The case belongs to Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha—a Brazilian small business owner in MA who has lived in America since 2005 with no criminal record. He was pulled over by ICE on his way to work last September. Judge Joseph Bianco, a Trump appointee, called the regime’s detention policy “flawed, implausible, and unprecedented.” Ricardo won. He gets to go home. Immigrants with no criminal record in NY, CT, and VT now can get a bond hearing. Huge win. - Scott Dworkin
• The DOJ is pushing nationwide to seize voter files from every state. But last week, Trump-appointed US District Judge Susan Brnovich issued a blistering rebuke of their efforts. She dismissed the regime’s Arizona lawsuit outright, calling their request “legally futile.” It can’t be refiled. 30 states refused to hand over voter data. The DOJ sued them all and has won zero cases. 6 judges and counting have said no. - Scott Dworkin
• The latest version of the SAVE Act failed in the Senate. Its sponsors tried for two weeks to pass it, but the Senate moved on to other business without it getting a vote - a major victory in the fight for the freedom to vote.  - Brennan Center for Justice

 

 

 

Save the Date -- May 16th at 12:15 Indivisible No. Quabbin Community Gathering for Conversation & Finger Food Potluck Lunch.  

Building Up Working Groups and Ideas for Sustaining Our Work

Besides the weekly Stand Outs that continue every  Saturday with 65-80 people, we have a Steering Committee and two very active Working Teams of people who work on voting issues and mutual aid (Community Outreach and Self-Sufficiency - COSS). We have also organized to participate in 4 National Actions over the past year (Hands Off and No Kings 1,2, and 3 with 500 or more people each time.)

What Next?  Join us on Saturday, May 16th for good food, socializing and an important discussion on possible other working groups and moving toward the November Election. We will gather at the 1st Universalist Church at 31 No. Main St. (2 blocks north of Stand Out).

National Day of Action -- Stop ICE Warehouse Detention

Thank you to those who came to the National Day of Action to Stop ICE Warehouse Detention on April 25th Indivisible is joining with the Detention Watch Network and Project Salt Box to stop the purchase of industrial warehouses that are unfit for human habitation. We will have more actions around this important theme this summer and fall.  Please see Fact Sheet and pass it on to those you know  -- 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QXCM1Y9bFupOXRrGVPDJGfFKBWQhQS71/   and also see Rachel Maddow's Burn Order at https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-presents-burn-order

Join May Day Activities -- No Shopping on May 1st

Find an action in Massachusetts to attend on Fri., May 1st.  There will be a rally in Greenfield starting at 12noon and running until 1 p.m.  There are events in Holyoke, Worcester and some in smaller towns.  Go to www.mobilize.us and use the filters to find events in MA or details for towns such as Barre, Keene, NH and other places.  Hopefully you did not shop yesterday.

Working Groups and Current Activities

At this point there are two very active Working Groups that include work on voting issues and continuing work involving mutual aid.

Voting Team -- The Voting Team has three subcommittees working on voter registration, postcard campaigns, and voter suppression.   If you are new and want to join this team email indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com, and we will put you in touch with the Team Leader.             

Mutual Support (Community Outreach & Self-Sufficiency) -- The Orange Food Pantry continues to need our support.  They are seeing more and more people every Thursday from 10-3.  On Sat., May 2nd, the Orange Food Pantry will start to be open on Saturdays from 12noon - 2 p.m.  You can stop by 81 E. River  St. on Saturday to see if volunteers are needed on the upcoming Saturdays.  They still can use donations of personal care items. 

On Sat., May 16th at the Indivisible No. Quabbin Community meeting and potluck (finger foods), we will discuss what other working teams we should work to organize.  This might include teams for  Special Events Team,  Legislative Team (state and national), Election Protection Team and other ideas that people may have.

North Quabbin Towns: Orange, Athol, New Salem, Wendell, Royalston, Warwick, Petersham,

Erving, Phillipston

https://nqindivisible.blogspot.com/   Email: indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com

                  

         NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION - STOP ICE 

                     WAREHOUSE DETENTION

 

This Saturday, April 25th, we will be joining other groups around the country in a National Day of Action to Stop ICE Warehouse Detention. At the Standout, look for tables with information about the rapid expansion of detention warehouses around the country and the need to stop them.  

Ruth Suyenaga, a member of the INQ Steering Committee, wrote an article about ICE Warehouse Detention with historical ties to her family: “My grandfather was incarcerated in remote detention camps with 120,000 Japanese Americans without due process for years for no reason other than his race…" https://recorder.com/2026/04/21/my-turn-stopping-ice-warehouse-detention/

We will also have postcard packets to register voters in Georgia and INQ t-shirts at tables at the Stand Out. If you would like to make a new sign to bring, here are some ideas that go with this important theme that we will be emphasizing throughout this year:

--No ICE warehouses

--Shut down detention warehouses

--No kids in cages

--Warehouses are for packages, not people

--Cages are not for people

--Prison without due process is a concentration camp

Volunteers have made around 20 signs with this theme that you can

borrow for the standout that will be on the orange bench facing South Main Street.

For more information on ICE Warehouse Detention, follow these link

• https://indivisible.org/campaigns/dismantling-detention/

• https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/new-sen-ossoff-investigation-uncovers-over-1000-credible-reports-of-human-rights-abuses-in-immigration-detention/

• https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/

• https://www.projectsaltbox.com/

• https://substack.com/@michaelpodhorzer/p-193472662

• https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-presents-burn-order

MAY DAY-- NO SHOPPING, NO WORK, NO SCHOOL      

MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE AND JUST FOR ALL

Join May Day Actions on Friday, May 1st.  Take a Pledge to do what you can to support 

May Day Strong in 2026.  In this area you can join one of the larger actions in Greenfield, Holyoke, or Worcester.  Meanwhile Indivisible North Quabbin will have their regular Saturday Stand Out on Sat., May 2 from 11-12 noon.  We continue to have 60-70 people at Memorial Park in Orange every Saturday and have been doing this for over a year.

In several cities, labor unions are taking the lead with events along with teacher unions, associations, and students doing actions at some schools.  Below are times and locations for several large May Day gatherings on Fri., May 1st in Massachusetts (see HERE).  You can check out Mobilize.org for others and more details on ones listed below.

• Greenfield - May Day Rally on Friday from 12-1 p.m. on Common
• Holyoke (Heritage & Dwight St.) on Friday from 4:30-6:30.  March with Labor Council and others.  People from Northampton & other towns will be joining.
• UMass - Amherst -- Students Rise Up starting at 10 a.m.
• Worcester City Hall (455 Main St.) -- 4-6 p.m.

OTHER NEWS AND PLANNING

 

The Steering Committee of Indivisible No. Quabbin is working to plan activities  for May including continuing the weekly Stand Outs and planning for a general   member meeting/social gathering to help plan our work in coming months. We are also working to increase the number of people involved with working groups such as those concerned with voting issues, mutual aid, and planning special events.   If you are interested in working on any of these or other issues or in joining the Steering Committee, please send an email to indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com. 

In April letter writing to both the U. S. Congress and the MA State Legislature happened.  Several people helped get signatures on letters to leaders of the MA Legislature to ask that Bills regarding Immigration Issues that pertain to more protection for immigrants come to a vote as soon as possible.  The letter to our elected officials in Congress asked that Democrats work to get bolder leadership so we have a better chance to win elections and get progressive leadership in Congress.  We hope to continue this and other work in the coming months.

Watch for late Spring and Summer activities related to the Nov., 2026 elections and work in our own communities with mutual aid, voter registration, educational programs and other activities.

Towns represented include: Athol, Orange, Erving, Royalston, Warwick, Wendell, New Salem, Petersham, Phillipston                                                       Email: indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com Blog:   nqindivisible.blogspot.com

 

Newsletter - April 15, 2026

 

North Quabbin Towns of Orange, Athol, Warwick, Wendell, Erving, Petersham, New Salem, Phillipston and  Royalston  

nqindivisible.blogspot.com -- indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com

National Actions in upcoming weeks --                                      

April 25th - Communities Not Cages National Day of Action  

Indivisible National is calling for a national day of action to combat ICE detention centers on April 25. The Trump administration is converting warehouses across the country into mass detention facilities — and communities are already fighting back.  Sign up for this Special Stand Out on Sat., April 25th from 11-12noon. https://www.mobilize.us/disappearedinamerica/event/939289/. Check out the website at

https://statesatthecore.substack.com/p/the-infrastructure-of-mass-deportation?utm_source=substack&publication_id=7220937&post_id=193601939&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=7pik8&triedRedirect=true

to learn more about this project. Or check out  bit.ly/noicewarehouseBring your own sign or get a sign at the Stand Out.

May Day Strong  -- May 1, 2026    --    Join with unions as allies to protest on this date. Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition (IMC) suggests arranging field trips/ride shares to the main large events in Greenfield, Boston, Worcester, Holyoke to show solidarity in large numbers rather than many smaller events like NK protests have done.  May Day is celebrated as International Workers' Day, which recognizes labor rights with protests and rallies.  Check out Mobilize.us and look for the place where you wish to attend May Day Strong rallies and events

Workers over Billionaires. No ICE. No war. Hands off our vote.

 

Actions YOU can take now --

Work with others to write and sign letters:  

• " Signatures Wanted: Norah Dooley and Amy Newland have written a letter to Sen. Markey, Sen. Warren and Rep. McGovern emphasizing recent wins for progressive candidates and how the campaigns of these winners need to be replicated if the Democratic party hopes to attract the greatest number of disaffected or undecided voters in upcoming primaries. Their argument reflects Indivisible's stance, so they’re looking for people at the Saturday standout who will want to add their signatures."
• A letter regarding Immigration Bills in the MA State Legislature was sent to the House and Senate Leadership with close to 60 signatures from Indivisible North Quabbin this week.
• You can also get postcards to write from the Voting Team.  Email indivisiblenorthquabbin@gmail.com if you want to work on this project.

Local Projects --

• Mutual Aid and Community Outreach and Self-Sufficiency  --  The Orange Food Pantry still needs regular volunteers, especially on Thursdays when they are open and also Saturdays when they will soon be open.  Donations for Quality of Life items such as personal care and cleaning items are also still needed.  There is usually someone at the Orange Food Pantry on Mondays and Wednesdays until 1 who can accept donations. Thursday from 10-3 is Distribution Day. Several people from Indivisible North Quabbin are helping the Pantry in many ways to supply food for many people in the community.
• Watch for a Special Community Meeting in the Coming Weeks to Discuss "What Next after No Kings 3". This meeting will be set up with food and a focused discussion about work now and in the future.
• Enjoy music with community members -- Join singers for an evening of "Patriotism, Protest and Peace" Sing along with the Songs of Americana on Sat., April 18th at 7 pm. at the 1st Universalist Church, 31 N. Main St. in Orange. Fundraiser for 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem. Suggested Donation -- $20 for adults and $10 -- ages 12-17. Refreshments served.