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

 

 

AFFINITY GROUPS & NONVIOLENCE CODE

 

What is an Affinity Group?

    

An Affinity Group (AG) is a small group of 5-15 people who trust each other and share a vision and approach to the sort of activism they do. They come together to participate in a nonviolent campaign or action. An AG might stay together for years or form for one event. AGs help us prepare for, participate in, and support each other in actions. We have each other’s backs.  In troubled, conflictual times, it is best not to act alone.

            AGs, like working groups or committees, are a small part of larger group with a central purpose, and they adhere to a code of nonviolence. The AG structure allows for flexibility of action, and a level of autonomy while cooperating with others in a campaign or mass action. Interconnection of AGs minimizes the likelihood of disruptors, as everyone knows everyone else. Most AGs are non-hierarchal, so there are no “leaders” for authorities to target.

 

Finding or creating an Affinity Group

Gather together with a small group of trusted people who have similar opinions about the issues in question and the methods of action to be used. Those people may know others to invite. It’s important for AG members to be able to meet in person. Linking with other AGs in a campaign through spokes councils attended by a representative of each AG is a helpful communication and planning structure.

AGs develop a shared idea of what is wanted individually and collectively from the action or campaign. They create agreements acceptable for the whole collective on basics: how active, how spiritual, what support each person needs, willingness to risk arrest, political perspectives, action methods, etc.

 

Affinity Group direct actions

AG actions are varied but they all encompass nonviolent direct action: advocacy and reform work, petitions or legislative approaches, building alternative and new social structures and institutions, drama and music and art, teach-ins, flash mobs, nonviolent media hijacking. Hundreds of action ideas can be found here and here.

Nonviolent direct action training of a half-day to several days is strongly advised for anyone contemplating actions in which arrests or violent conflict are anticipated. The AG carefully plans the action, and decides who will take on the roles needed such as media contact, first aid, legal, and those willing to risk arrest.  Support roles are vital to the safety of the participants, ensuring they have food and water, and to monitor the authorities' response.

 

 

Code of Nonviolence

1. Our attitude is respectful toward all we encounter in our actions.
2. We use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person.
3. We do not harm anyone, and we will not retaliate in reaction to violence.
4. We do not carry weapons.
5. We will not be under the influence or bring any non-prescribed drugs or alcohol.
6. We will not bring dogs nor other animals, except for service animals.
7. During a demonstration we will not run nor make threatening motions.
8. In case of any confrontation, we will seek to de-escalate. 
9. We affirm that people’s lives and safety are more important than property. We focus on creative actions that do not include property destruction. 
10. All participants in actions where arrests or violent confrontations are anticipated must receive nonviolent direct action training.