The Latest
Get ready to unwind and unite at Indivisible Charlotte's monthly social soirée on Wednesday, November 5, 6:30-8:30 PM at Carolina Beer Temple!
Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
Save the date for an evening of laughter, good company, food, and drinks. Eager to join us? Register now and mark your calendar for a night of community and rejuvenation.
We're excited to see you there—ready to recharge and connect!
Indivisible Charlotte Newsletter
October 1, 2025 Volume 43
ACTION:
SOCIAL:
IN THE KNOW:
GROUP NEWS:
EVENT RECAP:
(Or download the PDF version for easier printing)
Part 1: Health Care and SNAP Issues
By Galen Smith and Carrie Phillips
How will the OBBB affect NC? It extends the 2017 Tax Cuts for the wealthiest in our state, but its weakening of health care, education, energy and employment creates a wealth transfer to the rich of epic proportions.
In the second of a two part series, Galen Smith & Carrie Phillips explore the OBBB issues surrounding immigration, education, energy and communications in North Carolina.
See last month’s article here: One Bad Brutal Boondoggle Part 1
Ready to meet other changemakers under 35 who care about building power in Charlotte? Join us for our very first social and interest meeting hosted by Indivisible CLT’s newest crew of young activists. Expect good vibes, fresh energy, and local creative vendors adding their unique flair.
When: Thursday, Oct 30 | 8:00–10:00 PM
Where: Starlight on 22nd, Charlotte
Whether you’re brand-new to activism or already organizing, this is your space to connect, share ideas, and help shape what’s next. Bring your friends and be part of the launch!
Every Call Counts makes it simple to call federal and state legislators on urgent issues. Using the 5 Calls platform plus custom scripts for local policies and key votes, we help activists take action each week.
GET READY! Summer recess is over in North Carolina, and our resistance callers are back with fresh scripts to fight harmful policies in the legislature. All summer, our dedicated callers kept pressure on Washington, pushing back against power grabs, anti-immigration, and anti-LGBTQ measures. THANK YOU for standing strong! In just 10 months, Every Call Counts has grown to 1,470 callers. That is amazing.
Welcome New Team Members!
We’re thrilled to introduce Helen and Brittany, who are joining ECC to support research, scriptwriting, and publication. Like so many ICLT volunteers, they are giving their time each week to keep our work sharp and effective.
Why 10 Weekly Issues?
With so many threats, why focus on just 10? Our team prioritizes the core pillars of democracy: executive power grabs, voter suppression, election rigging, immigration rights, gun safety, LGBTQ+ and DEI protections, and environmental justice. If these rights fall, we cannot defend the rest. Of course, callers are encouraged to speak up on any issue that matters to them, but we keep the list focused to help sustain action and momentum.
One call at a time, that is how we win. Get started here
Visibility CLT is a pop-up protest movement within Indivisible CLT. We stage regular, local protests in Charlotte-area neighborhoods to encourage others to help protect our constitution, our democracy and a way of life that works for all Americans. Visibility CLT coordinated about 19 pop-up protests each week in September. Our protests provide visible proof of resistance to the current administration. Sympathetic passersby are heartened to know that they are not alone. Courage is contagious.
Join us! Joining a pop-up is easy! Sign up for the location of your choice. Each pop-up has a captain who will greet you and fill you in on protocols. Bring a friend! Bring a sign if you have one, but don’t worry, captains usually have extra signs. Joining a pop-up protest connects you with like-minded patriots. We are building a community AND a movement.
Visiblity CLT - Pop-Up Protest
View OUR SCHEDULE and click the Mobilize links to sign up for a protest.
Receive a weekly email with the pop-up protest schedule SIGN UP HERE.
Check out the Mobilize map of all our protests to find one near you.
QUESTIONS? VISIBILITYCLT@GMAIL.COM
Visibility CLT Has Four New Pop-Up Locations
NoDa - We’re thrilled to announce a new weekend pop-up! Join the fun in NoDa on Saturday afternoons from 3-4 pm Mobilize sign up.
University Area - The ongoing attacks on our First Amendment rights have inspired a new pop-up in the UNCC area. Beginning September 30, join the Speak Up for Free Speech Protest. Mobilize sign up.
2 in Matthews - Seniors are mobilizing at Windsor Run and Matthews Township. Join the protests Monday 8-9 AM at McKee and Weddington. Mobilize sign up.
Saturday 9-10 AM at Matthews Township and Northeast Parkway. Mobilize sign up.
ICLT is committed to nonviolent action, and we expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential
confrontation with those who disagree with us. Signs and chants must not incite violence. Of course, there’s always an inherent risk to protesting.
Are you new to Indivisible Charlotte? Did you miss our last New Member Orientation on Sept. 10th? No worries! We have another one – Oct. 23rd 7:00-8:00pm!
Jump in with us for our New Member Orientation on Zoom! Meet fellow new members, hear from leadership, and learn how to get involved. From electoral work like canvassing and voter registration to trainings, monthly socials, the Pride parade, and our annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, there are countless ways to make an impact. You'll also find out where to watch for events and actions and how your unique skills can help power our movement
We can’t wait to meet you!
REGISTER HERE: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblecharlottenc/event/853174/
We continue our Tesla protest at the dealership in Matthews. We have protested for 26 weeks -- half a year. It's the longest-running protest site on our schedule!
We are committed to continually reminding everyone of the damage caused by Musk through DOGE and his alignment with MAGA. Additionally, we remember how our personal information has been exposed through his work.
Even if you think it's time to 'move on' from Musk, the location is incomparable. We have the attention of 10k people per hour! In October, we will be there from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Join us!
Join us every Saturday from 11:30am- 1:00pm at Matthews Tesla
ICLT is committed to nonviolent action, and we expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential
confrontation with those who disagree with us. Signs and chants must not incite violence. Of course, here’s always an inherent risk to protesting.
FREEDOM FRIDGE
The FREEDOM FRIDGE is located on the west side of Charlotte in the Enderly Park neighborhood by the QC Family Tree. For the past 6 months ICLT has supplied The FRIDGE with food donations. The schedule is changing to only once a month, the second Wednesday of each month. We will ask for additional donations during November and December with more info coming closer to the date.
DELIVERY DATE: Oct. 8th by 12pm
(This is the day items are taken to Freedom Fridge). Please drop off fresh food items on Wednesday by 12pm. Non-perishable items can be placed in the plastic bins anytime before the delivery date.
Drop off locations:
Park Crossing/Lynne W.
South Boulevard /Beverly P.
Ballantyne/Debbie Baynard
Steele Creek/Samantha T.
Dilworth/Holly W.
Pineville/Anna L
Email Debbie for drop-off addresses or other questions: baynarddebbie@gmail.com
CAROLINA MIGRANT NETWORK
The Carolina Migrant Network continues to be the ONLY organization in the Carolinas providing FREE legal representation for people in immigration detention centers and in removal proceedings. Their funding is under attack! 40% of CMN’s funding has been lost this year! Without legal representation, people in detention are far more likely to be deported, separated from their families and forced back into dangerous conditions.
DONATE to The Carolina Migrant Network
*RED CARDS in English/Spanish will be available at the Sept 3rd social event.
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Lots of exciting things are happening for our friends in the LGBTQIA+ community.
We hope you'll be able to attend one of these events.
Contact baynarddebbie@gmail.com for information
Oct 11 - Union County PRIDE Festival in Indian Trail
Oct 25 - Halloween Drag Story Hour
Nov 5 - Gender Education Network (GEN) Volunteer Training & Meet Up
Email Debbie for drop-off addresses or other questions: baynarddebbie@gmail.com
By establishing this network, ICLT aims to create a grassroots support system that can respond quickly and effectively to the needs of these communities, which may be at increased risk due to current political policies and rhetoric. The project reflects ICLT's commitment to defending democracy and protecting the rights of marginalized groups in the face of potential threats to civil liberties and social programs.
ICLT's In the Know Live presents a kick-off to No Kings 2 Weekend with Autocracy Inc.: A discussion with Anne Applebaum on Friday, October 17, 6-7 PM! Anne is the author of Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World, which has just been published in paperback. She's a Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times bestselling author. Autocracy, Inc. illustrates how autocracies work together, enrich elites, control the media, threaten democracies, as well as how we can act to oppose them.
Did you think No Kings was great?! No Kings 2 is going to be even better!! There are over 2000 rallies registered nationwide on Saturday, 10/18, and it is quickly becoming the largest mass mobilization in history. You need to be a part of it!
WHAT: Indivisible CLT +7 Community Partners are hosting a Rally, 1.1 Mile March,
and Call to Action
WHERE: First Ward Park, Uptown Charlotte
WHEN: October 18, 10am-12pm
CALL TO ACTION: Connect with the local organizations offering immediate and
impactful ways to get involved!
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Donate to Nourish Up HERE
WE NEED YOU!! Marshals are a much needed support for the success of this huge
event, and they provide hospitality and assist attendees. Training will be provided. Sign up to volunteer.
Let's come together in solidarity and build our community of resistance together, and
reclaim our democracy!
**A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.
JOIN us for Canvassing in the Steele Creek area, as we work to Re-Elect Justice Anita Earls to the NC State Supreme Court!
We not only know that face-to-face conversations with voters are the most effective way to get them to the polls, we also know the value of talking to voters early and often to have lasting impact. This seat on the NC Supreme Court won't be up for reelection until 2026, but now is the critical time to reach voters with our deep canvassing script.
(All training and materials provided. Experienced canvassers go out with inexperienced canvassers. Event address provided upon registration.)
JOIN us for Canvassing in HD105 and SD42, as we work to replace Rep. Tricia Cotham and Re-Elect Sen. Bradley!
We not only know that face-to-face conversations with voters are the most effective way to get them to the polls, we also know the value of talking to voters early and often to have lasting impact. HD105 & SD42 won't be up for reelection until 2026, but now is the critical time to reach voters with our deep canvassing script.
(All training and materials provided. Experienced canvassers go out with inexperienced canvassers. Event address provided upon registration.)
Get ready to unwind and unite at Indivisible Charlotte's monthly social soirée on Wednesday, October 8, 6:30-8:30 PM!
Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
Save the date for an evening of laughter, good company, food, and drinks. Eager to join us? Register now and mark your calendar for a night of community and rejuvenation.
Please note that the social meet up is The Green House at Wise Acres, at the corner of Poplin and Hartis. (Look for the actual green house!)
We're excited to see you there—ready to recharge and connect!
Indivisible Charlotte Newsletter
September 1, 2025 Volume 42
ACTION:
SOCIAL:
IN THE KNOW:
GROUP NEWS:
EVENT RECAP:
By Pat Rosa
Indivisible Charlotte, as a group committed to defending democracy and creating a more just and equitable society, our work is more urgent now than ever. The threats to our democratic institutions, at a national, state and local level, are real and mounting. We are living in a time of unprecedented political polarization and rising authoritarianism, and to effectively resist, we must first understand the playbook being used against us.
This bibliography is a tool for our collective empowerment. It is not an exhaustive list, but a curated selection of readings that will help us identify the warning signs of democratic backsliding and understand the mechanisms by which authoritarians gain and consolidate power. From the political science that explains how democracies die to the firsthand accounts of those who have lived under authoritarian rule, these books, newsletters, videos and podcasts offer crucial insights into the "what," "how," and "why" of the challenges we face.
Part 1: Health Care and SNAP Issues
By Galen Smith and Carrie Phillips
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) was signed into law in July 2025 and extends many of the features established in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Most Americans are keenly aware that the bill’s tax cuts will benefit the wealthiest people the most and disadvantage those at the lower end of the income spectrum. For example, the highest-earning 5% of Americans are projected to receive more than 45% of the tax cuts whereas the lowest-earning 20% of Americans will receive less than 1% of the tax cuts. State-level impacts will be broad-based, especially in terms of the pernicious effects on the social safety net.
This month we’ll focus on the OBBB’s impacts on North Carolina related to Medicaid, Medicare, and the SNAP program.
SAVE THE DATE: Learn and Canvass Event with ICLT + FLIP NC
Join FLIP NC + Indivisible Charlotte on Saturday, October 4, 1-5 PM, for an info and action event – with special guest Justice Anita Earls!
As extremist Republicans from D.C. to Raleigh attack our rights and our democracy, we need to elect and protect leaders who have the will and the power to fight back – and we have a plan to do it.
During this special event, learn how you can make the best use of your time to help elect the leaders we need in this moment – and then try out a little voter outreach in an easy and supportive environment.
This half-day event has four parts:
We’ll have an informational presentation (with snacks!) and an intro to effective voter outreach.
We’ll hear from Justice Anita Earls and then have a chance to meet and chat with her.
We’ll provide a brief canvass/lit drop training and an opportunity to try it out for an hour – with an experienced partner for first-timers.
Finally, we’ll meet back up for an informal debrief over beer and pizza.
This event is free to attend, but advance sign-up is needed.
REGISTER HERE and get updates once details have been set.
Join us on Wednesday, September 17, 7-8 PM, as we give you all the tools you need to be a master canvasser for Democracy! We will cover:
What makes our canvassing EASY and FUN
Why we are canvassing
Where we will focus
The basics of door knocking, also known as talking to our neighbors about issues they care about.
Come and find out why ICLT members call canvassing our super power!
Tired of doom scrolling? Join us in real life as we stand for democracy at pop up protests all over town. You’ll be energized by your fellow patriots and the enthusiastic response of folks passing by. By standing up, you encourage others to stand with you. Courage is contagious. Yeah, but does holding a sign on a street corner make a difference? YES! We’re building a movement, attracting new activists, and showing
folks that PROTEST IS PATRIOTIC. Our pop up protests are seen by 100,000+ motorists each week!
Visibility CLT is a pop-up protest movement within Indivisible CLT. We stage regular, local protests in Charlotte-area neighborhoods to encourage others to help protect our constitution, our democracy and a way of life that works for all Americans. Join us! Want to lead a pop up demonstration? REGISTER HERE
Check out this note from a new member! "... I see you guys every Thursday morning in Midtown on my way to work and found you all through a TikTok! Can't wait to see how I'm able to help with the cause."
A CMS teacher said “I just drove through the intersection at Idlewild and Rose/Rama and the Good Trouble protesters are there again. I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to see those folks out there. I think I’m a cry!”
AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS: Visibility Brigade NJ hosted a nationwide ‘Be Brave, Stand with Us’ bridge protest on Friday, 8/15, and VCLT participated with 3 bridge locations. About 30,000 motorists saw our signs over I-485 and Hwy 74.
Visibility CLT held over 200 protests this summer. Our protests are growing, with 55 in June, 69 in July and 72 in August. We average about 17 protests each week, with at least one each day. We held 23 protests on a single day during Good Times Live On in July. Check out our schedule and join us at a protest near you. It's a joyous respite from the national news.
LEARN MORE about Visibility CLT pop-up protests. Come join us and feel the energy – change your angst into action.
ICLT is committed to nonviolent action, and we expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential
confrontation with those who disagree with us. Signs and chants must not incite violence. Of course, there’s always an inherent risk to protesting.
Questions? visibilityclt@gmail.com
Indivisible Charlotte | indivisibleclt@gmail.com | Member Request Form | Frequently Asked Questions
