Take Action!

Overview

"Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society." The Honorable Civil Rights Leader and Congressman, John Lewis


For 105 years, the League of Women Voters has been empowering voters and defending democracy, toward that "enchanted garden" of an inclusive democracy that provides life, liberty and happiness for ALL! During this century, we have faced many challenges and setbacks. But we have learned, organized, acted- and endured.Today we walk the path of democracy paved by our fearless leaders. Let us continue to light the way forward, joining with our fellow League members from across the country to commemorate and organize, and to learn and take action in our state and local communities as nonpartisan LWV members and also as individual voters. Please review all the opportunities below to take action - and do your part - in as little as 1 minute.

Join Us in Action

Are you an LWVMN member? Join us for Fired up Friday at noon each week to share our concerns and coordinate our advocacy!

How does taking action fit within LWV’s non-partisanship policy? Please read our key points for rally participation, see Guidance for Leagues about Nonpartisanship and Partnerships (+ learn how to Stay True to Nonpartisanship in a Divisive Political Climate), and check out our short reel, What is Nonpartisanship?. Finally, Nonprofit VOTE held a recent webinar on how to Stay Inside the Nonpartisan Lines (Slides).

organizing to Defend democracy

On May 1, 2025, LWV launched the Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 showcases the many ways voters can drive change through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement - Learn more and take action!

Unite & Rise Power Playbook 1: May 2025 - July 2025 (PDF)

Thursdays—Rise for Freedom: Nationwide Mass Trainings: Every Thursday through May 15, the Rise for Freedom coalition hosts a live, hybrid online training session designed for in-person groups nationwide. The goal of the training series is to bring people together, grow & strengthen their local networks, and get ready to mobilize to demand democracy in this new challenging environment. Want to learn more or host a training? Check out the toolkit here.

Timely actions

As federal uncertainly impacts our state, we must prioritize a healthy democracy and invest in healthy communities. LWVMN hosted a Lobby Day on April 28 to discuss the importance of Medicaid funding for Minnesotans and to stand up for access to clean air and water, food and farms, civic engagement and voting rights.

Protecting Minnesota Community Forums with Attorney General Keith Ellison

Open Letter and Call to Action on the Assault on American Democracy signed by retired diplomats and national security experts regarding the consequences of cutting USAID (Summary from NPR with several signees featured)

Save Act

May 20, 7 pm: The Threat to Voting by the SAVE Act and President's Executive Order with Sec. of State Steve Simon & ACLU

The US House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on April 10 (LWVUS Response), which, if passed by the US Senate, would require citizenship documentation to register to vote in federal elections. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon released the following statement. A study done by a St. Thomas professor found that out of more than 13 million votes cast in Minnesota during a 10 year period, only three were cast by non-citizens. Moreover, voters found ineligible in Minnesota face serious penalties, including 5 years imprisonment, $10,000 fine, and deportation.

Michelle Witte, LWVMN Executive Director, spoke about the dangers of the the SAVE Act, especially to married women, in a KSTP/Associated Press story following it’s passage. If this bill becomes law, it would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible American citizens (Brennan Center) especially historically marginalized voters (LWVUS Talking Points), increase costs for local election offices and effectively end third party and online voter registration.

Actions Taken

See what other Minnesota Leagues have been doing on our “We Took Action!” page.

 

Stay Informed

Stay connected to information sources you trust. LWV and LWVMN, and our nonpartisan partners, produce webinars, newsletters and messages you can use to get educated and share with others. 

Join Us

Connecting to your community is critical right now. Join groups, have conversations, build networks, and advocate for the issues you care about.

act

Fired Up Friday! - Members-only gathering to share your concerns and questions about the issues of our day, and learn how you can take constructive, nonpartisan action with LWV and personally.

Become a Member - We need more boots on the ground to serve our communities and protect our rights! Already a member? Invite a friend!

Turn Up the Heat during the Congressional Recesses (week of May 26, week of June 16)

advocate

Legislative Session - Status of priority bills and advocacy resources from partners.

Observer & Lobby Corps - Join us on Zoom every Monday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Learn more about how LWVMN members take action at the MN Capitol!

Action Alerts - Take action in only 60 seconds! Sign onto LWV and LWVMN Action Alerts. More voices = More impact!

LWVMN Lobby Day: Stand Up for Healthy Communities - Action Toolkit & Recording

Ally

Learn from and join our partners in important actions:

Learn More

 

Use Your Voice

You can still use your voice WITHOUT putting your LWV hat on. You can donate, join partisan groups, attend rallies and advocate personally at all levels of government, but distinguish these efforts from official LWV work. Use your own "Town Square" to influence and care for others.

How to Advocate Effectively

Action Alerts

Organize

Contact your Elected Representatives

Letters to the Editor

Messaging to fight mis- and disinformation and share the impacts of federal and state policies. LTE Tips

Postcards

Contact your reps by mail:

League Leadership In This Moment

  • Don’t Panic: The bottom line is that the U. S. is too decentralized in its governance system for a complete takeover.

  • Avoid the Lure of Pessimism and Skepticism: Things have been bad before, and for many racial minorities, far worse than now. But they didn’t give up. They persevered, even in the face of the terrible dysfunction and injustice of our system.

  • Stay Engaged and Connected: Nothing is more meaningful than being part of a struggle for democracy and now is the time. . It is precisely when things are hard that we must all lean into remaining vigilant and informed.

  • Be a Voice of Hope, Not Fear: Use your town square to speak out in favor of democracy, seek out difficult conversations, engage the curious and educate those who seek information.

  • Defend Institutions: It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. Support the court system, the rule of law, journalism, and labor rights.

  • Don’t Feed the Rage Cycle: We build community through dialogue not shouting.

  • Support the Front Line Fighters: Activists, lawyers, and community organizers form a protective shield and provide a safety net for the most vulnerable.

  • Recruit Others: Help recruit new members who want to take action!

  • Prepare for the Long Fight: This will not be over in one election or with the defeat of any one candidate. This is the fight of our generation.

“Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”

John Lewis, Civil Rights Leader and Congressman


Updated 2025-05-01