Thanks so much for joining our week of action! Please use this page to send out emails every day to your email lists - and of course, feel free to add in your own twist!
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Saturday + Sunday:
Dear __________,
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Tomorrow marks the start of a really exciting, and pivotal, week for the Drive Michigan Forward (DMF) campaign to restore the ability of all Michiganders to obtain driver's licenses, regardless of immigration status. In our state - one centered around driving and the car industry - hundreds of thousands of our neighbors are blocked from being able to drive. That means that too many of us can't complete everyday tasks like going to the grocery store or to work, with dignity and without fear.
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We all want the right to care for our loved ones and to move freely without feeling like a target. To do that, we all need the right to obtain a driver's license, regardless of how long we've been here or what documentation we have - and that's why the DMF campaign, along with Senators Stephanie Chang and Winnie Brinks, and Representatives Padma Kuppa and Rachel Hood, introduced two House Bills and two Senate Bills to restore the right of all Michiganders to have driver's licenses!
We're inviting you to join us for a week of action from May 17th to May 21st, where we'll promote our new bills and put pressure on our legislators to move them forward! Check out the week overview below, then head to drivemichiganforward.com to sign up for the week's events and get resources to post on your social media!
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Our first event will be a kickoff livestream on Monday at 3PM. RSVP here.​
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This is our chance to make Michigan a place where freedom of movement is a right, not a privilege. To do that, we all need the right to obtain a driver’s license, regardless of how long we’ve been here or what documentation we have. Supporting the right of all of us to move freely in order to grocery shop, work, care for our loved ones and do the things that bring us joy, without feeling like a target - no matter who we are or where we come from - is a crucial piece of the world we are fighting for.
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We hope you'll join us!
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Best,
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Monday
Hey ______
Today marks the start of a really exciting, and pivotal, week for the Drive Michigan Forward campaign to restore the ability of undocumented Michiganders to obtain driver's licences.
Last week, we announced the reintroduction of the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom and the Economy) bills in the Michigan House and Senate. This week, those bills get formally introduced, and it’s important that we show how strong public support is for the restoration of people’s basic right to move around freely. To do that, we need to have a loud and coordinated public choir that’s impossible to ignore.
So everyday this week, starting today, we’ll have a series of actions you can take to demonstrate your support and help raise the volume and increase pressure on elected officials to pass these bills.
It’s Monday, May 17th. What can I do?
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Check out the full week's action toolkit here! it has all the graphics and sample captions that you need to start fighting for driver's licenses for all!
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Post a selfie with a #DriveMichiganForward sign, along with our week of action graphic. We'd suggest posting a selfie or picture of you to beat the algorithm and boost engagement. ​
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Attend our facebook livestream kickoff! We're celebrating the beginning of our week of action by talking with coalition members about why we're fighting for these bills and what it'll mean for Michigan. We hope you'll join us, and share our event graphic!
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Excited to raise the volume with you all this week! Be on the lookout for tomorrow’s action items.
In solidarity,
X
Tuesday-Thursday
Friends,
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Thank you so much for an amazing day one of our week of action - we loved seeing your selfies! If you haven't posted one yet, grab a piece of paper, write #DriveMIForward on it, then post it and tag us! There's no better way for your friends learn about our fight and how they can get involved. We all want the right to care for our loved ones and to move freely without feeling like a target. To do that, we all need the right to obtain a driver’s license, regardless of how long we’ve been here or what documentation we have.
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In 2008, the Michigan Legislature decided to strip anyone without proper documentation of their Driver’s Licence and/or State ID. This was a huge blow to people’s basic freedom of movement, and to their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones. In response, undocumented people are fighting for the reinstatement of driver’s licenses for all, and we’re working with allies in the Michigan legislature to re-introduce the Drive SAFE bills (Safety, Access, Freedom, and the Economy) during the first week of May.
Please join us in the fight for driver's licenses along with many undocumented Michiganders this summer, starting with our phonebanks today, tomorrow, and Thursday.
We'll be calling our neighbors and legislators to let them know about our Drive SAFE bills, and why we're fighting for them. If you haven't phonebanked before, don't worry - there will be support every step of the way!
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Sign up here to join in on the Week of Action phone banks!
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We are urging our representatives to support the Drive SAFE Bills, and to move forward by holding a hearing on the bills this year. The Drive SAFE bills reinstate a basic right that Michiganders had for years: the ability to access a state ID or driver’s license with proof of identity and Michigan residency, regardless of citizenship status.
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If you can't make a phonebank - don't worry! We're also urging people to call and email Rep. Sarah Anthony, encouraging her to become a champion of these bills by helping us get a bill hearing!
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517-373-0826. Script: Hi, my name is {name] from {city or county}. I'm calling to urge you to support the Drive SAFE House Bills 4835 and 4836 - and become a champion of the cause by urging committee chair Rep. Lilly to grant our bills a hearing before the end of the year. Your support is key to restore the right of all Michiganders to access a state ID or driver's license with proof of identity and Michigan residency, regardless of citizenship status. There is urgency to give these bills a hearing. We know that this legislation will have clear, tangible, and positive impacts on hundreds of thousands of Michiganders - including the lives of your constituents. Right now, too many Michiganders cannot engage in their communities, participate in our state economy more fully and complete everyday tasks with dignity and without fear. Please act now!
Send Rep. Sarah Anthony an email!
Together, we are making Michigan a place where freedom is for everyone. We're glad to have you on board!
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In gratitude,
_______
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Friday
Good morning fam,
It’s Day 5 of our Week of Action to #DriveMichiganForward!
For four days, we’ve shown how undeniably strong, and passionate, public support is for the Drive SAFE bills, legislation that would restore the ability of every Michigander regardless of what we look like, where we come from, or what paperwork we have, to obtain a driver’s license.
And we ain’t done yet!
It’s Friday, May 21th. What can I do?At 11:30AM EST, join Nelly and Kimberly from the Drive Michigan Forward Coalition on the @DriveMIForward and @ACLUofMich instagram accounts for a livestream! We'll be talking about the Drive Michigan Forward bills, its legal impact, and police surveillance/targeting of immigrants on the roads.
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image id: yellow background with road and paper car cutout. Text: Drive Michigan Forward week of action, friday 5/20, 11:30AM EST. Picture of two people, and the bottom says "www.drivemichiganforward.com." Text: "Join coalition members Nelly Fuentes (We the People-MI) and Kimberly Buddin (ACLU Mich) in an Instagram Live conversation. They'll be chatting about why they personally are fighting for the right for drivers licenses for all, and how our bills would impact every single Michigander! Tune in: @ACLUofMichigan"
Then after the livestream, we're letting Rep. Sarah Anthony know how much we need her to support the bills and help them get a hearing! Send her an email here, and while you're at it - you can send one to thank our bill champions, too. It'll only take a minute with our pre-written form.
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Thank you for joining us this week, for raising hell against arbitrary and cruel barriers to freedom of movement, and for shouting your support and raising your voices for our undocumented family and friends.
By coming together, we can make Michigan a place where freedom of movement is a right, not a privilege. Where each of us not only has the ability to do essential things like care for our loved ones, but to move freely without feeling like a target, and do more of the things that bring us joy and satisfaction.
In solidarity,
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Will you follow Drive Michigan Forward on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram?
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