MAY 14, 2026
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What are we gonna do to make the people rise?
Educate! Agitate! Organize!
“Saying that democracy died in Tennessee last week is incorrect and boring.
“Saying that Tennesseans are being attacked legally by authoritarians (a minority of the actual population and electorate, who want to consolidate their own wealth and power at the expense of…well…everything and everyone…) is correct and useful.
“Amplifying and supporting the work of the Tennesseans who are going to beat back this racist attack is pushing the moral arc of the universe toward justice and power-building.
“Choose your own adventure wisely, hear?” —Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson
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Help Grow the Movement
It’s almost summer, and while in Montana the pace slows down, the assaults on our democracy by the Trump/Republican regime are approaching warp speed. That’s why we are urging Indivisible Helena members and friends to plug into ways to take action, get to know your comrades and, you know, build a resistance community!
We have three pressing needs for volunteers.
1. “Tabling” at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. This is a great way to connect with folks who are hungry to belong to an active resistance community, and are curious about IH. Find a friend to work the table with you, or we can find a buddy. The hours are up to you, but generally 9:45 am–noon. You would be on the grass, with the IH table, chairs, flyers, sign-up sheets, and training.
2. We need a volunteer to coordinate the IH members and materials needed to bring IH to the Farmers Market.
3. We need folks to join the “Sign Project,” which means finding the yards with IH No Kings signs that do not have the “VOTE” sticker, putting the VOTE sticker on the sign, and leaving a survey and a stamped return envelope at the home. We have neighborhood areas which we can assign to you or, if it hasn’t already been done, you can work in your own neighborhood. Our volunteers say this ‘task” is a blast to do with a friend!
None of these jobs requires a long-term commitment. If you like it, keep it up; if not, no problem! We know summer is the time for travel, so just sign up for what you can do, and we will fill the schedule as needed.
The folks who have tabled in the past or are working on the Sign Project have had positive things to say about their experiences and how it lifts their spirits and feeds their desire to stay engaged. Every bit of resistance adds up. Reach out to Jim Abell, our Volunteer Outreach volunteer at 763-473-2757 or jim.abell.ih@gmail.com (responses to emails will not be as quick).
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On May Day, 119 people and 1 inflatable zebra stood for two hours along 11th Ave, and waved signs in solidarity with workers and against the oligarchs and the Trump regime. Lots of cars and lots of honks and thumbs up proved there are many with us in our resistance.
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Mark Your Calendar
Thursday, May 21, 11 am–1 pm—Democracy Reads Books—The Project—IH Reading Group
Lewis & Clark Library, large conference room. The group will discuss The Project by David Graham. Reading length: 138 pages
Thursday, May 21, 6–8 pm—Indivisible Helena Membership Meetting
Helena Indian Alliance Gym, 501 Euclid. Enter doors across from Circle K.
AGENDA:
• A healthy amount of time for socializing!
• Small group discussions on IH election strategies, eg., reregistering voters, protecting the vote, helping people get to polls or take ballots to election office.
• IH Steering Group has joyfully decided that our June 14 Flag Day celebration will be a membership POTLUCK at the Fairgrounds. Help brainstorm activities, games, costumes, music. No speechifying! Only celebrating our commitment to working together for change.
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Good Reads / Good Watches / Good Listens
1
Esther Lynch
Jacobin: May Day: An Answer to Rampant Individualism
May 1, 2026
“[May Day] reminds us that individuals are happiest when we have others standing along side us.”
Gentle Reader, you’ve noticed by now that we newsletter people, in nearly every issue, remind, urge and motivate you to learn and remember that all change comes from a group, a community a society of people.The power in one individual’s effort is zero. Power comes only when the individual joins with others and works for the change. Esther Lynch succinctly reveals the results of group effort in her May Day essay. It inspires and creates courage.
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2
Doug James
The Montana Chamber of Commerce Picked Dark Money Over Montanans
Opinion Daily Montanan
May 12, 2026
Doug James writes that the Montana Chamber of Commerce used to work for the small and large businesses of Montana, but now works for supersized foreign and US corporations which are in the business of taking the money and power from our Main Street business communities to extract and corrupt any power and control we citizens had over our lives. Corporate “financial muscle” influencing Montana’s elections (and corrupting our political system) is a movie we’ve seen before. The hidden agendas always mean corruption—of our politics, of our environment, of our democracy—and the eventual silencing of Montanans’ voices.
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This Week’s To-Do List
Make Good Trouble in Helena!
1. CONTINUE CALLING OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION
Senator Steve Daines: (202) 224-2651
Senator Tim Sheehy: (202) 224-2644
Representative Ryan Zinke: (202) 225-5628
Representative Troy Downing: (202) 225-3211
NO BALLROOM!
END THE IRAN WAR!
END THE CORRUPTION in our political system!
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2. HONK & WAVE
Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m.
11th and Montana Ave.
The Honk & Wave continues.
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3. STOCK THE PUREVIEW PANTRIES
Mondays–Fridays, 7 am–5 pm
Drop-Off at PureView: 1930 9th Ave.
or 630 N. Last Chance Gulch
Lewis & Clark Library, 120 South Last Chance Gulch
The three pantries are always accepting non-perishable food and personal hygiene products.
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Get Your No Kings Yard Signs!
We’ve got ‘em, you want ‘em
Request by email, and we’ll get them to you. The No Kings sign campaign is here until we are sure there will be NO KINGS, EVER!
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Support Indivisible Helena
If you’d like to support Indivisible Helena in pushing back against fascism, please consider a donation via this link to the Indivisible Helena ActBlue donation portal or use the QR code below. Your information will remain private — neither IH nor ActBlue shares or sells personal data.
Together, we’ll make sure the U.S. has NO KING.
