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Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek (IRWC)

Website:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisibleresisterswc/
Location:

Walnut Creek, California
Type:

Left-of-Center Activism
Founder:

Kathryn Durham Hammer

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Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek (IRWC) is a California-based local representative of the national Indivisible Project. 1 Its left-leaning activism aligns its efforts with many different groups including the Black Voters Matter Fund 2 and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. 3 IRWC has advocated for the elimination of the filibuster to pass the Freedom to Vote Act 4  and joined other organizations in criticizing the press for alleged bias against President Joe Biden. 5

Advocacy

Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek joined with 60 Democratic and aligned organizations in co-signing a letter to Senate Democrats encouraging them to bypass or override the Senate’s super-majority filibuster to ensure the passage of left-of-center voting access and election administration legislation. Other left-leaning groups that signed the letter included the Black Voters Matter Fund, Friends of the Earth, League of Conservation Voters, NextGen America, Our Revolution, People’s Action, and Stand Up America. 6

In 2019, IRWC joined other left-of-center groups in a letter supporting a new tax for a transportation system in Contra Costa County, California. One of the main reasons was that the tax, “significantly surpasses existing state and regional greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and air quality improvement goals.” It also offered, “high levels of funding for bus operations, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and transit investments,” and “proportionately greater benefits for low-income residents.” The other signers include TransForm and Contra Costa MoveOn. 7

IRWC organized a rally with Greenpeace, SEIU, the League of Women Voters, MoveOn, Common Cause, to support passage of the For the People Act, a left-progressive election administration legislation, in 2021. 9  Other signers included Black Women’s Roundtable, Center for Economic and Policy Research, the Center for Popular Democracy, DemCast USA, and the Feminist Majority Foundation. 10

Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek joined a letter protesting Walnut Creek’s response to Black Lives Matter protests as, “escalatory and disproportionately aggressive,” which included, “tear gas, rubber bullets, military vehicles, and guard dogs.” Together We Will and Showing Up for Racial Justice co-signed the letter. 11

An open letter signed by Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek accused the media of widespread biased reporting unfavorable to the Biden administration. A study initiated by the Washington Post alleged that, “Biden’s press for the past four months has been as bad as — and for a time worse than — the coverage Trump received for the same four months of 2020.” The groups defended President Biden’s “very lengthy list of accomplishments,” and made recommendations on new coverage. They included, “avoid focusing on negative “spin” over positive facts for the sake of ratings and profit,” and, “increase the use of direct quotes from the White House and Congress to properly convey the intended messages of those who lead our country.” The left-leaning groups that signed with IRWC include, People’s Action, Swing Left Marin, Sister District Marin, and Rooted in Resistance. 12

California Assembly Bill 988 is supported by Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek, which calls for augmenting the 911 emergency system with a similar 988 Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Hotline. This bill seeks to alleviate the issue that, “approximately 25% of all individuals killed in police- involved shootings since 2015 had a known mental illness, with black men dying disproportionately.” 13 The left-leaning groups that joined Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek in supporting AB 988 include  gun control activists and advocates for defunding or altering traditional law enforcement. 14 They include, the Anti-Police Terror Project Sacramento, 15 Black Lives Matter Committee of the African American,  California First Response Transformation, Equity, 16 Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Live Free, 17 and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. 18 Other groups include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Showing Up for Racial Justice Sacramento, and the Tides Advocacy. 19

Leadership

Kathryn Durham Hammer is the main organizer of the Indivisible ReSisters of Walnut Creek. She is also a District 4 director for the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, a delegate to the California Democratic Party, and the president of the Diablo Valley Democratic Club. 20

Ogi Strogatz is another organizer for IRWC. She helped organize a rally commemorating the January 6th events at the capitol which she described as, “the deadly attack on democracy,” and “horrifying and surreal to witness.” 21

Jamie Salcido is a member of the Indivisible ReSisters Walnut Creek. She also attended the January 6th anniversary rally and said, “It’s a big reminder of how under attack our democracy is under these right wing forces.” 23 In 2020, she ran in an election against incumbent Debora Allen for a BART board director position but lost by a wide margin. Allen described Salcido as supporting the defunding of the police, which Allen opposed. 24

References

  1. “Indivisible Resisters Walnut Creek.” Facebook, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/181938232289395/
  2. “60 Organizations to Senate Democrats: Filibuster Didn’t Block Debt Limit Extension, Cannot Block Voting Rights Legislation.” Fix Our Senate, 2022. https://www.fixoursenate.org/press/60-organizations-to-senate-democrats-filibuster-didnt-block-debt-limit-extension-cannot-block-voting-rights-legislation?fbclid=IwAR2Hf9U8eGXhJAu7reXFrkfItPdT9jQf85aOsTv8alQO5e9x0J2zzsnXLC0
  3. “AB 988.” JusticeForMilesHall, 2021. https://www.justiceformileshall.org/ab-988
  4. “60 Organizations to Senate Democrats: Filibuster Didn’t Block Debt Limit Extension, Cannot Block Voting Rights Legislation.” Fix Our Senate, 2022. https://www.fixoursenate.org/press/60-organizations-to-senate-democrats-filibuster-didnt-block-debt-limit-extension-cannot-block-voting-rights-legislation?fbclid=IwAR2Hf9U8eGXhJAu7reXFrkfItPdT9jQf85aOsTv8alQO5e9x0J2zzsnXLC0
  5. Morgan, Susan. “Groups Representing 1.4 Million+ Americans Issue Open Letter to the Media.” DemCast, December 10, 2021. https://demcastusa.com/2021/12/09/groups-representing-over-1-4-million-americans-issue-open-letter-to-the-media/
  6. “60 Organizations to Senate Democrats: Filibuster Didn’t Block Debt Limit Extension, Cannot Block Voting Rights Legislation.” Fix Our Senate, 2022. https://www.fixoursenate.org/press/60-organizations-to-senate-democrats-filibuster-didnt-block-debt-limit-extension-cannot-block-voting-rights-legislation?fbclid=IwAR2Hf9U8eGXhJAu7reXFrkfItPdT9jQf85aOsTv8alQO5e9x0J2zzsnXLC0
  7.  2020 Transportation Expenditure Plan. Walnut Creek, CA, 2019. https://www.transformca.org/sites/default/files/CCTA-2020-TEP-Endorsement-Letter.pdf
  9. “Jul 9 · Honk and Wave. Drive by Rally for the People Act – in Walnut Creek – Nextdoor.” nextdoor.com, 2021. https://nextdoor.com/events/ca/walnut-creek/honk-and-wave-drive-by-rally-for-the-people-act-in-walnut-creek-4043909[/note

    Another letter that IRWC co-signed was the “Reporting Guidance for the Build Back Better Act.” The letter sought to instruct the press on favorable language they should use to promote the Biden administration’s “Build Back Better” domestic agenda. The letter argued that “Terms like “social safety net” are overly broad and mislead news consumers about the bill’s full impact and the broad range of people and families the bill seeks to help.” The letter recommended the use of phrases like, “child care, pre-kindergarten, paid family/medical leave, home- and community-based services.” 8 “Reporting Guidance for the Build Back Better Act.” MomsRising, November 30, 2021. https://www.momsrising.org/newsroom/reporting-guidance-for-the-build-back-better-act

  10. “Reporting Guidance for the Build Back Better Act.” MomsRising, November 30, 2021. https://www.momsrising.org/newsroom/reporting-guidance-for-the-build-back-better-act
  11. “Walnut Creek Hears Police Progress Report.” EBX, June 17, 2020. https://eastbayexpress.com/walnut-creek-hears-police-progress-report-1/
  12. Morgan, Susan. “Groups Representing 1.4 Million+ Americans Issue Open Letter to the Media.” DemCast, December 10, 2021. https://demcastusa.com/2021/12/09/groups-representing-over-1-4-million-americans-issue-open-letter-to-the-media/
  13. [1] “AB 988.” JusticeForMilesHall, 2021. https://www.justiceformileshall.org/ab-988
  14. “AB 988.” JusticeForMilesHall, 2021. https://www.justiceformileshall.org/ab-988
  15. “Walnut Creek Hears Police Progress Report: East Bay Express: Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda.” East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda, June 17, 2020. https://eastbayexpress.com/walnut-creek-hears-police-progress-report-1/
  16. “First Response Transformation Campaign – Equity Advisory Group Application.” Public Health Advocates, December 17, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/first-response-transformation-campaign-equity-advisory-group-application/
  17. “Live Free.” LIVE FREE. Accessed February 1, 2022. https://www.livefreeusa.org/
  18. Moms Demand Action, January 26, 2022. https://momsdemandaction.org/
  19. “AB 988.” JusticeForMilesHall, 2021. https://www.justiceformileshall.org/ab-988
  20. “Kathryn Durham Hammer’s Schedule for Rock the Congress: East Bay.” Kathryn Durham Hammer. Accessed February 1, 2022. https://rockthecongresseastbay2019.sched.com/speaker/kathryn_durham_hammer.200pbkid
  21. Bouscher, Dylan, and Ray Chavez. “Photos: January 6 Insurrection Remembered in East Bay City.” The Mercury News. The Mercury News, January 7, 2022. https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/07/photos-january-6-insurrection-remembered-in-east-bay-city/
  23. Hurd, Cheryl. “Bay Area Community, Lawmakers Remember Jan. 6 Capitol Attack One Year Later.” NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area, January 7, 2022. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/bay-area-community-lawmakers-remember-jan-6-capitol-attack-one-year-later/2772693/ 22 Hurd, Cheryl. “Bay Area Community, Lawmakers Remember Jan. 6 Capitol Attack One Year Later.” NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area, January 7, 2022. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/bay-area-community-lawmakers-remember-jan-6-capitol-attack-one-year-later/2772693/
  24.  Service, Bay City News. “All 4 Incumbents Win Reelection to Bart Board of Directors.” SFGATE. Bay City News, November 5, 2020. https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/All-4-Incumbents-Win-Reelection-To-Bart-Board-Of-15704165.php
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