NEXT EVENTS ➢ Postcards + Civics + Craftivism Gatherings

May 2026

Mission Statement

We are dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic and voter education, constitutional literacy, and informed, inclusive civic participation. We believe in peaceful action, equal rights, the rule of law, and democracy that works for everyone.

Spotlight

Voting Rights Act Gutted

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 in response to the violence and intimidation faced by civil rights activists during voting registration drives, particularly in Selma, Alabama, which was known as "Bloody Sunday."

By the end of 1965, a quarter of a million new Black voters had been registered, one-third by federal examiners. By the end of 1966, only four out of 13 southern states had fewer than 50 percent of African Americans registered to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was readopted and strengthened in 1970, 1975, and 1982.

Learn more about the landmark Voting Rights Act here.

Fast forward 50 years:

The Supreme Court has significantly shaped the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) through landmark rulings, often limiting its scope in recent years. Key cases include Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which invalidated the Section 4(b) coverage formula for preclearance, and Brnovich v. DNC (2021) and Louisiana v. Callais (2026), which weakened Section 2 protections against discriminatory voting maps.

Now what?

Did you miss the NoKings coalition rapid response call? Listen here, particularly where civil rights activists from the 60’s recount their experiences.

Get involved. Join the GTLO Weekend of Action Planning Call - Thurs May 14 7pm-8pm. Register here.

Stay Informed.
- The Contrarian: 15 Ways To Fight Callais on Substack.
- Which states are considering redistricting? Read this article from AP News.
- Pay attention to the primaries and if they may be impacted by ongoing redistricting efforts*! Here are the remaining primaries in May:
  - 5/16: Louisiana*
  - 5/19: Alabama*, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania

VA Special Election OVERTURNED · Redistricting Chaos

The Election:

First — THANK YOU to everyone who support the April 21st election. Whether you wrote postcards, textbanked, canvassed, poll greeted, handed out zines, spent time talking to voters or worked the election — your efforts are appreciated and they were NOT in vain!

The Ruling:

The Supreme Court of VA overturned the election on May 8th, on a procedural issue, citing that the November 2025 election was already in progress when the amendment was brought to VA Legislature in October 2025 (early voting was in progress).

What's Next:

An appeal to SCOTUS has been submitted, since they have recently let other states redraw their maps after their early voting started. Read more here. A decision on whether SCOTUS will hear the case is expected soon.
Encourage your state reprentatives to NOT re-appoint JUSTICE D. ARTHUR KELSEY who's term expires in 2027. Justice Kelsey wrote the opinion overturning the election.
Prepare to GET OUT THE VOTE for August and November elections. We can still flip at least 2 house seats in Virginia. We've created a new Zine to help Virginia voters be 'Election Ready' — download the new Zine and come to a Zine folding party to help get these ready to get to voters! District races to support:

VA-02 (Hampton Roads / Virginia Beach area)
VA-01 (Northern Neck to outer Northern Virginia exurbs)

Gather 'Round The Table!

Take Action

Check our Events Calendar for a full list of our events, plus in-person and online opportunities from other organizations we recommend. The list is updated frequently, so check back often.

New to Us or Want to Meet Up?

We’re having a “DEMOCRACY ON THE ROCKS” (un?)HAPPY HOUR on May 21st, and we invite you to gather ‘round the table with us between 5:30-7:30 at Honor Brewing Kitchen in Fairfax.

Pull up a chair and

🪑Meet like-minded folks

🪑 Grab some fun resistance swag

🪑Share your ideas

🪑 Learn about our working groups

🪑 Talk about how to grow the movement

🪑 Make your own protest button

🪑 Introduce your friends who want to do more!

Please sign-up so we know how many people to plan for and so we can share any last-minute updates or changes. If you prefer, you can email indtttcommunity@gmail.com to let us know you're planning to join us.

Ready to Start Turning the Tables?

Our work is growing but our volunteer base isn’t growing fast enough to keep up. Behind everything you see here is a small group dedicated of people making it happen.

If you’ve been looking to stay involved and keep the momentum going, we NEED you!

Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 days, are tech-savvy, creative, organized or simply willing to help, there’s a place for you in this work.

A few efforts we are currently looking for help with:

Advice on communications efforts for the next NKD (short- or long-term ask)

We'd like to build a small group of advisors to help us prepare a comprehensive communications plan to launch when the next NKD is announced. Do you have skills in public relations, writing, media relations, graphic design, content creators, etc. and want to help us figure out creative ways to get the word out? This would consist of a few hours a month through the spring and early summer, mostly online, unless the team prefers otherwise.

Social Media content and planning (on-going, at-will ask)
Contacting potential volunteers (on-going, at-will ask)
Tabling with election information (on-going, at-will ask)

Email indtttcommunity@gmail.com to let us know you’re interested.

Have something else to offer? Fill out our volunteer form so we can match your talents and interests to the right needs. Thank you!

JOIN THE WORKING GROUPS!

Below you will find sections on our various working groups and what actions and events they have coming up. You can learn more about the groups, by checking out the Our Work section of the website.

Elections & Voter Engagement

Postcard Status, 5/12/26

We started this year with a goal of 15,000 postcards, and as most of you know we are not even halfway through the year and due to our dedicated volunteers, we will easily surpass our goal by June! As a result, we are bumping our target for 2026 up to 20,000!

Here’s how you can help:

Continue to engage with postcard writing. Remember you can work on these at home! Keep an eye on our calendar for details.
Donate stamps if you are able.
Shop our store to help with supplies.
If you have candidates that you want to support let us know — we can see if there is a postcard campaign to support them.

Election Protection Hotline!

Big thanks to Nick Gothard from Election Protection Hotline for attending our last team meeting.

The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition is made up of more than 300 local, state, and national partners; we work year-round to advance and defend the right to vote. They will be hosting field volunteer training sessions, likely starting in June in Support of upcoming August Virginia primaries. They will also be hosting Election Protection Hotline 101 and Election Protection 101 training sessions over the next few months.

To learn more now, visit https://866ourvote.org/. You can also view a recording of the 4/16 Election Protection Hotline information session.

Fighting Misinformation!

On 4/29 we hosted an online seminar “Election Safety & Security in Virginia”. The goal was to show how elections work in Virginia — with focus on Fairfax County — to dispel common election myths such as rampant voter fraud and inaccurate results. Big thanks to Leslie N for helping make this session happen!

If you missed this session and would like to see it added as a future event, please email indtttelections@gmail.com.

Out In The Field!

Big thanks to Leni N for working with local business partners to find opportunities to hand out Election Zines and engage with voters prior to the 4/21 election. The Sidewalk Sale at N’Used in Herndon from 4/9-12 was a great place to chat with shoppers to raise awareness of the 4/21 election and encourage them to vote! In Fall's Church, Penzey's also allowed our Election Zines to be distributed. If you don't know Penzey's — please check them out. They are a pro-democracy spice company! Tip: If you sign up for their emails you get some mad deals!

Have you heard of Donuts + Democracy? Thanks to Andrea P for organizing an event at GMU on 4/13 to try out this innovative idea! They have a simple mission—increase young voter turnout by providing donuts to pro-democracy, pro-choice student organizations hosting voter registration and get-out-the-vote events on college campuses across competitive states. We gave out 13 dozen donuts while engaging with students to discuss the upcoming 4/21 election and answer any question they had to make sure they were vote ready!

Election Reforms

Did you know there is an effort to change how we elect presidents that does not requiring amending the constitution, and Virginia just signed on?

Read Democrats are closer than you think to upending the Electoral College for full details. Below is a short summary.

The president is chosen by the Electoral College which represents weighted election results from each state. There is a National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) which member states agree to award all the electoral votes they control to the winner of the "national popular vote". Virginia entered the compact in April 2026, bringing the total member state's electoral votes to 222. When this total gets to 270, the obligation of member states kicks in. If four more states tip toward Democratic trifectas the 270 goal is in sight.

Here is another article from Center for American Progress on this topic.

How do YOU engage on this? Support elections in states where a democratic trifecta is possible — Michigan (15), Pennsylvania (19), Wisconsin (10), and Nevada (6)!

If you like working on all things related to elections join our Elections Working Group. If you love canvassing or just want to try canvassing with experienced people, please join our Canvassing Working Group.

Immigration & Civil Rights

The Immigration group focuses on being informed with what’s happening to immigrants nationally and in our local Northern Virginia community, educating and making our representatives and community members aware of it and formulating positions and taking actions to stop or mitigate the injustices. We help those in distress now while also working to fix a broken immigration system.

Current topics of discussion:

How the federal authorities have abused so many people and why state and local authorities haven't done more to stop them
Briefed discussion with Fairfax Public Defender
Discussed status of VA Immigration Bill SB351 - which prohibits civil arrests in protected areas (courthouses, hospitals, schools, polling places).

What can you do right now?

Tell Governor Spanberger to support SB351. Cick here to quickly send her a letter asking her to sign the bill.
Attend upcoming events:
- Thurs, May 14th, 8:30am-12pm, House Judiciary Committee - Fairfax County & Anti Immigrant Narratives
- Wed, May 27th, 10:30am-12pm, ICE Out For Good at the Fairfax Courthouse
Hand on zines on what to do if you witness an immigration enforcement / detention events in your neighborhood. ICE Bystander Video and Zines, from Wofa Indivisible (Arlington Indivisible) — these zines were created to educate bystanders on how to respond to ICE action and to support our immigrant neighbors. Please download and share!

- Bystander zine
- Bystander video

Whether you are ready to dig into policy or just want to listen and learn, we invite you to join our Immigration Working Group.

Civics Education & Public Information

The Civics / Just the Facts Working Group focuses on making civic information more accessible, approachable, and action-oriented for our community. Through educational materials, community conversations, and interactive events, we help people better understand government, evaluate information, and build confidence in civic engagement — no prior expertise required.

Whether you’re interested in education, research, community outreach, or advocacy, there’s a place for you to get involved. If you would like to help, join our Civics Working Group.

Craftivism

In May, we are working on crafts that show our commitment to community support and democracy. We’re being crafty while offering opportunities for peaceful civic education and informed, inclusive participation in civic engagement.

On April 26th and May 3rd we worked on the super cute frog blankets that we started at our Angry Knit-In solidarity event in March. Our group decided to make baby blankets with our collected granny squares to be donated to a shelter in the Fairfax area once they are assembled.

At our Democracy Rocks gathering on Sunday, May 17th, we will be collaborating with our Civic Engagement & Public Information Working Group by painting democracy-forward messages on rocks to leave throughout the community.

Our final May in-person gathering will be on May 31st in Fairfax City, where we will continue these projects or we may introduce some new ones, depending on what the group wants to do!

Going forward, these in-person Circle gatherings will continue twice-a-month on Sunday mornings in a small-group setting with progressive crafts at the ready. Keep in mind that at any of our events, you are always welcome to bring your own crafting project and pull up a chair to be with fellow progressive folks! And, if Sunday doesn’t work for you, but you’d like to gather folks at another time or place to craft or talk, we’re happy to support you to help you make that happen.

Also in June, we’re launching a monthly online Makers Roundtable (get it? Turning the Tables…) where folks can gather around our virtual table with crafts or snacks from the comfort of home, enjoy a presentation by an artisan, historian, or practitioner, and then engage in a conversation about craftivism.

Thursday, June 4th, from 5:30-7:30pm we are excited to be joined virtually by George Mason University art history professor (and experienced quilter and sewist) Vanessa Schulman. Vanessa will give us a short talk on women's needle arts in America from a historical perspective.

Future Makers Roundtable sessions are planned—dates need to be firmed up, but pencil in the 2nd Thursday of the month!

Keep an eye out for more upcoming events by bookmarking this link. You can also join the Craftivism Circle by signing-up for the Craftivism Working Group.

Read or Listen!

Recommendation ·"Democracy Awakening"

A New York Times Bestseller by Heather Cox Richardson

At a time when the very foundations of American democracy seem under threat, the lessons of the past offer a road map for navigating a moment of political crisis. In Democracy Awakening, acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson delves into the tumultuous journey of American democracy, tracing the roots of Donald Trump’s “authoritarian experiment” to the earliest days of the republic. She examines the historical forces that have led to the current political climate, showing how modern conservatism has preyed upon a disaffected population, weaponizing language and promoting false history to consolidate power.

If you have an book or podcast that you feel would be helpful to our group please email info@turningthetables.live.

Fundraising

We need your help!

Indivisible Turning the Tables is continually working towards our mission, and your financial support makes this work possible. Every dollar you give strengthens our ability to reach more neighbors, advocate for democracy, and cover the essential operations that keep our grassroots movement thriving.

Please consider making a donation today—together, we can continue building a stronger, more inclusive democracy.

Need resistance merch?

Our 2026 spring store is up and running! In addition to team apparel and accessories, we also are offering NoKings t-shirts! Get ready for summer protests by ordering yours today! All proceeds benefit our team, and your support is greatly appreciated. The store will be open until June 20. Orders will ship as soon as they are processed —generally within 2 weeks. Shop Now!

Constitutional Corner

The Constitution Is Not Just History — It’s a Tool

This month, as we launch our Civics in Action series, we’re focusing on a simple but powerful idea: the Constitution is not just something students memorize in school. It is a living framework that shapes how power is divided, how rights are protected, and how everyday people can participate in government.

One of the most important parts of civic education is understanding that the Constitution does three big things:

Creates the structure of government
Divides power
Protects rights

But here’s the key:
constitutional rights only stay strong when people understand them, use them, and defend them peacefully.

That’s why civic learning matters. When we understand how government works, we are better prepared to ask questions, follow issues, contact representatives, attend public meetings, vote, and help our neighbors do the same.

This month’s reflection question:
What part of the Constitution do you wish more people understood?

Take one small civic action:
Read one amendment this week and ask: How does this show up in daily life?

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