May 31, 2023
In this Issue: Lake Dems Celebrate Flag Day with 2nd Annual Democrats Defending Democracy Reception ● We Talked Politics! ● Lake Dems Presents State of the State Report with Legislators on Zoom ● Remembering Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day ● Volunteer Spotlight ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
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Lake Dems Celebrate Flag Day with 2nd Annual Democrats Defending Democracy Reception
On Flag Day, Wednesday, June 14 at 5:30pm, Lake Dems will gather at the DoubleTree Mundelein (510 East IL Route 83, Mundelein) for our annual Democrats Defending Democracy reception. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate our victories over right-wing extremism with our Democratic elected officials, candidates, and like-minded people.
Individual Tickets are $35. Sponsorships available. Space is limited so RSVP now at lakedems.org/democracy/. Join us for fascinating conversation, appetizers, and desserts. Open to Democrats.
We hope to see you there!
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We Talked Politics!
This past Thursday, May 25, in Gurnee, Lake County Democrats along with Warren Dems co-sponsored the latest edition of the Tenth Dems University (TDU) Let’s Talk Politics series. This free event focused on reproductive rights, the recent Supreme Court Dobbs decision (which overturned Roe v. Wade), and the impact of states taking matters into their own hands.
TDU Dean Laurie Schiller led the meeting and opened the floor to attendees by asking how people felt when the Dobbs decision was announced. Many voiced their concerns, outrage, and personal stories about how the decision affected them.
Meaghan Murphy, Chief of Staff for Personal PAC, also participated in the discussion. Personal PAC is a non-partisan statewide political action committee committed solely to electing pro-choice politicians in Illinois. Meaghan spoke about Personal PAC’s efforts to stop the Danville, IL, City Council from passing an ordinance exempting itself from the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), noting that the overwhelming majority of voters support abortion rights. She also mentioned that HB3326 passed the Illinois Senate on May 24th and is headed to the Governor. Under this bill, information from automated license plate readers can’t be used to track individuals seeking abortion care or a person’s immigration status.
Men4Choice co-founder and Vice-Chair Oren Jacobson attended and joined the conversation. Men4Choice launched in Illinois in 2015 to educate and organize male allies in the fight for reproductive freedom. After successfully training and educating thousands of male allies in Illinois, helping pass multiple pieces of progressive legislation and expanding pro-choice support across the state, Men4Choice has recently extended their outreach into Georgia and Florida.
Oren talked about past and present legislation Men4Choice helped pass, including HB40 in 2017, which repealed a dangerous “trigger” law that would have automatically banned abortion in Illinois if the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back Roe v. Wade, thereby confirming that abortion will remain legal in Illinois. Other important bills Men4Choice backed were SB25, also called the RHA in 2019, and in 2021 HB370 which repealed the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act.
This well-attended and engaging Let’s Talk Politics provoked passionate discussion on the fight for reproductive rights. We are grateful to Oren and Meaghan for their willingness to share their expertise with the group, as well as the participation of the many Democrats who attended.
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Lake Dems Presents State of the State Report with Legislators on Zoom
We hope you will join us Sunday, June 4 at 7pm for a briefing by many of our Lake County Democratic State Senators and State Representatives. They’ll be discussing the recently concluded Spring 2023 legislative session live on Zoom. This event is FREE. Open to Democrats. Register here.
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Remembering Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
Thank you to the many Democrats and Democratic elected officials who participated in Memorial Day ceremonies and parades throughout Lake County, including Grayslake, Highland Park, Lake Villa, Wauconda, Waukegan, and Winthrop Harbor.
On Memorial Day we remember and pay tribute to those who gave their lives to protect democracy. With so much at stake in these trying times, we must remember what they fought for. Heroes made the ultimate sacrifice, and if we truly want to honor them, we must continue to organize, take action, raise our voices, and work for democracy.
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| Wauconda Township Democrats, Lake County Dems, Fremont Township Dems, and Democratic interns gather for the Memorial Day Parade in Wauconda. | Lake Villa Township Democrats are joined by Lake County Dems, Democratic elected officials, candidates, and fellow Dems for the Lake Villa Memorial Day Parade. |
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| Candidates and elected officials are joined by their fellow Dems as they get ready to step off for the Grayslake Memorial Day Parade. | Democrats pay tribute to the fallen by participating in Memorial Day ceremonies in Waukegan. |
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Volunteer Spotlight
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers. Click here if you’re interested in helping.
Meghan Lane and 20 fellow Lake County Dems attended the recent IL Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) Boot Camp
Meghan Lane has joined the Lake Dems volunteer Communications Team! Meghan, a Mundelein resident, recently attended both the IDCCA Boot Camp and the Let’s Talk Politics event in Gurnee. Afterwards, she wrote articles about what she experienced for our Lake Dems Weekly Update newsletter and plans to take on other roles with Lake Dems in the future. We are so grateful she is lending us her talents as we work to promote our shared values in Lake County.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Biden and McCarthy Reach a Deal to Avoid Default. Here’s What’s In It
Schneider, Bera Lead 50 Colleagues in Request for Default Impact on National Security
Illinois to Reinstate Blue Collar Jobs Act
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Upcoming Events
SATURDAY, JUN. 3
Hispanic American Community Education and Services (HACES) Family Fun Walk & Run. Check in at 8am, step off at 9am, Waukegan. More.
SUNDAY, JUN. 4
Walk with Lake Dems at the BG Pride and the Pinta Pride Project Parade in Buffalo Grove. 11am, Buffalo Grove. More.
Moms Demand Action of New Trier Township: Wear Orange Experience. 6:30pm, Chicago. More.
Lake Dems Presents State of the State Report With Our Democratic Legislators on Zoom. 7pm, online via Zoom. More.
MONDAY, JUN. 5
Moraine Dems June Zoom Meeting. 6pm, online via Zoom. More.
TUESDAY, JUN. 6
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) Presents “Acts of Change.” 5:30pm, Chicago. More.
WEDNESDAY, JUN. 7
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham Zoom Meet and Greet. 6pm, online via Zoom. More.
WEDNESDAY, JUN. 14
Lake Dems Presents Democrats Defending Democracy Reception. 5:30pm, Mundelein. RSVP: lakedems.org/democracy/.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
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How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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