Visit the IHB website at: https://www.indivisible-IHB.org.
Dear {{ FirstName | default: 'Friend' }},
Key actions for the upcoming week include the following:
We were absolutely thrilled that so many of our members (more than 150 – 160 of you) braved the ice and cold to attend this past Monday’s Meeting to review our 2025 Accomplishments and to take a quick look at our goals for 2026. We are sorry that we were not able to provide you the audio of that meeting since we were meeting at a new location. The highlights of what we achieved together in 2025 include:
In 2026, there is a need for even more involvement from each of us. As one of our speakers put it best, "Choose an additional lane and pick-up the speed." We can do it together as we have always done.
If you want to review our past accomplishments and find a place to plug-into for 2026, click HERE to see the presentation. You can also reach out to any member of the Leadership Team. (See our emails at the bottom of this document.).
Thanks so much for what you have done in 2025 and what you are committed to each day in 2026.
The IHB Leadership Team
Thanks to everyone who has joined our many honk and waves and other actions these past few weeks … in the snow and bitter cold, no less. We are building our movement and providing our community members with social proof that our government is NOT working for them. Please join us this week; if our friends in Minnesota can do it, so can we! – The Rally Team.
IHB FEATURED ACTION:
Join IHB’s and Indivisible Newark’s joint protest of Citizens Bank and their complicity with authoritarianism. Rescheduled from yesterday to next Saturday the 14th (same time and location).
We are continuing to put pressure on Citizens Bank to shame them for financing CoreCivic and the GEO Group, the private companies that build and operate the detention centers that house detainees abducted by ICE thugs. IHB's actions are part of a seven-state (and DC) campaign targeting over 50 Citizens' branches along the east coast. Join us!
IHB ACTIONS OF THE WEEK:
!! Today – Sunday, the 8th
IHB Bridge Visibility Brigade in Claymont - ICE OUT
!! Thursday the 12th
IHB Honk and Wave to protest ICE, oppose fascism, and stand in solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
OTHER UPCOMING IHB-ORGANIZED ACTIONS:
1. Honk and Waves:
2. TENTATIVE - Outdoor Presence at Upcoming DRBA Meeting: Come help "welcome" DRBA Commissioners as they arrive for their monthly Commissioners’ meeting and show your opposition to a possible airport lease agreement with Daedalus Aviation. We need to make it clear that we are not in support of any company holding ICE contracts doing business in Delaware. This event is tentative; so, check this email (or the Wednesday email) for confirmation before leaving home.
3. Bridge Visibility Brigades in Claymont
4. No Kings 3 is set for March 28th. Mark your calendars! IHB's event in Wilmington will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Help spread the word by sharing this graphic on your social media.
If you have questions about any of the above (or to share your ideas for rally themes and/or locations), contact Nancy Wahler: nancywahler@gmail.com.
COURAGE COLLECTIVES
!! SUMMARY: Courage Collectives is a new sub-team of the Advocacy Working Group (AWG). We have been meeting for four weeks now, and are making progress identifying companies, institutions, and organized groups that are supporting the Trump Regime.
Our goal is to make it embarrassing, uncomfortable, or financially disadvantageous for these companies/institutions to continue to support the Regime, by making the public, and especially their customers, aware of their actions. This will require us to gradually turn-up the pressure until these companies/institutions decide it’s not worth it for them to support the current Regime.
One update of note, the IHB Courage Collective group has a new name. We wanted something action oriented that indicates we are not sitting back and accepting whatever the Regime dishes out. We are registering our group with the national organization as “IHB PUSH BACK”!
If you are interested in what we are doing, join us. We meet every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. by Zoom. Contact Deb at dstravers@comcast.net to get the link.
IHB continues to support the following Courage Collective initiatives which are focused on the Business pillar:
NEW COURAGE COLLECTIVE ACTION!! We are partnering with the Indivisible Philadelphia Group on an exciting new campaign to target companies who use cheap prison labor (or use vendors who do so), which unfortunately is legal. These companies could easily cross the line and start using ICE detainee labor, which is illegal. We want assurances that they won’t. The Philadelphia group has done research on sixty companies, and the program has been rolled out. We are joining this effort today. Check out how we plan to PUSH BACK in a new way against the Regime's cruel and corrupt immigration system.
COURAGE COLLECTIVE - ACTIONS
!! 1. New Courage Collective Campaign: “No Detention Camp Labor”!
We are launching this letter writing project developed by Indivisible Philadelphia. The genesis of this new project sprang from a post by Timothy Snyder a few months ago. Professor Snyder gave the history of countries that had concentration camps and how they invited companies in to use and abuse the labor of the people in the camps.
Summary: We want companies to pledge not to use ICE detainee labor or use contractors that do. Letters will go out to the target companies each week (we have a little catching-up to do). A letter template will be provided, with a link to the pledge. The letters will be mailed to the companies.
Action:
Background: We have ICE detention camps springing up all over the country, the most recent one to be built just west of Reading, PA as a result of the BBB’s pile of ICE funding from the Trump regime. But there is a big difference between prison labor and the labor of immigration camp detainees. Prison labor is permitted under the 13th Amendment, which prohibits slavery "except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted . . ."
However, many of the immigrant detainees abducted from our communities have had no such due process, if any at all. These immigrant detainees do not fall within the slavery exception in the 13th Amendment. To be very clear, our project is not centered on prison labor. Changing the 13th Amendment is an entirely different matter. We want to prevent detainee labor now, to deter companies from getting any ideas about using it.
Professor Snyder strongly recommends that we write to companies and ask them to pledge not to use ICE detainee labor, as it is often very abusive and cruel. The companies we're asking you to write letters to are companies that the Philadelphia Indivisible group has researched, so rest assured that they have been thoroughly vetted. It's only two letters per week - a letter to each of two companies! We are asking these companies to take the pledge.
!! 2. Keep ICE contractor, Daedalus Aviation, out of Delaware.
Summary: The Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) is considering leasing a hangar to Daedalus Aviation. Daedalus Aviation purchased at least four planes from Avelo to meet their $140 million contract with DHS for buying planes for deportations. Daedalus is not a commercial airline and historically has not operated flights but has focused on airplane maintenance and logistics. The same leaders of Daedalus are also leaders in Salus Worldwide that has the $915 million contract with DHS for "voluntary self-deportations".
All of the Democrats in the state Senate signed a letter to the Executive Director of DRBA that says, "We urge the DRBA Board of Directors not to move ahead on a lease agreement with Daedalus." Read their full letter HERE.
Please help let the DRBA Commissioners know that Delaware does not want this ICE contractor at the Wilmington Airport.
Action 1.: Write to DRBA Commissioners at contact_us@drba.net.
Sample note included HERE.
Action 2.: Sign-up to attend the DRBA Commissioners’ meeting on Friday, February 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Delaware River & Bay Authority Administrative offices in New Castle. Sign-up HERE.
For more details, please contact Gayle Gibson at (gibeck@comcast.net).
!! 3. Shame on Citizens Bank – Let’s take what we learned from our Avelo campaign and apply it to Citizens Bank!
Summary: We want to force Citizens Bank (CB) to quit funding CoreCivic and GEO, who build and run the for-profit prisons used to hold ICE detainees under deplorable conditions. Citizens Bank is resisting our efforts, so we are escalating.
Action 1: Social Media Campaign.
We continue to target the Citizens Bank Facebook page this week. I have officially been blocked from posting on their Facebook page, so I took my complaints to my personal page today. YOU probably haven’t been blocked, so continue to post on the CB page. Get to their Facebook page using this link: https://www.facebook.com/CitizensBank.MortgageLoans/mentions and feel free to leave them a comment yourself. We need to amplify this message.
Action 2: We continue to send emails to Dan Fitzpatrick (daniel.k.fitzpatrick@citizensbank.com), President, CB Mid-Atlantic, to let him know where we’ll be protesting next. Please send him your own email to let him know that you are not happy with Citizens Bank’s support of ICE prisons. Let’s keep up the pressure.
The Rally Team has several multi-chapter protests in the works. (See details in the Rally section.).
For more details, please contact Deb Travers at (dstravers@comcast.net).
Background:
Once again, we’re partnering with Postcards to Swing States, whose award-winning research proves that postcards increase Democratic turnout by 1.3%.
Writing postcards to voters is a perfect “gateway” to activism (great for new activists) and also a productive electoral tactic when more impactful actions (phone banking and canvassing) aren’t yet available.
About this round of postcards:
Questions? Email Sarah Baylin: sjbaylin66@gmail.com.
Save the contact information below on your computer and/or in your phone:
[If you have not tried it, please take a look at Democracy I/O. This tool will allow you to send an e-mail to all three of our MOCs with just a few clicks.].
As part of our on-going advocacy efforts, the following are actions for your attention and action this week:
!! 1. To: Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester (contacts 1 and 2 above) and Representative Sarah McBride (contact 3 above).
Summary: Congress is negotiating a deal to fund Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is killing people in the streets, taking our children, and trampling our rights. A temporary stopgap measure currently funds DHS through February 13th while negotiations continue. We must keep up the pressure on Congress to protect our communities.
Take Action: Recommendations from National Indivisible:
Background: The killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and others are unacceptable. We cannot stand by and allow the violence, killing, and trampling of our rights to continue unchecked. Every member of Congress must insist on real limits and accountability before any funding is approved.
For more details, please contact Beth Anne Gluck (bagluck@comcast.net).
!! 2. To: Representative Sarah McBride (Contact 3 above)
Summary: We need Representative Sarah McBride to oppose the Make Elections Great Again Act, introduced on January 30, by Congressional Republicans. The bill requires Americans to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship (such as a passport) when registering to vote. Currently, new registrants must attest that they are a U.S. citizen. This bill requires voters to provide a photo ID. This act requires states to regularly check their voter rolls for noncitizens, to compare their lists with Homeland Security’s citizenship database. This act would require an unreasonable intrusion of the federal government into state voter data.
Action: Write to Representative Sarah McBride to vote against this bill.
Sample Statement:
Background: Republicans have for years been intent on changing the way U.S. elections are run, building on their false assertions of widespread fraud. This bill would ban universal vote-by-mail, prohibit states from accepting ballots after election day, and ban ranked-choice voting. The provisions would only apply to federal elections, forcing states to choose between changing their state election laws to match and administering federal and state elections differently. Either way, the bill would likely create more work for election officials. Given how many states would have to change their voting procedures, the enactment of this bill would send officials scrambling to adapt to unfamiliar requirements.
For more details, please contact Bruce Dalleo at (bdalleo@aol.com).
!! 3. To: All IHB Members - Take Action Against For-Profit Prisons - Immigration
Summary: ICE is moving forward to purchase facilities across the country that can be converted into detention centers, most recently in Berks County, PA.
Take Action: Tell Delaware's Leaders to take action on HB151 which will prohibit for-profit prisons in Delaware. Email or call your State Senators and Representatives urging them to make this bill a priority as the Department of Homeland Security seems to be moving quickly, and out of the public eye, to buy-up facilities. If your legislators are a sponsor or signed on as co-sponsors, thank them!
Background: Read this article from The Inquirer. Note that Delaware does have warehouse spaces on the market for lease and/or purchase.
For more details, please contact Beth Anne Gluck (bagluck@comcast.net).
!! 4. To: All IHB Members - Voting Education - February 16, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Summary: There is an upcoming voting forum entitled, "State of the Vote", which will be an opportunity to learn more about the voting bills in the Delaware legislature this session. This forum will be a panel discussion in partnership with ACLU of Delaware and the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition, bringing together three local experts for a conversation about where our state stands on voting protections and what changes could mean for voters in Delaware.
Actions (Two):
Background: The right to vote is a fundamental right of all citizens. IHB continues to advocate for the passage of these amendments to our constitution that relate to voting. Specific bills under consideration include
For more details, please contact Sally Barclay at (sallybar913@gmail.com).
!! 5. To: All IHB Members - Education - Immigration Advocacy
Summary: If you weren't able to join us for advocacy training in November 2025, the Unitarian Fellowship of Newark, in partnership with the ACLU, is hosting a three-part “Know Your Rights” and activist training designed to empower allies with the knowledge, resources, and practical skills to support Delaware's immigrant communities. Advanced registration is required. Refreshments will be provided.
Take Action: Register HERE.
Background: A description of each training is listed below:
For more details, please contact Beth Anne Gluck (bagluck@comcast.net).
The Social Capital Work Group - We Build Community.
!! Many thanks to our true blue IHBers who contributed two carloads of non-food items to Lutheran Community Services.
!! New Member Meetings - If you are a newbie, or an old-timer, and want to learn more, here is your opportunity to learn about IHB’s organizational structure, leadership, and how YOU can work with IHB to save our democracy.
!! "Melt the ICE" resistance hats - Knitters and crocheters unite! Join your fellow needle workers on Monday, February 16, to knit or crochet the Norwegian Red Protest hat, now fondly referred to as "Melt the ICE" resistance hats. The hat's historical roots and repurpose can be found here. Both knitting and crochet patterns can be readily purchased and downloaded; the proceeds often go towards supporting Minnesota's resistance efforts. Find red wool or yarn among your vast supplies or at your favorite yarn stores!!
IHB Community Sing – Date Change. We will sing on Wednesday, February 25th. (Due to the church’s calendar.). Join the fun, all voices welcome, even off-key.
!! Unless noted otherwise, all meetings start at 4:00 p.m. and take place at Wilmington Brew Works (WBW), 3129 Miller Road in Wilmington. Join us!
Reminders: Please come early (3:30 or 3:45 p.m.), to give yourself time to get your drink and socialize so that we may start promptly at 4:00 p.m. Because our membership is growing, do consider carpooling. And please don't forget to generously tip the wait staff at Wilmington Brew Works for making this great facility available to us! Members are encouraged to wear their IHB name tags.
Indivisible Highland and Beyond’s mission: Preserve and expand participation in our democracy by electing pro-democracy candidates and by promoting legislation and policies that advance an inclusive, representative democracy.
Find IHB on TikTok @ihbdelaware and Instagram @indivisiblehighlandsandbeyond.
Visit the IHB website at: https://www.indivisible-IHB.org. If you need help setting up your IHB account or have trouble logging in, contact IHB webmaster Sandy Dobbs at indivisiblebeyond1@gmail.com).
IHB Leaders:
| Electoral |
Lucy Comstock-Gay (lucy.comstockgay@gmail.com) |
| Legislative Advocacy: | Sheila Grant (sgrant62@gmail.com) |
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Legislative & Electoral Mailings: |
Sarah Baylin (sjbaylin66@gmail.com) |
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Courage Collective: |
Deb Travers (dstravers@comcast.net) |
|
Operations: |
Nancy Hannigan (njhannigan@yahoo.com) |
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Social Capital: |
Jill Gaumer (jill.gaumer@gmail.com) Maxine Robbins (maxinerobbins@gmail.com) |
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Communications: | Gwen Jolley (gmjolley@bellsouth.net) |