Dear members of the American Resistance,
Today hurts. Yesterday did already, and tomorrow will not do otherwise. Two terrible news this week, one orchestrated by the administration to sidestep the deadline of the Epstein files release, one brutal: the murder of Renee Good, an American citizen, and from what we know so far, a badass brave soul.
1/ VENEZUELA
Yes, Trump is dragging us into a war, a war with Venezuela, but also with our historic allies, inside and outside of NATO, who condemn the bombing of Caracas and kidnapping of the Maduros. You can review in the TIME Various leaders’ reactions to Venezuela invasion. Note that even Putin and Jinping (true or fake) condemned Trump’s illegal move that violates international laws. It’s also worth noting that on January 6th, the European allies of Denmark reaffirmed their support to their Schengen and NATO peer. Translation: If we try to seize Greenland, we will meet military resistance from Greenland, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the UK, and Spain. Has the sound and smell of a World War, hasn’t it?
In Detroit, the response was immediate: various groups rallied on Saturday and Sunday. The Free Press collected our statements in this great article. On Sunday, our bi-monthly protest was turned into an anti-war protest and friends and fearless resisters showed up to voice their visceral rejection of war! 🧡Kellie🧡, 🧡Megan🧡, 🧡Rita🧡, 🧡Jenny🧡, 🧡Linda K🧡, 🧡Leah🧡, 🧡Barbara🧡, 🧡Sorangel🧡, 🧡Didier🧡, 🧡Avery🧡, 🧡Christian🧡, 🧡Eric🧡, 🧡Jozef🧡, it was amazing to resist by your side!
The fight continues with various protests planned in the next week (please see below the EVENTS section of the bulletin), a petition No War on Venezuela with Women’s March, and calls to Peters 202-224-6221, Slotkin 202-224-4822, and your congressperson. Since Trump abused the War Powers Resolution, Congress is looking at passing a joint resolution to nip it in the bud. Please call and ask them to vote FOR S.J. Res. 98. Here is a bit of lingo if you want to fluff it up: “Congress should direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. The Senate must assert its constitutional authority to stop President Trump’s illegal campaign targeting Venezuela”
Although there is a lot to fit in today’s bulletin, I would like to take a moment to share a little bit of insight from French economist Gabriel Zucman, who (to me) has the clearest view on what the Venezuela attack truly is. The main purpose of the “operation” is to seize the oil present in the Venezuelan ground, the largest proven underground stock in the world (300 millions of barils). Because our fossil-fuel based economy and societies met the oil peak in 2018, we now know that the decline and the end of oil availibility is only a matter of time. In this new world order of the upcoming energy descent, the rare ones who will still have access to oil will become the true kings of the world, whether they are after money, power, or military control. With its unexploited oil resources, Venezuela is an irresistible temptation to a wanna-be dictator who lost touch with reality, caution, decency, and humanity. Here is now what Zucman says in his latest communication: from 1910 to 1960, the American predatory oil companies exploited the Venezuelan oil, making billions in profits. During this era, 12% of the Venezuelan GDP would go every year to US companies. The profits made by these companies was similar to the profits made by the entirety of all other US companies doing business with the entire South America and Europe. Yeah. In 1960, shortly after the change of government and the creation of the OPEC by Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo, this predations stopped, companies were nationalized, and profits from oil started to benefit the Venezuelan people. Now, in 2026, with the rise of costs driven by scarcity, Zucman was able to give an estimate of the wealth that the Venezuelan oil would bring to the US: his calculations came to 100-150 billions of US dollars/per year. It’s about money/greed. It’s about the Epstein files. It’s about international (white) supremacy and doing everything it takes to keep it.
2/ ICE
Yesterday, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The DHS claims that the woman tried to run over agents, but to whoever watched the video, it is obvious that she did not. We can clearly see her red SUV going around the agent in an attempt to leave. Several calls to actions are in, but before anything please join the Indivisible Rapid Response call tonight at 8 PM to learn about the national response to Renee’s murder. I will also send an update tomorrow to share what plan has been decided.
Yesterday, during our member meeting, 🧡Diane🧡 presented her effort to protect immigrants. Thank you to 🧡Mary🧡, 🧡Linda🧡, 🧡Joyce🧡and 🧡Nancy🧡 for signing up! Our team will contact churches and encourage them to display signs of solidarity that inform that no agents will be granted access without a judicial warrant.
Last week, we receive a call for help to have volunteer drivers bring Liliana home all the way from Baldwin, MI to CT. We were blessed to receive so many responses, whether or not you were able to drive or pass on the information. A million thanks to 🧡Andrea🧡, 🧡Kait🧡, 🧡Andy, 🧡Lindsay🧡, 🧡Russ🧡, and 🧡Danuta🧡.
Finally, please share this Women’s March video widely.
3/ MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Our ballot petition is getting national attention! Thank you to 🧡Meta🧡who spotted this Guardian article. In her own words: “This is a really good article from The Guardian that gives national context for MI’s fight to get utilities money out of politics. Among other things, it shows how difficult it is to track these contributions in MI. It also addresses the petition for a ballot initiative as the first in the nation”. Friends, it’s time to circulate the said petition! Please reach out to become a circulator!
4/ DATA CENTERS
Today, Thursday, January 8th at 6PM with Downriver United 734: Data Center Protest – Allen Park City Hall.
Because our communities deserve transparency, accountability, and a real voice in what gets built in our backyard.
January 25th, at 1 PM: Rally against Washington Township data center. 26 Mile M53 Overpass. Quetions? Right2rally@yahoo.com.
Please call and send a letter to Dana Nessel about the DTE contract for the mega data center in Saline Township. The ex-parte was approved, so all we have now for us is Dana Nessel who is strongly opposed to this project. Please consider calling her and sending a letter, so it can be counted as a formal constituent request. Here is the letter template. Just copy, paste, add your info, print, send. Thank you to 🧡Sean🧡 for preparing the letter.
5/ MUTUAL AID CORNER
An Indivisible Sister lost her job and is facing economic turmoil, especially with the new insane healthcare costs. For health reason, she is looking for a remote contract, preferably in the field of communication or graphic design. If you are aware of an opening at your workplace or elsewhere, please send an email to downriverunited734@gmail.com, and if you can make a donation to our secure Act Blue page to help her with immediate bills, the whole Tri-County Indivisible family will be grateful for you!
6/ EVENTS
Please mark your calendars for (super packed) January:
Saturday, January 10th 2-4 PM is the next CAFÉ training for those of us living in Oakland county to help report ICE agents in neighborhoods and record (it’s legal) their activity. Email CAFÉ folks at pontiacdefenders@gmail.com to get the meeting location. Of course, Renee Good’s murder is on our minds. We shall use extreme caution.
Same day: January 10th 1-3 PM Royal Oak Resisters will bring their powerful “Signs of Fascism” at the corner of 12 Mile and Woodward (on the easement in front of the Shrine of the Little Flower on North Bound Woodward).
Same day: January 10th 3-5 PM: Justice for Renee Good and Hands Off Venezuela protest at Hart Plaza organized by DSA, PSL, FRSO, etc.
January 12th at 7 PM on Zoom: The Indivisible Mutual Aid Project wants to protect our immigrant community. The collaboration between Fighting 9 Indivisible, Indivisible Huron Valley, and Kids Empowered On the Move is launching an in-service session where Members of the Immigrant Support Team and civil rights leaders will share actionable ways to support immigrant families. REGISTER to JOIN
January 13th, 9:30 AM, pack the City Council Formal Session with Detroit Anti-War Committee. The point? Give public comments to introduce a Detroit Divest Resolution & evidence that the city contributes our tax dollars to the war economy. If you would like help preparing a comment, email the DAWC folks at detroitantiwar@gmail.com.
January 14, 4:00-5:00 PM: Join SWIM to meet with Ann Brown from Senator Elissa Slotkin’s team. You can sign up for this Zoom meeting here. Please send your questions by Jan. 12 to info@statewideindivisiblemi.com.
Sunday, January 18th at 1 PM, please join our corner protest at Grand Circus, a thematic one again: We oppose the War in Venezuela > Link to register
Note that you can park for free in the streets. We recommend you park up Woodward and use the Q-Line to get to Grand Circus or carpool with other members to get to Central Church parking lot and park for free (we will have a few spots available for us). If you’d like to carpool, don’t hesitate to join the Signal Chat Group and drop a message about it! Join the Signal Chat here.
On Monday, January 19th, MLK Day, please join the 23rd Detroit MLK Rally which starts at noon at St Matthews/St Joseph located on 8850 Woodward Avenue.
The same day, at 11 AM at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Michigan United is hosting its award ceremony and you can make a difference by voting for the activists you think deserve it the most. Disclaimer before you head to the link: I have been nominated as well. Vote here.
Tuesday, January 20th 6:30-8 PM on Zoom is The People’s Coalition Convention 101 Meeting to learn about the Michigan Democratic Party Convention. Register HERE
The same day, there is a national call to walk out to un-celebrate last year’s January 20th. WtPD doesn’t participate as we prioritize education and support the People’s Coalition effort to prepare for the Democratic convention.
Wednesday, January 21st at 7 PM is our next online meeting and you can sign-up here for it.
Saturday, January 24th at 2 PM, at Grand Circus Park, if you need to shout and chant and vent after one year of horror, WtPD with the DROP Trump coalition is protesting AGAIN the War in Venezuela and ICE in Detroit.
Sunday, January 25th 2-4 PM The People’s Coalition is hosting a Candidate Meet-and-Greet in Dearborn: Aghogho Edevbie for Secretary of State, Eli Savit for Attorney General, Shereef Akeel for WSU Board of Governors, Amir Makled for UM Regent. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib will be the special guest. Meet at McFadden-Ross House, 915 Brady St, Dearborn, 48124 and RSVP HERE.
Miscellaneous:
A/ You wanna choose who will head to the general election in November? Register today with the MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY to vote at the primary. It’s easy, free, and you don’t even have to agree with the values and actions of the Democratic Party. On another hand, if you want to claim that one bit of agency that representative democracy allows us to keep, then deciding who goes to the boxing ring in November will feel good, whether you are a progressive, a moderate democrat, an independent, or else. Register here and as a bonus join the caucuses of your choice.
B/ Survey: what type of resisting community are we? One-minute survey
C/ Please vote on WtPD resistance anthem! Listen to 🧡Jozef🧡’s What Kind Of America Do We Wanna Be song, then register your vote on this FB post!
D/ Another terrible news is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down due to (Trump’s) federal cuts. Read and cry about it here. That reeks of authoritarianism. There is that one Petition circulating.
As always, please share this Bulletin with two new more people, join the Signal Chat here, and follow your 🧡very own group 🧡, 🧡We the People Dissent🧡 on Instagram and Facebook.
In loving solidarity,
Audrey
