Welcome to Dispatch #45! This week we’re starting a two part series where we will share Bill Moyer’s work to help people understand the lifecycle of a social movement. That starts with understanding the four roles that activists have inside a movement, and then later we’ll share Moyer’s “Stages of a Social Movement” that are shared in his book Doing Democracy.
We’ve always believed that there are many roles in a movement - you don’t have to be on the frontlines to be making an impact - and Moyer does a great job of breaking that down. One could potentially argue that there are even more roles than what Moyer listed, but this is a good starting point especially when we are trying to understand movements as a greater social phenomenon. In addition, we’re also highlighting an inspiring indigenous artist, stories of Gen Z movements in India, the evolving shape of revolutions, and more!
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Easy Actions to Take
Why: In recent years school systems have been quietly introducing unethical experiments with facial recognition software, using it to scan, analyze, and collect sensitive biometric information on tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers, and staff. No matter the form, whether it’s creepily watching students in class, tracking attendance, or monitoring hallways, facial recognition is invasive, biased, and puts people’s most sensitive data at risk of being abused or stolen. It simply does not belong anywhere near school campuses.
Why: Reports reveal that Apple’s iPhone 17e uses custom-designed chips developed by Apple’s silicon R&D teams in Israel. We shouldn’t be carrying Israeli-developed phones in our pockets, while Israel faces zero accountability for its continued occupation and genocidal assaults in Palestine and Lebanon. Organized by MPower for Change
⏱~3min | (US Only) Tell The Senate: Reject The SAVE America Act, Protect Our Right To Vote
Why: Donald Trump will stop at nothing to make it harder for millions—especially those in Black communities—to vote in the midterms. This week he demanded that Senate Republicans cancel their August recess unless they pass the SAVE America Act — a sweeping voting restrictions bill that would require proof of a U.S. passport or a birth certificate matching a person’s legal name to register to vote. As Trump doubles down on his threats, the Senate is under enormous pressure to pass the bill in the days ahead, and we need to make sure lawmakers hear from us before they cave. Organized by Color of Change
