4.13.2026: April savings bring May striking

Hello, Westies and besties! The next big action for our community is the May Day General Strike. On May First, we can all contribute to striking against this system that is not working for us, nor Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Cuba, and on and on… The current system is only working for itself, and on 5/1, we will demand change and force our government to work for us.

It’s a few weeks out, but we want to give everyone a chance to prepare. Striking is difficult but necessary to demonstrate our power as a collective, and to show once and for all that we are not okay with this, and we have the power.

We have to be disruptive and inconvenient to challenge and set right the path our country has helped set the world on. From walking out of work, protesting, paying with cash instead of credit, buying local - there is something for Every Body to do.

Immigration Corner

Esquina de Immigracion 

Please, Let Your State Senators and House Representatives Know you Support ALL These Bills

Please contact (by email) your House and Senate representatives at the State House to let them know you support all of the three pro-immigration bills. There is opposition to all of these bills, so they need to hear from you. The email protocol for state house and state senate representatives is: first name.last name.House or Senate@coleg.gov. 

• HB 26-1143, the “Safety not Status” bill limits when Social Security numbers are required for background checks, so more undocumented folks can volunteer or be considered for certain positions. It was recently revised to have a $0 fiscal note, so should be heard soon in Appropriations.

• HB 26-1276: is being rewritten to narrow its scope. It will now just include the detention facility monitoring section but also include two provisions from 1275 (post certification of people who used to be ICE agents and police training). It will be heard in committee on April 13 at 1:30 PM. 17. Please email your state Rep and ask them to support HB26-1276. It provides critical protections related to state oversight of the ICE hold rooms, which are desperately in need of oversight.

• SB 26-070 prohibits a government entity from accessing a database that has information about an individual’s or a vehicle’s historical locational information. Senator Amabile is the sponsor and this bill was introduced on Feb 5. It was heard in the Judiciary Committee on Feb 23 and passed, but a number of law enforcement officers spoke against it and it is currently being revised.

In addition, we ask for action on another bill that affects immigrant agricultural workers. In the next couple of days, the Colorado House will vote on Senate Bill 26-121. This bill would increase the overtime threshold for agricultural workers, requiring that they work 56 hours in a week before they receive overtime pay. (The current threshold is 48 hours/week, with an exception for certain highly-seasonal times at 56 hours/week.)  

Many immigrant rights organizations are opposing this bill. 

• If you would like to take action, you can tell your state representative to vote NO on SB26-121 using this simple form.

• If your organization would like to take action, you can sign-on to this letter opposing the bill.

• If you would like to learn more about the bill, you can read the full  bill text here. 

Mental Health Support

Staying Buoyant despite Budgets and Boycotts

Financial stress has been linked with higher psychological stress, and surely many folks would agree. People who grew up with financial insecurity can be impacted into adulthood.

With prices rising, droughts setting in, and strikes being called for, this can put a strain on anyone. Below are some ideas to stay calm and carry on during belt-tightening seasons:

1. Set aside time every week to budget and strategize your boycott purchases. Planning during a specified time gives you control over your circumstances and peace of mind.

2. Pay off your credit cards each month or switch to using debit. All the interest paid could be your gas money or mutual aid.

3. “Community” thrifts stores are cheaper than new. Also, Facebook is good for one thing - its Marketplace has so many great options for art, decor, furniture, even clothes and shoes!

4. Bike to run errands or attend events. Try out using your bike for a couple local errands. The more you bike, the easier it (and cheaper) it gets!

5. Find the Cheapest Gas. Use apps to find the cheapest gas - see article for options.

6. Garage Sales. Either surfing other’s garage/estate sales, or, with spring cleaning, you can find things you don’t use but others might. Sell it, and make money and someone else’s day! Also, maybe you’ll rediscover items that you forgot you had and can make use of.

7. Stir-Fryday! At the end of the week you have a refrigerator full of food. Make a stir-fry! Yum! Also, buying frozen veggies and fruits is often cheaper, and even healthier sometimes! And they don’t go bad, always ready for your stir-fries.

8. Garden. Gardening is a fruitful and creative outlet. Even you don’t have the space for a garden, there are ways to make it work! And, you can connect with other gardeners and exchange the fruits of your labor.

9. If you’re trying to cut back on buying useless things, give a thoughtful gift instead. Giving is a highly rewarding activity, and it provides a healthy outlet for that shopping itch.

10. Do it with a friend. Sharing the struggle of budgeting and boycotting can alleviate the stress involved. Also, you can share advice on good brands you found! (Check out this website that rates most clothing companies on how good they are for the environment, labor, sustainability, and more!) You can also arrange to swap items with friends!

11. Cancel subscriptions!! We vote every day with our money - canceling subscriptions speaks so loudly. Instead of giving your hard-earned money to billionaires, you can: donate it to mutual aid (maybe Mutual Aid Monday in Denver), support local businesses, save towards a bigger goal, stock up on food for potential food shortages, build your garden… And you definitely get bragging rights.

These are just some ways you can take care of your mental health while you use your money to promote change and protect yourself. Get creative and find what works for you. Resource for mental health impact. 

News in Focus

TLDR on US/Israel’s War against Iran

How we got here:

• Israel and Iran are historically at odds, roughly since the Islamic revolution of ’79.  The US and Israel have continuously claimed Iran is developing nuclear bombs.  Iran is a historical supporter of Palestine., especially relevant considering the current war in Gaza.

• Jan 8-9, ‘26 – after massive anti-regime protests, Iran murders anti-government protesters, estimated to exceed 30,000 people.  The US threatens intervention if protesters are killed.

• On Feb 28, ‘26, the US and Israel attack Iran killing the supreme leader as a “pre-emptive” strike.  (Through his candidacy, Trump has labeled himself as a “peace” candidate )

What's going on right now:

• April 6th, Trump threatens war crimes publicly – “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” among, many, many other unhinged communications.

• April 8, ’26 A tentative ceasefire has begun, but may be fracturing already with the US accused of violating ceasefire conditions. 

• After attempting to negotiate opening the Strait of Hormuz, Trmp is blockading it now.

• Trump continues to claim victory, and end of war, with no evidence or real world progress...

The impact:

• Irani and Gulf citizens’ lives  

• Degradation of US international standing

• Regional and global economic instability

• 1/3 of the world’s fertilizer goes through the Strait of Hormuz, impacting food availability

• Another forever war, and sacrifice of military lives?

• Here at home - gas.  Israeli strikes on Iran gas fields and Iranian retaliation in Qatar, among others, keep gas high.

• Israel’s deadly, unhinged assault of Lebanon is being overlooked due to this distraction.

• Worth noting:

  • Trump is still in the Epstein Files.  This war is (in)conveniently distracting.

What you can do:

• Call your representatives and demand they stop this war and hold Trmp accountable.

• Build community - talk garden swaps, carpooling, support farmers markets, etc.

• Pick one (1) thing and do it. Resist being overwhelmed, and take heart in doing 1 thing first. Remember, emphatically, everything you do matters. Then, do a second. Repeat.

• Join our weekly meetings to tackle local politics and join protests.

Mark Your Calendar!

 April events:

• 4/15, 5:30 - 8PM: Indivisible Westminster Social Gathering Dinner: hang out and eat with us!

  • Never been to an event? Start here. Meet your community, eat food, and drink!

  • Location: Home Grown Tap & Dough, 5601 Olde Wadsworth, Arvada

• 4/16: Denver Urban Gardens: Increasing Biodiversity for Pollinators 

  • DUG has many other classes like this one, and you can also check out Westminster’s Butterfly Pavillion that has some gardening and other classes.

• 4/20, 6 - 7:30PM: Voter Integrity Presentation by Colorado State Presentative, hosted by Indivisible Westminster

  • Informative and enlightening presentation about the safety, security and processes of our voting systems.

  • Location: Zoom call: RSVP!

• 4/29, 5:30 - 8PM: Learn to Make Buttons and Posters for Events (see graphic below)

  • Join us to learn how to make buttons.  We’ll also make some protest posters. 

  • Location: Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 10785 Melody Dr., Northglenn

May events:

• 5/1, 4 - 6PM: May Day Strike and Protests - Workers Over Billionaires

  • On May 1st, we are asking everyone not to spend money, and use cash only if you have to. (We’ll provide more tips in the next newsletter!) Demonstrations will be taking place all over.

  • Location: Grandview Bridge Overpass at Ralston & Wadsworth

• 5/25: run or walk Bolder Boulder with Indivisible! 

  • After you register, you can sign up to join group “Indivisible” - that’s us! We’ll be doing practice walks - stay tuned!

July Events:

• 7/4: Read the Constitution with the Community  - details TBD.

  • Mark your calendar, because we want YOU to help us in this community protest.