Thursday, August 13 - MI Volunteer Activation Phone Banks / No AI Surveillance in Jail / Election Protection Workshop 8/29
ICA Action: MI Volunteer Activation Phone Banks
The fight to protect democracy is on, and your action is needed now! We are launching a virtual volunteer recruitment phone bank in Michigan to build the essential, massive, statewide force needed for our Voter Protection efforts.
A large volunteer turnout across the state is crucial because every single role is essential to securing our wins this November and ensuring that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts.
By making warm calls to past volunteers, you will re-engage our veteran team, guiding them into critical roles like Poll Challenger and Ballot Cure, and building the volunteer capacity that wins elections.
👉 Join us for phone banks on Tuesdays and Thursdays and become a frontline defender of the vote today!
Community Action: No AI Surveillance in Jail
The Cook County Board of Commissioners Technology Committee soon will consider a proposal from the Sheriff’s Office to obtain AI video surveillance software known as Briefcam for monitoring people incarcerated in Cook County Jail. This technology raises civil rights concerns that could lead to lawsuits or people in the Sheriff’s custody being harmed or harassed. The French Supreme Court banned the use of Briefcam because of privacy concerns and documented cases in which the technology misidentified criminal activity and falsely identified individuals.
It is clear that there are real health and safety issues behind the walls of Cook County Jail. In 2023, the jail experienced its highest mortality rate on record, with more people dying while in the Sheriff’s custody than during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, nine people incarcerated in Cook County Jail lost their lives, and Sheriff’s Officers are being investigated for criminal behavior in relation to one of those deaths. These circumstances call for real solutions, not technological gadgets. There must be a review of the conditions of the jail, the procedures in place to respond to incidents of violence, and actions of law enforcement inside the jail before installing powerful surveillance technology.
👉 Call on your county commissioner to vote no to AI video surveillance and ask them to work with their fellow commissioners to undertake a holistic review of the human rights crisis at Cook County Jail.
Action via Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice
ICA Chapter Action: Election Protection Workshop 8/29
Join Indivisible Elk Grove Township for an informational workshop to learn what is being done to defend the ballot and how you can help protect our community's voice.
Some things you will learn by attending this workshop:
PROTECTING VOTER DATA: Learn how organizations are working to keep state voter files secure, and how you can help by supporting these efforts to keep our information private.
COUNTERING VOTER SUPPRESSION: Learn how organizations are preparing to identify and stop suppression tactics before they happen, and how you can help by joining local monitoring and rapid-response networks.
POLLING PLACE INTEGRITY: Learn about the federal laws that protect voters from intimidation, and how you can help by volunteering at the polls or by sharing "Know Your Rights" information regarding the presence of ICE or other unauthorized agents at the polls.
Featured speakers include Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications for the ACLU of IL, and Edmund Michalowski, Deputy Clerk of Elections for Cook County.
While some of these Daily Actions come from our own work as Indivisible Chicago Alliance, others are from our many partners working to advance the progressive agenda. We invite you to join us in supporting their work. Postings from community partners do not imply Indivisible Chicago Alliance endorsement of specific policies and positions.
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