Weekly dispatch- July 14th, 2025 Honoring John Lewis' legacy

Monday, July 14, 2025

Good Morning Keys Activists!

If you are able to help the organizations that are supporting immigrants in our community, whether that be driving them to and from work, donating food, diapers, formula, etc, please email them at keywestis25@gmail.com  Additionally, the hotline to call if you see ICE detaining someone in our community is (305) 771-4248.

Good Trouble Lives On - a national day of action to defend our civil and human rights.  Inspired by the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, we honor his call to make “Good Trouble” — peaceful, powerful action to challenge injustice and demand change.
This week marks 5 years since his passing, we carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all. In Key West, on Saturday, July 19th we will honor John Lewis’ legacy with a Rally for Good beginning from 11a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Bayview Park (1320 Truman Avenue) where we will have live music, Key West Immigration Support Speakers, and many tables set up with Community Action.  Join us to find out more about Key West National Organization for Women, LGBTQ+, Health, Human Rights and Register to Vote!  Bring your signs, flags, chairs, sunscreen and water!

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Thursday, July 17 on the advancement of Emil Bove’s nomination as a federal appeals court judge. Bove was one of Trump’s top criminal defense attorneys. He has recently been a senior official at DOJ and has implemented the President’s aggressive immigration policies as well as retaliated against prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases. In a whistle-blower complaint, filed by a DOJ lawyer who has since been fired, Bove told subordinates he was willing to ignore court orders to fulfill the President’s aggressive deportation campaign. Bove supported, and supports, efforts to ship immigrants overseas, often with little notice or recourse; this includes the March 2025 flying of 100+ Venezuelans (including Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia) the administration deemed gang members to CECOT. In a questionnaire he submitted to the Judiciary Committee following his hearing in late June 2025, Bove declined to rule out the possibility of the president running for a third term and did not denounce the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He also declined to answer if he would characterize the Capitol siege as an "insurrection." If eventually confirmed by the Senate, Bove will fill a vacancy on the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. At the age of only 44, if confirmed he would sit on the bench for decades to come. 
Here is a script to use:
My name is [NAME] and my address is [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, ZIP].  I demand that Senator [NAME] vote NO on advancing Emil Bove as a federal appeals court judge. Bove has retaliated against prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases and willingly ignored court orders to fulfill the President’s aggressive deportation campaign. Bove supports efforts to ship immigrants overseas, often with little notice or recourse. He has failed to fulfill his ethical obligations as a lawyer, and he is undermining the DOJ’s commitment to the rule of law. Bove is unfit to serve on the federal bench. The American people deserve better. Again, I demand that you vote NO on advancing Emil Bove.
 
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: (https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members - includes links to members’ web pages/phone numbers)
 
We are looking for a few more volunteers to help register voters at the Unity in Our Community event held at Douglas Gym on July 26th  If you can help for an hour or two between 11:00 am and 2 pm. please email me at chair@keysdems.com  Thank you!


The texting campaign to registered Monroe County Democrats will be starting soon.  If you are already registered to Vote by Mail, you will be spared a text from us.  If you aren’t already registered to Vote by Mail, we will be gently reminding you to get that done.  Click here to do it now and then share this email with friends and ask them to do the same www.keyselections.org/Voters/Request-Vote-by-Mail 


July Keys Dems Meetings
Upper Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 pm on July 16th at The Catch. 102041 Overseas Hwy Key Largo
Middle Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 pm on July 24th at the Marathon Public Library


LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS TO ATTEND THIS WEEK (July 14-20) 
City of Key West  http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Thurs – 7-17
Development Review Committee will meet at 10 am in City Hall

Planning Board will meet at 5:00 pm in City Hall

Monroe County Board of County Commissioners https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/
Mon – 7-14
Community Meeting via Zoom @ 5:05 to discuss an amendment to the Water Supply Plan

Tues – 7-15
Special BOCC Budget Meeting beginning at 3:00pm in the Marathon Government Center 2798 Overseas Hwy.2nd Floor, Marathon

City of Key Colony Beach https://keycolonybeach.net/citydocs-1/
Mon – 7-14
@ 9:30 am City Hall Auditorium – Marble Hall 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach
City Commission Budget Workshop #2

Thur - 7-17
City Commission Special Meeting @ 9:30 am
City Commission Public Hearing @ 9:35 am
City Commission Regular Meeting @ 9:40 am

Village of Islamorada Council: https://www.islamorada.fl.us/Calendar.aspx
Thur 7-17
Citizens Budget Task Force Information Session will meet at 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada

Monroe County Mosquito Control Board: https://keysmosquito.org/board-meetings/
Tues 7-15
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District will have a Budget Meeting in the Marathon Board Room @ 1:00 pm and will have a Regular Meeting beginning at 2:00 pm @ 503 107TH Street, Marathon, FL

Utility Board of Key West (Keys Energy): https://www.keysenergy.com/utility-board/
Wed – 7-16
The Utility Board for the City of Key West will hold a Regular Board Meeting in the Board room beginning at 4:00 pm @ 1001 James Street, Key West
 
Let’s get in some good trouble this week!
 

In Solidarity,
 


Holly Hummell-Gorman, Chair
chair@keysdems.com
FB – Florida Keys Democrats or Upper Keys Young Democrats or Upper Keys Democrats
WEBSITE – wwww.keysdems.com
INSTAGRAM - @keysdems
TWITTER/X - @DemsKeys
BlueSky - Keys for Liberty
@demskeys.bsky.social