Weekly Member Update - August 25, 2025
Well, we did it again. For the fourth straight month, a whole bunch of “stupid and elderly white hippies” – most of them paid protestors, no doubt – showed up in force to speak out against the corporate complicity of Avelo Airlines, the bargain-basement air carrier that ships shackled human cargo on behalf of ICE and the Trump Administration. Since May, the People of the Capital Region have been drawing attention to Avelo’s collaboration with ICE and demanding that Avelo be expelled from Albany International Airport. It’s no wonder that people everywhere are disgusted by Avelo making a profit off of tearing families apart – just this week, we got to see footage of a chained little girl being herded onto a plain-white Avelo jet while ICE chuds stand around and shoot the shit on the tarmac – and it is even more offensive when you realize that Avelo is probably getting public contracts and special privileges at Albany County’s airport, despite their craven profiteering. This month’s protest at Albany International drew our biggest crowd yet, and the campaign against Avelo has now transformed into a national movement, but there is still more to do. First, if you haven’t joined us on the streets outside Albany International just yet, you will have another opportunity, and then another the month after that. Until Avelo is no longer a presence in Albany County, we will be protesting Avelo’s very existence on the fourth Saturday of every month. Join us next time, and bring a friend. And, if you are a resident of Albany County, you can do even more by reaching out to your elected representative on the Albany County Legislature. Does your County Legislator know about Avelo Airlines and, if so, do they have an opinion one way or another? If your Legislator knows all about Avelo Airlines and is as disgusted as you are, what are they doing to pressure the Albany County Airport Authority Board – the majority of which has been appointed by the Majority Leader of the County Legislature – to expel Avelo from our community? If you reside in Albany County, you have a right to know the answers to these questions and, later this week, we’ll be giving you the tools you need to demand those answers from your elected County Legislator. Keep an eye on your email for more information.
Turning away from Avelo, Congress is back in Session shortly, which means that the Epstein Files are back in the news. The Epstein scandal isn’t about ancient history. This is about a sitting President potentially being able to use his power – once again – to protect himself and his elite friends from justice. The Epstein scandal is also about the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls being treated like an afterthought. On Friday, as Congress was receiving a tranche of old news documents about billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Trump’s Justice Department released the transcript and audio of the conversation that Trump’s old friend (the convicted child trafficker and documented liar) Ghislaine Maxwell had with Trump’s former personal attorney. Surprise, surprise, Maxwell cleared the total gentleman Donald Trump of any untoward behavior, right before Maxwell was transferred by Trump’s Justice Department from maximum security to a country-club penitentiary closer to her family. Mind you, Maxwell also cleared Jeffrey Epstein of his own wrongdoing, so Trump isn’t the only abuser getting Ghislaine Maxwell’s stamp of approval. Indivisible has a comprehensive toolkit Exposing the Epstein Cover-Up, with tools you can use to keep the pressure on the Trump Administration and the Orange King’s minions in Congress (we really like the empty folder idea…). Indivisible is also looking for donations to put billboards in Congressional Districts across the Country. We encourage everyone to devote some time or some money to keep the Epstein heat on Republicans everywhere; remember, every minute that the Orange King has to spend on explaining his extensive ties to Jeffrey Epstein is a minute that he can’t spend militarizing Democratic cities and subverting democracy.
Speaking of fundraising, amid news that fundraising by establishment Democrats and the DNC is cratering as fast as its voter registration efforts, a comprehensive investigation has now revealed that all those spam fundraising text messages you get on behalf of Democrat-aligned groups are not just really annoying and tone deaf, they also are highly ineffective and more than likely a scheme to make political consultants richer. Maybe you’ve already concluded that the deluge of political fundraising texts was a scam but, if you haven’t yet had that epiphany, it's time to think long and hard about where and how to spend your precious political donations. We recommend that you restrict your giving to individual candidates who have captured your imagination or to political organizations that you know and trust. Did we mention that Indivisible accepts donations?
If the shifting winds of political fundraising isn’t your bag, perhaps there is another issue that you feel passionate about? Is there something you think you can teach people that they need to know? Indivisible Albany could be your publishing house! We accept member-authored submissions for publication on our website (with or without attribution, your call) so, if you have an idea in mind, tell us about it using our online submission form. Moreover, we’re delighted to share our first member-submitted work, a short explainer on Republican attacks on the use of Mifepristone, and the steps that you can take to help safeguard access to this crucial medication for women’s health.
In closing, remember that our event calendar has up to date information about rallies and other events across the 518. But a few events deserve a quick special word here:
Our next Monthly Member Meeting is Monday, September 15, once again at the Guilderland Public Library. Register here so that we know to expect you!
We’ve had a lot of inquiries about what is happening on Labor Day. We plan on joining the Capital District Area Labor Federation, the Greater Capital Region Building & Construction Trades Council and the Labor Parade Committee for a Labor Day Rally and Celebratory Picnic at Lanphier’s Grove in Latham on Monday, September 1 beginning at noon. We hope to see you there in solidarity with our Union sisters and brothers!
Speaking of picnics, next weekend, on Saturday September 6, please join Indivisible Albany and other local Indivisible groups for an end of summer potluck picnic at Selene Meadow Farm in Voorheesville. The revelry starts at 4:00 and there will be music, BBQ, games, a bonfire and a special appearance by Sarah Reeske, the Organizing Manager of Indivisible NYS. Please RSVP for this family-friendly event here, and come join us in the shadow of The Escarpment for an evening of fun, comradery and team building!
Finally, in honor of Labor Day, we are going to take a breather next week and skip the Weekly Member Update. We’ll be back at it on September 8, but you can stay up to speed in the interim using our event calendar and website. See you in two weeks!