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Stay connected with Indivisible Woodstock CAN!

This is where we share updates on our latest events, community actions, local issues, and ways you can get involved. From book club recaps to calls to action, our blog keeps you informed and engaged as we work together to defend democracy and support our neighbors.

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This Is the Week to Show Up: Organize, Act, and Take Back Woodstock

    This week’s newsletter is packed with urgent ways you can take action, make a difference, and stand up for our community right here in Woodstock.


    Inside: clear steps for contacting your elected officials, critical updates on the Georgia PSC election, why your voice matters, and every local event you need to know about—from protest safety trainings to our Progressive Pages Book Club.


    We’re spotlighting two candidates who deserve your support: volunteer to canvass for Debra Shigley and come out for Gopi Govindaraj’s campaign kickoff for Woodstock City Council.


    Our movement is only as strong as the people who show up. Read on, get involved, and help keep our community organized and resilient in the face of real threats.


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    1. Take Action Any Day: Make Your Voice Heard


    You don’t have to wait for a rally or a meeting—these are things you can do any day to make a difference:


    • Call Your Elected Officials

      • 5 Calls: Quickly connect with your representatives on the issues that matter.

      • Direct Lines:

        • Sen. Jon Ossoff: DC (202) 224-3521 | Atlanta (470) 786-7800

        • Sen. Raphael Warnock: DC (202) 224-3643 | Atlanta (770) 694-7828

        • Rep. Barry Loudermilk: DC (202) 225-2931 | Atlanta (770) 429-1776

    • Resistbot: Text all your reps at once or download the app.

    • Indivisible National: Find more ways to plug in.


    2. Featured Actions This Week


    Pick one and do it. These actions only take minutes but add up. Your voice matters—especially when you use it.


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    3. Election Spotlight: Why I’m Backing Peter Hubbard for PSC (If Blackman Is Disqualified)


    🗳️ Early Voting: May 27–June 13 | Election Day: June 17

    No voting: June 1, 14–16. ALL Georgians vote for 2 seats.

    Find voting locations: https://cherokeegavotes.com/​


    What is the PSC?​

    Sets electricity/gas rates, regulates utilities, and affects Georgia’s future.


    Why Hubbard?

    • Works for the Georgia Center for Clean Energy Solutions

    • Advocates for lower bills, transparency, fair energy policy—focused on people, not utilities.

    • Not a party insider or utility exec. His campaign is about accountability and restoring public trust (See Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Peter_Hubbard)

    • Independence and a real record of advocacy.


    Other candidates:

    • Daniel Blackman’s eligibility is still pending, court ruling due June 10.

    • Robert Jones’s utility ties are a real problem.

    • Keisha Sean Waites has credibility issues.


    In my opinion, if Blackman (my first choice due to record, reputation, and platform) is out, Hubbard is the only candidate left who can credibly stand up for ratepayers and public trust.


    — Martha Jean Schindler (Personal note; not speaking for Indivisible National or any other leaders)


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    4. Double Your Impact: Indivisible Matching Donations All June


    Every time we organize a permitted protest like No Kings, volunteers pay ~$410 in city permits and police presence—before we even get to safety vests, bullhorns, printing, sign supplies, outreach materials, and all the other costs of real organizing.


    Right now, Indivisible National is matching all donations made through our fundraising page for June. Give $25, they’ll make it $50. Give $100, it becomes $200.


    Our local PayPal fund isn’t eligible for the match, but it’s just as important—that’s how we help our neighbors with groceries, rent, gas, and emergencies:


    One fund fuels the fight, the other meets urgent needs here in Woodstock. Both matter. Every dollar helps.


    Questions? Email hello@woodstockcan.org or DM us on Instagram: @indivisiblewoodstockcan


    5. Upcoming Indivisible Woodstock CAN Events


    Monday, June 2

    Tuesday, June 3

    Wednesday, June 4

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    Thursday, June 5

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    Sunday, June 8

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    Saturday, June 14


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    6. Volunteer: Safety Marshals, Medics, & De-Escalators Needed!


    Our next protest can’t happen safely without a strong safety team. We need volunteers to sign up as safety marshals, medics, and de-escalators. Training provided—no experience needed.


    Sign up now:​​


    If you care about protest safety, this is one of the most important roles you can take. Every volunteer matters.


    7. More Local Events, Protests, Trainings, & More


    Saturday, May 31

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    Sunday, June 1

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    Tuesday, June 3

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    Wednesday, June 4

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    Thursday, June 5

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    Friday, June 6

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    Saturday, June 7

    • Cherokee Democrats GA | Coffee & Conversations 🗓 Sat, June 7, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM EDT📍 7735 Main St, Woodstock, GA 30188. 🔗https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/781981/

    • Gleaning the Woodstock Farmers Market 🗓 Sat, June 7, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EDT📍 8770 Main St, Woodstock, GA 30188 🔗https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/795525/

    • Truth Matters- Fiction Makes Bad News 🗓 Sat, June 7, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EDT📍 Fox News Regional Offices, 1551 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 🔗https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/789604/

    • IND Cobb Meeting - Meet the PSC Candidate 🗓 Sat, June 7, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM EDT📍 Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068 🔗https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/794854/

    • Canvass with Debra Shigley for GA Senate District 21! 🗓 Sat, June 7, 2:00 – 5:00 PM EDT📍 8561 Bells Ferry Rd, Canton, GA 30114 🔗https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/795511/

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    Sunday, June 8


    If you read one thing this week, let it be this: we need you, not just as a bystander, but as a participant. Sign up to be a safety marshal, medic, or de-escalator—these are essential roles for safe protest and real change.


    RSVP for our No Kings protest on June 14 and show that Woodstock won’t be bullied into silence.


    Come to our all-committees working session and have a real voice in shaping our strategy.


    Volunteer for Debra Shigley’s campaign, support Gopi for City Council, and don’t miss the Progressive Pages Book Club if you want deeper connection and real conversation.


    Every link above is a chance to step up. Pick one and do it. If everyone reading this took a single action, we’d change the landscape in Cherokee County.


    Let’s prove what’s possible—together.


    In solidarity,​

    Indivisible Woodstock CAN

    Events for May 13–26, 2025

      🔥 We're moving fast. Here's how you can show up.

      The next two weeks are packed. Protests. Book sales. Canvassing. Potlucks. Die-ins. Courtrooms. Yoga. Whether you're fighting disinformation, defending public institutions, or just showing up with love—there's a place for you. Pick one thing and plug in.


      🚨 Woodstock Just Passed an Anti-Protest Ordinance

      On the same day we submitted a revised event permit, Woodstock City Council passed sweeping new restrictions on public gatherings—including sidewalk protests.

      We’ve issued a press release breaking down what happened, why it’s unconstitutional, and how it threatens all grassroots and community-led organizing:https://www.woodstockcan.com/post/woodstock-city-council-passes-anti-protest-ordinance-hours-after-grassroots-group-submits-revised-pe


      🧭 Strategy & Policy

      We’re tracking Project 2025, authoritarian moves, and local infrastructure. Join us May 19 to learn how Cherokee’s Democratic structure works—and how we can intervene.


      ⚖️ Government Accountability

      We show up where decisions are made: school boards, city council, library funding. Come to the May 17 book sale and May 23 Cobb School Board meeting to show we’re watching.


      🗳️ Voter Engagement

      We’re canvassing, protecting the polls, and reaching new voters—especially Black voters and business owners in Cherokee County. Big push starts May 15.


      🫶 Care & Coalition

      We don’t burn out—we build community. Join us for yoga, a May 16 potluck, or the May 24 blood drive. No speeches, no pressure—just care.


      📣 Comms & Creatives

      Tell the truth, loudly and clearly. Come to the May 15 protest, the May 18 die-in, or help document what’s happening on the ground and online.


      🧰 Events & Mobilization

      We make it all run—permits, protests, logistics, safety, medics. If you want to help turn big ideas into action, this is your squad.


      ✝️ Faith, Freedom, & Moral Power

      We fight Christian nationalism and build bridges with communities of faith—while making space for those who’ve been pushed out. This is moral work, not partisan work.


      🗓️ FULL CALENDAR (May 13–26)

      Tuesday, May 14


      Wednesday, May 14


      Thursday, May 15


      Friday, May 16


      Saturday, May 17


      Sunday, May 18


      Monday, May 19🧘 Therapeutic Yoga – 11:00 AM📍 Northside Cherokee Amphitheater


      Thursday, May 23


      Saturday, May 24


      Sunday, May 25


      Monday, May 26


      🌱 This is how we win: together, consistently, and out loud.


      Pick something. Show up. Bring someone with you. That’s how movements grow—and how the people take back what was stolen.

      Woodstock City Council Passes Anti-Protest Ordinance Hours After Grassroots Group Submits Revised Permit Application

        Woodstock Council Passes New Restrictions on Public Events—While Ignoring Constitutional Rights

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        WOODSTOCK, GA — On Monday, May 12, the Woodstock City Council voted 5–0 to approve sweeping changes to the city’s special events ordinance, making it harder for local residents to organize public events, visibility actions, and protests—even on sidewalks.


        The vote came just hours after Indivisible Woodstock CAN submitted a revised event plan and paid a $50 application fee for its upcoming June 14 rally, No Kings in Woodstock—a peaceful, sidewalk-based demonstration that is part of a national day of action against authoritarianism.

        “We applied for a permit so we could legally use amplified sound and a tent,” said organizer Martha Jean Schindler. “But we don’t need anyone’s permission to protest. Our right to peaceful assembly is protected by the U.S. Constitution—and no city ordinance overrides that. We will be there. Legally. Period.”

        What Was Proposed vs. What Was Passed


        Originally proposed:

        • Removal of the 50-person threshold for permits

        • A cap of two non-city events per month downtown

        • Fee exemptions only for registered nonprofits or churches

        • Broad denial powers and new cost recovery mechanisms

        • Permits required even for First Amendment–protected events


        Ultimately passed:

        • Downtown cap increased to four events per month after pushback

        • Discretionary waiver power granted to the City Manager

        • Fireworks regulations separated into a new article

        • Vague “infrastructure impact” language retained

        • No protection added for peaceful sidewalk protest


        Let’s be clear: peaceful protest on public sidewalks—without blocking traffic or using amplified sound—cannot be lawfully subjected to discretionary permitting. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed this again and again. These changes may target protest, but they cannot override the First Amendment.

        “The city is pretending it has the legal power to approve or deny peaceful assembly. It doesn’t,” said Schindler. “Trying to regulate what the Constitution forbids you from regulating isn’t just lawless—it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

        Council’s Debate Revealed the Real Agenda

        At Monday’s council meeting, city officials made it clear that this wasn’t just administrative housekeeping—it was about control.


        Redefining sidewalks to suppress protest

        At Monday’s meeting, council members raised the possibility that sidewalks appearing on the Greenprints Trail map could be reclassified as “trails” or “park land.” The implication? That these areas wouldn’t fall under the standard First Amendment protections that apply to public sidewalks.


        This is a dangerous and dishonest maneuver. Under the U.S. Constitution, peaceful protest is protected in all traditional public forums—including sidewalks, parks, and trails—so long as it doesn’t obstruct traffic or require special city services. The law does not allow governments to erase those rights by renaming the space underneath your feet.

        “This is about control, not safety,” said Schindler. “They’re trying to redraw the map of Woodstock—not physically, but legally—to say: ‘You’re not on a sidewalk anymore, so your rights don’t apply.’ But the Constitution still does.”

        By attempting to redefine public walkways as something else, the city is laying the groundwork to justify future crackdowns—not based on behavior, but based on location. It’s a deliberate effort to narrow the space where dissent is allowed.


        Restricting access to a taxpayer-funded amphitheater

        City staff claimed the amphitheater should only be rented to the public once per month because it's a “strain on city services.” At the same time, they claimed it’s underused and not generating enough revenue—suggesting both increased limits and increased fees.

        “So the amphitheater is somehow both overbooked and underutilized,” said Schindler. “It’s classic gatekeeping. They want fewer events and higher fees—and they’re blaming the public for a staffing issue they refuse to fix.”

        Too poor to serve the public

        City leaders argued that the new restrictions are necessary because the city is too understaffed to keep people at events safe. Instead of hiring staff or resourcing the services residents already pay for, they’re choosing to restrict public access entirely.

        “If the city can’t afford to uphold basic civic freedoms, it’s not the people who are the problem—it’s the priorities,” said Schindler.

        A Threat to Everyone

        This isn’t just about one group or one event. These rules impact every resident, business, and community organization in Woodstock—churches, sports leagues, veterans groups, neighborhood associations, cultural festivals, small businesses, and anyone else who hopes to organize or speak out in public.


        The ordinance:

        • Limits community use of public spaces like the amphitheater and event green

        • Enables the city to impose arbitrary fees, even when services aren’t requested

        • Creates vague, subjective reasons to deny permits

        • Caps non-city events while exempting city-sponsored or well-funded ones

        • Makes rapid-response protest nearly impossible under the new timeline rules

        “If they can shut us out, they can shut anyone out,” said Schindler. “Whether you’re a protester or a parent planning a community event, this should concern you.”

        Timeline of Suppression on May 12th

        Morning– Indivisible Wodostock CAN submits permit requesting use of the Park at City Center for June 14

        Early Afternoon– City emails Indivisible CAN denying use of the park for June 14

        Mid-Afternoon – Group submits revised event plan and pays fee

        Evening – Council passes the ordinance with full awareness of its potential for overreach

        “They knew what they were doing—and they passed it anyway,” said Schindler.

        Indivisible Woodstock CAN's Next Event Is Still On

        The No Kings in Woodstock protest will take place on Saturday, June 14 from 2:00–4:00 PM on the public sidewalks of Downtown Woodstock.

        It will be peaceful. It will be safe. It will be lawful. And it will be constitutionally protected—whether the city likes it or not.

        “We are not asking for permission to exist in public space,” said Schindler. “We are standing up for the rights of every resident. We’re not going anywhere.”

        MEDIA CONTACT

        Martha Jean Schindler

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