Be part of the Resistance - check out news and actions!
Clallam Democrats Chair Ellen Menshew asks you to help as a volunteer
Local Impacts / Local Actions with important events and opportunities for action
Feature articles on issues and how we and our local leaders are responding
Interview with Representative Emily Randall
Why rallies matter - voices from the June 14 No Kings events
How federal policies are impacting tourist visits from our Canadian neighbors
Fighting for our community college, which faces severe cutbacks
How GOP attacks on the poor have hit our local Food Bank
Meet Linda Middleton, organizing fellow Democrats in Republican Forks
Protecting our Olympic National Forest from the Republican sell-off
Resist 2025: How we are fighting back in Washington State
A full and exciting calendar of events this summer!
An inspirational Resistance Music Break from Tracy Chapman
Read on, enjoy, and get active!
Do you like social media software and want to help with the newsletter? We need a volunteer who is willing to learn our software (Substack now, Club Express in the near future), and layout our newsletter for publication. We have a well-established template, so it would just take some learning time, then several hours each month to drop content into the software and work on edits with the Newsletter Team. Are you interested? Please contact newsletter@clallamdems.org to learn more.
by Ellen Menshew
Calling all volunteers!
The Clallam County Democrats (CCD) have been tirelessly working to engage and inspire the local community. One of the most notable events was the "No Kings" demonstration held in Port Angeles, where over 1,600 community members gathered in a peaceful protest. Organized by new members Mark and Karen Lemburg, this phenomenal event showcased the power of collective action and the potential for meaningful change.
Another highlight was CCD's participation in "Pride on the Pier," where members connected with our LGBTQ+ community, allies, friends, and family. The celebration was a testament to inclusiveness, shared support, and strengthening community ties.
These impactful efforts require a significant amount of planning and collaboration, which is why I’m amplifying the call for volunteers. CCD needs you!
Are you passionate about democracy, immigration rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, environmental conservation, education, healthcare, social justice, housing, fair wages, or protecting the working class? We have many opportunities for volunteers to contribute their talents and energy. Whether you excel in organizing events, mentoring, fundraising, technical expertise, or general support, you can make a difference.
We are currently looking for the following:
Graphics Designer - website and newsletter
Potluck Coordinator
Political Action Coordinator
Social Media (Insta) Coordinator
Demonstrations and Protests Coordinator
In addition to these roles, we welcome help from individuals with artistic and creative tendencies, those who enjoy cooking or crafting, and anyone who prefers working alone or collaboratively. Volunteering is not just about tasks; it is also an opportunity to build relationships and foster a sense of community within our organization, with our allied partners, and with the broader community.
July 17th – Good Trouble Lives On: We need help to organize an event in Port Angeles. By volunteering, you can become a powerful force in this journey toward a better future for all.
If you are ready to be more involved, please reach out to me via email to discuss the possibilities. As always, check our calendar for the most up-to-date information on all our activities.
In solidarity,
Ellen Menshew, Chair – Clallam County Democrats
How well do YOU know the U.S. Constitution?
With our Constitution under attack, it’s critical that we understand our guiding law and how it was created. On July 7, Monday following Independence Day, refresh your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution by attending the latest session of From Subject to Citizen, a program offered by the Clallam County Democrats’ Education Action Group.
Dr. Tom Peet presents “Crisis: Creating a New Government,” the third in his five-part series on the Constitution and the founding of our nation. Tom brings the Founders, and others intimately involved in our country's creation, to life. He adds fascinating facts about these individuals, illuminating their humanness, their knowledge, motivations, strengths, and vulnerabilities, quirks and all.
Join the class in person from 6-7 p.m. in the Raymond Carver Room of the North Olympic Library 2210 S Peabody, Port Angeles, or on Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87069158951
While this is a 5-part series, each monthly session can be informational, understood, and enjoyed on its own, so please do not hesitate to attend (or participate via Zoom) if you missed any prior session(s). PowerPoint slides for each presentation will be posted after each session. All sessions run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
These engaging presentations are open to the public. Bring family, friends, neighbors, young and old. Everyone is invited, welcomed and encouraged to attend!
Watch previous presentations: here.
Part I: Why the Constitution Still Matters - An Overview
Part II: Our First Government - The Road to Revolution, Declaration of Independence, and Articles of Confederation
Upcoming presentations:
Part III: Crisis: Creating a new Government - Monday, July 7
Part IV: What have We Created? – Thursday, August 7
Part V: The Bill of Rights and More – Monday, September 8
Important! A chance to meet the Primary candidates
Mark your calendars to attend three Primary Candidates Forums hosted by Clallam County Democrats this month.
Debates help voters make informed decisions by educating them on a candidate's platform and policies, holding candidates accountable by asking questions, and evaluating candidates’ stances and leadership styles. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to participate actively in the democratic process. We hope to see you there!
Join local efforts to protect immigrant friends and neighbors
Our immigrant family, friends and neighbors are under attack and need our support! The Immigrant Action Group, an ad hoc committee, continued to meet with concerned citizens from Forks, Sequim, and Port Angeles in June to discuss ways to work together to support our immigrant neighbors throughout the Olympic Peninsula.
Results include:
Formation of a rapid response group to alert the community about ICE activity.
Providing accompaniment and assistance for neighbors who are fearful to shop, go to appointments, etc.
Helping the Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates set up services in our area.
More help is needed! Please email Carole Scholl at carolesnews2@gmail.com if you'd like to sign up to be part of these important activities. The next meeting of the Immigrant Action Group is the second Tuesday of the month, July 8, 6 p.m., on Zoom. To get the Zoom link for the July 8 meeting, email carolesnews2@gmail.com
How you can take action:
1. If you'd like to be involved in alerting the community about ICE activity in our area, please fill out this form to set up a private Signal group. Once the group is formed, we can discuss details.
2. If you'd like to be involved in providing support to immigrant neighbors, please consider helping start a Sequim/PA area chapter of Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates (JCIRA). Sign up here: Sequim Area Interest Group.
Do your part for democracy — become a Precinct Committee Officer!
Being a Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) is one of the most important roles in our party. As a PCO, you are a party leader and on the front lines of winning elections up and down the ballot – from the School Board to the Senate.
PCOs are the main point of information and contact for voters in your precinct and within the Democratic Party.
PCOs are also a central part of their local Democratic organization. They elect local, county, and state Party leadership
PCO’s nominate candidates to fill vacancies in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.
Our PCO Committee is hard at work identifying PCOs for vacant precincts. If you might be interested in serving as a PCO, check out a basic description of PCO duties by selecting this link to the WADEMS website. Then, contact CCD Chair Ellen Menshew at Clallamdemschair@gmail.com to ask questions and apply.
We encourage you, as an engaged Democrat, to meet your PCO and join them at Precinct Committee meetings. Your PCO can keep you informed about current activities and candidate information. The basic ask of a Precinct Committee member is to share CCD information with friends and neighbors when the opportunity arises.
Those interested in joining the PCO committee can contact Betsy Robins at brobins@wavecable.com to be connected with their PCO.
Fighting an uphill battle in DC: Interview with Congresswoman Emily Randall
Clallam Democrats Rising presents an exclusive interview with fledgling 6th District Congresswoman Emily Randall. Read what she told our own Lisa Dekker about her daunting first term in Washington, D.C., and how the political chaos has inspired her to “keep pushing.”
Speaking truth to power: Why rallies and protests matter
The Clallam Democrats Rising newsletter team hit the streets during No Kings rallies on June 14 to find out why so many local residents (1,700 in Port Angeles, 2,600 in Sequim) willingly turned out on a sunny Saturday afternoon to make some “good trouble.” Read their comments and marvel at their creative protest signs in our story, Speaking Truth to Power: Why rallies and protests matter, on the CCD Blog.
Impacts of the current Administration on local tourism
Are Republican policies hurting tourism in Clallam County? Seasoned destination marketing executive Gary Young takes us on a fascinating deep dive into the politics, tariffs, and economic policies eroding tourism from Canada and damaging our relationship with our northern neighbor.
Community College slammed by Federal cutbacks
Low-income undergraduate students who rely on the Federal Pell Grant program may lose their ability to access higher education at post-secondary schools like Peninsula Community College in Port Angeles. The program is currently on the chopping block as part of Federal cutbacks in the “Big Ugly Bill” that Republicans just passed in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Send your favorite resistance song to newsletter@clallamdems.org
Your Port Angeles Food Bank - more than ever, a critical resource
Join Clallam Democrats Rising writer Lisa Dekker in a frank discussion with Fran Howell, President of the Port Angeles (PA) Food Bank’s Board of Directors. Howell talks about drastic cuts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Congress that are strangling the food bank and other local hunger relief organizations as they struggle to continue their mission of “cultivating a hunger-free community through service, education, and partnerships.” Learn how you can help them fight back.
Profile in Leadership – Linda Middleton – Beating the drum in Forks
Writer Paul Pickett presents another in his series interviewing lifelong Democrats who continue to organize, agitate and inspire. This month he talks with Linda Middleton, a CCD Trustee who has made it her personal cause to overcome fear and inertia in the Republican bastion that is her home town of Forks, by uniting her friends and neighbors and bringing them closer to Democrats across Clallam County.
Keep Public Lands in Public Hands
We in Clallam County are blessed to live at the edge of beautiful federal lands, which also fuel Clallam County’s economy. Join writer Tina Tyler as she explores ongoing threats from Republicans in the ‘other Washington’ to sell off public lands and rescind protections for national forest lands to allow logging. Discover why thousands of local and regional hunters and anglers, and over 30 leading sportsmen organizations, are forming a coalition to stop them in their tracks.
Feature Article Quiz!
How did Representative Randall demand accountability from Elon Musk through the US House Oversight and Accountability Committee?
Linda Middleton’s dream is to have how many people in the Forks 4th of July parade?
How much funding will the Food Bank lose if proposed federal cuts to food support programs happen?
Peninsula College is one of six WA Community and Technical Colleges that are part of the what grant program?
What is the name of the coaltion working to protect wild forest and river watersheds on the Olympic Peninsula?
What reason did Gunvor give for attending the June 14th rally in Port Angeles?
How much money does Statistics Canada say that ferry travelers spent in the United States?
Send your answers to newsletter@clallamdems.org. Winners will be announced in the July issue.
News of resistance from Clallam County and Washington state.
A link to the full story is in the title.
[Note: Seattle Times and Peninsula Daily News stories require a subscription.]Narrowed plan for public land sales is dropped from GOP mega-bill (WA State Standard, 06/30/2025)
A controversial provision to sell off federal public land, including in Washington state, has been removed from the Republican tax cut and spending bill , thanks to objections from western Senators. (See accompanying story on our blog, Keep Public Lands in Public Hands.
This Land Is Us: A rural county fought back against Washington, D.C. and won (The High Ground: Voices from Eastern Washington, 07/02/2025)
Ferry County is easy to overlook. It’s small. Remote. But it is deeply rooted in the public land it depends on. A sweeping federal budget proposal would have allowed the sale of public lands across 11 western states. Ferry County wasn’t alone in pushing back. Together, western rural communities formed a quiet chorus. Here, the land is not for sale.
More good news coming out of the Natural Resources Committee
(U.S. Congresswoman Emily Randall’s newsletter, 6/29/2025)
This week, the pair of bills we introduced alongside Senators Cantwell and Murray to transfer land for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation to be held in trust, were passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee.
AG Brown applauds court order against the Trump administration for blocking funds for electric vehicle chargers (Attorney General Nick Brown press release, 06/25/2025)
Attorney General Nick Brown and 13 other attorneys general have won a court order blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to withhold about $1 billion in funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure directed by Congress to the plaintiff states.
Governor Ferguson statement on court ruling Trump illegally deployed National Guard (Washington Office of the Governor 6/12/2025)
In response to a federal court decision that President Donald Trump illegally deployed the California National Guard, Governor Bob Ferguson said, “Washington will be prepared if Trump attempts a similar unconstitutional stunt in Washington state.”
Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller on federal threats to Washington’s clean vehicle transition (WA Dept of Ecology 6/12/2025)
Washington joined 10 other states in a lawsuit challenging efforts by Congress and President Trump to rescind stronger state standards on vehicle pollution known as “vehicle emissions standards.”
Washington denies federal request for personal data on food stamp recipients (Washington State Standard, 6/26/2025)
Washington state refused to comply with a request by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that states hand over personal data for applicants and recipients of food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Judge blocks Trump’s homelessness, transit conditions on King County
(Seattle Times, 6/20/2025)
King County and dozens of other municipal agencies around the country filed a lawsuit against two federal agencies that added requirements to grants that had already been awarded to local governments. The suit stated that the new conditions were imposed “to coerce grant recipients that rely on federal funds into implementing President Trump’s policy agenda.”
AmeriCorps must restore grant funding and members to states that sued over cuts, federal judge rules (Seattle Times, 06/05/2025)
U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman granted a temporary block on the cancellation of grants and early discharge of Americorps members, requiring the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in AmeriCorps grant funding and return thousands of service workers to their jobs in about two dozen states.
Seattle police chief expects to be jailed under Trump administration (Seattle Times, 6/10/2025)
In response to a question about federal action in Los Angeles, Seattle police Chief Shon Barnes said Tuesday, “I will do everything in my power to protect anyone in Seattle from anyone who comes to this city with the intention to hurt them or inhibit their First Amendment rights.” He continued, “What that means is that, at some point, I will probably go to jail and be in prison.”
Find all of our upcoming events on the calendar on our website.
Save the dates
SUMMER PARADES
(For all parade information, contact events@clallamdems.org or call the Democratic Office during our business hours at (360) 452-0500. Also check our website, Facebook and BlueSky for updates.)
July 12 - Clallam Bay/Seiku Fundays Parade at 11 a.m.
Line up 10 to 10:30-ish on Weel Road. Judging at 10:30 a.m.
This is a fun little parade, about 3 to 4 blocks long in Clallam Bay. We usually are lined up next to the Red Hat Society, who have supplied us with Jello shots! Many of these ladies are “R’s” (but a fun group, nonetheless).
July 19th - Quileute Days, LaPush at 12 noon
Gather at the far end of the Village, 11ish.
Annual Celebration of Quileute Tribal Culture and Heritage. After the parade, stick around for traditional salmon bake, dancing, music, arts and crafts, delicious food like fry bread, and more.
August 2nd - Joyce Daze Wild Blackberry Festival, Joyce, 1 p.m.
Line Up around noon, Parade at 1 p.m. Judging between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
If we have a large enough, colorful marching group, we might want to participate in the judging. We won 2nd place in 2019 with our contingent of suffragettes. This is also a fun parade with a spirited and generally supportive crowd. And the blackberry pies, while they last, are to die for!
August 30th - Makah Days, Neah Bay, 10 a.m.
Carpooling available. Allow at least 2 hours travel time from Port Angeles.
The Makah people always warmly welcome the Democrats with cheers and “Welcome to Makah Days” and “Thank You for coming!” Stay for the festivities following the parade – music and traditional dancing, meet the Makah Days Royalty, enjoy the delicious salmon, fry bread, native arts and crafts. The Makah Museum is a destination in itself!
Other events
Tuesday, July 8, 5-8 p.m: Rayonier Mill Cleanup Public Meeting & Open House, Field Arts & Events Hall. Presentation at 6 p.m., followed by Q&A session.
An in-person public meeting and open house to learn more about the ongoing cleanup efforts, ask questions, and share your comments. Open house before and after the presentation. Location: Field Arts & Events Hall, 201 W Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Click here for more details.
Saturday, Aug. 9: Annual Clallam County Democrats Picnic. Maja Cox's garden/yard, 503 Serpentine, Sequim.
Details to follow.
Saturday, September 6th, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m: Annual Franklin and Eleanor Lunch. Seven Cedars Casino - Club 7.
Meet and Greet in Blyn Bay Room, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Silent Auction, Meet and Greet fellow Dems and VIP’s. Roosevelt Lunch Buffet Style in Club 7. Keynote Speakers to be determined, a few speeches, light entertainment, special honors, etc. More details to follow.
Throughout the Summer
Marches, Demonstrations, Protests, Rallies, Vigils, to be determined. We want to keep our momentum going for as long as it takes to SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY through community action. Details to follow via website, email blasts, social media posts, CCD meetings, Evites.
Click here to: ✅Become a Member! ✅Volunteer! ✅Donate!
We need your stories! Submit your contributions to newsletter@clallamdems.org. Deadline is Sunday, July 27th, for the August 2025 issue.
Thank you for reading and being a part of the change and resistance our country needs.
The Clallam Democrats Rising newsletter is a labor of love put together by CCD Volunteers. We try our best to get it right - please send us any suggestions for improvement.
Together, we will defend Democracy. Stay active, and see you next month!
