A progressive organization based in Franklin County, Mass.
On Monday at noon, in concert with hundreds of thousands of people across the country, about 40 people stood out on the Common to protest the ongoing coup against the US government and demanding that it end. Join FCCPR on February 23, 2:00 PM at the Guiding Star Grange (401 Chapman St., Greenfield) to help plan what’s next.
Feb. 2, 2025 – Several folks from FCCPR joined the Amherst Young Feminist Party in North Amherst today for the unveiling of their Four Waves of Feminism mural: “The Four Waves of Feminsim mural highlights the past of social change moevements for gender equality and catapults us into our current organizing. The Amherst YOung Feminst Party is the local chapter of a national, youth-led intersectional organization demanding widespread gender equality and bodily autonomy for all.”
On Saturday, January 18, over 200 people and roughly 30 organizations turned out for “Envisionng the Future We Want”, our event at the Second Congregational Church in Greenfield. In the spirit of mutual aid, the crowd raised over $1,300 for the Stone Soup Café! What better way than this to put our values front and center. For more information, click here.
On Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, Susan Triolo and David Greenberg joined Bill Newman and Buzz Eisenberg from 9:00 to 9:30 to talk about the election and FCCPR’s response. Listen to the podcast here.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, 75 people attended the FCCPR General Assembly to discuss and make plans for the future under a Trump administration. 2 hours of lively discussion focused on what we can do in Franklin County to continue the fight for a better world for all. Please see below for details of the meeting and how you can be involved.
The tone was set with some opening remarks by Dave Cohen that reviewed what FCCPR has done in the recent past and some thoughts on the political situation we find ourselves in. here is a brief summary of his remarks:
FCCPR has been in existence since 2015, when we gathered to work on Bernie’s campaign for President. We have continued as a multi-issue, local, grassroots organization.
What we have done recently.
Put up a billboard in Greenfield exposing Project 2025 and the danger of fascism
Distributed Project 2025 lawn signs
Held an Art fundraiser, thanks to Pixie Holbrook, that raised $2,000 to fund lawn signs and the billboard
Contributed to a billboard in Michigan promoting keeping abortion rights legal
Collected signatures to get the anti-MCAS ballot question on the ballot and campaigned around it. It passed by 68% in Franklin County.
The Reproductive Rights task force held meetings and rallies “Beyond Dobbs” to expose the attacks on women’s rights.
Helped elect progressives to the Greenfield School Committee
Sponsored a meeting with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio to talk about the ballot question giving the Auditor’s office the right to audit the legislature, which won by 72%.
Formed The Franklin County Community Land Trust which is now engaged in projects in Greenfield, Montague and maybe Shelburne to create permanent affordable housing.
We passed out the op ed by Bernie Sanders in the Boston Globe. It contains a basic truth: The Democrats lost this election because they refused to address the problems the working people of this country are facing: inflation, high cost of food, housing, gas, and oil, affordable health care, and in many many areas the lack of good paying jobs.
Here’s some anecdotal evidence.
Mass-Care, the statewide coalition for single payer health care-Medicare for All once again ran ballot questions in 11 State Rep districts calling upon the Reps in those areas to support the Medicare for All legislation in the legislature. We in Franklin county have voted for this many times.
This time people in Western Mass. ran the ballot questions in 2 State Rep districts that vote Republican, basically in Westfield and Agawam, and in both districts the question won – close but we won. Think about it – people voting to eliminate insurance companies, a large sector of the capitalist economy and voting to set up a state-run health care system.
Why did they vote for this, yet at the same time vote for Trump? Because Medicare for All speaks directly to their needs for good affordable health care, and because people are still anti-corporate in their beliefs. If the Democrats had listened to Bernie they might have won. People want real solutions to their problems, not promises of endless genocidal wars.
We are entering a new and complex era of politics. We need to fight for what we need and we will need to fight, especially on the national level to keep what we have that is good (but of course could be better): Medicare, Social Security, basic democratic rights, etc.
While not shying away from what we want and believe, we will have to work with others who we probably don’t agree with on much but who are opposed to fascism. We have to remember that fascism works to make the richest even richer – that is their main point – and they use racism, sexism, homophobia, and anti-immigrant beliefs to divide and confuse their opposition.
On the State level we need to work to get protections passed and to get progressive legislation passed. This means we need to work with and influence our elected Reps. even when we disagree with the anti-democratic way the legislature works.
We will be dancing on a tightrope to say the least.
We must remember that as time progresses there will be many calls for action on National issues as the Trump forces proceed with their plans; this will be an ever changing landscape.
There were many ideas that came out of the meeting. Here are some of the main points.
1 We need to engage in supporting/protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities. We can be meeting with Mayors, select Boards and perhaps police chiefs to once again discuss the need for and meaning of Sanctuary cities and towns.
2. We must continue to build alliances with other groups in Franklin county, Massachusetts and the rest of the country.
3. We must build a supportive, fun community of activists that reaches out to all people in Franklin County.
4. We must continue and expand the work our task forces have been doing and create new task forces to address the new problems we will face. Please see below for specific information for our current task forces.
We will be planning another General Assembly in January or February 2025. Stay tuned.
If you wish to read more extensive notes from the General Assembly click here.
FCCPR Task Forces
Our task forces are committees of people who want to do some planning and work on specific issues. They make plans that are then sent out to the entire membership of FCCPR.
If you would like to be informed of task force meetings or to get involved please email the coordinators listed below.
Reproductive Rights – Ann Ferguson, ferguson3638@gmail.com
Immigrant Rights – Pixie Holbrook, pjholbrook1@gmail.com
Climate – David Greenberg, dgreenberg@fccpr.us
Education – Doug Selwyn, dougselwyn@aol.com
Medicare for All – Judy Atkins, Judithga@comcast.net
The Reproductive Rights Task Force has a Zoom meeting scheduled for Dec 4th at 7:00pm. Here is the link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81423378688
Meeting ID: 814 2337 8688
There was strong interest in FCCPR helping build community and connections. If you are interested in helping, please write to info@fccpr.us.
Please Join FCCPR Now for 2025
Since its founding in 2015, FCCPR has been a membership organization. Everyone, whether a member or not, is welcome to take part in activities and meetings, but we need a core of people who see the value in having a multi-issue organization and who contribute financially..
If you want to read our Principles, please click here
Dues are $10 a year or whatever you can afford.
If you would rather send a check, please send it to FCCPR, PO Box 216, Greenfield Ma 01302
Help Enhance FCCPR’s Social Media Presence
We are looking to expand our social media presence.
Which platforms should we be on?
What kind of content should we be posting?
If you would like to help with this or just have ideas, please let us know. Email us at info@fccpr.us
As part of a statewide effort to encourage voters to vote “yes” on Question 1, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio met with Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution last week at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PAUL JABLON
Published: 10-22-2024 9:59 AM By ADA DENENFELD KELLY
GREENFIELD — State Auditor Diana DiZoglio ran on the promise of bringing transparency and accountability to the Massachusetts Legislature. Now, after a failed attempt to audit the Legislature last year, she is asking for support from voters.
As part of a statewide effort to encourage voters to vote “yes” on Question 1, DiZoglio met with Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR) last week. Question 1, if passed, “would specify that the state auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature,” according to a voters guide printed by the Secretary of State’s Office. Rejection would mean no change in the auditor’s authority.
DiZoglio told attendees gathered at the Guiding Star Grange that the state auditor has audited the Legislature more than 100 times since the inception of the office in 1849, “just like [in] every other state.” It wasn’t until the early 1990s that the then-Speaker of the House resisted an audit and the attorney general ruled state law was ambiguous.
“When I went to go conduct this audit of the state Legislature [last year], I was met with resistance from House and Senate leaders who pushed back and said, essentially, ‘You’re not auditing us. We audit ourselves,’” DiZoglio said.
After discussing the issue with the Attorney General’s Office, DiZoglio decided to create the November ballot measure, clarifying state law.
DiZoglio said transparency is lacking in state government — a 2019 Pioneer Institute study ranked Massachusetts near the bottom in fiscal transparency, and a 2022 article in Forbes magazine made a case for the state being the least transparent in the nation.
In March, members of a Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions recommended against “An act expressly authorizing the auditor to audit the Legislature.” Legislators who spoke at the time implied that DiZoglio’s efforts would erode the independence of the government’s three branches.
The Legislature has pointed out that legislative audits are conducted annually by the private firm CliftonLarsonAllen and typically include an overview of how the legislative process works and financial statements on budgetary accounts, but there are no line item breakdowns of spending.
While the auditing idea is largely opposed by the Democrat-led House and Senate, Pioneer Valley legislators, when contacted by a Daily Hampshire Gazette reporter in September, largely opted not to take a public stance on the ballot question.
DiZoglio also told those gathered at the Guiding Star Grange last week about her personal journey to becoming state auditor. After graduating from college, she got a job at the State House.
“I very quickly learned about all the great things our state Legislature can do,” DiZoglio said. “From investing in education to fighting against climate change to fighting for reproductive rights … I learned about all of these great things. But, I also learned about the flip side — what can go wrong when there is no accountability.”
According to DiZoglio, she experienced sexual harassment while working at the State House and was fired after reporting her experience. This inspired her to run for state representative, a position she held for six years before running for state senator representing the 1st Essex District. She was a senator for another four years.
When former State Auditor Suzanne Bump decided to not seek reelection, DiZoglio “did some soul-searching” and decided to run for the position in hopes of bringing more transparency to the Legislature from the outside.
Additionally, DiZoglio clarified some misconceptions about the state auditor’s role during her visit to Franklin County. As auditor, DiZoglio does not have enforcement authority. Rather, she creates a report based on her findings, and the Attorney General’s Office is responsible for any enforcement measures based on issues found.
In addition to her meeting with FCCPR, DiZoglio met with other Franklin County groups and officials, including the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the Greenfield Business Association, Mayor Ginny Desorgher and Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt.
DiZoglio said she is grateful for the support of groups like FCCPR.
“I … wanted to come out to this wonderful group of progressive democrats who I was thrilled to hear support this initiative,” DiZoglio said in an interview. “We really have a fight on our hands, fighting against establishment rhetoric surrounding our audit initiative. But, with a powerhouse group of supporters like those … here tonight, we are confident that we are going to see success on Nov. 5, and be able to do our jobs to increase transparency, accountability and equity.”
Starting Sunday September 15th at 9:00 am
Bid on 30 beautiful pieces of art created and generously donated by professional artists and crafters from our area of Franklin County, MA. Click on the link below for a preview!
We are holding this auction in order to raise money for the installation of one or two billboards directing people to the dangers of Project 2025 (www.project2025.org/policy). Additionally, we will donate to the “Movement Voter Project” (https://movement.vote/groups/) which focuses on funding and supporting youth, communities of color, LGBTQ+ voters, and other communities in key battleground states that bear the brunt of injustice in the United States.
You can participate in the FCCPR Online Arts Auction simply by clicking on this link: FCCPR Arts Auction
