Whether
you are a seasoned activist or a first-time organizer,
here is a simple guide to get you started. Go through
the steps one by one, and you'll be on your way to planning
a creative, engaging, and powerful action in your community.
- Choose an Action, Day and
Location, and Register!
Part of the beauty of the International Week of Actions
will be the variety and creativity of actions organized
between August 26 and 31st across the world. Some
common action ideas include organizing a procession
or march through your town or city, a rally with speakers
and cultural music in your central plaza, a candlelight
vigil, a house party, or a community discussion. Some
actions' uniqueness will simply be their locations
- is there a place to hold your rally that is particularly
important to your community, or symbolic? Examples
include City Hall, Federal Building, Consulate, Embassy,
community center, university, local church, statue,
mosque, synagogue or national monument. Whatever your
action, be sure to think about the best photo opportunity
to capture your action and everyone who attends -
photos are the primary way we link up actions worldwide
and tell our story. Don't
forget to register your action on our calendar
where you can fill out an online form to post announcements,
and others can contact you to attend your event.
- Gather With Friends and
Neighbors
Invite your friends, neighbors, and local organizations
to assist in sponsoring and organizing the action.
Think outside the box about who to reach out to -
maybe the local church, mosque, synagogue, labor union,
community center, university, or arts cooperative
would be interested in getting involved in the issue.
This is when it gets fun!
- Work Out the Details
Take care of logistical details as soon as you can
(this is why you want friends to help you out). Important
things to consider include the timing of the action,
directions, transportation, bathrooms, sound system,
permits for use of public spaces, sponsorships, etc.
- Invite Government Officials
If we want your action to have as big an impact as
possible, it's essential that we reach out to our
local, regional, and national leaders. Invite your
local mayor, city council, city supervisors, or congressperson.
Congress is on recess and members are likely to be
home in district August 9-September 12.
You never know who might be willing to show up to
mark troop withdrawal and make a statement about ending
wars and occupation. Find your elected officials here
http://fconl.capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/.
- Spread the Word
Send out emails, write editorials for local newspapers,
get on the local radio station, ask organizations
to include the action information in newsletters and
bulletins, and put up posters all over town.
- Make a Banner
Each action will have a banner, or some way to communicate
the message. Some communities will hold big banners,
others will spell out words with their participants,
others still may make a mural together. We're asking
that everyone make their own banner - it will be great
for each action to have its own home-made, local flavor,
and yet to all have a common, unifying message. Just
be sure to make it large and legible.
- Tell the Media
It's important to contact local, state, and national
media to make sure they report on the Week of Actions
in your area. Think about what print, radio, television,
and blogs you'd want to have cover your event, and
start getting in touch now!
- Take Action
For
action ideas click here . The details of your
action are up to you, but at some point be sure to
take a picture with everyone present with your banner
displayed front and center.
- Report Back
This part is very important: as soon as your action
is over, be sure to select your best photo and e-mail
it to locals@codepink.org
to be posted online. You might want to designate a
volunteer to help with this. This is so important
because we need your picture and stories to be able
to deliver the strongest possible message to the media.
Video footage and written stories from your action
are great too.
Thanks for
being a part of this important movement to end wars
and occupation and bring our resources and troops home!
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