Join us for Patriot Days of Action!
Participate in a National Week of Action: July 2-8, 2005
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Days of Action Overview Objectives Talking Points Fliers, Op-eds, Press Materials, more |
The follow event and action ideas have been suggested by community organizers from across the country. Please send us your own ideas and we will share them with others.
- Educational Events
- Entertainment
- July 4th Events
- Legislative Actions
- Multicultural Events
- Press Activities
- Religious Events
- Rewarding Civil Liberties Heroes
- Hold a public reading of the Bill of Rights at your local City Hall. Ask your city councilors and other public officials to participate. Connect each Constitutional amendment to local or national civil liberties abuses.
- Put on a public reading of your local resolution, if one has been passed. If you are working on a resolution, use this as an opportunity to promote the importance of upholding civil liberties at the local level.
- Have a Bill of Rights sign-in, at which community members sign copies of the Bill of Rights or a blown up version of the Bill of Rights. Consider sending the signed copies to your legislators.
- Use the Bill of Rights as a blind petition, and ask your community members to sign it. If you encounter opposition, educate them about their rights.
- Plan film showings, public forums, and other events that focus attention on how national anti-terrorism policies affect people locally.
- Organize "distributed demonstrations" throughout a community in which 4-10 people are stationed at strategic locations with signs, showing a swell of activity and concern.
- Put on a public reading of testimonies from Guantanamo detainees, their lawyers, and their families (learn more about the July 4th campaign to shut down Guantanamo here).
- Utilize theatre and street theatre to engage community members in public dialogue and thought.
- Organize musical performances from groups that convey a message, such as the Raging Grannies.
- Participate in your local parade by creating a float, marching as an organization, and/or passing out literature. See our July 4 page for ideas.
- Take part in other community events with the aim of engaging people in dialogue during community interactions.
- Coordinate in-district meetings with your Congressional representatives
who are back in town on recess.
- Use our Book of Resolutions as a resource
- Create postcards addressed to your legislators that urge them to take action on critical civil liberties issues. Bring the cards to public events and ask community members sign them and fill our their return addresses.
- Invite your legislators to participate in one of your events.
- Find out where your legislators will be on July 4th and plan an event that will be visible to him or her.
- Ask your local city officials to proclaim a "Civil Liberties Day," and organize a local ceremonial gathering.
- Visit BORDC's State Legislature Web Sites for Research to find contact information and to answer any questions regarding your state's legislation.
- Organize a dinner or potluck to celebrate the diversity of culture, religion, ethnicity, and heritage.
- Hold press conferences in conjunction with your community events, legislative visits, and other activities. Visit BORDC's Tips and Tools for Holding a News Conference page for assistance.
- Send press releases announcing your activities to all local press outlets. Consider sending multiple releases, at various stages of your efforts. Sample press release.
- Place a full-page ad in your local paper (ask around for small contributions to help fund it). Consider coordinating advertising efforts in multiple communities on the same day with the same message. Sample ad format
- Hold a non-denominational prayer vigil.
- Ask religious leaders in your community to make public statements and address civil liberties issues in their services. Religious resources
- Ask your religious organization to work with other denominations and community groups to plan or participate in local events.
Rewarding Civil Liberties Heroes
- Award local heroes such as city councilors and others who have actively supported civil liberties.
- Honor local Congressional representatives who voted against the USA PATRIOT Act, or who have sponsored national legislation to restore liberties.
- Connect these awards to a national recognition of Senator Russ Feingold, the only Senator to vote against the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001.
*In the spirit of a bottom-up, grassroots, democratic movement, we strongly urge local people to make appointments with their congressional delegations, speaking to them about their obligation to show leadership in restoring rights and liberties and our determination to hold them accountable.
Other Resources