(If you don't know what ALEC is , please see the links at the end of this diary)
Well folks - the protest at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) States and Nation Summit is coming up on November 30th in Phoenix. This is the meeting where ALEC indoctrinates new legislators or fairly new legislators to "do government the pro-business ALEC way" in our state legislatures. If you can - please join the folks down in Phoenix or visit protestalec.org and make a donation to help out with the expenses.
For some of us - going to Phoenix is financially not an option - but we want to do something anyway. For a lot of us - if we are going to do something - we need to start thinking about it now - before the snow flies (ughh).
Just an idea - below the fold.
There's a lot that has been done when it comes to Exposing ALEC and these nasty little "pro-business" critters who hide in the "members only" section of the ALEC webpage and there is lots more to be done.
The protest in Cincy
The protest in New Orleans
The legislation being released on ALEC Exposed
Lists of people with affiliations to ALEC on ALEC Exposed
The upcoming All About ALEC conference in Fitchburg, WI
The upcoming 50 state bus tour
There's more exposure now on ALEC then there ever has been in the past.
Let's ratchet it up to the next level - just for gits and shiggles.
The weekend of Halloween - let's scare the hell out of the legislators who think that ALEC protests only happen in places that are "far away from home".
Let's protest ALEC in our home states either Friday, Saturday or Monday - October 28, 29 or 31 - whichever date works best for you. Forty-nine states protesting ALEC - all on the same weekend (AZ gets a pass on this, cause they have to focus on a major people power protest on November 30th at the States and Nation).
Your state protest can be as simple as a peaceful multi-hour protest march in front of the state capital with lots of people, lots of anti-ALEC signs and lots of chanting. You should have the PFAW report and the Justice.org report and the Common Cause report available to hand out to people who stop by and ask what you are doing (try to find an organization that will print these for you).
OR you could do a hybrid of a protest march and a small protest rally.
OR you could go big time and put lots of time and energy into a full blown protest rally event.
I have only actually worked on two protest rallies - never planned one out from start to finish. Below is what I remember we had to do in advance - I do remember, it took lots of time - so getting a group of Kossacks and lots of friends together to help - is a must if you want to keep your sanity.
Ideas for a Full Blown Protest Rally.
These are only ideas to get your protest rally thinking perking - I'm sure you can do whatever needs to be done and know who are the best contacts in your area.
This is an event that needs to be co-chaired, two people in the lead, getting things done and sharing the emcee and logistics the day of the event. A committee is the best way to go – with the co-chairs keeping the multiple balls juggling - right through the end of the event.
Remember – this event is about outing ALEC and should not focus on anything else. Everything that is said and done should be specifically focused on ALEC and their corruption of our legislative process.
Representation for the people – not for Corporations.
This is ONLY ABOUT ALEC
Find a place to hold it
State Capitol would be the best
Costs????
Permit to rally – if needed - where you are going to hold the rally
The list of do’s and don’ts from the building people or security at the place where you are going to hold it. (What you can and can’t do)
Find Speakers
Contact College Young Democrats Group for speaker about Voter ID and it’s affect and to advertise (Ask them if they can refer your to a professor who may be interested in speaking about higher ed issues and the affect of ALEC “model legislation”)
Contact College newspaper for interview (with the student involved)(for advertising purpose)
Contact the ACLU office in your town and ask for references of people who might speak in regards to disenfranchisement of voters and the affect of ALEC Voter ID legislation
Contact the union offices – for teachers, for government employees (for possible speakers and asking them to nifty their members of the event)
Contact any “Drinking liberally” or “Eating liberally” group in your area – (a) for speaker and (b) as an advertising mechanism
Contact religious organizations around your area for people who may want to speak
Contact environmental groups to ask if they have someone who could speak (specifically about ALEC’s “model legislation” and its affect on the environment)
Contact multiple lawyers who handle civil litigation and ask them if they would be interested in speaking or if you have a nonprofit organization that offers legal help – maybe one of their lawyers (has to be focused on ALEC legislation and how that affects consumer rights)
Contact the ACLU office in your town and ask for references of people who might speak in regards to disenfranchisement of voters and ALEC Voter ID legislation
Identify bloggers and other citizen journalists from your area and contact them and ask them if they would like to speak about a specific topic related to ALEC
Take a change and make yourself one of the speakers.
Topics for Speakers and Resources for ALEC legislation to review for the speech
VOTER RIGHTS PROTECTION (10 or 20 minutes)
In preparation for this you could have a person representing voters – probably two people – a college student and then another person review these pieces of legislation and center their comments around these – If your state has already passed a Voter ID – you could use that as the focal point - Here's the focused legislation from ALEC Exposed.
EDUCATION (10 or 20 minutes)
In preparation for this you could have a person representing education - maybe one from K-12 and one from higher education review these pieces of legislation and center their comments around the ALEC "model legislation" - Here's the focused legislation from ALEC Exposed.
CONSUMER PROTECTION (10 minutes)
In preparation for this you could have a person representing consumer protection (lawyer or advocacy group) review these pieces of legislation and center their comments around the ALEC "model legislation" - Here's the focused legislation from ALEC Exposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (10 or 20 minutes)
In preparation for this you could have a person who is an environmental activist and possibly a person who can rebut their climate change legislation representing review these pieces of legislation and center their comments around the ALEC "model legislation" - Here's the focused legislation from ALEC Exposed.
WORKER PROTECTION (10 or 20 or 30 minutes)
In preparation for this you could have a person representing public sector jobs that are targets for privatization – maybe two people – a union representative, a public school teacher or maybe a person who could talk specifically about the impact of elimination of the minimum wage -- review these pieces of legislation and center their comments around the ALEC "model legislation" - Here's the focused legislation from ALEC Exposed.
Press
Facebook it!
Contact the newspaper at the colleges in and around your town
Contact the alternative media in and around your town and offer an interview
Contact area bloggers and other citizen journalists and ask them to publicize
Ask the “Drinking Liberally” and “Eating L:iberally” to send out an email to their members.
If you have alternative left-wing radio in or near your town, call one of the local dj’s and ask for some time to promote it.
Include the announcement (date, time and place) in every comment that you put on the web in response to anything
Tweet it regularly – everytime something in your plan comes together send a tweet with the date – Success – see you on Fri 10/28 at the capital!
Focus, Focus, Focus
Speakers should be able to talk about the ALEC “model legislation” and it’s affect on the people and specifically how the ALEC “model legislation” is pro-business and how it helps business at the expense of the public.
PROGRAM –
Approximately one - two hours
You need two emcees
Welcome and Introduction to ALEC – name known members in the state (10 minutes)
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
Speaker 5
Speaker 6 – optional second speaker on the above topics
Speaker 7 – optional second speaker on the above topics
Speaker 8 – optional second speaker on the above topics
Speaker 9 – optional second speaker on the above topics
Speaker 10 – optional second speaker on the above topics
Keep things moving so you don’t have more than two minutes between speakers.
People at rallies get bored easily -
CHANTS are Really Effective
Use them while changing speakers – motivate the crowd with chants
Heh, heh – ho, ho – ALEC legislation has got to go
No more ALEC, No more ALEC
Heh, heh – ho, ho – ALEC legislators have got to go
Representation for the people
SUPPLIES
People with money that will chip in and help pay for this – if needed
A bullhorn – if a loudspeaker system is not available
You need two emcees – one to keep things running and one to handle any issues or media
You need two people in the audience with the schedule to help with chants and to hand out stuff and to give handouts to media that arrives and to connect media with the correct person to talk with.
ONLY people knowledgeable about ALEC should talk to the media. Make sure the media talk with the right people! People spouting off what they think – instead of what we know (the facts) about ALEC could make us look like nutjobs and whackos – instead of citizens with serious concerns.
You should have lists of ALEC members available.
Print 2 ft x 3 ft signs to hand out to the attendees (to hold up during the chants) printed on both sides (for media coverage) that say something anti-ALEC
Blank Paper and some markers for people to make their own signs
You should have the PFAW report and the Justice.org report and the Common Cause report available for every attendee (try to find an organization that will print these for you) – you need these for the crowd.
Press Kit - You should have the PFAW report and the Justice.org report and the Common Cause report available list of your state ALEC members available for any reporters that may come to the event that have no idea what your rally is all about. They have to have access to these reports – because they will be talking to legislators and getting only one side of the story – ALEC’s – if you do not provide this material.
If you can find someone who is willing to pay for it – give out hats or t-shirts – that say something like - No More ALEC.
Anybody game to do this?
Are you willing to help someone else in your state pull this off?
If you don't want to be in charge - are you willing to make signs, to print copies of reports, or make phone calls?
What have I missed in the planning ideas?
Like Thom Hartmann says, "Tag! You're It!
Commit your state - pick a date - and go out and protest ALEC-gate!
If you don't know what ALEC is - PLEASE
Read this report
or this report
or this report
or this series of articles.
Keep in Touch - with all things ALEC - here at DKos - Exposing ALEC Group