Sunday, February 26th
(Adapted from 3NoTrump & actionnetwork.org)
(Photo: Freedom House)
Protesting has been one of the most effective ways we’ve been able to get our voices heard. Since the election, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets, and (in contrast to what might be emphasized in some media) 99% of these protests have been peaceful and appropriate.
Lawmakers in ten states (Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan*, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota** Virginia, and Washington) have recently proposed laws that would make it a serious crime to assemble in groups and express political dissent. (Read more from The Washington Post and NPR)
For people who live in states (listed above) currently considering anti-protest legislation:
(1) Call your State Senator and Representative. You can find your state reps here.
Script:
Hi, my name is _____ and I’m calling from _____. I’m disturbed by the bill aimed at silencing protesters, which directly threatens our democracy. Our right to protest is a fundamental First Amendment right. Please vote against this bill.
(2) Use the Weekly Resistance automatic calling tool to contact the governor’s office if you live in one of the above-named states. They have a script you can use, or you can use the one above, just changing the words “vote against” to “veto.”
For those living outside these states:
(3) Protect Yourself:
-- WhatDoIDoAboutTrump has compiled a number of excellent resources to use if your safety and livelihood is being threatened by your activism.
-- Have a look at some good advice for protestors.
-- Take note of the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Digital Security Tips for Protestors
(4) Keep Protesting: This Protest Calendar will help you find events nearby so you can keep resisting. Let’s take these anti-protest bills as a sign that we’re being seen as a threat! The resistance is working.
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**North Dakota’s bill, which went as far as to allow a motorist to run over a protester blocking a highway, as long as the act “wasn’t intentional,” has been voted down and *Michigan’s bill has also been tabled, for now. However, it may still be useful for Michigan and North Dakota people to voice opposition to this type of legislation and thank the people who killed it in case these bills come back.
