Six Simple Steps for a Successful Community Resolution Campaign
In recent months, more than 120 communities in 25 states, representing more than 16 million people, have passed community resolutions affirming civil liberties and expressing opposition to the USA PATRIOT Act. From small towns like Peterborough, NH to large cities like Detroit, from the Republican-controlled Alaska Legislature to the Democrat-controlled Hawaii Legislature and the evenly divided Vermont Legislature; from Baltimore in the East to Oakland, CA in the West, communities across the country are taking a stand. Leading this charge are ACLU members and grassroots activists across the country who are building diverse coalitions of organizations from the American Conservative Union to Amnesty International, from the American Library Association to Gun Owners of America. The media and Congress are beginning to pay attention. Local activists are making the difference!
1. Contact the ACLU
>> Your local ACLU affiliate will inform you of any pending resolution activity and how you can get involved.
You can locate your state affiliate online at www.aclu.org. (Scroll down to the ?“In the States?” section.)
>> The national ACLU office has hired a full-time field team to support local efforts in passing resolutions.
For detailed information on promoting a resolution in your community, go to the ?“Pass Community
Resolutions?” section at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
>> Look over the ACLU sample resolution and discuss it with your ACLU contact. Consider which
provisions are particularly important in your community. To obtain a copy of the ACLU draft resolution
online, go to the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
TIP: If there is no pending resolution in your community, inquire about potential contacts that may assist in
the process. Ask for assistance in setting up strategy meetings. Your local ACLU affiliate may have a list of
people and organizations that want to be involved.
2. Know Your Community
Understand your local administration and how decisions are made. In particular, you need to know what powers the city or county council has with regard to the police, libraries and other municipal offices and resources. You may be able to access this information by contacting a local government office or a former municipal official.
>> Collect information about the members of the city or county council. Get informed about which members of the council are most concerned about your issues and may be willing to support, if not sponsor, the resolution. Also, figure out what people or groups have leverage over council members who may not initially lend support for the resolution.
>> With the ACLU draft resolution in mind, consider what organizations and activists in your community may be particularly interested in joining the resolution effort. Obtain a copy of the ACLU draft resolution online at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
>> Review the list of communities that have passed resolutions, to see if a resolution(s) have been passed in your state. (The list is available online through the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at www.aclu.org/safeandfree.) You can contact organizers from those cities and counties to learn their strategies for success. Keep in mind that some resolutions contain legally binding language, which actually protects residents, while others have been largely symbolic. To protect your personal privacy best, please consider starting with the strongly worded ACLU draft resolution. Then, individualize
the draft so that the language is specific to the concerns of your community. To obtain a copy of the
ACLU draft resolution online go to the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at:
www.aclu.org/safeandfree
TIP: Stay organized by keeping records of your contacts. Knowing this information will help you complete the
coalition-building process.
In recent months, more than 120 communities in 25 states, representing more than 16 million people, have passed community resolutions affirming civil liberties and expressing opposition to the USA PATRIOT Act. From small towns like Peterborough, NH to large cities like Detroit, from the Republican-controlled Alaska Legislature to the Democrat-controlled Hawaii Legislature and the evenly divided Vermont Legislature; from Baltimore in the East to Oakland, CA in the West, communities across the country are taking a stand. Leading this charge are ACLU members and grassroots activists across the country who are building diverse coalitions of organizations from the American Conservative Union to Amnesty International, from the American Library Association to Gun Owners of America. The media and Congress are beginning to pay attention. Local activists are making the difference!
1. Contact the ACLU
>> Your local ACLU affiliate will inform you of any pending resolution activity and how you can get involved.
You can locate your state affiliate online at www.aclu.org. (Scroll down to the ?“In the States?” section.)
>> The national ACLU office has hired a full-time field team to support local efforts in passing resolutions.
For detailed information on promoting a resolution in your community, go to the ?“Pass Community
Resolutions?” section at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
>> Look over the ACLU sample resolution and discuss it with your ACLU contact. Consider which
provisions are particularly important in your community. To obtain a copy of the ACLU draft resolution
online, go to the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
TIP: If there is no pending resolution in your community, inquire about potential contacts that may assist in
the process. Ask for assistance in setting up strategy meetings. Your local ACLU affiliate may have a list of
people and organizations that want to be involved.
2. Know Your Community
Understand your local administration and how decisions are made. In particular, you need to know what powers the city or county council has with regard to the police, libraries and other municipal offices and resources. You may be able to access this information by contacting a local government office or a former municipal official.
>> Collect information about the members of the city or county council. Get informed about which members of the council are most concerned about your issues and may be willing to support, if not sponsor, the resolution. Also, figure out what people or groups have leverage over council members who may not initially lend support for the resolution.
>> With the ACLU draft resolution in mind, consider what organizations and activists in your community may be particularly interested in joining the resolution effort. Obtain a copy of the ACLU draft resolution online at: www.aclu.org/safeandfree
>> Review the list of communities that have passed resolutions, to see if a resolution(s) have been passed in your state. (The list is available online through the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at www.aclu.org/safeandfree.) You can contact organizers from those cities and counties to learn their strategies for success. Keep in mind that some resolutions contain legally binding language, which actually protects residents, while others have been largely symbolic. To protect your personal privacy best, please consider starting with the strongly worded ACLU draft resolution. Then, individualize
the draft so that the language is specific to the concerns of your community. To obtain a copy of the
ACLU draft resolution online go to the ?“Pass Community Resolutions?” section at:
www.aclu.org/safeandfree
TIP: Stay organized by keeping records of your contacts. Knowing this information will help you complete the
coalition-building process.