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Meeting with your elected officials, either virtually or in person, is one of the most effective ways to convince them to implement policies to help confront white supremacy.

Elected officials can’t ignore constituents in a meeting like they might ignore phone calls or emails, and will often feel pressure to commit to requests in meetings.

Typically, only local officials like mayors, city councilors, or county officials have the power to make changes to budgets, introduce new initiatives and work to implement new programs. You will request to meet with these officials to ask them about the jurisdiction’s plan to defend against the harms of white supremacy and/or explain why you think your city or/county needs a plan. During the meeting you should ask your elected official to commit to creating a plan if none exists. 

6 ACTION STEPS

Before we go through the process of setting up meetings, here are some topline goals we would like to achieve at every level — from the federal government down to local municipalities. These goals will help guide the conversation you have with elected officials.

LEGISLATION & EXECUTIVE ORDERS

1. Make honest public assessments of the current plans, budgets and staff (or lack thereof) assigned to confront white supremacy in every city, county, state, and federal office in America. Because what is now abundantly clear is that the United States has completely failed to take its greatest threat seriously.

2. Craft new legislation, policies, and executive orders to confront white supremacy in every government office in America including jails, prisons, police departments, sheriff’s offices, prosecutors offices, city councils, public schools, colleges, universities, county offices, state legislatures, and throughout the federal government including the military, the DOJ, and every other office.

3. Create and issue publicly available scorecards measuring the progress or lack thereof for each body.

OUR PERSONAL SECURITY PLANS

4. Create robust security plans for every Black owned business, shopping center, school, community center, and religious institution.

5. Create a plan for “Racism-Free” businesses and organizations with a central monitoring and certification system committed to zero tolerance.

6. Offer online and offline nationwide security and personal protection training sessions.

Step 1: Start outreach to YOUR local elected officials

Zoom

  • Create an account for free at zoom.us
  • Schedule a new meeting. Click here to see how. 
  • Copy the video link. 

Google Meet

  • Create a Google account if you don’t already have one.
  • Schedule a new meeting. Click here to see how.
    • Don’t worry about adding guest emails to the event.
  • Copy the video link.

Step 2: Prepare

Step 3: Join the Meeting

A few good tips for your meeting:

Step 4: Debrief