#ThePeoplesMeeting 2023 Action Toolkit | Phone and Email Zap to Drop the Charges
Contact: lexisfigurereo@saratogablm.org
UPDATE: The charges against Chandler have been DISMISSED!! WE WILL STILL BE CALLING ON THE CHARGES AGAINST LEXIS TO BE DROPPED!!
The Hamilton County DA recently responded to our lawyer’s motions to dismiss Lexis’ charges, stating that “The impact of a dismissal on the safety or welfare of the community would be detrimental.” And that these charges “require that [Lexis] at least face the specific deterrent of the possibility of isolation from society. Additionally, [Lexis’] incarceration - or the threat of incarceration - is a required deterrent for society at large, ensuring that others are aware that this conduct is serious and could result in incarceration.”
Join Saratoga BLM in calling for the Montgomery and Hamilton County DAs to drop all charges against Chandler Hickenbottom and Lexis Figuereo, two of our co-founders, who have been charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration for using their first amendment rights to speak for Black lives in Saratoga Springs, NY. You can learn more about their cases here.
We organized #ThePeoplesMeeting protest during the May 2nd city council meeting to demand for these charges to be dropped, however they have not, and Chandler & Lexis are set to begin trial on June 5, 2023. Several current and former city officials in Saratoga Springs along with our police department are currently under investigation by the NYS Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau for violating our members and our supporters civil rights, and these charges are a continuation of the political retaliation against our leaders that has been happening since 2021. The Saratoga County DA along with both City Judges have recused themselves from our cases, and as a result we must extend the calls to drop the charges to two separate counties; Lorraine Diamond, Montgomery County DA (Chandler) and Christopher Shambo, Hamilton County DA (Lexis).
HERE ARE 5 STEPS TO SUPPORT #THEPEOPLESMEETING ACTIVISTS
STEP ONE: Call DA Shambo at 518-648-5113
Their office may hang up on you, if they do call again and leave a message!
Example Phone script
Hello. I am calling to urge DA Christopher Shambo to drop all charges against Lexis Figuereo. He is a black activist who is being prosecuted for merely expressing his views and engaging in political activism. Several current and former city officials in Saratoga Springs, along with the city’s police department are currently under investigation by the NY State Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau for violating Lexis’ First Amendment rights. Given these circumstances, it is important to protect and uphold the principles of free speech, which are vital to a thriving democracy. Dropping the charges against Lexis would send a powerful message about the importance of protecting our constitutional rights. The community is urging you to think about the broader implications of this case and the potential impact on our community’s right to express their opinions and engage in civic participation. Please drop the charges on Lexis today. Thank you.
STEP TWO: Email DA Shambo districtattorney@hamiltoncountyny.gov
Many officials can screen for “spam”, and having a diverse set of messages will make sure our voices are heard. We encourage you to personalize your email, examples to include; your name, where you are from, and why you are personally standing in solidarity with Lexis.
Example Email script
Dear DA Shambo,
Hello. I am here to urge you to drop all charges against Lexis Figuereo. Lexis is a black activist who is being prosecuted for merely expressing his views and engaging in peaceful activism. Several current and former city officials in Saratoga Springs, along with the city’s police department are currently under investigation by the NY State Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau for violating Lexis’ First Amendment rights. Given these circumstances, it is important to protect and uphold the principles of free speech, which are vital to a thriving democracy. Dropping the charges against Lexis would send a powerful message about the importance of protecting our constitutional rights. The community is urging you to think about the broader implications of this case and the potential impact on our community’s right to express their opinions and engage in civic participation. Please drop the charges on Lexis today. Thank you.
STEP THREE: Charges have been dismissed, go to Step 4! Fill out DA Diamond comment form https://www.da.montgomery.ny.gov/contact
DA Diamond does not have a public email address, therefore we have to fill out a form on her website. As stated above we encourage you to personalize your message to avoid being screened for spam.
Example Message box script
Dear DA Diamond,
Hello. I am here to urge you to drop all charges against Chandler Hickenbottom. Chandler is a black activist who is being prosecuted for merely expressing her views and engaging in peaceful activism. Several current and former city officials in Saratoga Springs, along with the city’s police department are currently under investigation by the NY State Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau for violating Chandler’s First Amendment rights. Given these circumstances, it is important to protect and uphold the principles of free speech, which are vital to a thriving democracy. Dropping the charges against Chandler would send a powerful message about the importance of protecting our constitutional rights. The community is urging you to think about the broader implications of this case and the potential impact on our community’s right to express their opinions and engage in civic participation. Please drop the charges on Chandler today. Thank you.
MORE STEPS ON NEXT PAGE
STEP FOUR: Donate to #ThePeoplesMeeting Legal Fund
We are raising funds to cover the costs of the legal fees for Lexis and Chandler, as well as any other activist that may be charged for their participation in #ThePeoplesMeeting. You can donate here.
STEP FIVE: Share this action on social media using the graphics HERE. Feel free to copy the sample caption below, and the shortened url to this toolkit is bit.ly/thepeoplesmeeting.
Example caption for social media
☎️⚡️PHONE/EMAIL ZAP⚡️☎️ to demand DA Shambo drop all charges against Lexis Figuereo the co-founder of @saratogablm facing political retaliation! Go to bit.ly/thepeoplesmeeting to support #ThePeoplesMeeting to #DropTheCharges