Justice4Palestine (J4P)

Actions Enablement Network

Congressional Meetings - Guidance Document

Related Actions: Guardians of the Republic 

Document Created on 2/20/2024 - Last updated on 5/21/2024

Ceasefire 2024

🕊️ Ceasefire 2024 is a collaborative effort uniting Progressive Democrats of America, Muslim Delegates, Code Pink, Our Revolution, Roots Action, Carolina Peace Center, Justice for Palestine (J4P) Actions Enablement Network and the American Muslim Democratic Caucus National in the pursuit of peace.  Please visit https://www.ceasefire2024.com to learn more.  

Thank you for joining us in the pursuit of peace, justice, and liberation of Palestine.

Target Audience 

  1. Members of US Senate and Their Policy Staff
  1. Particularly those part of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  1. Members of US House and Their Policy Staff
  1. Particularly those part of the House Foreign Relations Committee

Note: Policy staff is usually available on Wednesdays and Thursdays and walk-in meetings have taken place in the past, during which scheduled meetings can be requested.

  • Need to check who your US Congressional and Senate Reps are and how to contact them? Click here.  
  • Check this tracker to know if they have signed on H.Res 786.
  • Know your Rep: Research their donors, committees, statements, voting records, etc.
  • These sites can be helpful sources in doing the research:

https://www.opensecrets.org/ | https://www.followthemoney.org/ | https://www.fec.gov/data/ 

The 4 Steps Process For Effective Meetings

  • 1. Schedule the Meeting
  • Use this database to know the office phone numbers of Reps and names of their Scheduler, District Director, and other office staff: https://fcnl.quorum.us/staff/.
  •  Tip: Type the last name of your Rep in the search bar on the top.
  • If asked why you need a meeting, you can mention that you have concerns on the following areas and need to share those concerns with the your Rep:
  • Usage of Our Tax Dollars, Protecting American Citizens, Civil liberties, Climate, Freedom of speech, Freedom of choice, Mental / physical health.
  • Verify who your meeting will be with, duration and how many people can be accommodated. it is likely that the Rep will have one of the staffers meet you.
  • Once confirmed, add your meeting to the calendar using this form.
  • 2. Prepare for the Meeting
  • Identify  a group of other like minded constituents and get commitments.
  • Include individuals with personal stories and may be a High$ donor or two
  • You may be asked to share the list of names of people in your group by the Rep’s staff prior to the meeting.  
  • Create a WhatsApp or preferably a Signal group to collectively prepare & stay in touch for consistent collaboration.
  • See this template to help you plan and document meetings in the local offices of your Reps. Make a copy and customize it to your situation.Discuss and agree on layers of WHY you want to meet with the Rep.
  • Connect the WHY with the collective and individual impacts caused by the situation between Israel and Palestne on:
  • Civil liberties.
  • Freedom of speech.
  • Freedom of choice.
  • Mental / physical health.
  • This can be best connected with personal stories shared by the Palestinians in your group.
  • Exchange emails and create a calendar invite of the meeting and send it to all who committed to participate.
  • Discuss and agree on who is going to lead the meeting and what roles everyone else is going to play including what message they want to convey and how. Check out this document for suggested talking points.
  • Discuss and agree on what information the group should share during the meeting, such as the latest incidents, latest counts with breakdowns of women and children etc. Share this Advocates’ Historical Educational Toolkit with the team so everyone is familiar and take a copy with you to the meetings as a quick reference point and maybe also leave a printed copy behind.
  • Discuss and agree on what your ASKS are going to be.
  • Prepare a detailed agenda indicating who will be covering which topic and the order the topics will be discussed.
  • Have everyone prepare their intros and write out what they plan to share
  • Provide location address and if needed, the direction to the Reps office to everyone in the group and the time and meeting point.
  • Decide if you would like to take a gift for the staff and what. It must be < $25.
  • Have the print out of the ASKS and the Agenda ready
  • See this ONE Pager as a meeting facilitation and/or a leave behind document or send via email if meeting virtually.
  • Update counts if needed in Canva before your print or email a copy.
  • Ready to Download & Print: Click on Share > Download > File Type
  • Print a copy of Advocates’ Historical Educational Toolkit as a quick reference point during the meeting and/or a leave behind document or send it via email if meeting virtually.

  • 3. Go to the Meeting
  • Dress professionally.Plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
  • Remember to take the printouts of Asks, Agenda, and the One Pager.
  • Begin with shared values that Rep is passionate about and connect it with the asks. Find out what the values of the staff are and relate the issues to them.
  • Take and share pics and clips in the “Guardians of the Republics” WhatsApp Group and please also upload to “Guardians of the Republic” shared album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VzDSz1Hk3vSdMDyd7 
  • When posting video clips on social media, please reference that “Occupy Congress is an Action Call by Ceasefire 2024”.
  • Tag us using @Ceasefire_2024 & use hashtag #Ceasefire2024.
  • Remember to leave behind the One Pager and the Advocates Toolkit.
  • Before everyone heads back, do a quick retrospect with the group and discuss next steps and who is going to do what including sending thank you and follow up emails.
  • 4. Post Meeting
  • Log your action here https://bit.ly/j4p-ceasefire2024 
  • Share your experience and feedback via
  • Follow up after the meeting as soon as possible via email to thank and to share soft copies of the Asks and the One pager.
  • Follow up again in a few days by phone call as well as email.  Ask if the Rep has been briefed on the meeting
  • Sign up and join the Guardians of the Republic if not already: https://bit.ly/j4p-Guardians   

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Action

🇵🇸 *Get Ready to Spring into a Government Shutdown*

âś… *Partner with Ceasefire 2024 to Mobilize to lobby in DC and #ShutItDown.*

We have successfully held over 400 in person congressional meetings and led several Palestine advocacy events. https://www.tiktok.com/@ceasefire_2024/video/7360534006586215723 

Check out our Tiktok for more posts: https://www.tiktok.com/@ceasefire_2024 

Post for Spring Break Actions: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8KDQUnE/ 

Post for Summer Break Actions:

Sign up for actions at: https://bit.ly/j4p-Guardians

*Our Demands:*

🛑 No to Military Aid to Israel

🛑 No to War

🛑 No to Border Walls

🛑 No to Asylum Bans

🕊️ Ceasefire 2024 Team

https://Ceasefire2024.com 

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