KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CANVASSING

Preparation Steps

  1. Familiarize yourself with Know Your Rights Resources:
  1. https://linktr.ee/DMVKnowYourRights 
  1. Set the date & choose location(s) that make sense for your community:
  1. Businesses
  2. Neighborhoods
  3. Community Centers
  4. Etc
  1. Host prep call with canvassers
  1. Split into teams
  2. Assign different areas to canvas
  3. Assign roles
  1. Print Flyer packets
  1. Packet Contents:  
  1. Red Cards
  2. Hotline Quarter Sheet
  3. KYR Flyers

Day of Canvassing

  1. Check in with the group & practice
  1. Establish a meetup location
  2. Distribute flyer packets
  3. Break into pairs, practice, and give feedback to each other
  1. Canvas
  1. Spend 1-2 hours canvassing the community
  2. Introduce yourselves & hand out flyers
  3. Make sure to emphasize talking points (listed below)
  4. Note every business/place/person you interact with
  1. Briefly describe how the conversation went, their response, & what flyer languages are needed
  1. Track Responses
  1. Note every business/place/person you interact with
  2. Briefly describe how the conversation went, their response, & what flyer languages are needed
  1. Debrief as a Group
  1. Check in how the canvassing went
  1. What went well/what could be improved
  2. Did you talk to anyone who was interested in further resources/training?
  1. Collect leftover flyers for next time
  2. Make note of what flyer languages were needed for future canvassing

Relationship Building

  1. Initial Canvassing: Establish Connection
  1. Introduce yourselves
  2. Hand out flyers and information
  3. Mention Talking Points
  4. Remember names: try to establish connections not only with managers & store owners but with the rest of the staff/workers
  1. Follow-up Canvassing
  1. Try to have the same people canvas the same areas
  1. Re-introduce yourselves, mentioning when you were there last
  1. Check in on how things are going & if there have been any ICE sightings
  2. Ask how you can support their business & the community
  3. Gauge interest in further training/events
  1. Building Relationships
  1. Maintain consistent presence in community
  2. Support the business: buy their food/merchandise
  3. Organize community events
  1. Ex: karaoke, tabling, safety
  1. Facilitate relationship building amongst the community
  2. Connect with neighborhood Leaders interested in canvassing & more localized rapid responses

Talking Points

  1. Private Spaces:
  1. You don’t have to allow agents into private areas of the business without a judicial warrant
  2. Kitchens, staff rooms, and storage can be private
  3. Hang a Visible Sign that denotes Private Area
  1. Judicial Warrant
  1. Has to be paper signed by a JUDGE giving the officer permission to enter your home
  2. An administrative warrant issued by an immigration official (including an immigration judge) is not a valid warrant and DOES NOT grant authority to enter private area
  1. Share Hotline Numbers and Personal Contact Information
  1. Offer personal phone number to share any ICE presence with Rapid Response networks
  2. Emphasize Hotline numbers from flyers in case of ICE presence

Canvassing Supply Tips

  • Flyers: red cards, hotline, KYR flyers
  • Your trained volunteer badge
  • Mini notebooks
  • Pens
  • Binder clips
  • Clip boards
  • Tape or thumb tacks (for posting flyers on doors, windows, or bulletin boards)
  • Fully charged cell phone
  • Water and/or snacks if needed
  • Weather appropriate clothing