PHONEBANKΒ
FOR
PALESTINE
Table of Contents
Click on a title to jump to that section
πΒ Introduction
πΒ Phone Numbers
πΒ Call Scripts
πΒ Email Links
πΒ Email Script
πΒ Background Information
πΒ Additional Action Items
πΒ Contacting the Media Script
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Thank you for contributing to the movement. This Virtual Phone Bank keeps us accountable and helps us act collectively. This initiative is in conjunction with fellow phone banking efforts across the country.
The goal is for 100+ people to make calls each day to Minnesota elected officials.
Weβre asking you to make threeΒ calls every day (once per day only).
- Senator Amy Klobuchar
- SenatorΒ Tina SmithΒ
- Your respective U.S. Congress representative, based on where you live. You can find who that is here. (https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative).
- Contact the White House
After you make your calls please log them in the Google Form link (https://tinyurl.com/mnlogcalls). This will help us keep track of how many people are reaching out to whom per day and where we need to increase our efforts. Administrators alone operate and have access to this chart β no one is sharing this log and you are not required to put your name.
You can find links below to email your elected officials along with the script.
Lastly, join this WhatsApp group in order to see updates and for more information.
Whatsapp Group Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Fv3Ugk3MBLN4NTitGcrYu3
These may be scripts, but youβre all here because you care immensely about Palestinians, so show that in your voice. At the same time, please be respectful while making your calls.
Please invite people you know and have vettedΒ to the WhatsApp group to add to our effort to call their representatives to action. Use the privileges and freedoms we have to bring relief for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Living in the United States obligates usΒ to speak out about where our tax dollars are being spent.
Please see the end of this document for emails and actions you can sign on to take action and express your concern for the people of Palestine.
Minnesota Action Phone #s:
The State Department | Public Communication Division 202-647-6575 (Press 8 to leave a voicemail) Email: Secretary@state.gov |
The White House (optional) | Call: (202) 456-1111Β (10AM-2PM CST Tuesday- Thursday) Or call the Switchboard number and ask to be transferred to the comment line:Β (202) 456-1414 Text: (302)-404-0880 Email: https://www.whitehouse. |
Senator Tina SmithΒ | (651)221-1016 (202) 224-5641 (DC) |
Senator Amy Klobuchar | 612-727-5220 202-224-3244 (DC) |
Call your personal repΒ from the list below: | |
Brad FinstadΒ (1 - R) | (202) 225-2472 (DC) |
Angie CraigΒ (2 - D) | (202) 225-2271 (DC) (651) 846-2120 |
Dean Phillips (3 - D) | (202) 225-2871 (DC) (952) 656-5176 |
Betty McCollum (4 - D) | (202) 225-6631 (DC) (651) 224-9191 |
Ilhan OmarΒ (5 - D) | (202) 225-4755 (DC) (612) 333-1272 |
Tom Emmer (6 - R) | Β (202) 225-2331 (DC) (763) 241-6848 |
Michelle Fischbach (7 - R) | (202) 225-2165 (DC) (218) 422-2090Β (Moorhead) (320) 403-6100Β (Willmar) |
Pete Stauber (8 - R) | (202) 225-6211 (DC) (218) 481-6396 |
CALL SCRIPTS
[MAIN SHORT SCRIPT:] Hi, my name is ____ I am your constituent and am calling from zip code ____. I am requesting the Representative/Senatorβs help in de-escalate the siege on Gaza by calling for 1. An immediate and permanent ceasefire, 2. Increased and consistent humanitarian aid, and 3. No further military aid to Israel. Please vote NO on any supplemental funding package to send more weapons to Israel. |
FOR SENATOR Amy Klobuchar/Tina Smith: Basic Script Hi, my name is [Your Name] from zip code [your zip code] and
Full Script Hello, My name is [your name] and I live in Minnesota. This is theΒ X [ex: 34th] Β day I am calling in support of an immediate ceasefire and in support of Palestine. Gazaβs death tollΒ has surpassed 32,226 Β people, including more than 14,500 children. More than 74,518 Palestinians have been injured, and because of the lack and complete collapse of medical care, those injured have to face unprecedented treatment such as amputations without anesthesia.
Thank you for your time. |
FOR U.S. CONGRESS DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE: Rep Ilhan Omar:Β Thank her for co-sponsoring the Ceasefire Now Resolution H.Res. 786 and for calling for a ceasefire. Thank you for voting against the spending bill that defunded UNRWA. Betty McCollum:Β Thank her for her statementΒ in support of a ceasefire. Dean Phillips:Β Thank him for his statementΒ in support of a ceasefire. Condemn his statements on sending a multinational peacekeeping force to Gaza. Reps Omar, McCollum & Phillips:Β Urge them to continue to encourage their colleagues in Minnesota and throughout the country to call for an immediate ceasefire. We are also asking for their continued efforts to increase deescalation of conflicts in the West Bank, END any US military aid to Israel, help expedite humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and vote against any legislation preventing advocacy against the Israeli government. Basic Script Hello, My name is [your name] and I am a constituent of [Congressmember]. This is theΒ X [ex: 100th] Β day I am calling in support of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and in support of Palestine.
Could you please pass these asks to [Congressmember]? Thank you for your time. Full Script Hello, Thank you for taking my call. My name is [your name], I live in [city,] Minnesota and I am your constituent.
Thank you for your time. |
FOR WHITE HOUSE: Hello, Thank you for taking my call. Β I am calling in support of Palestine and in support of an immediate ceasefire. Without a ceasefire, all the efforts to send aid to Gaza will serve as a temporary band aid. The real issue is the extreme civilian casualties occurring in Gaza right now. Gazaβs death toll has surpassed more than 32,226 people, including more than 14,280 children. I ask the President to urgently demand a full and immediate ceasefire. I ask the President not to support any bills providing additional military funding to Israel. Β This will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Immediately reinstate funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Preventing life-saving humanitarian aid from entering Gaza is a form of collective punishment that will have catastrophic effects on the civilian population. Ensure that all actors abide by the stipulations of the International Criminal Courtβs (ICJβs) January 26th, 2024 preliminary ruling. The US must take all measures to protect civilians and make sure it also abides by the ICJ ruling. Thank you for your time. |
FOR STATE DEPARTMENT: [For email or call] Hello, Thank you for taking my call. Iβm calling regarding my deep concern over Israelβs brutal assault on Palestinians. It is absolutely urgent that you demand a ceasefire. Without a full ceasefire, aid is only a bandaid to a bigger humanitarian concern. Β The Israeli government has dropped 45,000 bombs on Gaza in just the first 3 months, killing more than 32,975 people, including more than 14,500 children. Only limited humanitarian aid has arrived at this point. By providing military equipment and aid, the U.S. government is adding to the destruction. By expediting shipments of dual-use and military-use items, the U.S. government is increasing the threat to civilians in this war. Β Immediately reinstate funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Preventing life-saving humanitarian aid from entering Gaza is a form of collective punishment that will have catastrophic effects on the civilian population. Ensure that all actors abide by the stipulations of the International Criminal Courtβs (ICJβs) January 26th, 2024 preliminary ruling. The US must take all measures to protect civilians and make sure it also abides by the ICJ ruling. We must not fuel violence by further arming the Israeli government. We must seek a political solution. Β A military solution will only lead to further suffering, atrocities, and potential genocide. Β Gaza is home to 2.2 million people. |
Additional comments to add to calls/Emails:
|
______________________________________________________________________
Links for Emailing Representatives and Senators:Β
- Link to email all your representatives at one time (once you put in your information, click on the mail icon):
Tina Smith: https://www.smith.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/
Amy Klobuchar: https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-amy
Brad Finstad: https://finstad.house.gov/contact
Angie Craig: https://craig.house.gov/contact
Dean Phillips: https://phillips.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm
Betty McCollum: https://mccollum.house.gov/contact
Ilhan Omar: Β https://omar.house.gov/contactΒ or Β mn05.info@mail.house.gov
Tom Emmer: Β https://emmer.house.gov/contact
Michelle Fischbach: https://fischbach.house.gov/contact
Pete Stauber: https://stauber.house.gov/contact
State Department: Secretary@state.govΒ - or -Β AskPublicAffairs@state.gov
The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
EMAIL SCRIPT
Dear [elected official], I am writing as a Minnesota resident and concerned citizen to respectfully request that you, as my elected representative, demand an immediate ceasefire of Israelβs attack on Gaza. I ask you not to support any bills providing additional military funding to Israel. Β This will exacerbate a humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government has dropped the equivalent of more than 2 nuclear bombs on Gaza, killing more than 32,226 people, including more than 14,280 children. Only limited humanitarian aid has arrived at this point. Sending weapons and military support to the Israeli government to continue to destroy Gaza and when its leaders are publicly stating their violent intentions is knowingly contributing to war crimes and βcollective punishmentβ as the United Nations has stated. We must seek a political solution. Β A military solution will only lead to further suffering, atrocities, and the continuation of genocide. Β If genocide continues, it will be larger than the Rwandan genocide, which saw the brutal slaughter of 800,000 people. Β Gaza is home to 2.2 million people. [ADD FOR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE ONLY:Β Iβm asking my representative to cosponsor Rep. Cori Bushβs Ceasefire Now Resolution.] Sincerely, [Your information here] |
Fax Your Representatives
- Go to the links below to find a pre-made template to fax.
- Congress: https://tinyurl.com/mnfaxcongressΒ
- Senators: https://tinyurl.com/mnfaxsenators
- Once you open the link, go to File > Make a copy
- Once you are able to edit, fill in the information in the brackets and remove the brackets [ ] as well as the highlighted text at the top.
- Then, go to File > Download > PDF Document
- Fax your Congressmember:
- Fax Dean Phillipsβ Office
- FaxΒ Betty McCollumβs Office
- Fax Tom Emmerβs Office
- Fax Michelle FischbachβsΒ Office
- Fax your Senators:
- Fax Senator Amy Klobucharβs Office
- Tina Smith no longer accepts faxes.
- Click βChoose Filesβ and upload the PDF you saved for each representative. Then type in the confirmation code.
- Click βSend Free Fax Nowβ, and click the confirmation link that is sent to your email to complete the fax submission.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Read below if you want to learn more before you call:
- The complete Israeli blockade has cut off food, water, fuel and electricity. Without electricity, the outside world cannot see a true account of the level of destruction in Gaza.
- At least 1900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and almost half of them children, have been reported dead from Israeli strikes, and thousands injured.
- Ordering a million people in Gaza to evacuate, when thereβs no place to go, is not an effective warning.
- Civilians have died along the evacuation route because of Israeli bombings.
- The U.S. government should join with U.S. and international human rights organizations who have warned that this evacuation demand will lead to an unconscionable number of civilian deaths and suffering by people who are not involved in the conflict.
- Videos from inside Gaza show entire blocks reduced to rubble and children being pulled from the debris.
- By providing military equipment, the U.S. government is adding to the destruction.
- By expediting shipments of dual-use and military-use items, the U.S. government is increasing the threat to civilians in this war.
- We must not fuel violence by further arming the Israeli government as it uses its military dominance to obliterate the civilian population and commit gross violations of human rights.
- We must seek a political solution. Β A military solution will only lead to further suffering, atrocities, and genocide.
Actions to email, sign, support, and encourage others to take part in:
AMP Call on congress to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza through: https://ajpaction.org/call-on-congress-to-demand-an-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza/ |
IRUSA Take Action today to allow humanitarian aid through: IRUSA.org/gazaceasefire |
MPower Change UPDATED URGENT ACTION TO CONGRESS: We need a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor to allow in aid. Reps. Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib are calling for just that. Tell your Member of Congress to cosponsor now and please pass this along to your network. https://act.newmode.net/action/mpower-change/ceasefire-now-stop-genocide |
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)Β is urging all Americans who care about peace and justice for all people to reach out to their members of Congress and request they take the following actions in response to the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine: - Acknowledge the loss of lives and recognize the humanity on both sides, including Israelis and Palestinians. - Express support for an immediate ceasefire. That includes in the U.S. House co-sponsoring and supporting the Ceasefire Now Resolution, championed by Representatives Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, AndrΓ© Carson, Summer Lee, Delia C. Ramirez. - Demand the United States to reassert its leadership role as a negotiator in pursuit of a lasting peace. This entails addressing the root causes of violence, terminating Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, and ending the Israeli government's apartheid policies. ***** https://action.cair.com/a/gazaunderattack ***** Petition for βNo Ceasefire, No Vote for Biden: https://www.change.org/p/no-ceasefire-no-vote-for-biden-in-2024 |
Contact Edina Public School over Unfair Retaliation Students in Edina High School are facing backlash and suspension after staging a walkout for Palestine. Their chants "from the river to the sea" were falsely labeled as "hate speech." Additionally, staff members tried to prevent students from entering the building with their Palestine flags. 1. CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATION Edina public schools Β 952-848-4000 Paul Paetzel (Edina High School Principal) 952-848-3800 Stacie Stanley (Edina Public Schools Superintendent) 952-848-4000 superintendent@edinaschools.org SCRIPT TO USE: βHello, I am calling to express my disappointment that Edina High School has condemned students for exercising their First Amendment rights to protest Israel's illegal siege. A student should not have been suspended for chanting "from the river to the sea." It is a peaceful chant that calls for complete Palestinian freedom from Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid regime. Instead of supporting Palestinian justice and opposing Israel's illegal siege, Edina High School faculty decided to record students without their permission and attempted to ban the entry of flags. The residents of Minnesota condemn such discriminatory actions and violations of free speech.β |
Contacting the media for fair and honest coverage of Palestine
Dear _______
- I am an avid [watcher/reader/listener] of your [news show/paper/blog/station], and haven been for [X] years. Β I am writing because I want to express my concern about the current crisis in Palestine/Gaza and how [your station/newspaper] is not presenting the entire story. Β
- In particular, [name the problem ex:your coverage of Palestinians in the Gaza strip is completely lacking.
- Coverage that normalizes state violence and downplays violence against Palestinians is deeply concerning. Words like 'conflict' and 'war' do not accurately describe the situation in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.
- Additionally, portrayals that dehumanize all Palestinians are unacceptable. Demonization of ethnic groups during wartime has led to large numbers of atrocities throughout history.
- Iβm also very concerned by reports that certain journalists are being silenced if they present the plight of Palestinians.]
- [Include Examples: Include links to videos, articles and make sure to Β specifically reference what you are writing about.]
- I value the role of journalism in a democratic society. As a media company, you play a pivotal role in informing the public. Journalism holds a vital responsibility to provide accurate and unbiased information to the public. It's crucial that media outlets uphold these principles.
- Your responsibility as journalists is to present a factual and unbiased Β account of world affairs.. The ongoing bias in your coverage undermines the very principles of truthful and impartial journalism.
- I understand the complexities of covering conflicts like this, and I appreciate the challenges journalists face in trying to decipher the facts in the fog of war. However, it's vital that we maintain the highest standards of accuracy and balance in reporting.
___________________________________________________________
Closing:
- The media can influence public perception and contribute to peace or fuel the fires of conflict. We cannot work toward peace if the media elevates one voice while suppressing the other.
- I urge [name media outlet] to consider their ethical responsibilities and adhere to journalistic principles. Responsible and balanced reporting is essential for fostering understanding and empathy in this challenging situation.
- Your audience relies on you for accurate, balanced, and unbiased reporting. It's time to put a stop to this insidious practice and return to the core values that define your field. Your role is not to be an advocate for any particular viewpoint but to provide a fair, impartial, and factual account of the events. The reputation and integrity of journalism hang in the balance, and it is your responsibility to ensure that it prevails.
______________________________________________________________
Other facts to add to comments:
- Israel has massacred over 14,280 children
- 32,226+Β Palestinans have been killed by Israel
- 2.2 Β million Palestinians have been internally displaced
- Israel has cut off food, water and aid to Gazans
- Israel demanded Gazans leave and then bombed the Rafah crossing
- Israel has dropped the equivalent of 2 tons of bombs in Gaza in one month