Subject: AL-AWDA: CALL FOR LOBBY ACTIONS
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 18:22:04 -0400


(please read, act and forward)

AL-AWDA: URGENT CALL FOR LOBBY ACTIONS

October 22, 2000

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition strongly urges all
peace-loving people to continue current protest activities concerning the
current situation in occupied Palestine and to extend these actions to
include lobbying of Congress.

SET UP MEETINGS:

Most Congressional officials including House representatives and senators
return to
the districts and states they represent on Fridays and/or Mondays. We
suggest that delegations be organized, and that meetings are set up with the
senators and reps on these days in your states and districts
of residence.

Delegations don't have to be large, and, whenever possible, organize several
to include representation from different sectors of your community. At these
meetings, provide your senators and representatives a written statement,
and, after the meetings, write to them again summarizing your meeting and
re-stating the actions you wished him/her to take. More specific guidelines
to lobbying are included in the last section of this message.

TALKING POINTS:

Below are suggested talking points. We suggest you include
these in written statements you provide at your meetings and that you send
your reps following those.

- Ask your congressional officials to stand against Israel's occupation and
apartheid policies and to vote against bills such as House Concurrent
Resolution 426. This resolution is an inexcusable attempt to place blame on
the victims.  Palestinian civilians, like any other people, have an absolute
right to resist occupation, enslavement and Israel's attempt to impoverish
them on their own land. They have every right to demonstrate for their human
and national rights.

- Report to your senators and reps on the protests that have taken
place in your areas calling for an end of Israel's attacks on Palestinian
civilians.

- Ask your senators and reps to condemn Israel's use of live
ammunition, US-made tanks, helicopter gun ships and missiles against
Palestinian civilians.

- Show your senators and reps pictures (and videos if possible) of recent
events and
murders of more than 30 children including those of twelve-year-old Mohammed
al-Durah (http://www.palestine-info.net/daily_news/child.htm,
http://www.france2.fr/vj/300920a.ram) and fourteen-year-old Moayad Jawareesh
(http://iraqaction.org/childkilled.html) for example.

- Ask your senators and reps to protest the ongoing massacres
and to demand that the United States government immediately stop providing
the weapons to Israel which are used to massacre civilians. Point out that
Israel's intent to kill demonstrators in cold blood is indicated by the fact
that 78% of injuries are to the upper body as reported by hospitals.

- Ask your senators and reps to introduce a resolution in
support of INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR PALESTINIANS. The urgent need for
international protection for Palestinians throughout occupied
Palestine has been underscored by Israel's latest escalation and the evident
failure of the Sharm El Sheikh meeting.

- Point out that Israel is bound by international law to withdraw from all
occupied territories and to implement all UN resolutions including UN
resolution 194 which affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return to
their homes and lands.

ACTIVIST GUIDE TO LOBBYING:

The following are some guidelines for lobbying:

Anyone can meet with a Member of Congress. Because the majority of meetings
with Congress are with paid lobbyists, a meeting with constituents can stand
out and have great impact. You can meet either at their district office in
your state, or at their offices in Washington, D.C. You can meet alone or
with a small group, but remember that the wider the array of people who
support your position, the more weight your meeting will carry (ex: one
person with a religious perspective, one from the business world).

(1) Make an appointment. Call your congressional office and tell the staff
member that you are a constituent and would like a meeting with your Member
of Congress. If you are unable to get an appointment with the Member, ask to
meet with a foreign policy staffer. Don't be intimidated-it is their job to
meet with their constituents and consider their concerns!

(2) Prepare for the meeting. Research your Member's position prior to the
meeting and know what committees they sit on. If their position is not
known, you will have to use the meeting to learn more about it. Gather
information about their position on similar issues, and use these positions
to help you formulate compelling arguments.

(3) Do it! Be on time. Dress conservatively (wear a suit, if possible).
Present your case strongly and clearly, but also be diplomatic, courteous,
and non-confrontational. Listen attentively and give the Member or staffer
plenty of time to ask questions and express concerns. DO NOT LECTURE OR
ASSAULT THEM WITH A BARRAGE OF FACTS. You can use your answers to their
questions to bring up additional points. Whenever possible, use arguments
that will demonstrate to your Member that you are on the same side, and that
their concerns are actually met by pursuing the action you are requesting.
Present the case simply, and speak on a human level by detailing atrocities
or recounting anecdotes. Get local! Stress the ways in which the Member's
constituents are affected by the issue.

Follow up. Write a letter to your Member of Congress (or to the staffer if
you did not meet with the Member), thanking them for meeting with you,
summarizing your key points and/or your request, and including any
additional information you promised to provide. If they promised to get back
to you with an answer, remind them and request again that they do so (if
they haven't already). Spread the word to other constituents in your
district and encourage them to follow up on your visit as well. If your
Member knows that others supported your meeting and your position, this will
encourage them further. Keep in touch. If new information becomes available

about the issue, pass it onto the person with whom you met, reminding them
of your meeting. If a new bill or letter comes up, tell them about it, give
them a deadline, and then call again to remind them as the deadline
approaches. If they take a positive action on the issue, thank them. If they
take a negative step, urge them to reconsider and explain your reasoning.
Remind them of your visit in all of your communications, and feel free to
schedule additional visits when appropriate. After your initial follow up
letter, calls are the best way to keep in touch, unless you are sending
along a new article.

Remember:  Building a relationship with a staffer is the best way to make
your opinion count on Capitol Hill!

For contact information and to write to your Congressional officials visit:

US Congress, see http://congress.org/congdir.html
US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
US Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Good Source: http://www.e-thepeople.com
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