so i’m on a one track mind right now – working working. this, i feel, is a key moment in which we will either step to the plate or let another opportunity to push for change pass. all i am doing now is reporting the email is sent out! love y’all, adrienne
(this is mostly from me with excerpts from an email I wrote with Ian
Kim, a downloadable outreach flyer from Biko Baker, and Katrina
Solidarity March from the Hip Hop Caucus at the bottom) – FORWARD,
PRINT, ACT
Peace FAM, its adrienne maree here…
So ok it’s not technically a Bush Sex Scandal. But it kind of is! Have
you seen the video? (www.colorofchange.org/bush/video.html) We must act
quickly – teachers are being attacked, the Congressperson who has a
resolution in to move for Impeachment is being schmeared all over
AP/Fox News as I write this – read more below!
I’m working with a number of networks to try and get together the
beginnings of a coordinated plan to get this video in front of folks,
framed the way we want it, and get folks to ACT.
1. GOAL: To Get and KEEP this Video in the MEDIA until we get
what we WANT
Note: Remember, this is a short-term plan. So you will notice that
there is a missing piece here: the "what we want" question remains
mostly unanswered. Do we want to censure/impeach Bush? Do we want to
get a just
reconstruction of New Orleans? Are we ok with having more than one
want? This needs and deserves more discussion. I know you all have your
long-term plans, but I think this short term action towards
impeachment moves forward all of our long-term agendas.
2. ASAP, get the video out to people
Not enough people have seen the video. And whenever people see it, they
should be seeing it WITH OUR MESSAGE in mind.
The good people at ColorOfChange.org are letting us use their website
to house this online content, and they’ve launched a petition to
censure Bush. (Sign it: http://www.colorofchange.org/bush/?org=l)
ALSO: The full-length AP video is not currently available online. We
will get
the full-length AP video and put it online so that people can find it!
3. Actions You Can Take Immediately to Spread the Video:
If you have a base that you can organize online or offline, here are
some ideas for action you can take right now. Remember, every day and
every media cycle counts, so the sooner the better! Build with outreach
over the weekend and push on Monday, Tuesday as we prepare to Welcome
the Liar Home from his Worldwide Avoidance Tour.
Get the VIDEO out into the world in all the following ways:
– Find it/watch it at
http://www.colorofchange.org/bush/video.html
– Download and print the flyer at
http://www.indyvoter.org/downloads/fully_prepared.jpg and make as many
copies as you can and put it up everywhere, take it to the club, the
barbershop, the street corner, the diner – the digital divide is yours
to cross.
– Re-Post on video sites, properly tagged (Katrina, Bush, Lie
Video, Bush Sex Scandal Video, etc)
– Host Screenings in your Home, at Your Office (Around Your
Desk), at Public Venues
– Post the transcript on groups, sites, everywhere!
– BLOG it 🙂 Blog it yourself, post
the video link on other people’s blogs, DEMAND ATTENTION
– Do you have an L.A. network? The OSCARS will bring media to your town
this week – holla if you have ideas! DO YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH JON
STEWART? THINK THINK THINK…
Suggestions for your organizing efforts:
– A frame is in the works: "He saw it coming. He chose
to do nothing."
– Preface your outreach with a personal message that will enforce the
frame and let folks know why
this matters to you, to them, to the work they do, to their families
– Where you feel people are ready, push for folks to take action to
CENSURE the president. It’s fast, its precise, it comes from Congress
{and on a spin note if they DON’T censure him that is another count
against a plethora of Congresspeople we will oust this fall}
– Exert particular pressure on mainstream and more mainstream
outlets/networks
4. BREAKING NEWS
The right has started a counter-attack on John Conyers, the Michigan
Congressman who has a resolution on the floor to move for impeachment,
its all over Fox News this morning. Nothing is unrelated when it comes
to these dark times my friends!
THIS ATTACK ON CONYERS SHOWS HOW SCARED THIS ADMINISTRATION IS OF HIS
WORK! MAKE THE CONNECTION. TAKE ACTION.
Interesting secondary media angles:
Did you know AP happened to release the video on the same day they
released their new video-streaming tool? What a coincidence.
And Jay Bennish, a high school teacher in Aurora Colorado, is being
attacked for voicing what I personally believe is a crucial critique in
his classroom – watch this story develop as a way to cap teachers, and
if you are a teacher: MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENTS SEE AND DISCUSS THE
VIDEO.
5. Good News: we’re getting heard
nancy pelosi calling for congressional investigation
front page: http://www.washingtonpost.com
harry reid demands independent investigation
http://giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/katrina
We just spoke to Conyers office and they said the press release was all
over the hill yesterday!
We touched base with folks in Barbara Lee’s office, in Cynthia
McKinney’s office, organizations and media networks across the country
– WHO CAN YOU CALL? Alert Them!!
6. Support Katrina Victims in Washington March 14th!
Our folks are being kicked out of hotels/housing, kicked off of
unemployment – Demand Justice:
Media Alert - For Immediate Release
KATRINA SURVIVORS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, CLERGY, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, STUDENTS AND NATIONAL ORGANIZERS TO MARCH FROM CONGRESS TO WHITE HOUSE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GEORGE BUSH AND RALLY FOR JUSTICE FOR THE DISPLACED
WHEN: March 14, 2006 1:00 p.m. – 12 Midnight
WHERE:
- Press Conference: Rayburn House Office Bldg, Rm. 2237 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
- Mardi Gras Style March for Justice:Capitol South Metro Stop to the White House 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Rally & Vigil at the White House: Lafayette Park 3:00 -11:59 p.m.
For More Information, please contact: Diane Shamis 845-661-3754 or 202-545-0113