..TAKING ACTION ....................Educate, Agitate, Organize for Freedom in our lifetime..........

DISTRIBUTING FLYERS (See the Tips Page on Flyers for info on how to create & produce flyers, and the Local Issues tips page for info on how to find local issues)

Distributing Flyers in the Community: One of the best ways to get to know your community and the small businesspeople who are still left in it, is to distribute your flyers at stores, restaurants, convenience stores, laundromats, etc. Ask for permission to leave a small stack, near the register, come back often to check on how they're moving.

Distributing Flyers in the Streets:

One of the easiest ways to "get your feet wet" is distributing flyers at events, parades, etc. Distributing flyers is an excellent way to get your group members "in the streets", interacting with the public in a non threatening way.

Rule One: Never distribute flyers alone. Always go in pairs. This is for safety, and for practical reasons (see Rule Four, also see First Amendment and You

Rule Two: Blend in with the community in your appearance and demeanor. If the community you are targeting is a college campus, send your young, college age members, dressed accordingly. If the community is working class, don't wear a suit. Men, don't wear shorts or "muscle T's" unless you're at the beach. Ladies, look "ladylike". Strive to look like the "natives". Be clean, friendly, non confrontational, and smile like you're having fun!

Rule Three: Position yourself to hand out the maximum number of flyers with a minimum of disturbance. Don't block sidewalks, stay to the side. Hold the flyer out, let folks take it. NEVER press flyers on anyone. If distributing flyers at parades (the easiest possible way of distributing flyers!), walk in the street, about 5 minutes in front of the parade, (moving at a fast walk, arm out stretched so they can grab flyer) handing flyers to parade goers who are lining the streets (and are usually thrilled to get something to read).If someone doesn't want a flyer, refuses it or hands it back, no problem. Smile but don't slow down nor get in a conversation, just continue handing out flyers.

Rule Four: Repeat! Don't argue, don't discuss, don't explain and don't turn around and go back. Hand out flyers. If engaged in conversation, you can't hand out flyers. (See Rule One, go in pairs)

Rule Five: Know your 1st Amendment rights & exercise them. You have the right to hand out flyers on any public sidewalk, park, or right of way. You do not have to obtain any kind of permit to do so. However, you need to decide in advance, what action(s) you want to take if confronted by the police, who may, or may not know or care, you have First Amendment rights. You must also be prepared (bail) for a judge that does not recognize your rights. (See below. )

Picketing Picketing is somewhat more confrontational than distributing flyers. Follow all five rules as above. Your signs should be easy to read by passers by, in LARGE dark block letters, with as few words as possible. You may also want to have some members handing out flyers explaining your action, while others picket to draw attention.

Rule One: Follow all 5 Rules as in Distributing Flyers.

Rule Two: Easy to Read Signs (folded and stapled to tomato stake works well/tape handle)

Rule Three: Keep moving, back and forth (or circle without blocking), within a short distance.

RalliesRallies are simply larger more elaborate versions of picketing. You'll want signs, and movement. You'll also want a speaker or two, a stage (the back of a pickup truck that you got there early to get "the" parking spot, is fine), a bullhorn or loudspeaker, and...lots of people. Do not even think about a rally unless you are absolutely sure you can get at least 20-25 people (in a small town, 75 to100 plus in a larger community) to participate, and, that you have complete control over your crowd. Nothing is worse than a sparsely attended rally (the press will be sure to undercount anyway), unless it's a huge uncontrolled crowd.

Rallies usually are the "end point" of a project, which started with flyers (to bring the issue to the public attention). Occasionally, you may want to start a project with an action: unless you have done your groundwork and are already sure you can draw a crowd, don't do it. Ways to draw a crowd include music, and the time honored political free bar-b-que. Never, under any circumstances, serve free beer or liquor at a rally.

Rallies Before a Meeting

Often, you may plan to "take over" a gov't meeting of some kind with your supporters, demanding, for example, to "stop zoning" or "cut property taxes" etc. The object is to enter the meeting as an "identifiable" group, under control of your spokesperson(s), and to leave as a group (before meeting ends, if you have the numbers). A rally outside the meeting hall, in the parking lot, for example, is necessary to give last minute instructions to your group before entering (in rare cases, can be used after also). You will need to tell them what's going to happen (what the gov't will say & do), who is going to speak and essence of what they're going to say, ensure that they understand the signal to leave (when a designated person turns and storms out), and give them a feeling of purpose & solidarity. You will also need a flyer, describing the issue & your group's position, to give to members of your group (so they can have in hand a clear statement of what's at stake, and to give to members of the public who are attending the meeting but aren't part of your group (yet). Station one of your members at each entrance to the meeting hall to hand out the flyer.

What the Gov't Will Say or Do is remarkably predictable. When the governing body knows you're coming, and knows there will be a crowd in opposition, they invariably follow a certain procedure. First, they plan the agenda so your issue is in the middle (or end).

• First will come a lot of boring, meaningless stuff, such as giving out awards to good citizens. This is designed to calm your crowd down as well as make them see the rewards of being a good citizen.(If they run short of "good citizens" they will hand govt workers, or themselves, awards like they were Crackerjack prizes:) If possible, hold your crowd outside until this junk is ended. However, if it's cold or hot or raining outside, if you have elderly folks who need to sit down, or if you don't have sufficient control over your crowd, at least make sure your crowd (identified in some fashion, by badges, "small" signs or with hats, etc.) enters the meeting room as a group.
• Next, when they finally get to your issue, the gov't will start with an "expert", usually from COG (Council of Governments) who will proceed to explain in great detail (often with a slide show) and excrutiatingly incomprehensible govermentese why the project is needed, why the entire comunity will be devastated if the project doesn't go through, and why only insane radical maniacs like the LP (and its supporters) could possibly be against it.
• After the "expert" finishes, some government flunkies and leading citizens will be asked to speak, and finally, at long last, your group will be "allowed" to speak (often they will delay until or have a unscheduled break first, so "they" can work the crowd or in hopes you leave). Be sure your designated spokesperson gets to the mike first. Usually, the gov't and its "experts" will try to question your spokesperson, etc...this is when your crowd of supporters should start murmuring ( let him speak, etc).
• After your spokesperson finishes, the most dramatic way to end is for your group to get up as a body, and leave. The gov't will then hastily call a recess, so the politicos can mingle with your crowd and try to mend fences. Try to avoid this by having your group reconvene in the parking lot, where you can explain to them what just happened and what to do next, and, hold a mini press conference.

Impromptu Rallies

Impromptu, spur of the moment, rallies can often be created at gov't meeting, hearings etc. These techniques are useful when you wish to identify the LP with an issue on which there is already a good amount pf public interest.

• You will need a flyer, describing the issue & your group's position, in clear terms (contrasting the govermentese of the proposed regulation with what it means in clear English is good) to give to members of the public who are attending the meeting but aren't part of your group (yet). Station one of your members at each entrance to the meeting hall to hand out the flyer.
• When it comes time for "the public" to speak, have your spokesperson use the language in the flyer you've just handed out, and, refer to it, if possible. This gives the impression that those in the audience are "part of" your group, or at least support your position. (At some point, oneof the gov't officials will probably try to "downplay" your flyer, calling it "simplistic". This is very helpful to your "cause", as it immediately aligns those in the public who finally grasp what's going on, thanks to your flyer, with you.) Also, have a prepared statement ready for the media. (see Media )

After Effects

After a successful action (one in which you turned out a large group to confront the gov't), the gov't will again act in a remarkably predictable fashion. They will try to get you (and the other leaders) off to the side, away from your supporters, to "talk to" you to "offer a compromise"...usually consisting of removal of one or two provisions of the ordinance.

• Don't fall for it. Once you've compromised, you lose your support. Once you lose your support, the opposition no longer needs you and dumps you too.
• Remember...they can remove the provisioon today, pass the rest of the ordinance, and, return it next month, after the heat is off.
• The other "trick" is to put you and the leaders on some kind of Blue Ribbon Commission to "study the problem"

Put the gov't offers, and your responses, into your next flyer. There is nothing folks get a kick out of more than their leader "turning down" offers to compromise. (really!)

The First Amendment and You

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects your right to hand out flyers, picket, and organize "peaceable" demonstrations. Today's government doesn't much like the First Amendment, so they often try all kinds of things to prevent citizens from exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Examples are "free speech zones" at areas likely to draw picketers (usually a fenced area well away from the site); laws against commercial leafleting, requirements to obtain "parade permits". However, there is probably nothing that gets a crowd on your side quicker than standing up for the one "constitutional right" most people seem to understand: the right to free speech. Usually, the more the gov't does to try and stop you, the more sympathy (and converts) you get.

• Flyers: Police often either don't know (or pretend they don't) the 1st Amendment exists, don't know what it means, or think their community has passed some other law that "overrides" the 1st Amendment. Obviously, this is absurd. Point this out to the police in a calm, rational, and very polite manner. (Use your most innocuous looking member to do this, if possible). [Note: often communities pass laws against handing out commercial flyers. This is not protected by the 1st Amendment. Point out that you're not selling anything.) My attorney friends tell me that case law on the protection of 1st Amendment rights for "handbills" (non commercial) is excellent. Usually, the police back down. If not, it's up to you to decide what is more important, handing out the flyers (simply by moving elsewhere) or making a 1st Amendment stand.
• Picketing: You can picket on any sidewalk or public rightaway as long as you don't block access. If the police tell you you're "blocking access", and you really don't think you are, it's up to you to decide what is more important, handing out the flyers (simply by moving elsewhere) or making a 1st Amendment stand. (My attorney friends also tell me that case law on picketing is more ambiguous than that on handbills.)
• Parade Permits: unless you're planning a parade and need to have the street blocked off, you don't need a parade permit. However, many locales insist you need a parade permit to picket, hand out flyers, etc. You don't, and you'd likely win any legal case on this. However, it is up to you and your group what the most important thing is: to have your rally, or have a possible law suit (possibly with good press & money danages).
• Rallies Before Meetings

: When you want to have a rally before a gov't meeting, it is highly unlikely that the gov't is going to give you a 1st Amendment issue by making you disperse from the parking lot. If they do, simply disperse more quickly into the meeting room, and make sure the press knows what happened.

What is Public Property?

Sidewalks, public parks, the "highway right of way". Private businesses (K-Mart) are private businesses, you have to have permission. Parking lots which are "under police jurisdiction" are in a "gray area" of case law... as are malls (the legal argument is that a mall replaces the 'town square'.) If you are interested in "making case law" for 1st Amendment rights in parking lots or malls, contact your local ACLU and see if they'd be interested in building a case. If your main interest, however, is in distributing your flyers or holding your rally, stick to public property which is recognizable as public property to a reasonable person. (In Aiken County, SC, in 1993, the police harassed and threatened to arrest an LP member for handing out flyers in a recognizably public park in which a street fair open to the public was being held... their reasoning was that the Chamber of Commerce had "rented" the public park for that day. This reasoning did not hold up with the city attorney or the Chamber of Commerce attorney, who backed down and apologized profusely.)

Being Arrested

Be Prepared: if you do plan to sue the gov't for violating your 1st Amendment Rights, you are going to have to be arrested. (If you aren't arrested, there have been no damages, therefore you can't sue.)

• Have a video camera and a cameraperson to record what happens. (often the sight of a video camera is enough to make the police back down immediately, so if your goal is to be arrested, carry a small tape recorder instead)
• If you plan on being arrested, have someone prepared to call your attorney, contact the media, take a copy of the video tape to the TV station, and come to the jail with your bail money. (Note: if you plan to use a property bond, check in advance on what is required in your state to post it. A cash bond is usually best. )

Street Theater

Street theater actions include the standard LP post office actions on Tax Day, with participants dressed in barrels (as taxpayers). Other street theater type actions can include dressing as Paul Revere, Lady Godiva etc ; setting up a table and serving "baloney" sandwiches outside the state capitol. Street theater is fun, can be done by a relatively small number of people, and can be very effective in poking fun at the government. Humor is a potent weapon, if used judiciously (and mixed with other actions.)

For ideas on "street theater" type actions, see our ACTION OF THE MONTH page.

Media

One of the purposes of Actions is often to generate media coverage. In order to obtain media coverage, you have to "make news", and, actions are news. Always have a nicely typewritten prepared statement ready to give to the media, with quotes from your spokesperson.

If you decide to send out a press release, check our Tips page on Press Releases .

Distributing Flyers: As part of a project, distributing flyers can become "news". Example:Press Release: "Members of the LP will meet today at 9 AM at the bandstand in the public park to begin passing out handbills to "stop county zoning". Joe Smith, LP spokesperson, says,"..." etc)

Picketing: Certainly picketing can be newsworthy. Example: Press Release: Members of the LP will picket the County Council Building at 6:00 PM today to "stop county zoning". Joe Smith, LP spokesperson, says,"..." etc) I personally prefer not to forewarn the authorities I'm planning to picket by sending out a press release... a call to the local media after the picketing has started usually is sufficient.

Rallies: If you plan a big, well organized rally, and you are sure you're going to get a good turnout, tell the press in advance. Otherwise, it's best to just let it happen. If it's a rally before a meeting, the press will be there anyway.

Video Cameras: one of the most useful pieces of equipment your group can own is a video camera (cam corder). The video camera is useful for evening the balance of power with gov't officials and police, who are usually very reluctant to act like complete Nazis on camera. Not only that, if you film a brief segment of your rally, picketers, group member being harassed by police, etc, and take a copy to your local TV stations, they will often use it. (Your story may not be "worth" sending out a camerman, but, if the film is brought to them, they'll usually use it.)

These tips are provided by Mary Lou Seymour , who is not an attorney, simply an old line activist (for the LP and community organizations.) If you have not received a response from that email address within 2 days, try Other email

If you have specific questions about your legal rights and remedies, you should contact an attorney or the ACLU (an organization which is very good on 1st Amendment issues, if not so good on other Bill of Rights issues)

If you would like more detailed information or assistance with planning a rally or event in your community, contact Mary Lou and she may be able to help.

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