Fast Track Day of Action Toolkit

CTC

– April 2, 2015Posted in: Breaking Issues

Here are some resources for participating in the April 18^th National Day of Action Against Fast Track…

The Basics:

Central website (forthcoming): StopFastTrack.com

Central hashtag: #FastTrackDOA

Promote an Action or Event You’ve Organized in Your Community

List Your Organization as Endorsing the Fast Track Day of Action

Receive Updates on the Day of Action

How-To Organize for the Day of Action:

(1) Pick a Strategic Target: We want Congress members to oppose Fast Track. Figure out where your U.S. Representative stands on Fast Track, and organize something that either pressures them to come out against it or thanks them for having already come out against it.

(2) Pick a Time: The Day of Action is Saturday, April 18th — but any events the week before or week after can be listed as part of the “Day of Action.” If you’re going to do a door-to-door canvass, a teach-in or a mass march and rally, that Saturday works great. Alternatively, the House is on recess that Friday, April 17th and Congress members may be at their district offices that day. A noontime rally or a “drop in” at their office that Friday may make more sense. It’s up to you!

(3) Pick a Location: Congressional offices are a great site for weekday events — bringing the pressure directly to your target. They are typically closed on weekends, though, and may or may not make sense for a Saturday event depending on where the particular office is located. Other possible locations include federal buildings, Chamber of Commerce offices, shuttered factories and mills, border crossings and easily accessible downtown parks.

(4) Pick an Action Format: Are you going to get a few people together to “drop in” to your target’s office during a weekday? Are you going to do a typical rally with speakers and signs? Are you doing a Saturday canvass where you go door-to-door in your target’s neighborhood with leaflets? A public funeral for jobs, the environment and democracy? “Billionaires for Fast Track” street theater? A flash mob? Or something totally new?

(5) Coordinate with Others & Recruit Cosponsors: Recruit other organizations and individuals to help promote the event by involving them in the planning and asking them to speak. If you’re in a state with an organizer listed below, please give them a heads up on your plans.

(6) Spend Most of Your Time on Turnout: List your event online here. Create a Facebook event page. Ask others to forward an email about the event to their lists. Create a leaflet and distribute it at other events in the days leading up. Call through your contacts list.

Chants

#FastTrack DOA Chants

Press Materials

Template Day of Action Media Advisory

Talking Points

Fast Track Is Dead on Arrival

There Is No Acceptable Version of Fast Track

Fact Sheets

AFL-CIO’s “Time for a New Track”

Sierra Club’s “Fast Track Trade Legislation Will Harm Our Environment”

Public Citizen’s “Ten Reasons America Can’t Afford Fast Track”

Information to Deliver to Congressional Offices