Emergency Effort to Protect Our Courts
Senator Frist and the Republican leadership are accelerating their plans for the "nuclear option,"abolishing the filibuster and seizing absolute power for Republicans to put in judges who will strike down environmental laws, the minimum wage rules, and the right to privacy. Because of this unprecedented threat to the independent judiciary, we’re going to have to spend the next two weeks fighting to make sure the radical Republicans aren’t allowed to pack the courts.
Polls have consistently shown that when the public hears about the nuclear option, they’re opposed to it. So the Republicans are hoping that folks won’t pay attention to the issue and that they’ll be able to go through with it unnoticed. But we’re going to stop their nuclear plot by creating a buzz about this issue and showing Democrats and Republicans alike that the public is paying attention.
To create this buzz, we’re going to be organizing two types of events:
- Neighborhood outreach events: Operation Democracy teams will meet up over the weekend to "canvass" their neighborhood--going door to door, distributing fliers, generating phone calls and getting folks to put up window signs.
- Local Rallies: We’ll be holding rallies outside of courthouses and other federal buidlings all over the country next Wednesday, the 27th, to protect our courts.
This campaign is moving very quickly and we’re going to need to do a lot over the next two weeks.
Here's the plan:
ASAP |
Create a plan for your neighborhood outreach event with your team. Specifically you should find a day and time over the weekend that works for most of your team. If you can’t find one time that works for everyone, try setting two times. But be sure that there will be a group there each time--canvassing is more fun and effective in groups! You should then pick an area to canvass. You want to pick a neighborhood that has houses that are close together and is close to a team member’s house so that you can have a central meeting place—if not a parking lot or street corner, or other public place is also fine. |
By Wednesday, April 20 |
Have one team member register your canvassing event(s) here so we can see all the events happening. We'll send an email on Friday, April 22 to members who are not part of Operation Democracy, encouraging them to participate—they will be able to sign up to help at your event if you choose to make it public. |
Before you canvass |
Get your materials together, read the guide and plot out your turf. You can read our guide to canvassing here and see our tips on mapping out where to canvass here. Also be sure your team will have all the materials you’re going to need: get materials (and how many you need of each) here. |
Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24 |
Get out there and knock on some doors. Meet up with your team, practice a few times, and then go canvass. Try to talk to 12 people yourself. Your team should split into pairs that will take opposite sides of a street. If new people show up to canvass with you, don’t forget to invite them to join the team. Remember not to leave flyers in mailboxes--that's illegal. Note to people who are unsure about canvassing: If you've never done this before, it probably sounds intimidating. But from volunteers who went door to door during the election, we know that this is easier and more fun than most people think it will be. After your first few doors, you’ll be amazed at how comfortable you become. If someone on your team is an experienced canvasser, you might want to partner up with them. |
After Canvassing |
Report your results. Click here to tell us how many people you talked to and click here to give us feedback on how the event went for you and your team. |
Wednesday, April 27 |
Nuclear Option vote likely; Rally to Protect the Courts. Join folks from all over your community at a rally outside of a local federal building or courthouse. |
Calendar for the next 2 weeks
M Tu W Th F Sa Su April 18: Begin making plans with your team Post your neighborhood outreach event online Email goes out inviting other MoveOn members to join the canvassing Canvass!
Canvass! April 25: Sign up to attend a rally Nuclear Option likely gets voted on; Rallies all over the country to protect our courts
Questions? Check out the neighborhood outreach Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or the more general Operation Democracy FAQ. Both pages have details about how to get in touch with us if your question isn't answered there.