top of page

MoveOn National Call 1/29 Notes

Notes, National Ready to Resist Emergency Call

Sponsored by MoveOn.org, Working Families Party, and People’s Action, 1/29/17

Recorded by: Ogie Strogatz (ogstrogatz@gmail.com; or you can find me on FaceBook).

Note: a recording of the call can be accessed at www.moveon.org/readytoresist .

  • These calls will continue weekly, every Sunday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm Pacific Time, for the remainder of the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

  • Update on Resistance to Muslim Ban Executive Order (Faiz Shakir, ACLU National Political Director; FShakir@ACLU.org)

  • Although Trump has said publicly this is not a Muslim ban, Rudy Giuliani indicated that Trump had asked him how to implement a Muslim ban legally. Reference below, Washington Post article, 1/29/17:

  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/29/trump-asked-for-a-muslim-ban-giuliani-says-and-ordered-a-commission-to-do-it-legally/?utm_term=.857e0828d071

  • Faiz summarized the ACLU’s 1/28/17 injunction on behalf of the 2 Iraqis with valid visas who were detained. The judge’s stay applies nationally; no one will be turned away at a US point of entry. However, people still may be detained for questioning. This was an immediate injunction.

  • The bigger fight that now will be undertaken is the constitutionality of the executive order.

  • The airport protests were critical, they made the injustice more clear and the need for action more critical – the judges saw that.

  • Three near-term political priorities

  • Overturning the ban

  • Postponing the vote on Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State until more can be learned about his position regarding the ban (floor vote now scheduled for Monday, 1/30)

  • Recalling Jeff Sessions to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee to learn more about his positions on the numerous executive orders signed in Trump’s first week (committee vote now scheduled for Tuesday, 1/31)

  • What you can do

  • If you hear about any refugees encountering visa difficulties, please contact Domenic Powell, DPowell@ACLU.org.

  • Live your values: help refugees being resettled locally.

  • Principles for action (Victoria Kaplan, MoveOn.org)

  • Drawn from Indivisible

  • Resisting Trump’s agenda; immoral, bigoted

  • Local defensive Congressional advocacy

  • Progressive values

  • Drawn from MoveOn

  • Non-violent, peaceful, legal protests

  • Coming from a place of love, and with firm demands

  • Draw leadership from those most affected

  • Resist Trump Tuesdays (Mehrdad Azemun, People’s Action, Campaigns Director, peoplesaction.org)

  • All about local action

  • MoCs are our public servants

  • We must engage in visible, persistent resistance.

  • Clicks and calls are not enough. We have to show up physically.

  • Although Resist Trump Tuesdays focus attention nationally on all of us taking action each week, we are encouraged to take action any day! Whatever works for us.

  • Action may at times focus on state and local level officials in addition to members of Congress.

  • For fact sheets on the next Resist Trump Tuesday (1/31/17), go to www.moveon.org/jan31 and to www.resisthere.org

  • Top 2 priorities this week: progress to overturn the 3 immigration-related executive orders, and slowing the review of Cabinet nominees so the American public can learn more about them

  • Immigration-related executive orders (important to stand locally for sanctuary)

  • Building the wall against Mexico

  • Increasing the deportation force and eliminating federal funds for sanctuary cities

  • Restricting refugee access to the US

  • Cabinet nominees (Democrats must force 30 hours of floor debate on each nominee)

  • Sessions, Mnuchin, DeVos, Tillerson, Puzder, Price

  • Note: Trump may announce SCOTUS nominee on Thursday, 2/2

  • Managing large crowds and rallies (Nelini Stamp, Organizer, Working Families Party)

  • Recommended resources

  • www.resisthere.org -- action toolkit and fact sheets

  • www.organizingforpower.org

  • https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/what-do-if-your-rights-are-violated-demonstration-or-protest

  • www.nlg.org (National Lawyers Guild)

  • Need to be attentive to permissions when seeking to meet on private property (e.g. privately owned office building where elected official may have an office)

  • Generally do not need permit to hold meeting in public space, except if there will be a stage and amplified sound

  • Have legal counsel (National Lawyers Guild can help)

  • Record what’s going on at your event (not only for posting publicly after the event, but as evidence, should it be needed)

  • Helpful roles to assign

  • Police liaisons (1-2 people to negotiate between officers and protesters as needed)

  • De-escalators (leading the effort to stay calm and avoid confrontation, as needed; must be attentive to non-violent, inclusive, respectful language)

  • Ok to ask someone to leave if disruptive

  • Ok to ask participants to ignore a disruptive person

  • De-escalators can pull disruptive person off to the side and speak with her/him

  • People to look after participant well-being (water, ponchos, leading songs, chants, etc.)

  • Social media

  • Twitter (use quotes, short videos, photos; stick to no more than 1-2 hashtags)

  • FaceBook (post photos one at a time, take horizontal shots to get more into the photo; use FaceBook Live)


bottom of page