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Post by scickay on Jun 9, 2012 20:53:16 GMT -5
ATTRACTING THE MEDIA TO OUR CAUSE DURING THE CONGRESS I am suggesting that we use this forum to brainstorm what actions we individually might take and the steering committee might take to increase media coverage of our cause during the Congress. In this way, perhaps all of us can do some things to get the word to the American people what our congress is all about and thereby begin to develop another avenue of legitimacy (popular support) for the petitioning we are about to do under the auspices of the First Amendment. If we do not explain our story to the people in our own words, either our message will go unheard or be distorted and denigrated by others. Please share your ideas below. I have included some obvious ones below to get us started. Please keep your suggestions short so they can be easily reviewed by the delegates and the steering committee. Thanks for your help.
For DURING the Congress: 1. Engage local Philadelphia institutions (e, g. National Constitution Center) in our event planning. 2. Stage media events. How about a continuous reading (24 hours, 3 days) of Supreme Court Justice Stevens dissent on the Citizens United decision in front of the Liberty Bell? Each of the delegates could read a portion of his passionate 90 page dissent for the length of the Congress. I can see the local ACTION NEWS cameras already. 3. Invitations to the media to cover key parts of our Congress (e.g. keynote speakers, final petition decisions, the reading of the final petition, etc.) 4. A peaceful march to historic Philadelphia sites from our Congress location. We can sing as we march patriotic American songs with lyrics adjusted to the themes of our Congress. 5. Invitation to Mayor Nutter to welcome us to Philadelphia at the beginning of the Congress. 6. Joint press conference between 99% leaders and the Occupy Philadelphia leaders where our differences in methodology can be explained. Media love the controversies.
I am sure the group will come up with even better ideas. Thanks for your help. Let’s get started.
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mhuttman
Full Member
People First
Posts: 124
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Post by mhuttman on Jun 12, 2012 11:21:49 GMT -5
Sadly, most protests aren't given media coverage unless the police abuse somebody, and then the headline is "Police arrest n number of people at x" so I doubt 2 will do us any good. I'd rather that we take some time outside of the voting to get to know each other a bit more. After all, we're gonna need to do something once this process has run its course I like 1,3,4, 5, and 6 especially. BTW if anyone from Occupy wants to kick you out of their meeting, say "diversity of tactics." They'll get the point. Its why I'm here, I think this tactic is worth pursuing. Not everything has to be a "revolution!"
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Post by monamitchell on Jun 13, 2012 9:16:33 GMT -5
I'm told we're scheduled to march at 2pm, after the regular parade is over and while most people will be at the Freedom Bell event. This seems counterproductive. Can someone in Philly please try to get us a spot in the regular parade when we will have an audience?
Schedule of city events - Monday, July 4, 2011
Celebration of Freedom Steps of Independence Hall, 6th and Market Streets 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Celebrate our nation’s birth with a patriotic salute! Music, speeches and a reading of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence will pay tribute to the history of our nation.
Independence Day Parade Historic Philadelphia 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This year, the route has expanded, winding through the nation’s most historic mile, featuring 3,500 patriotic and multicultural marchers, musicians, dancers and floats. All five U.S. military branches will be represented.
Bell Tapping Ceremony Liberty Bell Center, 500 Market Street 1:45 p.m. -The Liberty Bell rings out symbolically to commemorate Independence, sponsored by Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration and Sons of the American Revolution.
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Post by monamitchell on Jun 13, 2012 9:23:00 GMT -5
I haven't seen any mention of our group reading our declaration scheduled - is there an event scheduled to read it out, Declare it, that I just haven't seen?
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Post by maureenmower on Jun 13, 2012 13:03:17 GMT -5
Another great idea, Mona.... I don't know if we'd gotten that far yet, mainly because we've been bogged down in planning the convention itself and figuring out how to manage the voting on the grievances, as well as trying to whittle them down, that we haven't spent a lot of time thinking about what we'll do with it after it's ratified and signed.
Reading it out loud is an excellent start, and something we can do as part of an "official" ceremony on July 4 (the perfect day for it).
I know there's some sort of Occupy activity going on that weekend, and other groups will be there as well. We could, in fact, use the system that originated with Occupy and simply call out the declaration, using that process (I forget what they call it at the moment - my age is showing, lol) where one person calls out something and everyone repeats it. That would be one way to get our Declaration to a wide audience of like-minded people from the start, anyway. Then, I believe we have a couple of members who know the other groups that will be there, and can present a copy of the ratified declaration to them with our request that they support it.
That's just one idea... let's see if others have more ideas.
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dawnh1
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by dawnh1 on Jun 13, 2012 13:16:57 GMT -5
The original purpose of the march was to go from the PCC to the site that the national park service allowed us to use to have our signing ceremony. We had speakers Lawrence Lessig and Catherine Crier who had agreed to speak. We had to pay for their transportation cost to Philadelphia and their lodging. We also had other costs involved for the event. When we couldn't raise enough money all that had to be scrapped.
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Post by maureenmower on Jun 13, 2012 13:50:37 GMT -5
Well, do we still have the venue that the Park Service approved for us? If so, we can still do the march, and perhaps have speakers from the various other Occupy and progressive groups who will be there anyway (eliminating the need for us to pay for their travel or lodging). And if we can't get the sound equipment, we can always have them use a megaphone.
We should do whatever we CAN do to get around the roadblocks, not just give up because the roadblocks are there.
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Post by davidindc on Jun 13, 2012 17:15:44 GMT -5
I may be in the minority, but I think we should consider permitting press (and just general observers) into the Congress.
Especially if our attendence numbers are on the low end and there's room.
There's a lot to be said for not doing our business in secret, not the least of which is, we don't look like we have anything to hide.
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Post by maureenmower on Jun 13, 2012 17:22:39 GMT -5
Well, minority or not, I agree with you, David.... the more the merrier, and the better for spreading the word about our Declaration!!
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Post by monamitchell on Jun 29, 2012 9:59:01 GMT -5
We'd need to discuss changing the agenda first thing, first day. It's too late for the regular parade, but it's going to be 100 degrees or over all week and 2pm will be the hottest part of the day. We could still go out and be seen with our passes on. We would have to move up the process and try to get most of it done by the evening of the 3rd. On media - Tim Pool has said he will be attending Philly, and he's proven fair. We can always send notices to all the media with a copy of our final Declaration.
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mhuttman
Full Member
People First
Posts: 124
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Post by mhuttman on Jun 29, 2012 10:07:39 GMT -5
I may be in the minority, but I think we should consider permitting press (and just general observers) into the Congress. Especially if our attendence numbers are on the low end and there's room. There's a lot to be said for not doing our business in secret, not the least of which is, we don't look like we have anything to hide. That's partly why I've been asking about getting a camera for recording this to YouTube. We want to be open and transparent, and do what we can to NOT come off as some secret society.
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Post by davidindc on Jun 29, 2012 12:47:04 GMT -5
Unsurprisingly, I agree with Mike H.
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Post by jondenn on Jun 29, 2012 13:21:50 GMT -5
Last I heard, legitimate press are being allowed in. I haven't heard a ruling on bloggers.
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Post by davidindc on Jun 29, 2012 20:06:28 GMT -5
I'm a blogger. Just google "Left-Wing Bullshit"
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Post by jondenn on Jun 29, 2012 20:32:40 GMT -5
I thought you were kidding. Not only are you a blogger, but you're back-dated—2008!
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