buylotrogold

These amazingly detailed notes were taken by Andy: Notes for meeting on 1/27/2010 Carrie=facilitator Lane spoke on his ideas for the C Street rally. Was at Highlander w/ people interested in more direct action for LGBTQ movement. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” is the theme for the C St protest that Lane proposed. The idea is to cover the steps with rocks (so the residents can’t use the steps). Or use rainbow buckets up and down the steps; plant signs in the buckets with messages. Signs emphasizing hypocrisy of C St residents (their sordid personal lives/antigay/moralizing stances; ex. “When C St members aren’t sinning, they’re members of Congress proposing antigay legislation, supporting antigay politicians in Uganda, etc”). Have someone in priestly robes praying for forgiveness of adulterers. Possible crimes that people could be identified with: trespassing; vandalism. Something more than just standing on the street holding signs. Let reporters know beforehand that there will be direct action happening. Alison suggested doing something on the steps that is easily removable. Lane also mentioned the option of hanging a banner in some way to send the same message. Laura suggested avoiding a religious motif, as it’s so easily turned against the LGBTQ community. C St folks, with their “religious mojo,” might say “Yeah, but we’ve repented for our sins.” Colin says “I don’t feel comfortable with anybody in this group engaging in anything they know to be a violation of the law” (paraphrase). “Thinking we could get anything by Capitol Hill police is hopeful at best.” Rayyan: “With a direct action, if it’s not pulled off well, it’s demoralizing. My other concern is that we’re looking for a number of endorsers, and I think it may be a little late if we come back and say, ‘We’d like to do a direct action.’ There may be an opportunity for us to do this to do direct action in the future….” Misha: It may be possible to complete similar thematic things through costume and props, rather than attempting to leave anything on their doorstep. Leaving ourselves up to criminal activity is dangerous. I do like the idea of bringing props into it. But the questions: where do we get supplies? How do we have the budget for supplies? Who will make these things? But—yeah, we can make this more flashy without getting cops involved. Carrie: At this point, we just might not be prepared to do civil disobedience. I think we should use props; we should talk more about what kinds of props to use that would be visible on camera. Laura: I also think we should try to put front and center with the media what we think is politically the most important part of this rally. If we can get African groups, LGBT groups, and women’s groups together, protesting one right-wing, terrifying, radical group, that’s something that hasn’t been done in DC locally in a long time. Good to show the kind of solidarity that can be built between movements. We should talk about outreach. It sounds like we have a chance of getting a Ugandan speaker—I think that should be front and center in our message. We should have signs today, talking about how all these issues of what’s going on with Africa/colonialism/women’s issues Lane: I have a lot of ideas, wanted to check out the temperature group with things like this. Interested in high-impact things. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Totally willing to give ideas, plan, help coordinate stuff. On the bus ad thing, but we did something that I’ve been talking to people about; it’s about taking it to another level, which is societal acceptance, and advertising (things like that).  There are precious few groups out there to protect LGBT people. Navid: Part of the problem is that DC police have been sued so much, they’re getting afraid of arresting people. 1.     Action plans -plans/backup for rally -preps? Misha: We attempted many times to get out there and scout. We’ll get out there tomorrow, hopefully. Planning on: narrow streets, could be that the action might occur in the general area. Somebody should still stay by C Street house to direct people to move around. Rayyan: I have been talking to someone from Transafrica who could potentially get a Ugandan speaker. We might be able to get at least one more from Transafrica. Start with picket in front of the house; after twenty minutes or so, do a rally in the park nearby. Are there people who have the time to make props and such this weekend? Patrick: As far as ideas, I wonder if it’s better to have a quantity of easy-to-make signs than a few elaborate props. Could we give a clear trajectory of when the event starts and ends? Some kind of event that ends with a culminating endpoint. Some kind of countdown? Try to get somebody to come out of the C St house? 5:30 – 6:15 picket action in front of house. 6:15 – whenever we run out of speakers. Colin: Somebody can pick up the megaphone from somebody this weekend? People need to know that one must still shout when using a megaphone. Rayyan: Can anybody make it at five or five fifteen, to bring signs and scope out the area? Can anybody get there 15 minutes early? Alison: I think you should think about assigning people as marshals. Jessica said she can make signs, 11 x 17—high graphic things, pre-printed. Then homemade, hopefully tonight. Enough posterboard for 100 signs. Also, considering Plan B arrangements, consider that more people might show up than the usual suspects. If this is appearing on major blogs, etc., by the weekend, then it will build to a certain point. We’ll hopefully bring people to all events: Prayer Hour, Press Conference, C St event. Encourage people to bring flashlights at the C St event. Going to put out info on who has been contacted thus far. We could consider chalk; paint the whole street, if we can get people there at four o’clock. The idea of a banner you carry is good (can be mobile with people). And chants. [Carrie is chant leader.] Alison:  Prompts are simple. Two pieces of oaktag, make sandwich board; we can put them on people, just dress people up. Decided against religious overtones. And somebody please take pictures. Colin: I don’t think we need to avoid religion; in this particular situation, our sins are worse than your sins.   Misha: One last thought: two people designated as Marshals is a good idea. Anybody have experience with police? Carrie: Have tactical team and police liaison. The tactical team to guide things, take care of stuff if things get messy. Police liaison=takes care of police. Agreed by consensus to move on.  2.     Outreach -reportbacks form folks who were doing outreach to groups -more outreach planning – other groups Jessica reported on a few things: I think you all have been thorough about your contacts. Have alerted DC Feminist Calendar, flyered at big local arts event. Other than press list, she’s keeping list of organizations that we’re reaching out to. When you’ve done outreach, let Jessica know. Misha: Code Pink, and—I want to contact NARAL, and the most local version of it. Andy: Contacted UMD folks (3 people), Georgetown folks (2), a Howard environmental science professor. Rayyan: Foreign Policy in Focus endorsed us. Transafrica said they’d contact us about endorsing. Alison: Send it to HRC, Task Force, all the major associations, Woodhull Foundation put it out on their action list. We told Wayne we’d be responsible for getting people out. Concerned: where are the volunteers for flyering. Also to blogs. Colin: Contacted head of GW LGBT groups. Patrick: American University? Carrie: Anybody done outreach to health centers? Aiyi’nah: Laura might be able to make announcement on radio show. Misha: Patrick and I coordinating on Twitter. We flyered at Haiti event; Jessica flyered at Mt. Pleasant. Going to use this action as a means to start up the Twitter. Rayyan: Nay, can you talk to Jay at UDC about repping for this event? Aiyi’nah: Yep, I can talk to her there. Carrie: Other outreach? Laura: Other womens’ groups? Any personal contacts for these things? We’ll start following up with phone calls, if we don’t know anybody. Aiyi’nah: Protest at Wilson because of their GSA? LGBT alum there. I also don’t know if you want to go this route, but I can get somebody to work with the GSA at Suntrust Bank for this area. Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. Misha: I have a friend who can help us who recently joined a women’s group. Alison: Who’s going to coordinate the list of people who have been contacted? Misha: It’s Jessica—when you’ve made your contacts, just email Jessica ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Decided by consensus to move on. 3.     Fliering -report on what has been done -Sat 2:30 Col. Heights -Sun 3:30 where? -other  Jessica did Mt. Pleasant Market. Laura/Misha did Haiti: An Unnatural Disaster event. Alison/Dan can print fliers and bring them to whoever needs them. Rayyan: Do Columbia Heights (2:30 Saturday), then hit bars on Sunday? Misha: Of course, the original Call to Action from Wayne had the wrong address for the church. Please remember to use the corrected ones I sent out last night. Be sure to use the correct address, too (Calvary Baptist Church on 8th, not H) Patrick: Gay bars, Saturday before night. Get in a car, and then run in the bar with fliers. Between four and six. Will email someone on the list either way. Carrie: We have a bar list from the March. It’s on our Google docs. We can email the bars in advance with a Call to Action; let them know you’ll come by with fliers. Then come by. Alison: Send little Media Kit to bars, one page, who what where when. Aiyi’nah: I can do Saturday; Columbia Heights at 2:30 works. Available earlier on Sunday before two. U Street. Time Place People Saturday, 2:30 Columbia Heights (by Potbelly) Navid, Laura, Nay Saturday (early evening) Bars Patrick Sunday, 12 pm 14th and U NW Nay, Carrie Masking tape, fliers for postering fliers; quarter sheets to hand out to people, too. Round of applause for Misha (standing ovation). Wonderful job on fliers. Tactical Team: Rayyan, Navid? Police Liaison: Carrie 4.     Sign making