"When the media FAILS us, it is time for us to BE the media - and that's what we do." - Nicole Updated March 2007 
This is an ARCHIVE Letter for the Library - Going Back to the Start of the Iraq War - Mar. 2003 Original Webpage as follows: 
Legal Disclaimer: We will not post any illegal activity. We condemn such behavior. We only post safe and legal actions you can take and we are NOT responsible for other people's decisions or actions they take. These are only suggestions. Every individual hereby agrees to be responsible for his or her own choices and actions. The owner(s) of this website are NOT responsible for other people's choices and actions they make on their own behalf and are relieved of any legal liability for such individuals' actions. By visisting this website, you agree to abide by such terms and conditions as stated above. Our Goal: To get our message out to the Public. Our vigils are also a First Amendment action as we exercise our right to free speech in a public place. In that regard we expect all those who chose to participate to demonstrate peacefully in a law-abiding manner and to cooperate with the site organizer(s) and monitor(s). Camera (for safety purposes); Extra Signs; Fliers (on anti-war issues); Pen(s); Notepad/Clipboard; Clothing for the weather - if it is cold, bring hat and gloves, umbrella if it is rainy. Optional, but Helpful: Music (Don't make it too loud so you can talk to people -- Live Guitarists and other instrumentalists who do Sing-Alongs are great!),Candles, Prayers, Poems, a U.S. Flag -- we should NOT let the pro-bush people hijack our flag and the principles for which it stands for - Democracy, Do's And Don'ts: The specific guidelines, or “Do’s and Don’ts”, as suggested by us are as follows: DO: Hold your sign, banner or candle so motorists can see it. Cross the street with the light. Leave space for pedestrians to pass on the sidewalk, step aside if necessary. Be courteous always. Hand out flyers. Engage in conversations about the war with passerby’s if they are open to it. Stop demonstrating at 7:30 p.m. as a courtesy to merchants in the area. Return sign (if not your own) to the same place where you got it. Come back next week with a friend. Spread the word. DO NOT: Wave your sign into the street, Stand or Impede the Flow of Traffic - Motor or Pedestrian or Step off the curb. Engage in heated arguments. If someone is abusive or threatening, IGNORE them—do NOT Engage them in any way. Call such individuals to the attention of the organizer or a demo monitor and others (possible witnesses). Argue or be confrontational with the police. Refer all matters pertaining to law enforcement to the demo organizer(s) or monitor(s). Additional Safety Tips: 1. Stay on the sidewalk - do not block traffic and do not stand in the intersections. Your feet - both of them - must be on the sidewalk at all times. If you decide to walk the intersection while holding your signs, make sure the people in the cars waiting can read them. OBEY ALL PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS! DO NOT BLOCK TRAFFIC OR INTERSECTION. 2. You must keep the sidewalk free-flowing for pedestrians, not blocking the walkways. Do not block the flow of foot-traffic or motor traffic. 3. Never do this Alone. Take a friend or meet a friend there. It helps to network with other vigils near you - contact them - and ask if they would be interested in helping you start your vigil in exchange for your going to their vigil. It also helps to go to an existing vigil - so you can see what others are doing and so you can network with them in case you need help in the future. 4. Hand out fliers that educate people about a topic you know about and are interested in regarding the Anti-war movement. 5. Talk to people waiting to cross the street and passersby. If they disagree with you, Politely Agree to Disagree and then Focus on taking your message to the Drivers in the cars Waiting at the intersection or to the Traffic Driving by you. Remember, there are people who WANT the Information you have! FOCUS on Them! Remember -- you ARE the media! Do NOT waste time with negativity or people who do not want it. Respond to people who respond to you! If a car honks, turn your sign so they can read it - smile, cheer, wave the peace sign or wave hello! 6. If people join you, invite them to go for coffee or perhaps a potluck or dinner afterwards. 7. Keep the same place and time - if possible. Invite your guests that joined you back next week. 8. Take a Clipboard or a Notepad. Get the people who join you - your vigilers' - names and e-mail addresses and keep them updated - preferably once a week - with a local online newsletter - of upcoming events and online actions they can participate in. Remind them in this newsletter of your vigil, the day, time and place where you will be. 9. Keep your signs New, Exciting and Educational Regarding Current Events. Questions and humor work well. Educational signs - like a website address work too. Profanity does not - we ask people to refrain from profane signs that do not educate and serve only to get people frustrated and it encourages anger, so do not do this. Remember, people want the information you have - and sometimes you only have a few seconds to get their attention before they drive by. Your purpose is to BE the media - keep the public informed - and your Goal is to Get Your Message to the Public. 10. Simple works. Hard to read signs that are cluttered do not. Test your signs -- leave them somewhere standing where you can see them and walk away to see if you can read them. 11. Bright, NEON Yellow Backround or White with Big, Chunky Black letters work well either at night and during the day. Make signs that you can use any time of the day or night. Neon colors with Black or a Yellow or White background with Black are great. 12. Remember that what you do to be the voice in your community is important work. You need to stay informed and knowledgable regarding current events and issues. 13. If people disagree with you, that's ok -- Do NOT make it worse by threatening or antagonizing them. (That does NOT mean you are a wallflower. Know your issues and be willing to stand up for them in a Normal, Adult-like Conversation. Avoid Heated, Angry Discussions and Get the Vigil Co-ordinator and Other for Peace to help calm the situation.) 14. Things to Bring - for Safety Purposes: a. Bring a Camera -- even if it is disposable -- ALWAYS HAVE A CAMERA WITH YOU! b. Take a small Tape Recorder with you. c. Cell phone if possible. 15. JUST IN CASE --- VERY, VERY RARELY, BUT IF: you get a Nasty Pro-war Nut who is looking for a confrontation, here are some tips: a. Politely and Firmly say as you SHOW your camera and TAKE PICTURES, "I am Documenting the Evidence." DO NOT SAY ANTHING ELSE. You can repeat that line as you take pictures. Take As Many Pictures As You Can. A Photo Can Say A 1,000 Words. b. Turn on your tape recorder right away. Get as much of the Nasty person on tape. c. VERY RARE, BUT If someone ( a Pro-war nut ) throws something physically at you -- ALWAYS BE READY TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE CAR. ANYTHING THAT PHYSICALLY TOUCHES YOUR BODY - whether it is water or an object thrown at you, ONCE IT PHYSICALLY TOUCHES YOUR BODY, IT IS AN ASSAULT. CALL THE POLICE AND PRESS CHARGES FOR ASSAULT. And, you can always say, "I am a Peaceful Protester. You Do NOT Have to Hit Me." STAY CALM. d. Get Witnesses who are with you. The more - the better. Get their names and phone numbers. e. ALWAYS DOCUMENT ANY INCIDENT WITH YOUR CAMERA AND TAPE RECORDER AND LET THE NASTY PERSON KNOW IT. THAT USUALLY SCARES THEM OFF RIGHT AWAY. The more documentation you have, the more prepared you are just in case. Nasty Pro-war people RARELY get physical once they see or know they are being filmed and / or recorded on Camera and/or Tape. 16. Most people are Happy and Grateful to See You Out There! I have had NUMEROUS Gulf War Veterans and their family members THANK me for being out there every week, vigiling for peace and helping our sick Gulf War Veterans. As someone who has been out there every week since February 2003 vigiling for peace, I will tell you that your work as a vigiler does give people hope and inspiration. Don't let the pro-war fear-mongers frighten you - if you understand that FEAR is the only weapon they use and that it comes from not having the same knowledge you do, then share your knowledge. And do not let their Fear-based thinking affect you. Remember the great President Roosevelt who said, "There is Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself." "When the media FAILS us, it is time for us to BE the media - and that's what we do." - Nicole ============= Legal Disclaimer: We will not post any illegal activity. We condemn such behavior. We only post safe and legal actions you can take and we are NOT responsible for other people's decisions or actions they take. These are only Suggestions. Every individual hereby agrees to be responsible for his or her own choices and actions. The owner(s) of this website are NOT responsible for other people's choices and actions they make on their own behalf and are relieved of any legal liability for such individuals' actions. By visisting this website, you agree to abide by such terms and conditions as stated above. You Also Agree in this Legal Disclaimer that the owner(s) of this website are relieved of ANY and ALL responsibility for what OTHER PEOPLE say on THEIR OWN websites. We are NOT responsible for Other People's Website Content (Links). This is a Freedom of Speech - 1st Right Amendment and Constitutionally Supporting Website. If you do not like what other people say, then perhaps you should build your own website to express your own views or you can LEAVE. This may require some thinking for you. However, as long as you are a Guest of this website, we ask that you abide by the 1st Amendment and the very Constitution that your Very Own Soldiers have Sworn to Protect and Defend. We are Not Responsible for Other people's 1st Amendment Rights. Everyone is Responsible for His or Her Own Individual Actions. This Legal Disclaimer Applies to ALL Areas of this Website and to Every Guest, implied or stated otherwise. If you are visiting as a guest, have Fun, Enjoy and Please respect other people's 1st Amendment Rights as they do yours. This is a Blue Ribbon Campaign - Freedom of Speech Website - And we do value the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Unlike people in the Pro-Bush camp who are robbing the American people of the values this country was founded on by attacking our Constitution and Bill of Rights and stripping Innocent people of their Constitutional rights our Founding Fathers fought the British rulers for us to have. Being Human and caring about other Human Beings has NOTHING to do with communism, in case you did not learn that in the school of LIFE. America was Founded on Dissent - Our Founding Fathers fought and died for us to be free of British tyranny - so we COULD have that Constitution and Bill of Rights that Bush is working so hard on Dismantling. Thomas Jefferson said, "Nothing is More Patriotic than Dissent." Apparently, nothing is more patriotic than QUESTIONING YOUR LEADERS, AMERICA. WAKE UP! ============= |