Taking Protest to Congress Members' Homes

[davidswanson]

Nonviolent Peaceful Demonstrations In Front of Congress Members' Homes Every Weekend

Democrats.com, Progressive Democrats of America, After Downing Street, Gold Star Families for Peace, Hip Hop Caucus, Democracy Rising, and Velvet Revolution, are working to organize grassroots teams in all 435 Congressional Districts plus 5 Delegate Districts (DC, PR, VI, GU, and AS) and to hold nonviolent peaceful demonstrations every weekend in front of the homes of congress members.

Our Mission: to persuade each of our Representatives to support

Impeachment: Support John Conyers' Watergate-style investigation (H.Res. 635) of Bush's Iraq War lies - and also immediately introduce Articles of Impeachment for Bush and Cheney

Getting Out of Iraq: Support John Murtha's bill to remove troops from Iraq (H.J. Res 73) and Jim McGovern's bill to end funding for the Iraq War (H.R. 4232)

How to Volunteer:
Register here:
http://www.democrats.com/user/register

Read the whole plan:
http://www.democrats.com/cd

Organize your congressional district:
http://pdamerica.org/orgs/cdpp-form.php

Pass This on:
Forward this to activists you know all over the country.

[havocmom]

1. Sounds like a good way to piss off innocent neighbors

NOT a good plan. Don't take it to their homes. Leave the kids and neighbors out of it.

[Debi]

2. I'm close to a former member of congress

and this just doesn't work for me.

Members of Congress (no matter what party they belong to) are still human, have spouses and children. Is 24-7 harassment really the way to spread our message?

I just disagree.

[mitchum]

7. But they are paid public SERVANTS 24/7

and paid quite lucratively

[cyberpj]

9. then you go to their offices. nt

[Debi]

10. Ya know what, bullshit.

They are paid a little over $150,000 a year to serve in Congress. They have to maintain two homes in two different places and pay for all the expenses that their campaigns legally can't pay for. Maybe it's more than you or me make, but it's not a millionaires salary and we need to quit acting like it is. They work a hell of alot longer than an eight hour work day and have to always be 'on' when a constituent or a non-constituent contacts them. It's a job that requires them to have knowledge about any issue at any moment. When they are not in Washington they are back home working (at least the good ones are) attending town hall meetings and forums if not County events and fund raisers. Walking in parades and going to high school graduations and public sporting events (and being stopped by every other person to discuss something of importance). It invades marriages, relationships with children and all family events.

Sure, it's got to be one of the greatest jobs in the Country, it would be an honor to get to serve in Congress and I'm sure each of them think that way. But this 'their public servants' crap is as bad as yelling at the IRS agent "I pay your salary".

Call their office, bug their staff, show up at listening posts or at their public events. But these people are human beings, they deserve to be treated as such.

[mitchum]

12. So that whole "public servant" thing is not quite accurate?

Why don't we just call them dukes, barons, and viscounts?

[Debi]

15. Because they are elected to office and they do the work as representatives

of their Districts/States. They do have a responsibility to the public. But they also have some rights of privacy, don't they? Or do they give that up when they take their oath of office? Do you call your mayor every night at home to ensure the City is taken care of properly? What about your Board of Supervisors members? Call them at work, in their offices, bug them when they are 'on the job' let them eat supper, take a shower and sleep for goodness sake. Be decent.

[KansDem]

3. This reminds me a little of the "Gore has to go" crowd in 2000...

Aired November 25, 2000 on CNN--

Well, there's a large group of protesters encircling the block for about the last 40 minutes. Basically they're saying "Gore has to go." And they've also been carrying some signs in reference to the Democratic allegations that the Republicans have been orchestrating those protests down in Florida and that those were rented protesters. They say that "I'm not rented." They've also said, Lieberman we're not thugs; protesting is American, contesting is whining. They're carrying all these signs around and around the block. Basically, in support of -- they have placards saying "President Bush."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0011/25/cst.21.html

[onenote]

4. bad idea -- going to piss people off

Even during the height of Vietnam protests, I don't recall people demonstrating in front of people's homes.

onenote

[400Years]

5. whatever you do, don't upset people

:eyes:

[hopein08]

6. I don't want * supporters protesting in front of my house so...

I will be the bigger person and not protest in front of their houses.

Treat others as you wish to be treated.

[cyberpj]

8. I am NOT for this activity. Families should be left out of it. nt

[mitchum]

11. Even when their legislation affects my family?

okay...

[KingFlorez]

13. It's not a good to go to people's houses

We can't start harrasing members of congress, it doesn't help our cause.

[SaveElmer]

14. Very bad idea...

Families should be left out of it...and I'm sure the neighbors will love it. The message you are trying to send would get drowned out in the media coverage of the effects.