2020-9-3 Guidance for September 5 TrumpPenceOutNOW Protests
Hello chapters & organizers:
NOTE: We will be sending more political orientation for the content of the rallies and plans for the days to follow the rally sometime on Friday September 4. Be sure to look for this and prioritize reading, discussing, and infusing this orientation into your Saturday protests once you receive it.
Also important: Send a short report Saturday nite – even a few sentences of what happened (call if need be). Then by Sunday night you can write more.
KEY POINTS to come THROUGH during the RALLY & MARCH 

●	It is up to us -- all of us here today and all those that we reach out to and unite in the coming days and weeks -- to stop a fascist America. The Trump/Pence regime is on a collision course with humanity, unleashing violent white supremacy and state terror against Black people and protesters, refusing in advance to accept any electoral loss in November, and preparing for far worse -- against immigrants, Black people, women and LGBTQ people, the environment, the people of the world --  if they are not stopped. The future for billions hangs in the balance.

●	Through all we do and say people should have a real sense that this is A BEGINNING -- a force gathering that will not stop until the regime is gone and their fascist program stopped. We are telling the world: we are uniting, we are organizing, we are determined, we are preparing to struggle with all we’ve got, starting NOW and NOT Stopping until the Trump/Pence Regime is driven from power and its fascist program brought to a halt. 

●	60 DAYS: September should see people all over organizing vigils, town halls, salons, plastering their city with signs and posters saying Trump/Pence Out Now, outdoor concerts, videos, writing, artwork – giving a sense that we are uniting, we are organizing, we are determined, we are preparing to struggle with all we’ve got. By October there needs to be a situation in this country where protests happen day after day. Protests that make visceral the demand that Trump and Pence Must Go. RefuseFascism.org does not see that all, or even most, of these would be called by us – but that unity is built on the basis of the growing determination of people to stay in the streets and refuse to accept this illegitimate regime. 

●	AUDIO STATEMENTS: Prepare to play statements from Cornel West and others [this can be done via Bluetooth speaker and phone].

●	We’ll send a Pledge everyone can take verbally together. Have someone prepared to lead powerfully AND someone lined up to record and get on social media right away. Ideally, read the pledge collectively while the press is there!

●	Be sure to announce next local mass meetings/actions within the week and something they can do together the very next day or Labor Day, such as a poster outing, socially-distanced gathering, banner hang.

ORGANIZING ALL WHO COME OUT

●	Everyone who has responded positively to this call and demand should be unleashed to make this their mission to get their people out Saturday… and to continue on for 60 days of struggle. Everyone has a role to play and everyone should play the biggest role they can.

●	The people who come are not just bodies in the street. They are real people and they came for a reason! Find out who they are AND give them a way to become organizers on the spot AND in coming days. Examples of ways to involve people on the spot: distributing palm cards or other materials, going around with the QR code sheets signing people up to follow on social media, holding banners, helping lead chants, taking selfies and posting right away tagging @RefuseFascism w/ #Sept5Protests #TrumpPenceOutNow, following RF on social media on the spot, livestreaming protest. 

●	Materials: make sure you have stacks of materials people can leave with, especially stickers, posters to get up.  Make sure to have QR code sign up.

●	Tell people to go out and find all those who are outraged, all the people who are so upset they don’t know what to do, the people are going all-out registering people to vote and get them involved in the next 60 days.

●	Meet up after the protests. See if socially-distanced outdoor pizza at a park or outdoor cafe is possible.

Follow up with people who came and give them ways to become a part of spreading this, putting this in their hands & unleashing their creativity and utilizing their social connections.

FUNDRAISING

●	We can raise hundreds of dollars by shaking a bucket for cash and promoting Venmo and CashApp as easy no-contact ways to donate. Be sure to ask during the rally, shake the can along the march route and at the end do another push. Remember this is a way people become part of this movement and that mass nonviolent sustained protests don’t happen without funds.

●	When doing Facebook LIVES, be sure to include Venmo & CashApp for people watching who want to be involved & be sure to ASK people to donate.

SOCIAL MEDIA

●	Put out a call for photographers and videographers. One suggestion: get everyone together and pose, with signs, for a group shot with people looking at the camera.
●	Use hashtags #Sept5Protests and #TrumpPenceOutNow so that we can share your posts.
SAFETY

●	Masks should be worn. Consider selling TrumpPenceOutNOW masks (ask us!) or having disposable masks available. This is a great volunteer opportunity for volunteers to bring extra masks. Model wearing them correctly and social distancing. Bring wipes to clean microphone and megaphone.

●	Our protests are non-violent. We refuse to be provoked, but we will also NOT be deterred or turned back from our goal. We defend those who are attacked for standing up against fascism. We work to turn every attack into a means to rally more people to join this great cause. Make sure to encourage people to leave the protest with a buddy.

●	Good Protest Hygiene: Don’t Talk to Fascists.

PRESS

●	Whoever is speaking in front of press or being interviewed, should hold a TrumpPenceOutNOW / 60 Days of Nonviolent Struggle sign or have it held behind them.

●	Keep in mind press often attends only the beginning of protests, so think about visuals, staging (RefuseFascism.org should be put in place so it isn’t easy to edit out) and what we are communicating (our mission, diversity of speakers etc). Don’t put your strongest speakers only at the end.

●	Collect contact info of reporters.

●	Go to RefuseFascism.org and read Twitter.com/RefuseFascism to prepare: there are valuable film clips, points of agitation, and articles for you to use.