September 12Th National Moral Day of Action

Toolkit

September 12th National Moral Day of Action

September 12th

State Capitols

11:00 a.m.

September 12th National Moral Day of Action Toolkit

On Monday, September 12, 2016 (as a part of The Revival: Time for a Moral Revolution of Values) at State Capitols around the nation, at 11 AM in every time zone, justice will roll across the country as faith leaders from diverse traditions, people impacted by poverty, racism, and injustice, advocates, and activists come together rally and to deliver to our elected leaders and candidates the Higher Ground Moral Declaration, which calls on governors, senators, state legislators and candidates for office to move away fromextremist politics and policies that benefit the few and move toward policies and laws that are just and fair and guarantee a better life for the majority of the people.

The Moral Declaration that has already been delivered to the RNC as well as the DNC will be read, proclaimed, and delivered to our Governors, US Senate candidates and state party officials.

The format will be simple and will be the same in every state. At this time, we will not engage in civil disobedience because the first step must be petition. We will be acting as one to send the same message to our state leaders and through the media to our communities and nation that it is time for a moral revolution of values that challenges the narrow construct of those who purport to represent the, so-called, “religious right.”

We will sing the same opening and closing songs, recite the same litany, and the same chants on the walk around the State Houses. (These are included below).

All events should be live streamed and videotaped.

Format & Program

10:00 a.m.Gather at a church, synagogue, mosque, etc. (within one-minute walk of the state capitol). Set up & distribute the litany and placards.

10:15 a.m. Line up with 2 clergy persons flanking impacted persons. Will leave and

walk to the capitol and complete one circle around, ending at a pre-

arranged area to hold the Higher Ground Moral Declaration reading.

11:00 a.m.Clergy give the purpose

11:05 a.m. Opening song:“I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind

(Stayed on Justice)

Other verses: “It ain’t no harm to keep your mind, stayed… I’m walking and talking with my mind, stayed…

11:10 a.m. Announce that the Higher Ground Moral Declaration has been signed by thousands of faith leaders and individuals from many religious traditions. Begin reading the Declaration. One clergy should read the moral declaration issue area. For each issue in the Declaration one impacted person should briefly to share their story.

11:45 a.m.Read the Higher Ground Litany- Call & Response

11:50 a.m. Ask people to vigil around the State House. Circle the State House two times carrying simple placards that highlight the injustices you want to lift up and frame as moral issues. (Adjust for your State Capitol building as needed—the point is to have a moving line with people chanting and carrying placards.) Use chants provided.

(Chant suggestions)

Leader: When I say we want you say, justice. We want!!!

Response: Justice!!

Leader: We want!!

Crowd: Justice!!

Leader: replace the word “justice” with issues like “health care”, voting rights,

education, living wages, etc. and the crowd answers back with the same.

Leader: Show me what democracy looks like

Response: This is what democracy looks like

Leader: Show me what hypocrisy looks like

Response: That is what hypocrisy looks like

Leader: The people, united will never be defeated

(Marchers join in)

Leader: Justice for all!

Response: Justice for all!

Leader: Health care for all!

Response: Health care for all!

Leader: Voting Rights for all!

Response: Voting rights for all! etc.!

Leader: From east to west…

Response: The people speak

Leader: From north to south…

Response: The people speak…

Leader: Health care for all

Response: The people speak…

Leader: Living wages….

Etc.

11:50 a.m. A delegation of 5 clergy and 5 people impacted by harmful legislation will deliver the declaration to the Governor’s office, symbolic of those delivered to the Governor. While doing this, other attendees will complete two walks around the capitol carrying simple placards (example: Living wages is a moral issue; health care for all; poverty is a moral issue, etc.)

12:15 Upon completion, there will be a chant, song and unity commitment/interfaith prayer.

Chant: “The people, united, will never be defeated!!

Song: “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”

12:30 Closing

Checklist for Events

Sturdy podium: flanking podium should be large posters listing the moral issues we are declaring.
Each area should have an experienced, trained, song leader.
Professional Sound System
No signs should reflect vulgarity or hatred.
Copies of:
Higher Ground Moral Declaration
Litany
Songs & Chants
Black & White Placards that name your concerns as moral issues, e.g.
The Right to Vote is a Moral Issue
A Living Wage is a Moral Issue
Health Care is a Moral Issue

Press Release (see Media Section)

Ask clergy to wear stoles, collars, something from their faith tradition
Video Camera and Live stream equipment

Roles to be filled for Event

Emcee
Song leader
Declaration readers
Litany leader
Delegation to deliver Declaration
Volunteers to distribute copies of litany and placards
Media Handler, Spokesperson
Tech crew for sound system set up, live stream and filming
Photographer
Social Media volunteers to post and tweet during event

Preparing & Organizing for the Event

These events need to be clergy led in partnership with community organizations.

Bring together a local organizing committee – build your state’s diverse fusion coalition.

Aim for at least one face to face meeting and have a call every week between now and September 12th. Videoconference platforms such as Zoom.us also work well. Try

Find out if you need a permit and apply in time if you do (note that if you keep your event moving you can often by-pass permit requirements.)

Send a letter to the Governor to let them know you are coming, ask them to attend the event to receive the Declaration or meet with you so that you can deliver the Declaration. Many Governors’ offices require that a form be filled out. If you do not have someone in your group with a connection or experience in doing this, see for how to request a meeting. If you can’t get a meeting, simply process to the Governor’s office and deliver the Declaration. Be prepared to go through security checks at the door. (Note: If your Governor does come to the event to receive the Declaration they should simply thank you. No speeches, this is not a platform for them.)

Send a letter to candidates running for Governor as well as to your US Senators and candidates. (See sample letter at end of this guide.)

Scout out the scene at your State House to make sure that you can do a walking vigil around it and how much time that will take. A rule of thumb is that it takes a march about 30 minutes to walk a mile.

Turnout Goals: These events do not have to have thousands. 20-30 clergy leading a group of 150-200 people will provide the impact and visuals needed to make our statement.

Make sure clergy and faith leaders have signed the Higher Ground Moral Declaration at

Media Strategy

In addition to local coverage we will aim for national media with the story that these actions are happening all over the country. The Revival media coordinator will handle national coverage.

(Note: These events are not NAACP events. Each state has its own diverse fusion coalition.)

Information about the actions, including cities where they are taking place, will be posted on The Revival website and and the Repairers of the Breach website

In addition to contacting local TV channels and newspapers, be sure to contact NPR (National Public Radio) and other progressive news outlets.

Make social media part of your plan, from setting up a Facebook event to having multiple people posting to Facebook and tweeting.

Materials

Higher Ground Moral Declaration
Opening and Closing Songs
Chants
Litany
Template for Placards
Sample letter to Governors, Senators, and Candidates