Take Action for Gaza Human Rights

Hold a Citizen Hearing

In December 2008 and January 2009, many of us watched in dismay as Israel conducted a massive offensive against Gaza. We were shocked by stories of the Israeli military’s targeting of Palestinian civilians, schools, hospitals and infrastructure. In the months since, major human rights organizations have confirmed these stories and have called for official investigations.  As Americans, this call is particularly relevant given our country’s role as a key supplier and financier of Israel’s weapons.  However, our elected representatives in Congress have not held hearings on, and our government has not investigated, whether such weapons were used in violation of U.S. and international law.  Therefore, as citizens, we must (1) hold  our own hearings and (2) urge our representatives to request an investigation into Israel’s use of U.S. weapons during its offensive against Gaza. 
 
We urge you to organize a citizen hearing today!  To help you do so, we provide you with the instructions below and would be happy to connect you with fellow activists, speakers and resources.
 
HOW TO HOLD A CITIZEN HEARING
 
BEFORE THE CITIZEN HEARING

1)  Schedule a Date and Time for the hearing.
 
2) Contact Us to Secure a Speaker in Your Area – AAPER Foundation has compiled a list of speakers across the United States who have traveled to Gaza in the aftermath of Israel’s recent military offensive.  These speakers include representatives of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the National Lawyers Guild and Code Pink, among others. 

3)  Select a Venue – Select and reserve a venue at which to hold your event.  Some venue possibilities include churches, hotel meeting rooms, university halls, community centers, libraries, book stores and convention center meeting spaces. The main criteria in selecting a venue should be that the venue is: (a) open to the public; (b) easily accessible; and (c) can accommodate the amount of people that you expect to attend. Regardless of what kind of venue you choose, be sure to obtain the proper permission to use it.

4)  Secure Any Necessary Audiovisual Equipment, including projectors, microphones and speakers.
 
5)  Choose an Emcee who will introduce the speakers.

6)  Promote the Event – For your event to be as successful as possible, you want as many people to come as possible. To ensure that, you’ll have to widely publicize the event to potentially interested people.  Here are a few ways to do so:

  • Have each organizer and supporter contact people from their phone contacts and email lists
  • Create an event page on Facebook, MySpace or on other social networking sites and send out messages to potentially interested friends
  • Pass out and post flyers in central areas around town or campus
  • Send emails to relevant email lists
  • Contact and invite representatives of local chapters of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, local World Affairs Councils, peace and justice groups, mosques, churches and campus-based international affairs and international law societies

 

 
AT THE CITZEN HEARING

1)  Sign People In – Prior to the hearing, place a Sign-In Sheet at the entrance of the room in which the event is taking place.  During the hearing, pass the Sign-In Sheet around the room to all audience members. 
 
2)  Introduce the Speaker(s).  First, the emcee should introduce the speaker(s).  Then, the speakers will make a presentation about what they saw in Gaza as members of human rights delegations and/or provide testimony of what they experienced in Gaza.  

3)   Allow for a Question and Answer Period

4)  Divide Attendees into Groups According to their Congressional District.  Give each group is given a Congressional Engagement Packet, which includes talking points, a Gaza fact sheet, and a sample letter to the Department of State requesting an AECA investigation among other documents. 

5)  Groups Review the Packet and the Possibility of Meeting with their Member of Congress.  The group should set up a time to meet again within the next week to arrange for a meeting with their Congressional representative and to organize themselves for that meeting in which they will request that their member support a letter to the Department of State requesting an AECA investigation.

6)  Organizers Gather Contact Information for Point People from Each Group.

7)  Organizers Submit Information from Citizen Hearing to AAPER Foundation for Follow Up.
 
 

AFTER THE CITIZEN HEARING (Meeting Your Member of Congress)

1) Select Members of Delegation and Time to Meet with Members of Congress at their District Offices.  Click here for assistance in setting up your meeting.

2) Contact AAPER Foundation to (a) let us know who is attending the meeting and (b) to schedule a Congressional Engagement Training via webinar (please provide AAPER with at least 5 days notice of for any training.).

3)  Meet with Members of Congress or their Staff.

4)  Complete and Send AAPER Foundation Your Meeting Evaluation Form. 

5)  AAPER Foundation Staff will Follow Up with Your Member of Congress.