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Send progress reports to progress@municipalfreedom.org: they will get posted approximately once a day.
Current signature count:Monday, September 22nd
Abi & Jake got married on Saturday. Also, Abi, Jake, and Ethan moved from 92 Packard Ave #2 to 592 Broadway #2.
Ron collected 21 signatures
The Somerville Greens collected 107 signatures
The Mayor's Office has expressed Interest... more news to follow developments.
Saturday, July 19th
I realize with great embarassment that it's been precisely a month since I updated this, and several important events have been missed in the meantime. Big news today is a major signature-gathering effort at Somerville Art Beat in Davis Square, which netted 360 signatures (plus an additional ~400 for the ACLU state petition). We were visited by one of the Aldermen (can't recall which one right now; doh!), as well as Marty Martinez, who's running for Alderman in Ward 7 and gave us his unequivocal support.
We sold 100 pins and about 30-40 bumper stickers, almost recouping costs for the event --- and sending people off displaying their Patriotic Dissent. Oh, and we got interviewed for a piece on Somerville Community Access TV.
Major thank you to Cos, Vikka, Evelyn, Vivion, Abi, Ethan, Madge, and Abby for all their hard work gathering signatures today. Applause is also due to Patricia for ensuring that "School Marm" brought her bell and Wild-West manners to herd people over to the table!
In other news, the Somerville Green party is considering endorsing us officially, and we've made some small contact with the Somerville Police.
-Jake
Thursday, June 19th
Sunday night after the SBORDC meeting, I went to Club Passim where David Rovics, a radical protest songwriter, was performing. I didn't make it there in time for intermission, so by the time I had a chance to ask him if I could set up and petition by the table where his material was, I only managed to catch a portion of the crowd as they were filing out. It turns out he had UJP material on his table, so it's unfortunate that I didn't get to talk to him earlier - he probably would have talked about it on stage.
I got nine signatures on the ACLU state petition, and four for our petition (the other people who signed the ACLU petition were not Somerville residents). - Cos
Terry & I went petitioning at the Inman Johnny Foodmaster tonight. Terry got 15 signatures and I got 18. -Jake
Friday, June 13th
Last night I spoke at the SMUJP community forum, "Immigrant Rights and Civil Liberties in Somerville". The forum was cosponsored by the ACLU and several local immigrants and other organizations, and it was very well attended - about 90 people, a significant number of them Haitian and Latino. The other speakers on the agenda were:
I think my presentation was very well received, and I got spontaneous applause several times. Abi and Jake set up some of our materials on a table and passed out petitions. I didn't count the signatures, but I think we got more than three full pages, which probably means we got everyone who was in that room who was from Somerville. I think that's about 60 new signatures, maybe more.
I also encouraged people to tell their friends about it, present to any organizations they're members of, and if they don't live in Somerville, to start BORDC's in their communities. Harvey Belize, the keynote speaker, talked to me afterward. He's Haitian, and a lawyer, and he offerred to translate our informational flyer into Creole, so hopefully we'll be getting that from him before too long. He also seemed interested in starting a BORDC (I forget what town he lives in, but it's not one that has passed one or is trying to as far as I know). I also got two offers to translate into Spanish, and gave them both copies of the info sheet and my email address.
One of the people who talked to me after the forum is a teacher, and another is from a Haitian group, and both of them took packets. I hope we hear back from them. -Cos
Monday, June 9th
Terry & I went petitioning at Johnny Foodmaster on Alewife Brook Parkway. Lots of folks from Medford, Cambridge, Arlington. Terry got 17 sigs, I got 23. Also, two women I talked to had a run-in with the INS disappearing a neighbor, and gave me their email address to follow up. -Jake
Tuesday, June 3rd
12 new signatures arrived in the mail today.
Sunday, June 1st
I tend to go petitioning in the morning or afternoon, as I am almost always busy in the evenings. This week, I could go on Wednesday morning or early afternoon, or Thursday afternoon. Anyone want to come? I'm comfortable doing it at Winter Hill Star Market (on Broadway, close to Rte 28), but I'm open to going other places. I have a car and can pick up someone as well. - cee
Friday, May 30th
I collected signatures with Cee today at the Winter Hill Star. I got 14 new signatures, bringing my total to 104! I'd be eager to go out with someone who wants to petition but hasn't found the courage/time/activation energy yet.
With regards to permission, I usually get asked if the store manager knows that we're there, but I've always gotten permission, so it hasn't been a problem. -Pete
Pete and I went petitioning at Winter Hill Star again today. (Oops, forgot to get permission first, but all was well.) Stayed out about an hour and a half, I got 28 signatures. That puts me over my personal goal of 80. Woot! Yes, I intend to keep going.
I found myself switching to "Would you like to sign a petition to help keep Somerville safe for the Bill of Rights?" - it's easier to say than "Civil Liberties Safe Zone" (all that sibilance) and more comprehensible for the average person, gets the attention more and leads in better to "The feds blah blah blah" that I say thereafter.
Feel free to email the new folks with the suggestion that they contact me or Pete for help in doing this. Both of us are willing to go a-petitioning with someone new, to help them work into it. -cee
Wednesday, May 28th
It was raining very hard, so we didn't petition at Johnny Foodmaster. -Jake
44 new signatures arrived in the mail at 92 Packard Ave
Tuesday, May 27th
The meeting at the main branch library had about 20 people there, and went quite well. Structure was much the same as the April meeting.
Two announcements of note: there are four upcoming times I plan to be petitioning at Supermakets and invite anybody to join me, particularly people who haven't petitioned before and want to get started:
Saturday, May 24th
Vicka and I threw a massage party last night, at which Vicka personally proselytized to every person who came. She did a lot of educating and collected 17 more signatures. I also have three more, so add 20 to the total. -cee
Tuesday, May 20th
Hi, Here's some ideas for the Patriot Act Petitioning:
I've gone out petitioning with the Israel Divestment group. This is what i found to be very effective: having large poster board signs capsulizing some of the key points of the issue. As people come out of the T, that's what they see immediately and it's eye-catching. They either pick up a flyer or not from you. Those who pick up a flyer, you ask to sign the petition. It saves time from having to verbally explain what you are doing and chasing people.
At the Porter Square T stop, you can use 4-6 people there as it's only 1 exit. I was there yesterday with only one other person. I was at the bottom of the stairs next to the clothing stand. I had one sign there facing the escalator coming out of the turnstill and one sign facing the escalator coming down from the other end. I also had another sign propped against the stairs next to the newspaper bins. Everyone who came out of the T read the signs. They at least learned something about Palestinian-Israeli conflict even if they did not take a flyer or sign the petition. Some approached to get a flyer and sign petition.
My petitioning partner was at the top of the stairs with a table and also lots of signs and petitions and leafteting at the same time.
When we were at the Davis Square T (theatre side) we had signs propped up against the trees and posts. Passersby also read the signs and stopped by the table.
I thought this might be helpful for the Patriot Act work. - Madge
Friday, May 16th
Bless me Father for I have collected. It has been 3 1/2 weeks since my last progress report. During that time, I have collected 63 signatures with Madge, Terry and Cee, bringing my total up to 90.
I have also contacted Gravestar, who manage the Porter Square shopping mall. I have all the details about collecting signatures in front of the Porter Square Star Market. One of the restrictions is that we can't approach people, so Terry and I found that we were better off going to the Porter Square T station. Gravestar has decided that I am their contact person, so anyone who would like to collect signatures there should contact me for the restrictions and details. On the good news side, we don't have to talk to the store manager ahead of time anymore. -Pete
Abby reports two more sheets of signatures
Pete and I went petitioning in front of Winter Hill Star today. Despite the chilly weather (poor fingers!), we had a good run. I used the same "spiel" that Jake suggested, and it worked very well. I've got 26 new signatures to add to the count.
By the way, to answer Evelyn's question: when Pete and I have gotten signatures outside of Winter Hill Star supermarket, I've gotten permission from the store manager (Frank) first. Star corporate says that such things are up to the individual stores, and Frank has easily granted permission both times. - cee
Monday, May 12th
Here are names and numbers of contact people at local supermarkets that Abby put together. If you're planning on doing an information table you do want to contact stores. They will let you know if another group has already signed up for that date/time.
Saturday, May 10th
Hi, Evelyn and I collected signatures at Market Basket this afternoon, Evelyn is turning in 2 pages of signatures (is that 38?) She also has another half page plus we both have one half page each of Mass. petition signatures. I'm planning to collect signatures again on Monday with Pete. -Terry Signaigo
I'd like to do petitioning again on Monday, either at Davis Square or Porter Square. Would like to get a petition partner or if I could join a team already doing petitioning that day. I'm open to doing it another day too if Monday doesn't work out. Please email me or call me at: (617) 625-1567. Also, I have a lot of flyers from the ACLU. If you need any for your petitioning, please let me know. -Madge
Tuesday, May 6th
While working Johnny Foodmaster last Wednesday, I discovered a useful elevator talk to use in getting people to sign the petition: virtually everybody I talked to signed, so I figured I'd share it with others:
The Somerville News published our press release as a story, whole and unedited on page 2.
Monday, May 5th
I don't know if other petititioners have the same experience as me. Peter Gast and I did it today. About 75% of the people we approached had no clue about Patriot Act or wanted to know more about Patriot Act, or just refused to sign. We didn't have any flyers to give out.
I called up the ACLU to get 500-1000 flyers (orange 1/2 sheet), and Nancy Murray will be mailing them out to me in the next day or so.
Please tell everyone in the group that I will have them here and they can pick it up from me or I could arrange to give it to them or bring to their house if it's nearby.
It's a handy tool to have. If we don't get any signatures from people then they could at least learn about the Act. -Madge
Sunday, May 4th
57 total signatures for the Somerville petition, 11 for the massachusetts Petition. All at the Somerville Open Studios. And I sold stuff too! yea! -abby
I got 25 signatures on Saturday at the Somerville Open Studios but only 5 were people from Somerville. One of the Somerville people said several of her friends are librarians and she knew all about the USA Patriot Act. She took a petition to get her housemates and neighbors to sign. -- Evelyn
Saturday, May 3rd
27 signatures from the first day of the Somerville Open Studios. Yea!! -abby
Wednesday, April 30th
I got 37 in an hour and a half standing outside of Johnny's Foodmaster in Inman Square. Supermarkets rock! -Jake
Tuesday, April 29th
Collected 15 between the progressive potluck and a stint bugging my friends at the Someday on sunday night. -Abi
Monday, April 28th
I got a letter yesterday from the ACLU, that they sent to all of their members in Somerville, MA. It talks about the bill of rights defense resolutions that have been passed in MA and nationally, has a sheet with info and contact information for us and for SMUJP, a copy of the ACLU petition to the state government, and a PATRIOT II informational flyer with contact info for the MA congressional delegation. -Cos
Friday, April 25th
got one from a bandmate, one from yoga class, and six from a little time at diesel last night. one of the folks who signed at diesel said he was on his way to a performance by some fellow named "jimmy tingle", and took a flyer to give to him. (same guy came back later and gave me a tape of the performer, too, which i haven't listened to yet :) -vicka
Thursday, April 24th
I've collected 7 more signatures, mostly from my clients, in the last few days. That brings my total to 28. By the way, my goal is 80. There were 25 people at the first meeting, and we're aiming for 2000, so that means 80 each. I think that's eminently reachable. -Colleen
Tuesday, April 22nd
I got 12 more signatures after an easter party, bringing my total up to 27. -Pete
Monday, April 21th
FYI, the Somerville Green Party will be collecting signatures from Somerville residents to make the city a civil liberties safe zone. We are doing this as part of our tabling outreach to register new voters, and get more people connected with the Greens. If you'd like to volunteer to help table with another volunteer for 2 hours one or more days in the next couple of weeks or beyond, just email me what works for you. Here are upcoming tabling dates and locations for the next 2 weeks:
Saturday, April 19th
Collected four signatures from people at the Bikepath Garden work-day -Abi
I got permission to leave petitions at McIntyre & Moore, and Someday Cafe, and the Somerville News printed an article on us. -Abi
10 tips for tabling / petitioning:
Friday, April 18th
As half of Cee and I at Star, I collected 13 signatures, bringing my personal total to 15. I even got one of Cee's housemates before she did. I am so glad that Cee was there with me, it made the experience much more enjoyable, even if she is a better smoozer than I am. -Pete
Pete and I just collected signatures in front of Star Market in Winter Hill for about an hour and a half, a little less. I got 21; I don't know how many he did. I think next time, I'll do even better. :) -Colleen
I brought the petition to a graduate student lunch at my lab and collected a eight signatures --- every (admitted) Somerville resident in the room. -Jake
On Tuesday, April 15, I collected 14 signatures at a meeting of "Progressive Democrats of Somerville" (mostly delegates to the upcoming State Democratic Issues Convention). -Ron
Thursday, April 17th
According to the city clerk, because our petition is not technically a legal document, just a show of support, there is no age restriction on who can sign the petition. -Abi
spent a little over an hour at diesel with rich and a sign i made. collected ten signatures. already had 9 on that sheet, which meant two are on the bottom where there weren't actually lines; hope that is okay! -vicka
If you want my assistance hooking up with someone, let me know a range of days and hours that you could be available for petitioning; let me know if there's a particular area you want to cover. I'll hook you up as best possible with someone with similar availability or interest in working specific places. -Evelyn
Wednesday, April 16th
As the person who has been in contact with the city clerk on issues that have come up so far, I can continue in that roll. If anyone has nit-picky city-clerk type questions about what the petition can include, you can send them directly to me. I will be calling the city clerk on wednesday to find out about non-voting-age signatures. -Abi
got permission to sit at a table at diesel cafe and collect signatures for the somerville bill o' rights defense committee petition. probably going to do this thursday night. must make sign. -vicka
Tuesday, April 15th
Talked to the Principal of Powderhouse Community School about connecting us with their Social Studies curriculum. She took down my name and information and said there was a good teacher for it which she would put in contact with me. -Jake
On the petition, the word "council" should be "counsel" -Ron [Fixed by Jake 4/16, then again 4/18]
Posted the petition on my office door and my officemate signed it. Two signatures, including mine. -Jake
Collected roommate signatures: total of four. -Abi
Monday, April 14th
We had 25 people there all told, which is just barely more than there are chairs for in the West Branch library meeting room, and folks were quite enthusiastic.
The meeting had three phases:
So the agenda right now is gathering signatures. -Jake