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Organize Locally
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Organize a Town or City Council Resolution

One way to bring attention to Guatemala and be in solidarity with Guatemalans striving for justice is to pass a town or city council resolution. Resolutions have been important tools for building support for justice issues in our country - including the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and the more recent anti-apartheid and anti-war movements.

In their focus on global and national issues, advocates often forget to educate their closest allies - local city councils, mayors, boards of governance of community colleges, congregations, seminaries, civic groups, and state legislatures. The process of passing a resolution provides many opportunities to educate a wide variety of audiences about an issue, build a network of Guatemalan advocates, and generate other advocacy-related activities - creating a true ripple effect.

Why Resolutions?

• Resolutions send an important message to local and national political leaders that your community is in favor of U.S. policies that promote socioeconomic justice and an end to impunity in Guatemala.
  
• Resolutions are a particularly effective way of educating the public about the current situation in Guatemala.
  
• They also provide an important opportunity to engage the media on Guatemala.
  
• Passing resolutions manifests solidarity with Guatemalans.
  
• Resolutions help bring together local activists working on Guatemala.
  
• Resolutions encourage your members of Congress to reconsider U.S. policy toward Guatemala and to make policy decisions that favor respect for human rights and justice in Guatemala.

Where to Begin?
1. Bring together members of your community who care about Guatemala to plan how to pass this important statement of support. Invite related groups to join in these efforts.

2. Think of the many ways that your group has access to your city council. Determine where and how you have influence. Does someone in the group know of a city council member who is interested in Guatemala, or human rights? Is there a member of your group who is a friend or acquaintance of a member of the city council? Do you know someone in the mayor's office who could schedule a meeting for you?

3. Next, schedule a meeting (or series of meetings) with one or more council members. Send a group of Guatemalan advocates, or extend an invitation to meet with a larger group in a public meeting space. Let the council member know you are looking for support. Describe the situation in Guatemala, why you are personally concerned, and why you believe the situation merits an official resolution from the city council.

4. If the meeting with the council member goes well, ask him/her to support the resolution. Make sure you go to the meeting with a draft of what you want the resolution to say. Give your draft to the council member and ask how to proceed. Because particular language and procedures are used to pass resolutions, it's helpful to have someone knowledgeable help you through the process. If the council member can't play that role, ask whether there is someone else who can help finalize the draft so that it conforms to city council guidelines. Finally, be sure to follow-up your meeting with a thank you note and stay in touch.

5. Your letter and phone call campaign begin next. Have your Guatemalan advocacy group launch an effort to support passage of the resolution by encouraging local community members to call and write city council in support of the resolution.

6. Send petitions or similar statements from area churches, civic groups, colleges, seminaries, and other groups to your mayor's office and city council members to show widespread support. Strengthen your message by inviting Guatemalan human rights experts to speak to your leaders about the importance of these efforts. You can also invite the mayor and city council to educational events, panels, or discussions where they can learn more.

7. Maintain regular contact with the media - be sure to make contact at the beginning of your campaign as well as throughout the process. Local people coming together to support international communities is important and compelling news. Letting the media know at the beginning of the process will also set the stage for continued media coverage when the resolution passes.

8. Continue to communicate with, and support, your council member(s) as the resolution moves through city council.

9. Celebrate your accomplishment! When the resolution is passed, send a summary to the media, your elected officials (local and national), and to NISGUA so that it can be shared with Guatemalan partners working for justice. Be sure to send a copy to all members of Congress in your state as well. Include a personal note and follow up with a phone call to ensure s/he is aware of the resolution.

Click here for a sample City Council Resolution on Guatemala

Thanks to Lutheran World Relief for their very useful guide “Talking about a Resolution,” from which most of the above information was extracted and modified. Also visit 20/20 Vision’s site on city council resolutions for additional information.