The protests you are witnessing all over the country are a direct result of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others, they are a response to the systemic racism in our police and criminal justice systems that create tiered levels of justice in America and horrifying brutality against Black and Brown people. Now is the time to reimagine what policing looks like in America and you can be a part of.
We are urging you to call on your own local and state officials and tell them to defund your local police department and invest those funds in resources people need in Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color.
In far too many marginalized communities, police and law enforcement represent harm and terror—not safety. When we defund police, we can invest in things that promote the well-being and safety of Black communities. Specifically, we want the funds reinvested in food pantries, affordable housing, health, and safety programs—funding for schools and youth homelessness services, solutions to the opioid crisis, and non-police responders for crises such as mental health response teams and community violence prevention programs.
Use the phone script below to communicate with your local and state elected officials. Tell them it is integral that we capitalize on this moment and defund the police and invest in black communities. Please use this tool from Common Cause to get the contact info for your local officials.
PHONE ADVOCACY:
Mass office calling is a light lift, but it can actually have an impact. If you cannot attend your local city council meeting in person, we recommend getting together with a group of friends and calling your local elected officials.
Find out who you are speaking with.
In general, the staffer who answers the phone will be an intern, an assistant, or some other very junior staffer in the elected official's office. Ask to speak to the elected official directly.
If you’re directed to voicemail, follow up with email.
Then follow up again. Getting elected officials on the phone is can be tough. The staff person will probably tell you “I checked, and they are not at their desk right now, but would you like to leave a voicemail?” Go ahead and leave a voicemail, but don’t expect a call back. Instead, after you leave that voicemail, follow up with an email to the staff person. If they still don’t respond, follow up again. If they still don’t respond, let your community know that the elected official is dodging you.
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Good morning/afternoon! May I speak to (state the name of your local official)? *wait for them to connect you*
My name is ____________ and I’m a constituent. My address is (state your address). I want to make sure you know how important police reform is to people in your district. I’m calling to inquire how much (insert name of city or town) budgeted for policing in fiscal year 2021. Additionally, what is your position on divesting from police and reinvesting those funds in Black and Brown communities. *wait for response*
I am urging you to support police reform for (insert name of city) These issues are important to me and I will reflect on them as I vote in the future. Have a great day!
We are urging you to call on your own local and state officials and tell them to defund your local police department and invest those funds in resources people need in Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color.
In far too many marginalized communities, police and law enforcement represent harm and terror—not safety. When we defund police, we can invest in things that promote the well-being and safety of Black communities. Specifically, we want the funds reinvested in food pantries, affordable housing, health, and safety programs—funding for schools and youth homelessness services, solutions to the opioid crisis, and non-police responders for crises such as mental health response teams and community violence prevention programs.
Use the phone script below to communicate with your local and state elected officials. Tell them it is integral that we capitalize on this moment and defund the police and invest in black communities. Please use this tool from Common Cause to get the contact info for your local officials.
PHONE ADVOCACY:
Mass office calling is a light lift, but it can actually have an impact. If you cannot attend your local city council meeting in person, we recommend getting together with a group of friends and calling your local elected officials.
Find out who you are speaking with.
In general, the staffer who answers the phone will be an intern, an assistant, or some other very junior staffer in the elected official's office. Ask to speak to the elected official directly.
If you’re directed to voicemail, follow up with email.
Then follow up again. Getting elected officials on the phone is can be tough. The staff person will probably tell you “I checked, and they are not at their desk right now, but would you like to leave a voicemail?” Go ahead and leave a voicemail, but don’t expect a call back. Instead, after you leave that voicemail, follow up with an email to the staff person. If they still don’t respond, follow up again. If they still don’t respond, let your community know that the elected official is dodging you.
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Good morning/afternoon! May I speak to (state the name of your local official)? *wait for them to connect you*
My name is ____________ and I’m a constituent. My address is (state your address). I want to make sure you know how important police reform is to people in your district. I’m calling to inquire how much (insert name of city or town) budgeted for policing in fiscal year 2021. Additionally, what is your position on divesting from police and reinvesting those funds in Black and Brown communities. *wait for response*
I am urging you to support police reform for (insert name of city) These issues are important to me and I will reflect on them as I vote in the future. Have a great day!