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DUmmies Making Plans To Stifle American's First Amendment Rights at Town Hall Meetings

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How do we counter pro-insurance hecklers at Democratic town-hall meetings?

Edited on Tue Aug-04-09 10:57 AM by derby378

Ever since proud2BlibKansan shared her experiences, I've been wondering how we could do this. It'll take a determined, collective effort, but here's some ideas I have:

Organize a small squad before the town-hall meeting. Everyone in the squad should show up at the meeting with a large, hand-held sign promoting health care reform. Poster-board size should be fine, but no smaller.

The squad should immediately take up a position in front of the hecklers once they are identified. Form a chain in front of them. When the hired guns from Big Insurance start trying to shout down the Democratic legislator, everyone on the squad holds up their signs to block the hecklers from view of the audience and anyone with a camera. Respond with a chant of your own, something like "Two, four, six, eight, fix it now before it's too late!" or something like that.

It is important to block the hecklers at all times. When they move, you move. Shield them from the audience, and especially shield them from any media or video bloggers. Deny them their 15 minutes of fame on YouTube.

Prepare to get jostled by the hecklers. Wear durable long-sleeved shirts and blue jeans or something that provides similar coverage. Elbow and knee pads may also come in handy along with some decent gloves. No sandals - you never know when your feet may be "accidentally" trod upon.

Keep the mood in your squad upbeat and positive - this is about reforming health care. Don't engage the hecklers any more than absolutely necessary. Let them shoot the finger at you; it only means you're pissing them off. Don't start a fight with the hecklers - keep it non-violent and let the cops maintain order. If the hecklers somehow start a fight with you, however, make sure you finish it.

Any other thoughts?

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Town Hall Disrupters - THESE TACTICS CAN BE COUNTERED Please Forward This Information

Updated at 2:34 PM

Edited on Tue Aug-04-09 01:38 PM by Hissyspit

How To Stop The Disruption Tactics: This link to a DKos diary describing a successful disarming of the GOP and corporate lobbyist-sponsored teabagger/brither/disrupter stooges, unlike the Pennsylvania and Green Bay meetings, has been posted by DUer Joanne98. If you are an organiazer or know contact information for guest speakers and town hall organizers, PLEASE forward this diary to people who can make use of the information:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

These tactics can be ameliorated and these persons can be controlled and called out, so that true democracy, not hooliganism, can take place with regards to fixing the mess that is health care in the U.S., and without behavior on our part that the media can misrepresent. We can take the high road.

Here is a samplings of the description of the meeting from the diary:

5. People entered single file, signed in, and filled out a name tag. This simple measure helped set an orderly tone to the meeting.

6. The local police were present inside and out, in force. The Congressman didn't call them, nor did DANI. Our meeting was at a library. The Library staff got wind of the Tea Baggers and called the police well in advance. DANI officers were loath to go heavy. But, the police presence proved crucial to success. DANI just got lucky. Don't leave this element to chance.

- snip -

9. Written questions went directly to Visclosky's staffer, not to DANI members or officers. Do not stand between the people and their representative.

10. And then in opening remarks, I blew the Tea Baggers' cover. Roughly, it went like this

Meetings like this one continue a democratic tradition more than 2500 years old, that of the ancient Greek "Ecclesia." The term means "those called out"—called out to discuss and decide civic matters, and to defend their ancient Greek city-states, to defend their democracy. And you all were called out by notices in the local papers, radio stations, by e-mail and internet, to discuss Health Care Reform and Clean Energy with our Representative tonight.

So know this: efforts to disrupt and thwart public discourse on civic matters are profoundly anti-democratic. But, that's an obstacle we face tonight. It's public knowledge that groups known as Tea Baggers intend to disrupt and thwart the public discourse on Health Care Reform in meetings like this during this month's Congressional Recess. They want Democracy to fail. So, let's face this obstacle together.

The Tea Baggers' instructions are also public knowledge. If some people stand up, shout out and sit down; if some try to rattle us and the Congressman; if some pretend numeric superiority; if some try to stifle intelligent debate; then we can compare that behavior to the Tea Baggers' instructions and draw our own conclusions.

That was my "appeal to first principles" of Democracy. Karen Kroczek followed by laying down the law: unruly behavior would not be permitted. Period. Violators would be escorted out of the meeting. End of story. The police presence inside lent credibility.

In addition, those with sympathetic media contacts, such as The Rachel Maddow Show, please forward the diary (or Joanne98's link or this thread) to them, as well. No matter your particular views on the state of health care reform, there is no other recourse but to counter the fear tactics and lies that are being used against an open, learned and fair discussion of possible health care reform, and it is an ongoing effort to deal with them. In part, these tactics are intended to promote the false idea that the majority of Americans do not want health care reform.

Also, please post any additional information here that you think helpful. On a related note, information to counter Health Care Reform lies is here (euthanasia hysteria) and here (talking points on House bill) and http://www.slate.com/id/2220222 /">here (legislation guide).