We’ve all seen the headlines, angry mobs shouting down Congressman at local Town Halls from Florida to St. Louis. One Dem Congressman’s life has been threatened.
I’m going to suggest a couple things that might help make these events go a little smoother.
Do some research on the local activist groups- a quick search of this site will give you a well needed heads up if counter protesters are being organized.
Make sure that everyone who attends is required to sign in. Set up enough tables, with staff and or volunteers to enforce this. If it were me, I’d have separate sign in’s for constituents, and “visitors” and make sure that the constituents are given first priority for seating and entry. Have a few crowd control folks sprinkled about, it will not hurt at Hank Johnson’s event, if they just happen to look like the front line of the McNair and Miller Grove Football teams.
Do not allow any signs to be brought in, all in the interest of not impeding anyone’s ability to see of course.
Clearly state that the Town Hall will be conducted based on a posted/distributed agenda. Assign a time keeper.
Begin the meeting on time-or if possible sightly early- this will minimize chair squirming and lessen any build up of tension. Video-tape everything, especially the crowd.
Do not offer refreshments, and turn up the air slightly. Folks won’t want to stay if they are hungry and a bit too warm.
Start the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent reflection. If you want to include a faith leader, so be it.
Immediately after that, if you have one, use the faith leader to announce the meeting “ground rules”, no shouting, be respectful, only one person speaks at a time etc.. clearly state that those who violate the rules will be escorted out.
Questions should be filled out on 4 x 6 cards. Distribute them as people arrive and while they are waiting. Have folks circulate collecting them and give them to one person to go through. That person can sift through the crazy and select about 8 or 9 questions to ask the Congress person.
An open mic and free style question asking is an open invitation for problems. We’ve all seen what happens, the folks get up to the mic and ramble on about an article they read five years ago on an unrelated topic, how they were elected 3rd grade class president, something Oprah said… blah blah blah.. never having arrived at a relevant question.
Ignore this advice at your own peril.
While it’s always hard to tell elected officials to not speak too long- this is a case where you really don’t want them to go on and on.
They need to hit as many “talking points” in as few sentences as possible. Keep it simple and on message.
Clear up any “misinformation” about the bill immediately. For example G-ma and Pop-Pop will not be interviewed and then “whacked” by the government, we’re all not moving to the countryside to work in labor camps, undocumented workers will not be covered, small businesses will not close etc.
Staff should be prepared with the phone numbers to police and sheriff in their speed dials.
Staff should also have walked the event space and determined at least one if not two other exits, and be prepared to move their congress person out in a hurry.
If you are in the planning stages now, select a room 1/3 smaller than you think you need. Don’t book a place large enough for an unruly crowd. Keep the setting smaller and more engaging.
Anyone who feels they didn’t get a chance to “speak” can make a appointment with staff later.
Those of us attending also have a role to play keeping the situation under control, don’t encourage bad behavior-for petes sake don’t laugh at them, or challenge them.
When you take your seat greet the folks around you with a simple, Hi! I’m your neighbor- won’t this be interesting! If they are friendly then great, if they are grumpy and wearing two different color socks, it might be best to chat about the weather or what they had for dinner.
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