This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
Maoist Internationalist Movement


Edith Lagos Brigade shares wisdom on organizing:

Edith Lagos Brigade on canvassing for Ward Churchill

See also our web page supporting Ward Churchill, including petitions available

In eight days between March 14 and March 27, ELB collected 1000 signatures on petitions supporting Professor Ward Churchill in his struggle against Colorado University and the Colorado state government. ELB would like to share, with Churchill supporters, some of their methods and tactics when soliciting Churchill Petition signatures. ELB was fortunate in that several of their canvassers had done similar work for non- profit organizations such as Ralph Nader's Fund for the Public Interest, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, Human Rights Campaign, etc. Below are just a few suggestions for petition canvassers.

First of all, all ELB canvassers were familiar with Professor Churchill and had at least a passing knowledge of his body of work. Several canvassers carried a copy of a book written by Churchill to show prospective signatories. So if you're not familiar with Ward Churchill, get familiar. Read On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, Agents of Repression, etc. Find out about Churchill's professional career, and so forth. In short, be knowledgeable on your subject.

The next most important thing is appearance. Unfortunately, appearance is crucial when approaching prospective signatories. A canvasser wants to be taken seriously. You want to look as if you're on a very important mission and that what you are talking about matters. ELB opts for business casual as a rule. Hippie chic was effective also.

ELB canvassed near a major university choosing spots with heavy pedestrian traffic. If you are able to canvass in teams of two, you should be about 20 feet apart and facing each other. As potential contacts approach you should great them in a loud clear voice exuding confidence. "Hi. How are you doing?" Remember, you're selling Ward Churchill. After the greeting you should have an opening line: "Do you have less than thirty seconds for free speech?" ELB estimates that out of all persyns approached 1 out of 10 will stop and hear the canvasser out; but, out of those, 9 out of 10 will sign.

Every canvasser has to have a rap. A rap should be concise and direct while the canvasser should be friendly and personable. A canvasser should be able to make a contact, pitch the rap, get a signature, and make another contact in less than a minute. ELB formulated a standard rap that all canvassers were required to use. After the opener the canvasser would familiarize the contact with Prof. Churchill and the issue at hand -- censorship. Every rapper would, of course, improvise. Make the rap your own, but don't deviate to far from the standard version. ELB's rap went something like this:

CANVASSER: Are you familiar with Professor Ward Churchill?
CONTACT: No.
CANVASSER: Ward Churchill is a professor of ethnic studies at Colorado University at Boulder and a long time associate of the American Indian Movement. Prof. Churchill recently published a book entitled, On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, wherein the professor asserts, among other things, the essential reason for the 9/11 attacks is u.$. foreign policy (e.g., deadly sanctions imposed on Iraq, u.$. logistic support of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, ect.). Now, because the professor had this book published, outside the classroom mind you, Colorado University is attempting to rescind his tenure.

Eye contact is essential for effective canvassing. Look your contact directly in the eye and speak with conviction. Again, you are selling Churchill's right to free speech to people on the street, opposing confused ideas about 9/11 and getting a chance to hook people up with MIM's website.

As a canvasser pitches the wrap the canvasser should hold the clipboard (assuming the canvasser is using a clipboard. more on clipboard management below) at their side. There should be nothing distracting the contact from what the canvasser is saying. After reciting the body of the rap a canvasser should hand the clipboard to the contact in a manner where the contact has to take the clipboard from you so as to read the preamble, stating: " This is a petition in support of Professor Churchill's right to free speech. Is this something you can support?" Do not take back the clipboard until the contact has signed the petition or has unequivocally declined to do so.

A canvasser's clipboard should have the petition preamble on the front with spaces for signatures following. Don't roll the petition over so that blank signature spaces are on top. After passing the clipboard to the contact you want the contact to be able to read the preamble and see all the signatures you have gathered. Allowing the contact to see the signatures a canvasser has collected gives the contact confidence that this is not a fringe issue, that there is much support for the cause, and that the cause deserves their support as well.

Underneath the petition should be a copy of Churchill's essay, Some People Push Back, followed by his January 31, 2005 press release rebutting the slander directed against the him. The reason for this is often times canvassers will be asked, "Isn't he the guy that said all the 9/11 victims were nazis?" In response, the canvasser can direct the contact to the essay and rebuttal so as to clear up any discrepancies as to what exactly Churchill said. Don't waste time debating. If a contact cannot be persuaded to sign, politely state that you and the contact disagree but there are a lot of people that do agree with free speech and those are the people you need to talk with. "Have a good day." The most common mistake canvassers make is to debate with those that disagree with the cause.

Choosing who to approach: If pedestrian traffic is heavy a canvasser can be a little more selective in who they approach. Say for instance, there's three old white businessmen coming down the sidewalk and among them is a young womyn with dreadlocks and piercings. Absolutely approach the young womyn over the suits; but, if traffic is slow a canvasser should approach every single persyn possible, regardless.

Organize. Station your canvassers or teams of canvassers in strategic areas around campus. This will maximize your contact ratio as well as generate curiosity about what is happening. If persyns begin to see canvassers around campus many will want to know what's going on and approach you. These types of contacts inevitably sign. Successful canvassing takes time. Plan an entire day or several days dedicated to petition circulation.

ELB was fortunate that during the period they circulated petitions several cultural and art events were taking place. ELB canvassed these events with success. Check out your local entertainment listing for events were sympathy for Churchill's cause may be prevalent. Also, rallies promoting progressive causes (e.g., anti-war/death penalty rallies) should be utilized.

Finally, don't get discouraged. You are promoting a righteous cause that deserves support. You are providing the contact with important information about a very crucial issue. In return for this information you are requesting the contact's support. You are, in effect, providing a public service. If you planned to canvass from sunup to sundown, stay the course. For every persyn that doesn't stop to hear the rap, there's another right behind them that will. For every persyn that doesn't sign, there's someone coming along that gladly will. Endeavor to persevere.

The above are just suggested tactics. Nothing is chiseled in stone when it comes to canvassing except: Be confident. Look confident. Be concise and direct as well as polite. At the end of the day canvassers should meet to debrief discussing each canvasser's experiences. This is a great way of discovering what works and what doesn't. Though this is a very serious and important issue, have fun. Canvassing can be fun.