This page is intended to assist CCDC, our volunteers, and other Democrats with ‘call for action’ demands to government officials and legislators to push back against the Trump/Musk/Vance administration’s harmful policies, and to provide positive messages for Democrats and our officials.
For federal legislator contact information, visit chescodems.org/#outreach.
Chester County and Regional Community Organizations offering political engagement & events
Information about third party response tool options:
Using 5 Calls is straightforward and impactful! Here’s how you can get started:
- Choose an Issue: Pick a topic you care about from their list of progressive issues.
- Enter Your Location: Provide your ZIP code or address to identify your representatives.
- Make Calls: You’ll get a script and contact details for the relevant officials. Follow the script or personalize it to make your stance clear.
- Track Your Progress: After each call, mark the result and move on to the next contact.
The platform emphasizes the power of phone calls, as they are the most effective way to influence policy.
Resistbot is a powerful tool for civic engagement that turns your messages into letters, faxes, or emails to your elected officials. Here’s how it works:
- Start the Conversation: Text the word “RESIST” to 50409 or use platforms like Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram.
- Follow the Prompts: The bot will guide you through the process, asking for your location to identify your representatives.
- Compose Your Message: You can write your own letter, use a pre-written template, or even have the bot help you draft one based on a bill number or news article.
- Send It Off: Once your message is ready, Resistbot delivers it to the appropriate officials via email, fax, or postal mail.
Other tools for civic engagement:
There are several other tools that help citizens engage with their representatives and advocate for causes effectively. Here are a few:
- Countable: This app lets you track legislation, learn about bills, and send messages to your representatives. It also provides summaries of complex policies in plain language.
- CallHub: While primarily a campaign tool, it allows for mass outreach through calls and texts, helping organizations mobilize supporters and connect them with lawmakers.
- Democracy.io: created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, this platform simplifies the process of contacting your members of Congress by providing a single interface to send messages.
- VoterVoice: This tool is often used by advocacy groups to help their members contact elected officials through email, phone, or social media.
- Action Network: A platform for progressive organizations to mobilize supporters, it includes tools for petitions, email campaigns, and contacting representatives.
Talking Points
Link to Google Doc with various talking points and data (coming soon)
Phone scripts (for the Budget & Veterans – more coming soon)
Handling Conversations Like a Pro (Red, Wine & Blue)
(more coming soon)
Protests – What are your rights? [according to the ACLU]
The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. Make sure you’re prepared by brushing up on your rights before heading out into the streets.
Know your rights when organizing a protest
Submit a Civil Liberties complaint against Musk/DOGE
Email the Treasury Department to submit a civil Liberties complaint about Mush/DOGE’s access to your personal information.
Be sure to sign your name, provide your contact information at the bottom, and finally, forward this to everyone you know to do the same.
Simply copy/paste the information and email text below into an email and hit send.
Email address: privacy@treasury.gov
Subject Line: Civil Liberties Complaint
Email text:
Hello, I am making a civil liberties complaint under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a. It has been brought to my attention that Elon Musk and his associates, under the guise of a directive of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) (an IT office in the White House), have acquired access to Treasury Department Records in Systems of Records as defined in the Act. As an individual covered by the Act, I believe that there may be records about me in these Treasury Department systems, and I am concerned for the following reasons:
1. Elon Musk is not an elected official.
2. Even if Musk were an elected official, the System of Records Notices (SORNs) governing the Treasury Department Privacy Act systems do not allow for disclosure to Musk and his associates per the Routine Uses.
3. Disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) and sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII) to Musk and his associates would be an unauthorized disclosure and therefore breach of information.
The Treasury Department must (1) quickly investigate what Privacy Act records that Musk and his associates have unlawfully accessed, (2) reveal to the public what unauthorized disclosures were made, (3) stop further access, (4) force any files acquired by Musk and his associates to be returned and/or permanently destroyed, and (5) seek criminal penalties against Musk and his associates for violations of the Act.
Sincerely, [INSERT NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION]
Protect Your Social Security Account
Go to the Social Security Website and print your lifetime contributions so you have a record. This is your
money; safeguard it as much as you can.