Activism 101 with Mike Maharrey

This is the sixth installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. You can access the other episodes HERE.

The key to successful activism is putting together a solid plan.

Up to this point, we have primarily been on a fact-finding mission. We’ve identified a problem that needs to be addressed. We gathered as much information as we can get through publicly available sources and open records requests. We have a solid understanding of the issue at hand. Now it’s time to formulate a plan of attack.

In this episode of the Activism 101 podcast, I talk about one of biggest keys to success: developing a specific, actionable, achievable plan.

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SHOW NOTES

Our Plan

The post Activism 101 Podcast #6: You Gotta Have a Plan appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This is the fifth installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. You can access the other episodes HERE.

Once you get information from a public records request, you have to figure out what it means. Sometimes, you will actually learn more from what a government agency doesn’t tell you than from what it does.

In this installment of the Activism 101 podcast, I talk about interpreting information gleaned from freedom of information act requests, and how you can read between the lines and learn more than they intended to tell you.

SHOW NOTES

The post Activism 101 Podcast #5: Reading Between the Lines of a FOIA Response appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This is the fourth installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. You can access the other episodes HERE.

You can gather a great deal of information about government agencies and and their operations by simply making inquiries, and from publicly accessible websites. But a lot of information is not readily accessible by the public. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t get it.

Virtually every state allows individuals to obtain documents and other information through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Once you make a request, in most cases, public agencies must – by law – provide you with the documents and information.

In this installment of the Activism 101 podcast, I explain FOIA requests I made to learn more about surveillance in my community and what I got for my efforts.

SHOW NOTES

National Freedom of Information Coalition State Sample FOIA Request Letters

FOIA request to the Lexington Police Department

Image: Issac Bowen via Flickr/Creative Commons

The post Activism 101 Podcast #4: Give Me Those Documents! appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This is the third installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. You can find all episodes HERE.

Once you’ve identified an issue and you’ve decided you want to fight, it’s imperative that you have every bit of information you can get your hands on. You need the facts – not just assumptions. As they say – know your enemy. Not only that, you can easily make a fool out of yourself if you start activism and don’t know what your talking about.

Fortunately, government agencies make a great deal of information available online, or with a simple email or phone call.

In this installment of the Activism 101 Podcast, I talk about my initial information-gathering efforts after I discovered surveillance cameras in my neighborhood, and what they yielded.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Initial letter of inquiry to my council member.

What I learned from my initial emails and records searches

The post Activism 101 Podcast #3: The Facts and Just the Facts appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This is the second installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. You can access the other episodes HERE.

You’ve probably heard the Department of Homeland Security slogan “If you see something, say something.” Well, the same principle applies to local activism.

First you have to identify the problem – see something.

Next you have to let people know the problem exists so you have some allies in your efforts – say something.

In this installment of the Activist 101 Podcast, I explain exactly what I saw, and the first steps I took to get the word out.

The post Activism 101 Podcast #2: See Something Say Something appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This is the first installment of a podcast following local activism efforts I am spearheading to address the surveillance state in Lexington, Ky. Through this series, you will get an inside look at boots-on-the-ground activism as it happens. The goal is to create a step-by-step how-to on tackling issues at the local level. As we update with new episodes, you’ll be able to access them HERE.

Have you ever witnessed some type of egregious government action right in your own community and wondered, “What do I do about it?”

I had this very experience when government surveillance cameras suddenly showed up at a park in my neighborhood. I was angry. I know I couldn’t just sit back and let the surveillance state take root in my own backyard. But despite my work with the TAC, I have no real experience in boot-on-the-ground community activism. Still, I knew I needed to do something.

So I did.

I also realized a lot of people end up paralyzed by the same question – I want to do something – but what?

As I write this, I’m still not completely sure what to do. But I’m going to figure it out. And I’m going to let you join me along the way through this podcast. Hopefully, at the end of the journey we’ll have a good step-by-step template for community action on just about any issue that anybody can follow!

The post Activism 101 Podcast #1: What Do I Do? appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.