Whether you are a seasoned activist or a first-time organizer, here is a simple guide to get you started. Go through the steps one by one, and you'll be on your way to planning a creative, engaging, and powerful action in your community.

1) Choose an Action, Day and Location, and Register!
Part of the beauty of the International Week of Actions will be the variety and creativity of actions organized between December 27th and 31st across the world. Some common action ideas include organizing a procession or march through your town or city, a rally with speakers and cultural music in your central plaza, a candlelight vigil, a house party, or a community discussion. Some actions' uniqueness will simply be their locations - is there a place to hold your rally that is particularly important to your community, or symbolic? Examples include City Hall, Federal Building, Consulate, Embassy, community center, university, local church, statue, mosque, synagogue or national monument. Whatever your action, be sure to think about the best photo opportunity to capture your action and everyone who attends - photos are the primary way we link up actions worldwide and tell our story.

Don't forget to register your action at (www.gazafreedommarch.org/solidarity), where you can fill out an online form to post announcements, and others can contact you to attend your event.

2) Gather With Friends and Neighbors
Invite your friends, neighbors, and local organizations to assist in sponsoring and organizing the action. Think outside the box about who to reach out to - maybe the local church, mosque, synagogue, labor union, community center, university, or arts cooperative would be interested in getting involved in the issue. This is when it gets fun!

3) Work Out the Details
Take care of logistical details as soon as you can (this is why you want friends to help you out). Important things to consider include the timing of the action, directions, transportation, bathrooms, sound system, permits for use of public spaces, sponsorships, etc.

4) Invite Government Officials
If we want your action to have as big an impact as possible, it's essential that we reach out to our local, regional, and national leaders. Invite your local mayor, city council, city supervisors, or congressperson. You never know who might be willing to show up and be a champion to lift the siege of Gaza!

5) Spread the Word
Send out emails, write editorials for local newspapers, get on the local radio station, ask organizations to include the action information in newsletters and bulletins, and put up posters all over town. 

6) Make a Banner
Each action will have a banner, or some way to communicate their support of Lifting the Siege on Gaza. Some communities will hold big banners, others will spell out words with their participants, others still may make a mural together. We’re asking that everyone make their own banner – it will be great for each action to have its own home-made, local flavor, and yet to all have a common, unifying message. Just be sure to make it large and legible.

7) Tell the Media
It's important to contact local, state, and national media to make sure they report on the International Week of Actions in your area. Think about what print, radio, television, and blogs you'd want to have cover your event, and start getting in touch now! View The US Campaign Against the Israeli Occupation for a complete guide on contacting the media now.

8) Take Action
For action ideas, visit the US Campaign Against the Israeli Occupation's Gaza Freedom March website. The details of your action are up to you, but at some point be sure to take a picture with everyone present with your banner displayed front and center. Have a fun and meaningful day, knowing that you're forming a very important part of a giant global movement to lift the siege on Gaza! 

9) Report Back
This part is very important: as soon as your action is over, be sure to select your best photo and e-mail it to photos@gazafreedommarch.org to be posted online. You might want to designate a volunteer to help with this. This is so important because we need your picture to be able to deliver the strongest possible message to the media, and to the world's decision-makers. Video footage and written stories from your action are great too, but photos are the top priority.

Thanks for being a part of this important movement for change!