There is nothing like thoughtful and authentic verbal testimony to capture the hearts and minds of decision makers.
How do we give testimony regarding issues that concern us and how do we make that testimony count? At a recent lunch hour session, we discussed ideas and inspiration with special guest Gracie Schatz. When Gracie is not busy cooking or teaching for her own Heart of Willamette Cooking School, she devotes much her time to social-justice activism. An articulate and passionate public speaker, she has made big waves in the Eugene area ever since she started a petition last summer to allocate police funding to CAHOOTS, a local non-profit that specializes in crisis intervention. The petition was quickly signed by over 15,000 people and she was catapulted into the world of local politics. With such a hot-button issue at hand, Gracie had to be ready to speak her mind and heart in way that made people listen. She shared her insights with our group and a great conversation ensued. To see the full recording, scroll down to the bottom of the screen.
The Basics of Preparing Testimony
Although you can give either written or verbal testimony, verbal is often best because then you make sure your words are heard and you can connect more personally to legislators. The testimony itself follows a similar format to LTEs and Op-Eds, but there is a bit more formality to it.
In some cases, there are physical systems to be aware of such as holding down a button to speak and places to sign up. Look at the appropriate government website for information on signing up and to know the agenda of the meeting. There are opportunities to reference items not on the agenda if that is your plan. Time limits for testimony are listed and typically run at 3 minutes. Be prepared that sometimes they cut you off, so practice your speech and make sure you cover your main points in the first 3 minutes. Make sure you are clear in your ask, i.e. "I want you to vote NO on this item..."
Testimony During COVID
The State Legislature currently meets remotely and you can find instructions to pre-register to submit testimony here.
On the City and County level, the scenario is very different depending on where you live. Typically, you can find public comment on top of the upcoming agenda and sometimes on the website. Do your research well in advance. You might need to watch the council meeting streamed on a device to know when they’ll call on you to give comment. Sometimes you just have to wait to be let in to the meeting. Things get a little glitchy in the virtual arena, but everyone understands. Be prepared to work through those hiccups, and know that it is still so valuable to give comment. Gracie notes that you almost have an advantage during pandemic by being at home because you have ready access to water, food, and items in your house that might calm you.
Gracie's Insights
What Works?
After her fiery launch into a heated summer of local politics, Gracie said she started really paying attention to the key players and subcommittees and getting a feel for who they are. "A really effective tool in being heard is knowing who you are talking to." If you are yelling and demanding and the officials don’t know who you are, they might write you off. But if you say their names and reference what they have said, they will listen more.
As for preparing your own testimony, her first recommendation is just to go to meeting and watch and listen to others testify. Whose speaking makes you feel engaged? What type of speech makes you zone out? Why? Think about what does and doesn't work, and how you can incorporate that into your own speaking.
Speak from a place of respect, not of demands and entitlement. Gracie recognizes that it is from a place of privilege to be able to remain calm when testifying--if someone is so hurt or oppressed by an issue, it is hard not to yell and scream. But when we have power to elevate voices of people who might not be heard, we must do so and do so thoughtfully.
Practice! Always say your words out loud before hand to make sure they are clear and fit within the time limit. Practice with friends, try recording yourself, see if you can cut out any unnecessary language.
Take a deep breath! There is tendency is to rush through it. The more you can take a breath and slow down, the better. Don’t try to cram in too much information.
When you are ready to testify, the first thing you should do is to thank your audience! They are listening and they do a lot of work. Appreciate the service your legislators provide to their community, even if you don’t like their decisions.
Be concise. Think of key points…and say them clearly. Have a concrete example of what you don’t want, of a solution and of an ask.
Ask for what you want to hear. At the end of your comment, say “ I would appreciate if you address my concerns during this meeting.” Don't be angry or mean, but give them a chance to respond and ask that they respond. You can even send follow up email, something like "we asked this question and no one responded…what are your thoughts?” It politicians verbalize their thoughts, it is more likely that they will take action.
If your audience looks like they aren't paying attention, try saying “please listen.” Let them know you really care and you are not going anywhere. The more you show up, the more you’ll be heard, especially from a place of respect.
What doesn’t work?
A monotone voice or a quiet mumbling voice! If tone is the same, it’s easier for listeners to not care and zone out. This can sometimes be the result of a perfectly written out speech. If you are uncomfortable memorizing, use a script but highlight most important words. If possible, make bullet points of what want to say and let it flow naturally.
Mobilizing Vs Organizing
Gracie referenced activist Jane McAlevey and her thoughts on mobilizing (a unique opportunity to activate around an issue) vs. organizing (building and strengthening your base). It is very powerful to know what you are doing. Showing up to testify as individual is great, but showing up as a group is very powerful! Refer to the group and the others, showing that you came to say your piece and to listen.
Sometimes a big group shows up with the same demands. It can be a good tactic, but she notices that officials zone out if it is overly repetitive. So you can echo previous testimony, but choose a new part of topic to speak on. This can be very powerful if well-coordinated.
On Sustaining Activism
This work can be hard and discouraging. We must figure out how to sustain pace of activism. The more we can set a pace we can keep up with, the more change we will be able to affect in the long run. There are different forms of catching the "activism bug," whether it's acute activism (reaction after a major event) and chronic activism (engaged on issues for years and present at every meeting).
If you're in it for the long-haul, find ways to create joy and make it beautiful. For example, Gracie wants people to feel that political involvement is accessible and brainstorms fun ways to engage, such as creating a set entertaining yet informative "City Council Playing Cards."
Let your activism come from a place of love. Love for your community and love for your environment. Centering that in our work is what gives it breath, and is nice for policy makers, too.
Final Thoughts from Group Discussion
- Being in a courtroom or chamber can feel unpleasant. Having clarity on your purpose and mission will help you feel strong and grounded. Bringing something with you (like a good luck charm, family photo, etc.) may help you feel calmer.
- Emotions and the ability to express them is an incredible gift. But it is important that you are in the forefront, not emotions, and you use them to speak passionately instead of the emotions controlling you. It’s easier said than done, and it takes practice. Having a totem or reminder of what you are doing and why, you will speak with a power that is undeniable! Never aim for detachment, because emotion is where power resides. It's all about just knowing how to hold that power and hold space.
- Form relationships with your legislators. Invite them to get coffee and or go for a walk and talk. They will listen to your concerns in they know you. You can connect with them at any time, not just during a key decision!
- Recognizing humanity is the only effective path. The best organizers are ones who genuinely like people and can connect with others. Being so politically aligned with a specific stance that you dehumanize others will never lead to positive change.
- When in doubt, bring food to the table! Food unites us all....
Voices of Youth!
A person of ANY age can give testimony! Some of the most profound testimony comes from young people. Check out this video of a 5th grader giving comment.: