YOUR VOICE IS YOUR GREATEST TOOL
Our way of life in Colorado is currently under severe attack and putting your civil rights as free people at risk. It is essential, now more than ever, that we as a community come together opposing these tyrannical infringements IN PERSON.
Your presence makes a difference, and it is crucial that we are in attendance. Your voice matters, your participation makes a difference, and the opposition is counting on you to not show up. In fact, they purposely create barriers of time, inconvenience, and awareness to discourage you from participating in your civic duty to committee hearings.
We understand that it is asking a lot of you to take time away from your careers and families to show up to the Colorado State Capitol. We also understand too often that hearings happen with little to short notice. The system is designed to be abrupt, inconvenient and impose on your daily life so that you will not appear, you will not resist and you will not participate in your right to oppose these absurd efforts to disarm and control Colorado. This is exactly why it is so important that you show up. We implore you to get involved and testify in public hearing. It’s preferred that people show up in person to testify, but this can be done remotely as well. All participation, locally and nationally is welcomed and needed.
WAYS TO TESTIFY
- IN PERSON TESTIMONY. This is the most impactful
- REMOTELY VIA ZOOM. This is second best
- WRITTEN SUBMISSION. This is highly ineffective and does not get shared or read in hearing. It only is attached to the bill. They vote on the bill without reading these submissions.
INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW TO SIGN UP TO TESTIFY
Congratulations on deciding to speak up in Committee hearing. You will need to sign up via the Colorado State Legistative Website.
Grab your favorite way to take notes because this is the information you’ll need to reference:
INFORMATION YOU NEED
- COMMITTEE AND HEARING ITEM
- SPONSOR AND BILL
- MEETING DATE AND TIME
HOW DO I FIND INFORMATION ON HEARING ITEMS THAT I CARE ABOUT? Sign up for updates on all billed proposed here
COLORADO STATE GOVERNMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL ON HOW TO SIGN UP
The link above is the State of Colorado approved tutorial. For more specific questions, please contact [email protected]
TESTIFYING IN PERSON
Select “By Hearing Item” – Scroll down and select the proper bill, Meeting Date and Time Next fill out your personal info and select Sign Up.
Be advised, the name given will be read in committee and your email used here will be the email to which your login link to watch and testify will be sent to, therefore be sure you have access to this email.
These committee hearings can carry on well into the late hours of the night, so be prepared to wait to speak. Make sure you are make arrangements for your best well being to be at the State Capitol for your best well being
THINGS TO KNOW
- YOU HAVE 2-3 minutes to speak. Prepare your speech and practice. The more people signed up, the less time you have. Account for 2 minutes and give yourself time to hit your most important points. Keep your points valid and direct, your perspective and personal stories matter. You can also take notes and do research as the hearing is in progress if you hear your points already addressed. Be open to adjusting your testimony so you maximize your time.
- APPEARANCE MATTERS. Please show up dressed professionally and without shirts lobbying for certain political groups. They will not be allowed in the committee room. With more communication with groups across america, we can coordinate colors to wear in unison to combat certain colors for presence.
- PREPARE FOR A LONG DAY/NIGHT. Although you will not be allowed to eat in the committee room, we highly advise you bring water, snacks, an extra phone charger, paper, pen, laptop, ipad, etc. to take notes. You can step out to snack and eat as needed. Bring any and all medication you will need as well.
- WHERE WILL YOU BE GOING: Address: 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203 Entrance is north side Colfax and Sherman Ave. For evening testimony, these entrances are locked and opened.
- PREPARE TO PARK
- SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR GUN OWNERS
THINGS
WHAT DO I SAY?
Speak your truth. Be honorable. Personalize your story and showcase exactly why this particular topic is important to you and how it will impact your life. The most important thing? Be authentic.
WHERE DO I PARK?
There are plenty of paid parking lots around the State Capitol that take both cash and credit card. I recommend using the Park Mobile app and booking your spot in advance to ensure the cheapest rate and a guaranteed spot, especially on very busy and high profile bill days. You can park at a parking meter with a handicap pass for the entire day without payment, however if you are not using a handicap pass, be aware that parking at a meter is limited to two hour time slots. Most public committee hearings can take all day, so be sure to plan for all day parking.