FAQ

Why?

We have let our government go on for too long without holding them accountable for this war. We are going to the Capitol to let them know we are watching. Every few weeks, a poll is published that shows a growing majority of Americans want a plan to bring the troops home from Iraq. On September 4th, we'll start making those numbers real.

Who can participate?

If you want to let Congress know that we are keeping watch over them until they take action to end this war and bring our troops home, we want you to join us. (Children under six are not permitted in the galleries.)

How will they know why we're standing?

We're doing a press campaign in the lead-up to this action, so Congress and the media will be anticipating our presence. In addition, letters informing each member of Congress that citizens have come to watch over their progress in bringing the Iraq war to a close will be delivered in advance of the action.

How do I get tickets to the House and Senate galleries?

Your Representative and Senator have tickets to both galleries available at their offices in DC. Tickets are free, valid until the end of 2007, and unlimited in number. Contact your Representative or Senator directly to find out exactly where you need to go to get your tickets. Each individual must pick up their own ticket.

How do I find my Representative's or Senator's office?

To find your Representative's office and contact information, click here. To find your Senator's office and contact information, click here.

How will we know when to stand?

The signal indicating that it is time to stand will be announced at a later date - get on our e-mail list (there's a box to subscribe at the top left of this page) for this and other important updates).

What happens after we stand?

We are going to congress to watch, not to create a disturbance. Despite this, we can expect that we will be asked to leave once we stand up. If we are not removed, we will remain standing in the galleries for the rest of the day. If we are asked to leave, we will do so quietly and orderly. The House and Senate galleries have separate tickets and entry points, so if you are removed from one gallery, you may be able to enter the other.

We will make adjustments to the plan based on the number of people who are coming, so please sign up for our e-mail list and let us know if you're planning to join us in the Capitol.

What if I can't come to DC?

No matter where you are, no matter who you are, we want you to join us. To do that, we will be announcing actions which can be taken locally, and some that can be taken on your own. What joins these actions together is this: we are making visible America's stand against this war. We'll be announcing these actions on this site in the near future.

If you have suggestions for actions people can take to show their support, e-mail them to local@americastandswatch.org.