====== Manual for new supporters ======

Based on your location you may find existing local groups you can join or, if there aren't any in your area, you may start a new support group yourself. 

===== Joining an existing local support group =====
 
• There are several established [[support_groups_list|support groups]] in different areas of the world functioning across different social media platforms. Feel free to join any of them to stay updated about local events, projects and activities. 

• If you wish to participate more actively, feel free to post publicly in the group or contact group’s admins with a brief introduction and a list of your skills and talents. Be patient - group administrators are just regular people doing this voluntarily in their free time.


☞ List of global **[[support_groups_list|support groups]]**


===== Starting a new group in your area ===== 

• Invite your friends and family to start a group. Share with them accessible and accurate information such as the one found on this wiki. Perhaps watch a film or documentary from our [[movie_list|movie selection]] together, and start a conversation!

• If you don’t know any interested people in your area, join other relevant online groups, actions or protests in your area (for example: anti war protests, pro peace FB groups, Extinction Rebellion, freedom of speech/press conferences...) to connect with like-minded individuals who might be interested in starting a new #FreeAssange support group with you!

• Collect your contacts and create a group chat. To protect your privacy, we recommend using safer messaging apps, such as [[https://app.wire.com/|Wire]], [[https://telegram.org/|Telegram]] or [[https://www.signal.org/|Signal]]. Consider using [[https://jitsi.org/jitsi-meet/|Jitsi]] for your video conferencing calls, instead of Zoom.

* Communicate with your group to determine what actions would you like to execute, group roles, resources, plan meetings, logistics, share ideas…

• Create online presence on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

• List your new group with a short group description and links to its social media accounts on [[support_groups_list|challengepower.info]].


===== Organizing a peaceful protest =====
• Call or email your local municipality or police station to find out about rules and regulations for organizing a protest in your area.
Generally speaking, you should not need to formally ask any special permissions if your protest: 

  *  will take place in a public square.
  *  will not block traffic.
  *  you will not be using a big sound system (1 speaker is normally allowed).


• Communicate with your local group to determine Location, Date and Time of your protest.

• Promote your event on your social media platforms.\\

• Determine:

  * what your activities will be (think in terms of inviting by-passers to come closer and inform themselves about JA and Wikileaks).
  * who will be the moderator.
  * who will be the guest speakers and performers (celebrities, professors, human rights organizations representatives, members of parliament...).
  * who will invite the media (journalists, reporters, bloggers, photographers...).
  * who will make signs, flyers, posters. You can find free pdf designs in the [[campaigning_material|campaigning material]] section, or check out the [[campaigning_material_diy_projects|DIY projects]] for inspiration on how to make your own.
  * who will take care of the music and the vibe. You could make a playlist from these [[music_playlist|songs]] or tune in to [[https://p-node.org/freeassange/|Radio Free Assange]].
  * if it is a one-off protest or a recurring event.

• Update your event page once speakers and performers confirm their participation.

• Contact WikiLeaks official shop to discuss possible group discounts for bulk orders: https://wikileaks.shop/ 

• After the protest, share your photos, videos and local news articles on your group's social media pages, using popular [[get_involved_online#social_media_actions|hashtags]]. Remember to upload your best shots to the wiki's [[galleries/protest_gallery|protest gallery]]!