Time to Speak Up Against the NSA’s Mass Spying

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 | BY RAINEY REITMAN

Time to Speak Up Against the NSA’s Mass Spying

Join EFF & The Stopwatching.us Coalition in DC on October 26th

This summer, some of our worst fears and suspicions about the NSA have been confirmed. We now have evidence that the NSA is actively undermining the basic security of the Internet. It iscollecting millions and millions of phone records of individuals not suspected of any crime. It issurveilling journalists.

The NSA’s overreaching surveillance is creating a climate of fear and chilling free speech. Its addiction to secrecy makes real accountability impossible

But there’s a movement forming to change all of this. And we're about to take the next step.

On the weekend of October 26 — the 12th anniversary of the signing of the USA PATRIOT Act — thousands of people from across the political spectrum will unite in Washington, D.C. to take a stand against unconstitutional surveillance. Please join EFF in D.C. for a day of grassroots training and citizen lobbying on October 25^th and a historic rally and petition delivery on October 26^th.

Stopwatching.Us is a politically diverse coalition including more than 100 public advocacy organizations and companies, including EFF, ACLU, FreedomWorks, Free Press, Mozilla, National Libertarian Party, reddit, Restore the Fourth and Thoughtworks.

We want you to join us in D.C. for this event. There will be speakers, privacy experts, live music, and an opportunity to be part of the official delivery of the Stop Watching Us petition to Congress – a petition in which over a half million people have called for an end to mass, suspicionless surveillance.

Join us in Washington.  

-- RSVP on the event page (privacy policy here): https://rally.stopwatching.us-- RSVP for the lobby day here: https://rally.stopwatching.us/lobbyday.html

Note: you do not need to RSVP to attend the rally, but it helps us gauge numbers. RSVPing to the event means that you may be contacted about other Stopwatching events and updates. If you would prefer not to have that type of contact, please RSVP to EFF here.

We’re planning a two-day event. Here are the details:

 Friday, October 25^th: Training and lobby day

If you are coming from out of town, you should plan to arrive in D.C. on Thursday night so you can join us for trainings on Friday morning. EFF is working with our friends Public Knowledge and other members of the Stopwatching.us coalition to host a lobby day in D.C. on NSA surveillance. On Friday morning, we’ll give you an overview of NSA surveillance, including talking points and handouts, and prepare you to meet with staffers. Then you will meet with key Hill staffers and elected officials to explain your concerns about NSA surveillance. Don't worry - we schedule the meetings for you. We’ll be done by midafternoon.

In person meetings are the most effective way for an individual to influence Congress on an issue (except maybe giving them a lot of money).  Even if you've never considered lobbying on an issue, this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to change America’s stance on surveillance. 

Saturday, October 26^th: Rally against mass surveillance

The Stopwatching.us coalition is hosting a historic rally in Washington D.C on Saturday October 26^th – the 12^th anniversary of the signing of the Patriot Act.  We’ll be joined by YACHT, the indie pop duo that’s sweeping the nation with its new song, “Party at the NSA.”  With your help, we’re going to create an amazing rally for privacy. Will you be there?

Hundreds of thousands of people have spoken out since the major NSA leaks began this June. Dozens of members of Congress have introduced bills aimed at reining in the NSA, and hundreds of organizations and companies are uniting to end the NSA's unconstitutional surveillance.

But we will only succeed if we take the next step and raise our voices. RSVP now.