As constituents, we hold our elected officials accountable for their actions through elections. We want to make sure the candidates know that genocide prevention matters to the public. Join us by attending a local town halls and ask a question to the candidates! If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even host your own town hall at your school or in your community!

Take a STAND at a local town hall

A town hall is a public meeting in which candidates—whether for local office, state government, U.S. Congress, or the Presidency—gather with constituents to hear from the public and to win their votes. This year, 34 Senators and all 435 Members of the House of Representatives are up for reelection and we want you to bring some important issues to their attention!

Use the resources below to attend or host a local town hall to ask questions about genocide prevention, refugee resettlement, and emerging conflicts. Questions? Reach out to your Regional Organizer or hit us up at info@standnow.org!

Resources

How to Attend a Town Hall
How to Hold a Town Hall
Press Release and Media Alerts
How to Get Media Coverage

Sample Questions to Ask

• Genocide prevention: Despite the world’s promise of “Never Again” after the Holocaust, genocide has since taken place in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur, and beyond. Several countries are experiencing or are at serious risk of genocide today. Top national security experts agree that preventing genocide and mass atrocities is not only a moral obligation, but also a vital national security issue. How will you work to prioritize genocide and atrocity prevention while in office?

• Refugees: 65 million people are currently displaced as a result of violent conflicts across the world, the largest number in recorded history. These people have faced unimaginable horrors and are looking to rebuild their lives by resettling in the United States. Furthermore, refugee populations have historically revitalized American  communities and contributed to economic growth. What steps will you take to support refugee resettlement in the US?
  
  Check out STAND’s blog posts “STAND for Humanity and Homeland Security” and “Compassion for Refugees After Paris” to learn more about the refugee crisis and the U.S. response.

• Syria: Approximately 400,000 Syrians have died since war began in 2011. While the United States pursues counterterrorism objectives in the region, it has notably shied away from addressing the Assad regime as the top perpetrator of mass atrocities, which is vital to protect civilians. What will you do to make the protection of Syrian civilians a top priority in U.S. Syria policy?
  
  Check out STAND’s Syria one-pager to learn more about the conflict in Syria.

• Elections: As you may know, Burundi, a small country in central Africa, has been deeply and dangerously destabilized by the President’s bid for a controversial 3rd term – a move seen by many to violate the Burundi constitution. Journalists, civil society members, and civilians have been targeted in a government clampdown on free speech and expression, threatening the stability of the entire region. A number of other countries are expected to face electoral controversies as Presidential constitutional terms come to an end. What do you think U.S. foreign policy should be in preventing election-related violence in various countries around the world?
  
  Check out STAND’s Burundi and D.R. Congo one-pagers to learn more about term limit crises in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Rohingya: The Rohingya people, a minority Muslim group living in dire conditions in western Burma (or Myanmar, as many call the country), have been called the world’s most persecuted minority. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum found Burma to be the country most likely to see a mass killing this year. What will you do to help improve the conditions of the Rohingya and ensure that genocide is prevented?
  
  Check out STAND’s Burma one-pager to learn more about the situation in Burma.