Phone banking can be done from virtually anywhere and by anyone, but it can also be done collectively from one location to boost morale (if there are a number of corded landlines available.) Results of the calls can be announced while the tactic is taking place to keep momentum flowing and engage the wider public.
An Example
This tactic was used by Jordan Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activists to pressure parliamentarians into taking a firm stance against a proposed deal of importing natural gas from Israel. Jordan BDS activists issued a call to action asking all their followers and members to phone parliamentarians and demand that they announce their opposition to this deal. They provided activists with a list of parliamentarians’ names and numbers along with a suggested script and a ten-point fact sheet.Â
Find ten Talking Points for 5G Here. Here is a more detailed printable two page Fact Sheet.
BDS Jordan members gathered in one place and made calls over five days. At the end of each day, the names of parliamentarians who took a stance against the deal were published online. The tactic ended when activists secured pledges from the majority of the house to oppose the deal.
