Use When
When officials bury audits, fast-track no-bid deals, or hide impact studies, concise flyers surface key facts at the venue itself.
When agencies restrict public comment or move meetings without notice, flyers restore timely notice, plain-language rights, and how to testify.
When landlords or hospitals levy junk fees or retaliate, handouts near affected corridors point to hotlines, complaint portals, and legal aid.
When disinformation clouds safety, voting, or budgets, a neutral, sourced one-pager redirects attention to verifiable data and concrete actions.
Instructions
- 1
Draft the Content: Define one demand and four facts. Use eighth-grade reading levels and include one clear call to action for all readers.
- 2
Design the Layout: Use a high-contrast template with a headline, summary, and footnotes. Include a QR code or short link for digital access.
- 3
Review and Refine: Ensure the headline is readable from five meters. Translate key lines, add a privacy notice, and provide no-contact pickup options.
- 4
Prepare for Distribution: Train greeters on 10-second scripts. Stay at legal distances from entrances and track respectful declines to measure total engagement.
- 5
Manage the Site: Perform regular sweeps to collect discarded flyers. Keeping the area clean prevents littering fines and maintains a positive community reputation.
- 6
Follow Up Digitally: Post the PDF online within 24 hours. Tag officials, share photos, and invite all signers to the next scheduled meeting.
Historic Parallels
- Britain, 1787–1807: Clarkson distributed slave-ship diagrams nationwide changing perceptions of the slave trade reality. Parliament abolished the transatlantic slave trade twenty years later.
- United States, 1960–1965: SNCC leaflets organized Southern sit-ins and marches, producing the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.
- New York City, 1919–1920: Tenant organizers leafleted 500 buildings; the rent strike produced New York's first rent-control legislation.
- San Francisco, 1955–1959: Neighborhood groups leafleted and petitioned meeting halls; city supervisors canceled 75% of planned freeway routes.
- Poland, 1980–1989: Solidarity's underground leaflets coordinated strikes and boycotts, ending in free elections and communist collapse.
Britain, 1787–1807: Clarkson distributed slave-ship diagrams nationwide changing perceptions of the slave trade reality. Parliament abolished the transatlantic slave trade twenty years later.Modern Examples
- Education Access: At school board forums, parents distribute fact sheets with a sample script and a QR link for speaker signup.
- Corporate Accountability: Outside shareholder meetings, employees hand out wage-gap data with links to a whistleblower portal and a legal aid hotline.
- Environmental Justice: Near industrial sites, residents distribute maps of air quality sensors with a QR to report smell or health symptoms instantly.
- Repressive States: In restrictive regimes, activists leave flyers with privacy-first QR codes on public transport to share uncensored news and safety tips.
Participants
Individual
Yes
Ideal: 2–4 greeters, 1–2 photographers/documenters, and a follow-up team of 3–5 to handle signups, emails, and meeting turnout.
Helpful Materials
- Primary Flyer Template: High-contrast layout with bold headlines and scannable QR codes.
- Reliable Printing Access: High-volume printer or copy shop for crisp, professional-quality handouts.
- Distribution Clipboards: Sturdy boards to protect flyers and hold contact signup sheets.
- Weatherproof Protection: Plastic sleeves and weighted boxes to prevent rain and wind damage.
- Digital Link Hub: Mobile-responsive landing page for citations and direct action signup forms.
References
Use of Action Playbook educational materials must adhere with Unruled Masses’ Terms of Service.
Stay Nonviolent. Coordinate Strategically. Take Back Your Power.