Prepare your own "Walk in Their Shoes" action in just a few simple steps:

1) Gather shoes -- especially women's and children's shoes -- from local thrift stores or simply do a shoe drive from your neighbors, friends and family. Decide on a central spot, like your front doorstep, an office, a community center, or a café, where people can drop off shoes anytime, and send out an email to your community inviting them to donate shoes.

2) Put names on the shoes: Get shoe tags from your local office supply store- we found that Shipping Tags, 4 3/4" x 2 3/8" work well. You can even buy them pre-strung.

Visit the Iraq Body Count site (http://www.iraqbodycount.net/names.php) and download the list of names. Write one name on each tag.

You may also choose to write some of the additional info listed on this website about the person's profession, family, or how s/he was killed. Tie the tags onto the shoes. You can create a grouping of shoes to represent a whole family that has been killed -- match shoe size and gender to names and display a group of tagged shoes together.

3) Make a banner: Get some pink fabric and paint or use marker to make a banner that says "Walk in Their Shoes" and "GivePeaceAVote.org" Use this banner in your display.

4) Advertise: You can copy the shoe image from above or make your own flyer to let people know when and where you are collecting shoes/doing the action.  Click here to download a Give Peace a Vote pledge sign up sheet that you can use at your action to sign up peace voters.

5) Pick your location and date: Consider displaying this visual in front of your Congressperson or Senator's office, campaign headquarters, or home. Stand outside a candidate's fundraiser reminding the donors what they are funding. Or choose a public place that gets a lot of foot traffic. Be creative and bold. Pick a date and time that works well for you and the location. If you are doing your action late in the day/evening don't forget candles. 

6) Invite your friends and the press to the action. Send out an email announcement, make some phone calls, and send out a press release. You can use our sample press release or click here to take a look at our previous press releases and craft your own. If you'd like to send out an announcement about your action to CODEPINK activists who live in your area, email your send-ready announcement to rae@codepinkalert.org. Need help contacting the press? Email Dana at dana@codepinkalert.org.

7) Create your Walk in Their Shoes action: Set up the shoes in a pile or a row -- create a visual where the press can capture your whole message in a shot. Add the banner. Set the peaceful and respectful tone of your event by example-through your words, dress, songs (like "War is over if you want it" or "All we are saying, is give peace a vote!"), and demeanor. Be calm, speak from your heart, and create the atmosphere of reverence and hope, rather than protest or anger. Invite people to sign the Give Peace a Vote pledge. Remember to hold these shoes and this action in reverence for the lives they are representing.

8) Tell us how your action went! Add a report back and photos to our Local Spotlight. Click here to upload info and pics.  Check out the spotlight for photos that will inspire your own actions!

Got questions? We can help! Please email us at rae@codepinkalert.org or jodie@codepinkalert.org.