COS is everywhere all at once this January

The grassroots really outdid themselves. Again.

Boasting millions of supporters nationwide and equipped with skilled political operatives spanning nearly every state legislative district in America, Convention of States is well positioned for substantial grassroots impact in 2024 and beyond. With an estimated 37 state legislative sessions opening this January, we are, as Convention of States President Mark Meckler put it last week, “going full throttle. The grassroots have dedicated months of effort to lead up to this moment, and now that it’s here, you can expect them to push ahead full-speed.”

This is their time to shine — a chance for them to flex their self-government muscle.

Over the next few weeks and months, this blur of citizen advocacy and action will center around one primary, overarching objective: bolstering our presence in state legislatures so as to impress upon our lawmakers the vital need for an Article V convention. Luckily, the rank and file of patriot supporters — in states as geographically removed as Hawaii and West Virginia — are highly trained to do exactly that.

SEE ALSO: 15+ states contemplate COS legislation as advocates flood state capitols

In West Virginia, the second most recent state to pass the COS resolution, “Packets” of educational materials “for all legislators were delivered, and about 17 legislators found time to talk to our volunteers, despite their busy schedules,” said team member Barbara Thomas. Encouragingly, these lawmakers “expressed their continuing support” for COS while also laying out strategic policy goals for the upcoming session.

Meanwhile, some 4,500 miles away to the southwest, activists in the balmy Aloha State, wielding their signature Shaka sign, flocked to the state capitol in Honolulu for similar purposes. Hawaii, however, is different from other states in that its “Surge Day” is more of a Surge season, lasting six weeks.

Last week, on opening day, the team kicked off its on-the-ground capitol advocacy, which will last through February, speaking with legislators, distributing pro-COS resources, and manning a booth outside the statehouse. State Director Mark Kenneth White described the scene: “ten intrepid members [that number grew by week two] of the Convention of States Hawaii team braved insane parking problems, long security lines, and threatening bad weather to launch the team’s 9th annual legislative session in which COSHI team action will be prominent for the next [six] weeks.”

SEE ALSO: Another jam-packed week in the fight for liberty

Returning to the contiguous United States and crossing West Virginia’s border into Maryland, passion for COS also sprang up in Annapolis this week, where crowds of committed citizens rallied to support the cause.

“Every January, braving cold winds and occasional rainfall, Convention of States supporters from across Maryland gather outside the State House to participate in the annual Citizen’s Action Day,” reported attendee Will T. Zwart, who also interns for Convention of States. “This year saw the largest turnout yet, with close to 50 participants assembled, including representation from the Maryland team, COS National, the state legislature, and even the New Jersey team!”

Together, the group visited all 188 legislators' offices and distributed thousands of petition signatures.

Also this week, COS uncovered that majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Article V, support our efforts — a bipartisan trend we suspect holds true in many other states.

“These survey results underscore the bipartisan backing of our cause by the Pennsylvania electorate,” commented Associate Regional Director Steve Patten, who frequently works with the team. “Dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s actions and inaction is widespread across party lines. Democrats and Republicans alike are so frustrated with Washington, DC, that a majority from both parties, as revealed in the survey, would cross party lines to vote for a candidate supporting a Convention of States.”

Such bipartisan backing is key in our race to 34 states, the magic number needed to convene a convention. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our supporters, we are well on our way to crossing that threshold, elapsing party lines and redefining grassroots activism in the process.

If it seemed like COS was everywhere all at once this January, that’s because, in many ways, we were.

And we’re only getting started.

To join us, sign the petition below.