Letters to the editor, one of the most widely read parts of newspapers, can reach, educate, and inspire a broad audience. That’s why they’re such a powerful tool for advocating for the rights of Palestinian children. Local politicians often monitor the letters in their local papers to understand what their constituents care about, so it can also be a good tool to influence their views. 

No Way To Treat A Child advocates around the world have submitted letters to the editor in support of H.R. 2590, the Palestinian Children and Families Act, which would prohibit Israeli authorities from using U.S. taxpayer funds to demolish Palestinian homes and property, further annex the occupied West Bank, and arrest and detain Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system. Here are examples from New York and Arizona. 

Writing a letter to the editor in support of H.R. 2590 is straightforward. Here are five tips to make your letter stand out.

1. Do your research.

Know the letter to the editor requirements from the publication you’re submitting to. What is the word limit? Does the paper take general commentary, or does it need to reference a recent article? Publications typically explain the requirements for letters on their website. Following these guidelines increase the chance of your letter being published.

2. Start strong and explain the issue clearly.

Letters to the editor are typically short—under 250 words—so you need to make your point quickly and concisely. At the bottom of this article, you’ll find sample text that explains H.R. 2590 and the No Way To Treat A Child campaign that you can use in your letter. Begin your letter with a strong hook that grabs the reader’s attention. Overall, you want to make sure you succinctly explain the issues and a way to help—in this case, supporting H.R. 2590. Read through our resources to make your case clearly.

3. Know your audience.

You are probably submitting a letter to your local paper, so you’re familiar with the community. Make sure you express why people in your community, specifically, should care about Palestinian children and H.R. 2590. Use everyday language people understand and avoid jargon and acronyms.

4. Make it personal.

If you’re writing a letter to the editor in support of Palestinian children, you clearly care. Why? By including your personal story and perspective in the letter, readers will be able to relate to you and the issue.

5. End with a strong call to action.

After reading about the widespread and systematic detention of Palestinian children by Israeli forces, many people will feel called to help. By including a strong call to action, you are giving them a tool to help. The specific call will depend on your community and whether your lawmaker has already co-sponsored H.R. 2590. Here are some example calls to action:

• Thank your lawmaker for co-sponsoring H.R. 2590
• Call your lawmaker and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2590
• Attend a local event or rally in support of Palestinian rights
• If you have a local group or organization they can join or contact to learn more, include that too!

Working on a letter to the editor and would like support from the No Way To Treat A Child campaign? We’d love to help! Send us an email.