You can see the list of cities where “Returning the Names” will take place in 2024 in the Cities 2024 section. If “Returning the Names” is not yet planned where you live, you can organize it yourself. Here’s how to do it.
About our Telegram bot
This year we have developed a Telegram bot that can help you participate in the campaign and answer your questions! You can use it yourself, or you can send it to your family and friends who share our values. You can find details about the forms of participation in the 2024 action there, fill out the organizer’s form, ask us any questions you have, or share videos and photos of your event with us.
We believe it is important to continue the action publicly. We suggest that you choose a place associated with the history of terror or resistance, gather a group of people, and read the names of those executed by the Soviet state.
- You can record the reading in advance and send us your video. It would be much appreciated if you could send it before October 25.
- You can plan a reading for October 29 and go live on our YouTube broadcast.
- Gather a large (or small) group of people who want to participate.
- Find a place where you want to hold the action.
- Select the names of victims of state terror and prepare them to be read.
- Film the reading or go live on October 29.
Here is how to do it in more detail.
“Returning the Names” can be held at any symbolic or historical place in your city. It can be a monument to victims of political terror or a memorial place of resistance to a totalitarian regime, a mass grave or an execution site, a “Last Address” plaque, or any other memorial landmark.
It is up to you to decide whether to obtain government permission for the action. In most cases, it is not necessary, but it is always better to check out the legislation of the country, region, or city where you are planning the reading.
For instance, in Russia, the Constitution recognizes the right of citizens to hold peaceful assemblies, rallies, and demonstrations. But the federal law still requires you to notify the authorities of the planned action.
Go to ru.openlist.wiki or base.memo.ru. These are online databases of political terror victims.
You can download as many names as you need, including names from specific categories: people from a certain geographic area or region, those involved in a particular profession or religion, and so on. You can set the desired criteria in the advanced search of any of these databases.
The Telegram bot that we have developed for this year’s “Returning the Names” is currently on pause. You can find out more about how it worked on the “Get names to read” page.
It is easier to recite the names in a consistent format. We recommend compiling all name cards the following way:
- first name, patronymic, and surname of the person (it is better to put the surname at the end),
- age at the time of the persecution,
- place of birth,
- occupation (place of study or work),
- date and place of execution.
E.g.:
Lidiya Dmitrievna Apreleva
17 years old
Born in Harbin
Nursery school teacher
Executed in 1937 in the Smolensk Region
The primary focus of the action is reading the names of political terror victims. You can ask your participants to bring flowers and candles which will be placed at the memorial site either before the reading or during the action.
Check out the weather: in some areas, it may be cold, windy, or rainy on October 29, while in others it may be hot, humid, or sunny. Please take this into account when choosing the place and time for the reading. Remind participants to dress for the weather so they can remain outdoors for a few hours if need be.
There are two options.
You can record the reading in advance and send your video to [email protected]. It would be much appreciated if you could send it before October 25. That way we will have enough time to prepare your video for broadcast.
You can also go live on October 29. It is more challenging, which is why we are trying to coordinate things in advance. If you are planning to go live, make sure to inform us via the Become an Organizer online form, and we will send you all the technical information. If in doubt, email us at [email protected], and we will help you sort it out.
- The key is to shoot horizontally. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us to upload the clip for broadcast.
- Put the camera/tablet/phone on a tripod, if possible, to avoid camera shaking while shooting.
- Try to set up the camera so that there are no irrelevant elements above or behind the people reading.
- The background may include a monument or city landscape, flowers, candles, or other participants.
- When the reading begins, make sure the camera is focused on the face of the person who is reciting the names.
- The person’s face should always be above the center of the frame. If you are shooting a close-up, the person’s face should be slightly above the center of the frame. If you are taking a wide shot, position the center of the frame at waist level.
- It is important to record the sound well so that the names can be heard on the broadcast. Please ask participants to speak clearly and loudly enough. When filming, do not move further than two meters away from the person who is reading. Use a buttonhole microphone if possible.
- Before or after the reading, you can take a follow-up shot. Capture the location of the event, participants, flowers, candles, name cards, posters, etc.
- Shoot a variety of zoom plans: general shots to show the location, middle and close-ups to show faces and details.
- Before-and-after shots should last at least 10 seconds. Avoid excessive panning, zooming in or out.
These recommendations are relevant both for shooting in advance and for going live. But live coverage still requires more technical preparation, and we have more detailed recommendations for going live on October 29.
If you are planning to go live, make sure to inform us via the Become an Organizer online form. We will send you all the technical information and help you organize the process. If in doubt, email us at [email protected], and we will help you sort it out.
Please send them to us at [email protected]. Be sure to tell us your location and the memorial site you have chosen for the action, and we will mention it in the credits.
If you are holding your event ahead of time, please send us your recording before October 25, if possible. This way we will have enough time to prepare your video for broadcast.
If you are planning to go live, make sure to inform us via the Become an Organizer online form. We will send you all the technical information and help you organize the process. If you have any questions about broadcasting your video, please contact us at [email protected]
To spread the word about the event to as many potential participants as possible, you need to announce it well in advance. Here’s what you can do.
- Create a social media page for the event. For example, a Facebook event where you can conveniently gather those interested and quickly publish updates. We have prepared several templates for you to download and adapt to your specific event (language, date, place, and time).
Facebook event cover | Pictures to use for social media cards - Tag Memorial in a post or add us as the event co-organizer so we can invite more people to join you.
- Add the hashtag #returningthenames to all relevant posts to make it easier for organizers and participants from different cities and countries to follow “Returning the Names” on social media.
- Advertise the campaign in your local social media groups or even in your local press.
- Print posters, postcards, or stickers for distribution. We have prepared several templates that can be downloaded and adapted to your specific event (language, date, place, and time).
Poster for printing | Stickers and postcards - And, most importantly, please fill out the “Become an Organizer” form, that way we can share information about your event on our website and across all our social media.