The 24/7 Protest Demonstration

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I've come to the conclusion over the years that anti-war demonstrations of the traditional variety are useless, since the mass media do not cover them and the politicians ignore them. It doesn't help that the organizers of the sponsoring organizations can't organize their way out of a paper bag and are prone to fill the program with speeches that tell the marchers long lists of stuff that they already know.

Demonstrations do help assure people that they are not alone in their positions, but without publicity, how do we reach the closet anti-war person who is surrounded by freepers and/or people who believe everything they see on CNN?

Here's my idea:

Those of us who oppose the escalation in Afghanistan should buy up a box of anti-war pins and wear one EVERYWHERE. (If you aren't allowed to wear political buttons at work, pin it onto your purse or lunch box or buy a box of bumper stickers instead.) If we get a favorable comment from a friend or acquaintance or even a total stranger, then give that person a pin and urge them to wear it. If you have some to spare, give the person a few pins and ask him/her to pass them along.

The MSM are not our friends, and this is a way to by-pass them and still get the message out to the general public.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Why is this sinking?

:shrug:

[Individualist]

2. K&R

[eleny]

3. k&r

[Individualist]

4. Kick

[raccoon]

5. I kind of see your point about the anti-war demonstrations.

"The MSM are not our friends" Amen to that.

[im1013]

6. k&r!!

:toast:

[inna]

7. I strongly disagree with your premise that anti-war demonstrations are "useless",

but KR anyway for your suggestion to "demonstrate" 24/7 by wearing anti-war buttons.

It's a good idea. :hi:

(But we shouldn't give up on anti-war demonstrations and mass protests of "traditional variety"! That's what TPTB want us to do, to give up on the idea of active resistance.)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Then do it RIGHT

Just putting up posters and advertising in left-wing media doesn't do it anymore. You get the same 500 people each time.

The people organizing these marches need to first create links with any and every organization in their community that could possibly be opposed to this war and ask for that group to select a liaison and set up a phone or e-mail tree. These groups in turn may know of more obscure groups that share their sympathies.

When a demonstration is planned, phone or e-mail the liaisons and have each liaison spread the word in his/her group, urging group members to show up and bring a friend. If the group member hesitates, have the liaison ask what the problem is. If the person has to work, ask if they can get off. If they don't have transportation, find someone who will take them. If they have child care issues, assure them that children are welcome. Etc. etc.

Choose a spot that is highly visible and centralized. If I were staging a demonstration in Minneapolis, for example, I wouldn't choose Uptown or Lake and Hiawatha, which are just neighborhood centers, but the Nicollet Mall in the heart of downtown, preferably in front of one of the large banks. Marchers would pass out buttons to passersby who expressed support.

The typical pattern is a march followed by hours and hours of speech-makers telling the marchers stuff they already know.

Put the speechifying at the BEGINNING of the march and keep it to no more than 10 minutes unless there is specific NEW information to be shared.

Or try something other than a march. To use a Minneapolis example again, recruit people to stand holding hands (or standing a few feet apart holding signs) down the entire length of a major street.

(Years ago in the Portland area, the fundie churches did this for an anti-choice rally, standing with signs along a major street, and it was creepy but impressive. It made their numbers look larger than they really were.)

[arcadian]

8. I agree, or I say crash TV broadcasts.

If you see a remote TV news broadcast for some bullshit, wait til they go live and then take it over.

[G_j]

10. perhaps other symbols too, like driving w/ lights on

I think we've had enough ribbons, but maybe something like that also

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. My car's lights automatically go on when driving

and so do a lot of other people's.

But some other sort of automotive symbolism may work.