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Protest Checklist [1]

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Date: 2025-03-03

Hi Daily Kos Folks,

A commenter to another story asked if someone who had organized and done protests would make a story about how to do that. I have experience in doing this albeit most of it comes from 40-50 years ago. I have been to two protests in the past 10 years: a FCC one -pro Net Neutrality in 2017-to oppose Ajit Pai supporting a corporate takeover of the Internet (Al Gore may have invented it, but I kept it free for y’all, -me and some others) and the Red For Ed Teacher protest, supporting teachers, (regardless of ‘em all being Marxist pedophile witches) in 2018. I did organize an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in my city in 1992. The city wanted an affiliate. No protests. My husband speaks fluent government-ese and he helped me write the 501(c)3, and the editor of a large newspaper published the incorporation information three times, as required to incorporate as a non-profit. Our organization did a lot of clean-ups, planted some trees around the city with the high school students, two elementary schools did my composting curriculum alongside their gardening project, and we established the Adopt-A-Street program, which is still going strong after 23 years. (Yea!) The drawing at the top of this story is my graphic for the Adopt-A-Street program. It depicts Our City Mascot, The Old Prospector, and His Burro Helping Our City Clean Up.

I’m trying to figure out how to get myself back into the protest routine after the long hiatus. I have noted that a lot of the support structure has withered away over the years through disuse. We are probably going to have to build our own structure.

I’m looking around for something to go to for International Women’s Day, March 8th. Most of the events are virtual, to which I say: WTAF? How am I going to show off my gorgeous Spring Hat to the envy of all the other women, and some men, too, if it’s held inside at my computer? Don’t message me about this. I’m strong and will get through this disappointment with the steely resolve I’m known for.

Well, back to opposing tyranny, EH?

Protest Checklist:

So Far :

1. Form a group. 8-16 people. More people? Next group. Have information on each other’s names, addresses, phone #s, and contact info on a responsible friend or relative. (Remember when unknown people picked off one guy and hustled him into an unmarked vehicle at that Black Lives Matter Protest? No more of that!)

2. Decide on a method of deciding: (consensus, majority vote, short straw/ dice/rock-paper-scissors, etc. Will you have Officers? Will you need funding? How are you going to be funded? Dues? Grants for a project connected to the issue? A shadowy donor? You might need a Treasurer and a checking account.

3. Decide on the theme: Down with This, Up with That, Up and Over The Side With Those (last used in Boston Harbor, c.1773. Disclosure: I wasn’t at that protest. This information is second-hand.) etc., and choose a method: March,Rally, Speak at a Public Meeting, Sit-In, Strike, Highway Overpass Signs, etc. In the future, might there be drone displays of political messages or graphics? You might begin to think about a sassy slogan, or if there’s a graphic that “says it all” in one picture. You may want boxes, poster boards, scissors (and/or a paper cutter,) paint or markers, a set of stencils, and some extra long paint stirrers (21 inches) from the hardware store, as well as a big stapler/staple gun.

4. People coming to your event probably are giving up a day at the movies or at the park or some other enjoyment, so try to arrange something nice for them. Tell the group to think about a focus event within the bigger event, such as having a speaker, having music, etc. Presenting something to someone is always lovely. Try to not have an animal, like Punxsutawney Phil, where someone could get bitten, scratched, etc. Disclosure: I have never met Punxsutawney Phil. I don’t think he’s ever bitten or otherwise harmed anyone. I might bite someone if they wake me up and take me outside on a cold February morning, so be ye fairly warned. ) Seek a lot of control. Some speakers or musicians will enlarge your audience because they have a following. Everyone planning to attend should be given the chance to accept the rules.Include the rules in all your notices. Keep the gate.

5. Reserve the place and time: Make arrangements for a specific business or work site, a public place like a penitentiary (protesting someone’s execution or continued incarceration.) The exception is of course if you are planning to be arrested for trespassing. You will have to call ahead and charter a boat, or a plane to pull a banner flown over a city or beach, etc. Go to the place and look it over. Don’t take people to a plant nursery instead of a posh restaurant.

6. Please get permission to be on private property. You may need to get a permit to be on public property, and especially property overseen by Park Rangers. Some places have online forms, some places you go in and fill out forms. Let the authorities know you expect them to help. It is their job to assist you to do that by keeping groups that want to interrupt you “over there.” Keep in mind that “authorities” don’t like to be surprised. During some protesting way back when, the staff member of our organization sometimes was a “Police Whisperer” so the police didn’t panic when we started to do something they weren’t clear about. “Hi, Officer! We’ve assembled at the park here, and now we’re walking down the sidewalk by groups to the front of City Hall. We’re meeting the Mayor there.”

7. Basic necessities: You should figure out where people are going to park, sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, get first aid, etc. Can you get a stage set up? Microphones and speakers? Have some one make an online map? You probably need an online presence anyway. Where?

8. If what you are doing has risks, hold a training segment with the specific purpose of practicing scary scenarios. Role play. Discuss what happened. Discuss feelings. You can change what you plan to do if people are too uneasy.

9. If anyone is too eager to do illegal stuff, consider that they might work for the police.Don’t ask. Just steer people away from their ideas. Someday you may look back fondly on your meeting and think, “Those two fellows from the Ivy League University didn’t get thrown out of school because I discouraged them from risking being caught defacing a billboard in the middle of the night like they were discussing with that guy I was sure was a police undercover officer.” It will feel good.

10. Decide on boundaries:property damage? blocking traffic? burning your draft card/bra/tesla truck/His Majesty’s Ship, The Gaspee? (c. 1772, Warwick, Rhode Island, Tea? They shot and wounded the Captain, then burned The King’s Ship to the waterline. If it could have sunk, it would have sunk. Disclosure: I wasn’t at that protest. This information is second-hand.) Intoxicating Substances? Vulgarity? (The last protest I went to was the Red For Ed Teacher’s protest. Lots of Signs. No vulgarities...and words spelled correctly and apostrophes used correctly!) Plan for the safety of the people participating. Near the street? ...stand by fireplugs or postal boxes which may make it hard for someone to try to scare you by swerving into your area.

11. Alliances: Are there other groups you may invite/join them because it turns out they were planning a protest as well? Ask to come to their meeting and discuss an alliance.

12. Advertise: What newspapers, newsletters, public message boards, real and virtual, can you use to let people know about your protest? This could be very select or very broad. Maybe you don’t want to inadvertently attract the wrong crowd until you’ve gotten a bigger following. Using a service like Mobilize, or similar service, is very convenient, maybe go to their protests and take notes, but don’t pay for a membership to a gym and send someone to the gym to build up YOUR muscles. Be an organizer, not a consumer, whenever possible. Post Protest: If you write a follow-up for a newspaper, spread the quotes around- exempli gratia: I call Ann who was at the protest. I say, “Ann, I need a quote about the protest for the newspaper.” Ann says, “OK, what should I say?” I read a statement I’ve prepared, in segments to her, and she repeats it back to me. I thank her for her statement, we giggle, and it goes into the story. This happened with me, called by the same guy who was the Police Whisperer in #6. I was glad to help, and I got my name in the paper. Woo!

13. Keep the Joy. Appreciate Freedom. Encourage Each Other. You are the Posterity to whom the Founding Fathers were securing the Blessings of Liberty. Peace.

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