When you can't keep silent about certain topics, expressing your point through a civil protest is a good way to make a difference. Gathering other people to collectively assert their disagreement with injustices is a fundamental right. Protest is a powerful tool for bringing about change. Read on to learn how to organize and carry out a peaceful protest in complete safety.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Organizing a Protest
Step 1. Set goals
Protests can serve to bring certain issues to light by making them known to the public or to put pressure on those in power to make a change. What do you hope to accomplish with your protest? Try to imagine who might join your initiative and plan an effective strategy based on that. It will be much easier to get results if you decide in advance what your goals are.
- Let's take an example. Let's say you want to organize a protest at a local farm to raise awareness of the treatment of animals and make them stop buying those products. In this case, your interlocutor is the public.
- You probably have a specific goal, for example to prevent a sex shop from opening in your neighborhood. In this case, the objective of the protest must be to put pressure on the mayor to prevent the owner of the sex shop from receiving the necessary permits.
- Sometimes the goals are very broad, such as when protesting against war or government policy. In this case, protest can be used as a tool to show political leaders that their constituents want to see a substantial change in their work.
Step 2. Choose your seat
Find a space that is practical, symbolic and convenient. To carry out an effective event, the place you choose must allow you to reach your target audience. It can be the sidewalk in front of a building, the corner of a street, the regional building, the parliament or a park that is usually used for local events. Remember that the protest must take place on public land, otherwise it ceases to be legal (unless it is "private with public right of way").
Step 3. Choose the date the protest will take place
Choose a time when you are sure to get as many people together as possible and have a strong impact on your audience. For example, if you protest against a company's marketing practices, you will need to organize it when you are sure that the CEO is present, therefore during office hours. If, on the other hand, the goal of your protest is to gather a large mass of people, then you will have to organize it on the weekend, when people have enough free time to participate.
Step 4. Obtain the necessary permits
Go to the town hall and the police station to obtain the necessary permits to demonstrate at the place you have chosen. In Italy regulation is common, however some cities may have special directives. Do your duty and obtain all permits, otherwise your protest will be stopped before you can even send an effective message.
- In some cases the permits set a limit on the number of people who can participate, indicate the paths in which demonstrators can move and impose certain rules. You can contact a lawyer to help you change some of the terms of the agreement, if you are not satisfied with it.
- In some cities it is not necessary to issue permits. However, you should still notify the police if you expect a large crowd to attend. If they know what to expect, they can provide their means to contain the protest and prevent any conflicts.
Step 5. Plan the stages of the protest
What can help you achieve your goal? It is important to have a plan in mind to know what to do when everyone is gathered for the event. Research and find out about other effective protests, then develop a plan that will help you achieve your goals. Here are some ideas:
- Get community leaders to present the protest, invite them to give speeches on your main theme.
- Find an entertainer who can lead the songs and protest hymns, contact some groups and have them play themed songs.
- Organize a procession. A classic form of protest that allows you to instill greater awareness on certain issues.
- Combine the protest with artistic representations to make your point of view understood.
- Show a documentary or informative video on the subject of the event.
- Consider doing a sit-in or camping until your requests are heard.
Step 6. Advertise the protest
It is the only way to ensure that your event receives all the attention possible. The goal is not only to encourage people to participate, but also to capture the attention of the media. Spread the word to the four winds starting a few weeks before the protest.
- Post the details of your protest on social networks.
- Print flyers and post them all over town. Your goals are the universities and all the other places where people are willing to collectively demonstrate for your cause.
- Contact local newsrooms and radio stations, ask them to promote the protest and publish all the information.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing for the Protest
Step 1. Bring everything you need
Make placards, print flyers or booklets to spread your message and communicate your concerns to others.
- Put the name of the group you are affiliated with on billboards and flyers. This way people will know who to contact for more information.
- Come up with a nice slogan, something you can easily memorize and spread.
Step 2. Put on protective gear
To feel safe during the event you will need to dress appropriately. Wear comfortable and safe clothes, as you will likely be walking or standing for a long time. You could be crushed by other protesters or find yourself in the middle of a conflict.
- Wear comfortable tennis shoes.
- Dress in layers, this way you will have a padded lining to protect your body.
- If you are planning to lead the protest, remember that that area is almost always at risk of conflict, so wear eye protection.
Step 3. Take emergency supplies with you
Bring a backpack with some things you may need. Better to have something to drink and eat at hand, especially if the protest lasts a long time. Also remember to bring:
- A copy of the permit issued for the protest.
- An identity document.
- A first aid kit.
- A bandana moistened with apple cider vinegar, inside a plastic bag. It serves to counter the debilitating effects of tear gas for a short time, enough to take cover.
Step 4. Protests are unpredictable
No matter what you protest about, there will always be someone who will disagree with your opinions. You may even encounter groups of protesters whose goal is exactly the opposite of yours. In very large protests the police are often present, whose job is to control the crowd and make sure that the situation does not get out of control. With all these different heads, you can never predict what will happen.
- Research the group you are protesting with. You should know its history before attending the event, if you are not one of the organizers. If they have used illegal tactics in the past or caused violence during a protest, perhaps you should reconsider participating in this demonstration.
- Most protests end peacefully, but sometimes it doesn't. When people are excited about a cause, they behave unpredictably. Always remain alert and pay attention to the environment around you when you manifest.
Step 5. Learn to interact with the police
Learn your rights as a protester and how to speak to an agent if you are stopped. If you don't break any of the terms listed in the permit you shouldn't have a problem, but you never know what might happen.
- Do your best to follow the instructions given by the protest organizers and the police.
- If you believe that your right of expression is at risk, talk to the protest organizer or contact a lawyer.
- Find out about your rights.
Part 3 of 3: Protest Safely and Effectively
Step 1. Always be respectful
A protest can be a very effective way to exercise your freedom of speech, be heard and propose change. However, disrespecting the people you protest against can seriously jeopardize the reputation of the group and the cause you carry out. Nobody will take your arguments seriously if you offend your targets. Avoid doing the following (and encourage protesters to do the same):
- Shouting insults at people who disagree with what you say.
- Vandalize public and private property.
- Spit or throw water.
- Resort to any kind of violence.
Step 2. Decide how far you want to go
If you have decided to use civil disobedience as part of your protest strategy, think carefully about what you do before taking action. Civil disobedience can be a courageous and nonviolent strategy to affirm an idea, but it can have unpleasant consequences, such as arrest. Before you deliberately break the law in the name of your cause, you need to know what awaits you.
Step 3. Test the effectiveness of your protest
When it's all over, think about what happened and evaluate what worked and what didn't. Find out if you have achieved your goal, or if you need to change your approach in subsequent protests to make them more impactful. In any case, be proud that you have remained true to what you believe in and that you have exercised your right to be heard. Even if your protest didn't bring about the change you hoped to see, you still took a step in the right direction to be heard.
It is very difficult for a single protest to change anything. Surely you will have to organize several. Consider the idea of approaching the problem from different points of view. To get started write a letter to the company you protest against, organize a boycott, write a blog to voice your opinions and carry out other initiatives to raise awareness and achieve your goals. Do not give up
Advice
-
Avoid violence at all costs!
Acts of violence undermine the credibility of the protests and give police the legal right to stop them.
- Accept that what you protest about doesn't matter to everyone. If you organize a silent information protest, don't force people to listen if they don't feel like it. If someone tells you no, thank them anyway and don't bother them further, they may call a cop and charge you with harassment.
- Make sure you are only telling the truth. If someone notices that you are making up a fact, you lose all your credibility. You don't have to manipulate reality to legitimize your protest.
- Be prepared to answer questions from passersby. Be well informed. If you can't even answer questions about your protest, you don't look good.
- Consider recruiting and training pacifist volunteers to stay calm during demonstrations.
- Sooner or later someone will come along and ask you questions just to waste your time. Talk to him, but if it becomes redundant, point it out, tell him you did your best, and dismiss him.
- Avoid lengthy debates, arguments and arguments during the protest. They can easily turn into conflicts and distract from the goal of the protest. Try to offer informational flyers to passersby and give them a way to contact you and continue the conversation.
Warnings
- In some cities it is necessary to have a permit to be able to demonstrate. Get in touch with your local police commissioner for more information.
- Be prepared for hotheads and naysayers. They can jeopardize your peaceful protest and your credibility, as well as distract attention from the cause you are advocating. Consider the idea of enlisting people who are able to remain calm if you are afraid that these opponents may turn up.
- Be careful not to protest about private property! You probably have a legal right to it (for example, the property is “private with public right of way”), but not sure. Ask the municipality if it is possible to park on that sidewalk outside the building. Otherwise, ask the owner of a land for permission to use his property, or carry on the protest on public land, such as the town hall square or the streets of the town.
