I posted an article here yesterday about a clash between protesters over a free speech issue regarding opinions on the war in Iraq. It was moved, but I'm interested in your opinions about the effectiveness of public protests. Are they effective in changing policy or perspectives? Are protests a hold over from the 60s with no real impact today? Does arguing differing viewpoints across a road at each other make progress in any way? Do you participate in rallies and protests?

And, if you believe public protests not to be effective, do you have ideas for tactics that do seem to make an impact?

Here's the link to the article, in case you're interested:

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...topic=19721&hl=

Check out the article I just posted in Action items about people power.

Massive public protests (ie marches on Washington) usually take a lot of time and effort to organize,and relies on financial means of protestors to get to DC. They can be effective to show strength, but they are also in danger of plants and traitors in their midst. Small cells of protestors(ie. ACT UP) are harder to infiltrate, and can quickly mobolize, and without risking other groups being exposed if some are arrested.

Excerpt from the article you posted:

"People power is an assertion of real democracy. It can assert the democratic will of communities and movements to change the things that matter when the established so-called democratic channels turn out be little more than public relations for elite rule. Every successful movement in U.S. history, from the workers and civil rights movement to today's farmworker-led Taco Bell boycott, and every dictator toppled in recent history have relied on people power methods."

Interesting! Didn't know anything about a Taco Bell boycott initiated by farmworkers.

It's a pretty good academic discussion of activism in general but I'm interested in people's personal opinions based on their experiences.

I've never had the opportunity to participate in a huge protest. Have you?

Interesting about small cells v. large efforts.

You've never gone to San Francisco for a big one??? Oh, DO. There is nothing that can lift the human spirit more than walking with like-minded souls for a collective cause..

If timely and relative AND LOUD. All public protests are effective - especially right there on the ground. Never take public opinion for granted! Americans (thank goodness) are a pretty pragmatic bunch.

Public protests are very effective, maybe even more so in today's media age. The best protests are perhaps totally passive in nature. The secret is discipline and patience, two qualities that are not easy to find in the American populace today.


Protests will always fail when passive protests turn non-passive, or vice versa.

I like this thread, keep it going....peacfully of course

Think Code Pink.

EVERYone wore the signature color -
EVERYone agreed on the reason -
EVERYone walked together in support -

Think of the brave people of the Ukraine

EVERYone wore the signature color - ORANGE
EVERYone agreed on the reason -
EVERYone walked together in support -

It's the motion of the moment.

SO - are we going to do justice to the biggest day in Anti-War Protest History?

MOTHER'S DAY.

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa013100d.htm

Could you expand on this statement? I think I know what you're saying but want to be sure.

You're right, protests have a lot to do with current media.

Terrific examples. And, you're right on about the benefits of the feeling of camaraderie you get by spending time with people united behind a cause.

When I was in college, I joined a HUGE protest in D.C. against the Vietnam War- peaceful as far as I can remember-But those times were also linked up with the Civil Rights movement,which I believe, made the marches and demonstrations all that more powerful and the committement more meaningful. It was a time when young and old were infused with a sense of purpose and they felt very strongly that their opposition to what our government was doing and their opposition to social injustices should be heard, and they were determined to be heard. They felt THEY COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE! And they did. It's very frustrating for us who were opposed to the war in Vietnam and who were part of the generation who fought for Black American civil rights to see what's going on today with the Iraq war,election irregularities, etc. and just sit still! But, we had Martin Luther King and others to sound the call and lead the way. I think that peaceful marches and protests can really make a difference, but we live in a time of "terrorism" and people are afraid, I think. The 60's and 70's were an amazing time to be young and idealistic- I felt SO connected to the "rightness" of issues and to those who shared my views. During those years I was really proud to be an American.

Some of my favorite memories of demonstrations were smaller in scale.
Anita Bryant hit in the face with a pie.
A huge condom stretched over Jesse Helms house.
Act Up demonstration at federal court house in DC, men with advanced
body wasting from AIDS lifting their bodies out of their wheel chairs to lie on the buildings steps and be arrested.

I've protested since I was 12yo against Viet Nam(I'm 51 yo now)
I've lobbied MN State Legislators for safe and legal abortion rights before Roe vs. Wade. I have also picketed on my own American Airlines, after they made a huge deal about blankets and pillows needing to be destroyed because one passenger had AIDS.

"Public protests are very effective, maybe even more so in today's media age. The best protests are perhaps totally passive in nature. The secret is discipline and patience, two qualities that are not easy to find in the American populace today."


Protests will always fail when passive protests turn non-passive, or vice versa.





Both historically and statisically, passive resistance has shown to be the most effective in reaching an end.

When a movement, in a united way, refuses to give in to efforts to change the subject or to allow itself to be baited into angry forms of expression, public sentiment is swayed to a greater extent.

Most of us relate all too easily to "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"
Then when a group of people rises above that basic urge, and stands for some cause; the strength of that movement becomes all the more apparent. IMHO

Your recollections brought to mind the flag draped coffins in the big protest in NYC before the Repub convention. Strong statement.

They might be effective if people would actually SHOW UP.
We protested against offshoring and it was working until
everyone quit showing up.

http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/coffin_photos/dover/
A march of the dead... in vain... a strong statement...

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7697.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1116-05.htm
http://www.sierratimes.com/05/01/19/worden01192005.htm

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

STAND UP! KEEP FIGHTING!

For What It's Worth!

Heck yeah!

another protest/memorial artistic and passive, was the NAMES quilt for AIDS now so large it can't be shown in it's entirety.

Great post, Marie ! I urge everyone to click on your link, close their eyes and listen. The music captures the essence of what it is all about.

(what a flashback- made me smile and cry ! But cannot find just the song lyrics to post)

Wow !!!!!!!! Listen to the music folks !

-peace

That was a brilliant awareness campaign & protest.

More to listen to:
The Revolution Starts Now

Yeah that was great! Thanks Dylan!