How to Protest Peacefully

Americans who want to get involved in any kind of protest, including Occupy Wall Street need to keep a few basic things in mind. When protesting, the cause of the protest needs to be foremost in your mind, no matter what other parties do. You may get hurt. You may get arrested. You are still responsible for your actions.

Be prepared to articulate. Occupy Wall Street is a great example of why protesters should be able to explain their stance so those watching can not only understand the purpose of the protest, but also receive some form of education. Don't protest just to be a part of something, but instead have a well-defined reason for doing it as well as the ability to defend your position with facts. Many people are confused as to the purpose of Occupy Wall Street since some of the answers from protesters did not seem to make positions clear.

Know the law. Although the laws state that peaceful assembly is legal, local legislature may undercut those laws using loitering laws and limits on the amount of people that can peacefully assemble. Learn what your local laws are and follow them. For instance, Occupy Indianapolis has made the decision to keep their protest efforts moving since it isn't loitering if you are simply walking around, no matter what kind of a sign you carry.

Keep a video record of everything possible. A great rule of thumb is to make sure every other person has access to a video camera. If you don't have one, make sure the people on either side of you do. Any infringements on your rights need to be recorded for legal reasons as well as a means to further the cause.

Remain peaceful. Accept that you can't control what other people do. You may be brutalized by police officers or those opposed to your cause, but fighting back only puts you in the same corner as them and gives the opposing party more ammunition to use against you. If you find yourself in a position where you are met with violence, simply sit down. Someone who is in a completely submissive position makes a poor target for brutality, especially when the person next to you is recording the event.

Educate your audience. Entertaining posters are always fun, but be sure to offer up some factual information as well. Many people are unaware of the basis of your protest. The only way to make them question their own stance is to offer up facts that refute their beliefs. For instance, most of the population of America is unaware of the vast amounts of money that was spent on putting shrimp on a treadmill. This is an interesting fact to present when attending protests such as Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Indianapolis and any other protests that involve citizens questioning how taxpayers' money is spent in America.

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Sources: Personal Experience