What to Do After a Protest
Now your protest is over, and hopefully, has ended successfully. What do you do now?
Thank the participants.
Before you leave the protest site, gather the members of your group together and thank them for their hard work and resolve. That will go a long way.
Clean up your mess.
You are not pigs, and even the opposition will be appreciative. Leave a mess, and the community at large will be sure to know about it.
Get together to celebrate and debrief.
Within a few days after the action, get your group together to celebrate your victory. Have a party and a meeting at the same time. This can be done at someone's home, your office, or a favorite restaurant. This gives everyone a chance to reminisce, and to share what he or she liked, or did not like about the protest.
Thank your supporters.
As soon as possible, send out thank you letters to all of your supporters thanking them for their donations and support. Do something special for those who were especially supportive. Also, thank any members of the press for any particularly good stories that they may have put out.
Keep watch.
Keep on the lookout for any activity by the opposition. If they have made any promises or arrangements, make sure that they keep their word. Let them know that if they don't keep their end of the bargain, you'll be back.
Conclusion.
Well, there you have it - a basic guide to planning, surviving, and following up after a protest. Remember, every group is different and has a different style and approach to things; thus, every action will be different as well. Your group may come up with ideas that haven't even been thought of.
I hope that this series will at least help with the basics. Even if you follow all of the advice within these pages, this is no guarantee that your protest will be successful. Your opponent may be every bit as determined as you. Don't give up, though. Your group has not failed. Continue to organize, and use every legal and nonviolent means at your disposal. In the end, you will win. Good luck on your protest!
Published by Anita Cameron
Anita Cameron hails from Chicago, IL, and is the younger of twins. She holds degrees in Biology, and Computer Information Systems. Drawing on her passion for social justice and change, she became involve... View profile
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- After the protest, be sure to thank participants and supporters. Then, meet, celebrate, and debrief.
- Don't leave the protest site littered with trash. Clean up your mess!
- Keep tabs on opponents. Make sure that they keep any promises, and honor your commitments too.
15 Comments
Post a CommentOh yes, garbage pickup is VERY important! One thing that I have found when dealing with protesters from other groups is that they fail to thank those who have help to make the protest a success, including the media.
"Also, thank any members of the press for any particularly good stories that they may have put out." .... lol you got that right! As a reporter, one protester in 1980 thanked me so much that we got married!!!!! But it's true! ~~ mike ~~ (The protest was regarding cuts in garbage pickup services. What can I say Anita? Garbage pickup is very important if you can imagine being without it ..)
Good advice.
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Someone needs to tell those taxicab drivers that they are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The cab company needs to know this before someone makes a complaint. I'm surprised that someone hasn't done so already because that is discrimination.
In Seattle we have a sad controversy brewing. It seems Muslim taxi cab drivers are refusing to take blinds with their guide-dogs. Sadly, taxi cab licenses are limited by the city, and yet the city does not seem willing to enforce the laws that pertain to each license, which in this case would require that the blind would not be discriminated against.
Great point about discussing the end results. I've been at many protest and I didn't know what the results were till we all met after and discussed it. Great article!
Good set of articles
Good advice. I have never been a part of or gone to a protest but I'm sure if I did I would follow your advice.
Too often, people who protest fail to do these very steps and waste alot of their efforts. If there is community/regional/national support - they should springboard off of that feedback. cheers, Anita, another insightful article!