How to Protest

(Withoutinciting insurrection or making Republican Campaign Videos)

This is a repeat post,  because it feels appropriate to the moment. It represents the conclusions of a class I taught at Harvard on the Theater of Protest. It is a guide to protesting in a way that makes it extremely difficult to use the protest itself as either an excuse for increasing resistance or winding up as Campaign Videos for opponents.

Two Basic Principles:

A protest is a ceremony. It is an invitation to a better world. It is not an opportunity to vent, express your rage or anger. No one accepts an invitation when they’re being screamed at and having objects thrown at them..

The audience for a protest is NEVER the police, politicians, ICE agents etc. It is ALWAYS the American People who are watching and trying to determine who in the situation they can trust. If you win the trust of the people, you win power at the ballot box which is durable and extensive. It is the real prize, don’t be distracted.

FIVE GUIDES  

1)Let women organize and run it. It will be more inclusive, less aggressive, more participatory, and free of toxic masculinity and macho posturing.

2) Appoint PROCTORS. Give them yellow vests and whistles. Explain the whistle to bystanders. The proctor’s only job is to scan the crowd for violence. At the first sign, they blow the whistle and all the protestors sit down.  (Let the authorities take out their aggression on those breaking windows and storefronts.) The only people still standing will be provocateurs (agents pretending to be protestors) or those who want to vent their personal anger.

3) Make your protests SILENT. Let signs do your talking. Show the American people your self discipline by your self-control.

4) Dress neatly, up to the standards of the ceremony.  How you look is part of the message you send. Early Civil rights protestors wore ties and jackets. You don’t have to be fancy (and it’s difficult in cold weather) but crowds of people in Hoodies feel like people  dressed to tussle. I realize that many may be wearing hoodies to honor the death of Trayvon Martin, but you’re confusing your message. Honor Trayvon by winning power.

5) Go home at night. You can’t tell the difference between the cops and the killers at night. Go home, get rest, and return at the crack of dawn.