Things To Consider When Preparing For A History-Changing Protest

By Chris Pagnozzi | Jan 5, 2015

Handsup

We are in a prime time of history where equality is the topic of discussion and the driving force of many activists is to stand up for something. We've all seen what’s been going on, and most of us know that it’s nothing new but we can’t be quiet anymore.

As you shouldn’t, but know there are a few things to keep in mind when standing up for what you believe in. Here are some things to consider:

Spell-Check Your Protest Signs

You would think this wouldn’t have to be said, but when your sign says “Don’t treat us like Daemons!” are you talking about Mailer–Daemons? Because that’s stupid.

Or if you are this guy:

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Stop police bestiality? Really? You couldn’t find another noun to use because it just seems like you are protesting a VERY DIFFERENT THING. You didn’t have anybody proof read this, huh? Next time...just....stay home.

Let's look at these signs:

ProtestSign

 

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I’m not saying there’s a competition when it comes to who has the best sign, but we can all agree these folks are winners. Note how these signs voice the opinion of a concerned citizen and ally while still showing that some people just ain’t shit.

GET YOUR SIGN GAME RIGHT FOLKS!

The Movement is Infectious & You Will Be Rushing With Adreneline

Yeah, it’s awesome to see that thousands of people are coming out to stand up for something bigger then themselves and it might piss you off that right across the street a Christmas market is IN HIGH DEMAND and filled with people unaffected by today's issues.

You might want to walk by the people eating lunch at Wolfgang Puck right down the street from the protest, real slowly, as you stare them down in front of their fried duck. You can’t reach everybody, so try to understand that when somebody randomly says “What’s with all this traffic today?” Idiots need love too.

Know Your Chants

This one can be tricky as there are no “chant cheat sheets” or “lyric pages” sent out pre-protest (although there should be) so you kind of have to learn them by picking them up along the way. Just try and keep up. Stick to a basic “Wants and Needs” song structure.

Good Example: Hands Up! Don’t Shoot!

OK Example: What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!

BAD Example: What do we want?! For-The-Police-To-Stop-Wrongfully-Murdering-Our-Young-Men-And-To-Bring-Down-A-Social-Construct-That-Favors-The-Rich-And-White

The last one has a lot of good stuff in it but it’s a bit wordy. Chants are usually pretty short and catchy. You will be chanting one chant really loud, unaware that the group is onto a new chant, and you'll feel dumb, but just own it! Just don’t go adding extra lines to the chants because it will have you stick out like a sore verbal thumb.

This isn’t a freestyle Def poetry jam session. Keep it simple. It’s about unity, people.

Depending On Who Organizes The Protest, This is Still An Event

Don’t be thrown off if Al Sharpton organized a million man march and you get there early only to find out you can’t watch people speak because you don’t have a VIP pass.

You mean there is VIP for activism?

Oh yes, this could be the event of the year. Make sure your protest outfit is on point. Don’t get caught with one hair out of place. That velvet rope isn’t just for anyone. It’s VIP only.

How does one obtain a VIP pass in the fight for equality? We still don’t know. You must remember that you are attending an event with FAMOUS activist so there is a class system. PS: YOU WON’T UNDERSTAND THE WOMAN WHO WORE HER RED BOTTOMS TO A THREE-MILE MARCH. STOP TRYING.

The Shirts

Selling shirts to raise money for the families who have lost or an organization serving the safety and health of the communities they work for is a beautiful thing. That being said: stop yelling “SOUVENIORS!” This isn’t Disney World or Six Flags, man! I didn’t come here for a large turkey leg and mouse ears. And the only Giant Drop around is my heart when I see people trying to make money off the movement for selfish gain.

People are going to hustle how they want to regardless just have a little class about it.

Watch Your Selfies

Are you out here to fight the good fight? Or are you fighting for more Likes? People that take too many selfies are like a Black Panther who only goes to meetings because he has a new leather jacket to show off. Just have your priorities straight.

Remember that these occasions can be a great way to increase your social media presence. Letting your friends know that you know what’s going on in the world is trending right now. Take lots of pictures! You never know if you could end up being in a historical selfie. Just because photos of your Grandmother protesting in the 1960s showed her getting blasted by water hoses and chased by dogs doesn’t mean you have to look that way too. Throw a filter on it. #BlackFiltersMatter

 

Those are just some of the things to keep in mind as we roll in to the New Year with high expectations of change for all people, all across the board. We should all stand together as humans, regardless of race and try to see eye to eye with one another. We shouldn’t condemn those that don’t look like us and say they can’t stand with us or for us.

And for those people who post things like “You need to march in our city”? Every step in the right direction is a good one. While you’re posting criticism of others, how about you sign offline and actually stand for something?

Oh, and:

Bring Bottled Water

It’s going to be a long day.

And to think, as Martin Luther King Jr. marched with a quarter of a million men on August 28th, 1963 – some of those men and women were somewhere supporting, not from the VIP section, and seeing all the change we needed to make from the inside out...with a good laugh.

 

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