A hands-on way to advance your movement
Whether it’s SlutWalk, Take Back the Night, justice for black lives, a union workers strike, or Nestlé boycotts, the Guelph community is no stranger to a protest. Different types of protesting show solidarity with different causes, with rallying/marching being one of the most well-known.
Rallies intend to take up space and inconvenience others to highlight the importance of a specific cause.
Walk-out rallies, on the other hand, create an inconvenience because of the absence of people.
Strikes are similar to walk-out rallies and are typically organized by union workers to pressure their employers into making a compromise.
In extreme cases, breaking the law, or civil disobedience, can be a powerful protesting tool. However, this tactic is best used when a cause is more important than one’s own freedom.
Here is a list of dos and don’ts to help keep protesters safe, and to keep the motive behind your movement at the forefront of conversation.
DO:
- Bring water: this is a great time to bust out your reusable water bottle!
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothing: especially if you’ll be marching, these are a must.
- Make a poster: people should be able to see what you’re protesting if they walk past (bonus points for comedy)
- Research what you’re protesting: there’s nothing worse than being asked why you’re protesting and not actually being able to have a conversation about it
- Bring friends so that you can be safe in numbers
- Know your rights if approached by law enforcement: you have the right to peaceful protest and are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Tweet, Insta, Snap, Facebook your protest: getting the word out should be your top priority, and is the most important reason for protesting
- Bring music, bells, whistles: the louder it is, the more people will stop to see what is happening
DON’T:
- Push/hit/slap/hurt people: violence turns protests into riots, which are illegal in Canada
- Bring drugs or open alcohol: if things go wrong, you don’t want the police to find any illegal substances in your possession
- Protest on private property: the protest won’t last long because the owners of the property can legally kick you off
- Resist arrest: if the police detain you, ask why you are being arrested and what laws you have broken, demand medical attention if needed, and know you have the right to remain silent until a lawyer is present
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons via CC0