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How to plan a demonstration
A
demonstration is a way to show members of the community that participants
feel strongly about something they want changed or stopped. A demonstration
can be small with a dozen people or less, or large with several thousands.
There are different types of demonstrations, including:
silent vigils, where people stand in a line or walk in a circle holding
signs without chanting or shouting;
marches from one location to another, where participants carry signs and
banners; or rallies where people gather, hold signs and banners, and
listen to speakers and musical performers.
Decide what your message will be.
You want people coming to know what the demonstration is about, for example:
“We want our school to agree not to purchase sweatshop produced goods.”
Pick a date
for the demonstration that gives you enough time to prepare and to recruit
the number of people you anticipate participating.
Choose a location.
Will a lot of people be able to see the demonstration? Does the location
have symbolic meaning? Can the location be connected to the message in some
way?
Decide the type of demonstration.
What do you want to happen? Be creative. You are more likely to get media
attention if you have dramatic images for the cameras to film.
If
you want, ask other organizations to be co-sponsors. Make sure they
commit to actually recruiting their members to attend and not just lend
their names.
If
you want speakers or performers, invite the speakers and performers.
Prepare posters
for
publicity.
If
it is the practice in your community, notify the police that the
demonstration will take place and secure any needed permit.
Recruit, recruit, recruit.
Send email, make phone calls, ask people to bring their friends.
Establish personal contact with the media in advance
to ensure that they understand the purposes of your demo and that they give
it proper coverage. Prepare press releases. Call them the day before
to make sure they are coming.
Prepare signs and banners
or
other visual materials.
Secure a sound system for speakers,
if
needed.
Be
sure you are clear about the need for non-violence
in your publicity.
If
you are organizing a very large demonstration you will need to recruit
and train monitors. (People to help keep the demonstration organized and
to work to prevent violence.) Monitors could all wear the same colour of
armband.
Designate one or more persons as press spokespersons
for the day of the demonstration.
If
you plan a rally, make sure you have a clear program, and designate a
facilitator for the program.
Prepare and copy a flyer
to hand out to people on the street to explain the purpose of the
demonstration.
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