From: Rob_Clark@justicemail.com (Rob Clark)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Article in "Mother Jones" magazine
about protests
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 05:41:38 GMT
Message-ID: <36f731af.401623133@news2.lightlink.com>
On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 04:13:18 GMT, Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) wrote:
this is a very nice article. i'll make a couple comments while snipping without announcement.
SIZE DOES MATTER (AND NINE OTHER TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PROTEST)
by Jeff Goodwin
(additional research by Susan Rakosi Rosenbloom)SIZE DOES MATTER. The most memorable protests--and the ones the media tends to cover--are the big ones: Think of the 1963 March on Washington and the Million Man March in 1995. The best way to put masses of people on the streets? Forge coalitions in order to broaden your base of potential protesters.
i'd ignore this one for our purposes. i'd honestly become worried, if picket sizes outside orgs started significantly outnumbering the people in the orgs in the first place. at that point i'd think the whole thing had become mean-spirited bullying.
usually, however, a single SP picketer can enturbulate an entire org. it is generally preferable, however, to have at least one person there to take pictures should anything happen.
it is no use whatever to be attacked on a solo picket without video, unless demonstrating to yourself that you have balls bigger than your brains is really that important to you.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Many large, well-organized protests happen outside corporate headquarters or foreign consulates. Unfortunately, those tend to be on side streets with little pedestrian traffic and no adjoining public spaces. Simply relocating the event to a busy nearby corner can increase the audience tenfold.
this might be a good idea for picketers where the local org is nowhere near anything that anyone walks by on a regular basis. i'd make a wild guess that at those orgs, they don't body route on their front doorstep, but instead, themselves, pick a nearby corner.
the proper corner for the picket would be where the body router is.
DISTINGUISH YOURSELF. In December 1997, the East Timor Action Network marched up Madison Avenue to the Indonesian Consulate to protest the occupation of East Timor. Only a few carried signs; the rest were indistinguishable from other pedestrians on the crowded street. Solution? Form a picket line or sit down en masse on the busy sidewalk.
(i am highly amused by this one because i really doubt it has been that much of a problem for anti-cos protesters--except those desperately trying to distinguish themselves from scientologists!
xenu costumes, humongous balloons, SP T-shirts, i think ars picketers have got that down pat.)
GET THE CROWD INVOLVED. Successful protests encourage audience participation--appearing exclusive is a sure way to alienate onlookers from your cause. At a 1997 World AIDS Day vigil in New York, for example, organizers handed out chalk to passersby and asked them to write on a nearby fountain the names of loved ones who had died of AIDS.
luckily, scientology is limited enough most passersby would not have such a name to write. but some might, and a number of picketers have reported passersby reporting bad experiences with the cult by either themselves or family members or friends.
PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER. A simple, clearly written leaflet that explains who is protesting, why, and how to get involved is crucial. Sure, it may end up in the nearest trash can, but some people will read it, and a few might show up at the next event.
we rule on leaflets.
MANAGE THE MEDIA. Of course, the biggest prize for any protest is media coverage. Inform local newspapers and TV and radio stations (not just "progressive" media) a few days in advance.
media will consult legal counsel before even making a wisecrack mentioning scientology, despite the fact that scientology has been too cash-strapped to mount any major offensives against any media lately and has settled for the velvet fist approach.
ABOVE ALL, BE SPECTACULAR. Eye-catching costumes, a sea of candles in a dark plaza, limp bodies being carried from a street to a police van--these telegenic images make for good press. At an August 1997 march prompted by the police beating of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima, many waved toilet plungers--the tool with which Louima was allegedly beaten and sodomized--transforming an ordinary object into an unforgettable symbol of violent racism.
so far as i can tell the picketers are great at this too.
xenu costumes are great. balloons are even more wonderful. that might seem mighty silly to some people who think of all this as a deadly serious war of some sort. but i think the passerby on the street will be more interested in a guy in a space suit having fun with balloons than a guy battling Ultimate Evil with grim-faced determination. most people get enough battling with Ultimate Evil just trying to get a paycheck on friday let alone having to battle with it while walking to the subway. maybe he'd like a balloon!
METEOROLOGY MATTERS. A wet and cold protester is usually a demoralized one. Plan for foul weather by establishing an alternative day; if timing is critical, find a nearby indoor or protected space to which protesters can retreat. To be sure, there are exceptions: A dedicated group braving the elements can convey a profound sense of commitment to a cause--assuming, of course, that someone's watching.
heh, if weather forbids, hold an indoor press conference--then make john carmichael and matt bratschi sit out in the rain! HA!
USE PROTEST TO BEGET PROTEST. Any single march or demonstration should be one link in a larger chain. Most political movements, after all, must endure for years to attain their goals. So think about the morning after: How can the momentum generated (if any) be maintained?
(in this case--the "revenge" pickets and so on will continue to encourage more revolted responses against the cult.)
How soon is too soon for the next protest? What worked, what didn't? Protests should be carefully crafted performances designed to be unforgettable and moving for audiences and participants alike. Only meaningful and memorable protests can effectively challenge people to think differently and motivate still further protest in the days and years ahead.
the perfect example of this kind of picket, that remained in the mind, was the candle-light vigil for lisa mcpherson where the cultists blew out the candles.
which served to me as an horrific example of their tragic blindness to what they serve.
that video deserves wider play.
Sue, SP4(:), listed on the Scieno Sitter list 5 times!
rob
From: Dave Bird <dave@xemu.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Article in "Mother Jones" magazine
about protests
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 13:00:34 +0000
Message-ID: <Duoyu3Ayv582Ewzj@xemu.demon.co.uk>
In article <36f731af.401623133@news2.lightlink.com>, Rob Clark <Rob_Clark@justicemail.com> writes
On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 04:13:18 GMT, Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.)) wrote:this is a very nice article. i'll make a couple comments while snipping without announcement.
>SIZE DOES MATTER (AND NINE OTHER TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PROTEST)
>by Jeff Goodwin
>(additional research by Susan Rakosi Rosenbloom)>SIZE DOES MATTER. The most memorable protests--and the ones the media
>tends to cover--are the big ones: Think of the 1963 March on
>Washington and the Million Man March in 1995. The best way to put
>masses of people on the streets? Forge coalitions in order to broaden
>your base of potential protesters.
i'd ignore this one for our purposes.
Rubbish. Small numbers of people are not noticed BY THE PUBLIC. If you have equipment, it needs people (e.g. no use buying a banner if you have not person to stand at each end while others give out leaflets).
>LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Many large, well-organized protests
>happen outside corporate headquarters or foreign consulates.
>Unfortunately, those tend to be on side streets with little pedestrian
>traffic and no adjoining public spaces. Simply relocating the event
>to a busy nearby corner can increase the audience tenfold.this might be a good idea for picketers where the local org is nowhere near anything that anyone walks by on a regular basis. i'd make a wild guess that at those orgs, they don't body route on their front doorstep, but instead, themselves, pick a nearby corner.
There is a difference between affecting the public and affecting the Org. Divide time or divide forces, because IF THE CLAMS DON'T BODY ROUTE BY THE ORG BUT GO TO ANOTHER PLACE THEN YOU CAN BET THAT NEAR THE ORG IS LOUSY FOR PUBLIC CONTACT: always put some people where they body route.
>DISTINGUISH YOURSELF.xenu costumes, humongous balloons, SP T-shirts, i think ars picketers have got that down pat.)
agreed.
>PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER. A simple, clearly written leaflet that explains
>who is protesting, why, and how to get involved is crucial. Sure, it
>may end up in the nearest trash can, but some people will read it, and
>a few might show up at the next event.we rule on leaflets.
agreed.
xenu costumes are great. balloons are even more wonderful. that might seem mighty silly to some people who think of all this as a deadly serious war of some sort. but i think the passerby on the street will be more interested in a guy in a space suit having fun with balloons than a guy battling Ultimate Evil with grim-faced determination. most people get enough battling with Ultimate Evil just trying to get a paycheck on friday let alone having to battle with it while walking to the subway. maybe he'd like a balloon!
-- __
.,-;-;-,. /'_\ : They seek her here, they seek her there, :
_/_/_/_|_\_\) / : those critics seek her everywhere --- :
'-<_><_><_><_>=/\ : is she in LA or gone for a swim, :
jgs `/_/====/_/-'\_\ : that demmed elusive Terrapin ? :
........"".....""....""..:>>>>>>>>>>> WHO IS THE MOCK TURTLE <<<<<<<<<
{a href="http://www.xemu.demon.co.uk/clam/people/turtle.html"}????{/a}