Civil Disobedience is an important aspect of society. It lets us fight back in peaceful ways against a government institution or business. So what forms does it come in?
Petitions: Yes, that piece of paper which lists signatures is an important aspect of civil disobedience. By first voicing your displeasure and then having people sign the petition showing you their support it allows you to notify a government or other institution of your displeasure. It can also be used to voice your opinion in favor of something occurring like a new law or action as well.
Mail Campaign: Here protesters send in mail with each one describing what they are protesting and why. The letter is concluded with a signature of each individual group or protester member. Basically one letter per person. Whether the letters is hand written, copied and signed or even electronic, it can be very disruptive to a business or a government institution while showing that you, as protesters, have the majority of the people on your side.
Boycott: A powerful form of civil disobedience, here people refuse to buy from or use a product or service. It is a powerful message that helps to show extreme displeasure with a person, an act, an institution, or a business. Originally it was used in
Sit ins: This form of protest has people literally sit in a business or government institution which hinders regular functions of an institution. Basically, it has a number of people inside a facility like a government office, and all the staff and visitors have to move around the people performing the sit in. It is a very disruptive strategy to any institution if enough people are gathered. It can also be used to block the entrance to a building or to block the path of vehicles if the protesters want to prevent say a park from being torn down or prevent government officials from voting.
Picket lines: Similar to sit ins, the picket line is protesters lining the streets in front of a business or institution to voice their views. It works to prevent pedestrian traffic from moving and forces those who are entering and exiting the building to listen to them (along with any passerby).
Rallies: A rally is kind of like a big presentation. It gathers up like minded individuals to discuss and solidify their message as well as allow leaders to guide their fellow protesters in the right direction.
March: A march is like a rally, but it is a massive group of people that pass through communities to gain momentum. Finally, they reach a particular destination where they wish to show their displeasure. The sheer size of the march is meant to intimidate in order to force action. So marching on the white house to show displeasure on an immigration bill, or a business for making weapons of war are all aspects of this. March's usually also contain a rally, a sit in, and even a picket line. It can also be used as a way to give impact to the intended target of displeasure when delivering a petition.
Press: None of these work without press attention. Media is the key ingredient to get your message across. So having a carefully crafted message and talking points is essential. Also, the ability to get the media attention is also important too. No media equals your movement being ignored.
This means that you need a press core for your group. A movement or protesters will need to put out its own press releases to coordinate the movement, and counter any propaganda the opposition puts forth.
Conclusion: Protesters cannot at any time turn into a mob. They must always be civilized with a clear and cohesive message. As such, imitate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the way he conducted the civil rights protests. These are the most common forms of protest that have existed for over a hundred years. Use them well and use them responsibly.
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