Organize a Protest

[Free_Palestine]

Hi,

I want to organize a protest in favor or the Palestinian people. I've never organized a protest before and really don't know what I'm doing. I've been on several websites describing how this is to be done, but I don't feel that there is time. Dozens of people are dying every day and something has to be done.

I live in South Dakota so there really aren't any groups or communities of people that I am aware of that would/could help.

Any help is appreciated.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

The first step would be to find some other folk to help with the organization. If you don't know anybody, you could try reaching out to sympathetic faculty at a university (if there's one nearby), approaching the local mosque (if one exists), contacting national groups and asking if they have any local contacts, etc.
Failing those things (or, better yet, in addition to them) - organize something smaller than a protest - say, like a film screening. Book a room (is there a community centre, or even a cafe around?), and put up posters announcing the screening. The people who come out to that event - even if it's just one or two - could be your "base" for organizing a larger public event, like a protest.

[exeexe]

Well they held a lot of protests in Ireland. You could perhaps send an email to them and ask how did they do it
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/thousands-march-in-cities-across-ireland-in-support-of-gaza-1.1864826

[GiantMonkeyMan]

The first step would be to find some other folk to help with the organization. If you don't know anybody, you could try reaching out to sympathetic faculty at a university (if there's one nearby), approaching the local mosque (if one exists), contacting national groups and asking if they have any local contacts, etc.
Failing those things (or, better yet, in addition to them) - organize something smaller than a protest - say, like a film screening. Book a room (is there a community centre, or even a cafe around?), and put up posters announcing the screening. The people who come out to that event - even if it's just one or two - could be your "base" for organizing a larger public event, like a protest.
Just to add to this... A film like 5 Broken Cameras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Broken_Cameras) is a semi-popular/well known film regarding the struggles of Palestinians and when I screened it at the radical film night I help organise at a community pub in my home town it drew a fairly sizeable crowd. At that screening you could make an introduction/announcement asking people to stay behind at the end if they wanted to discuss the film/current events and that's the perfect segue into discussing further activity.

[Danjo]

I've organized a protest before, and it was hard work. First off, make sure you put whatever you're planning up on social media. Make a FB event page, if you have an FB account. Share with your friends an whatever.

Like noted above, reach out to your local college and see if there are any student groups that are relevant. I know a few colleges in my area which have pro-Palestine clubs. Find them on FB or whatever, and see what's up. Also, check if your local Occupy Wall St. is still active. The one around me did a walk for Palestine not too long ago and it drew a fairly big crowd.

When people pledge to come to the protest, keep checking up on them to make sure they're really committed. There have been plenty of protests I've participated in where only a fraction of those who said they'd come actually will. Offer free food or something to attract people.

Generally you want to have a starting point, have a planned out marching route, and an end point where people can speak their minds. If you're in a city, plan your march along areas with lots of foot traffic.

If you've planned everything out, do the following:
• Buy posters and markers for people, but encourage folks to bring their own signs.
• Contact your local media about what's going down so you can get some coverage. Your local paper is probably dying for a story (unless you live in a big city), so this is a great chance to get free exposure.
• Bring a megaphone! Very important if you want to have a time for people to speak to the crowd.
• Make sure to have a video camera with you in case the police show up. Film everything, including your own protest. Pics or it didn't happen!
• Print flyers to hand out to spectators. Be prepared to talk about what you're doing and why. Make sure you have all your facts straight when talking with people and media. One wrong slip can cost you, especially if someone is recording you.

A successful protest makes people feel empowered. It doesn't necessarily have to change the world, but participants should feel like they accomplished something that day.

Feel free to ask for clarification on anything. And good luck!

[Free_Palestine]

Thank you for the advice, everyone. The protest is happening on Saturday. I've been hanging up flyers, made a Facebook page, and have spoken to every single person I could think of for help. I'm in a pretty small town, 70,000 people is all and it is the second largest city in the state so there isn't much of a local community whatsoever. I'm hoping to get about 30 people to come.

I went to the local university today to hang flyers and was told that I may not be able to hang them up because it may offend the few Israeli exchange students on campus. This is a public university. I'm going to go there tomorrow to see if they ever were put up. If not, I'm thinking that I should find the person I spoke to tonight and record our conversation. What are you thoughts on this? Keep in mind, this is a peace protest.

[Orange Juche]

I went to the local university today to hang flyers and was told that I may not be able to hang them up because it may offend the few Israeli exchange students on campus. This is a public university. I'm going to go there tomorrow to see if they ever were put up. If not, I'm thinking that I should find the person I spoke to tonight and record our conversation. What are you thoughts on this? Keep in mind, this is a peace protest.

If you're in the United States and it's a public university I'm pretty sure that would be considered unconstitutional for them not to allow it.