How to Join a Protest or Action as an Unaffected Person

How to Join a Protest or Action as an Unaffected Person

Those of you who keep up with me will know that I've been joining the periphery of a local movement to Reinstate Randy, a grocery worker who was fired as a part of union busting in a manner that was grossly ableist.

I thought I'd take a moment to write about what it's like to join a direct action for something you're not personally affected by (after this I'll just call it an action). In this case, I'm not personally affected by this man losing his job. I don't work for the grocery chain and I'm not directly impacted by their practices, other than having to find a new grocery store.

These are just my experiences as a long-time community organizer and sometimes movement leader. There are probably as many opinions and preferences as there are causes to organize around.

Before You Go

Before you go, check official sources to see if there are requests for people to join. If so, they'll usually tell you what time to show up and where. Not every group has time or capacity to post requests, so no request doesn't necessarily mean don't show up. If the action is hosted by folks who do keep an online presence, take note of how they describe themselves and their actions. Is it a *strike,* a *boycott,* *protest,* or something else? Don't call a strike a protest, it's inflammatory at best and dangerous at worst. Don't call anything a riot. If you're not sure or don't find any information online just call it an action, which is relatively neutral.

The First 20 Minutes

When I went to join the grocery workers picket line, I was cautious and moved slowly. I'm a union girl through and through, and also every site has its own culture. Roomie and I approached a main section of the line, which went around two sides of a large building. We stood at the fringe for a good 20 minutes, letting people see us there so they could judge for themselves how we were showing up. We came with supplies for ourselves: water, small blankets to stay warm, more layers. The more you can not take up shared resources the better. We stayed relatively quiet, taking in how much folks were talking or yelling or joking with each other. This seemed to be a bright and cheerful crowd so we cautiously made a few jokes with the person nearest us, who responded favorably. There was a big fire barrel burning and folks were taking turns going to get warm, which told us this is a pretty tight community who take care of each other.

Spend this time on the fringe taking in the norms. If everyone has their face exposed or is at most wearing a mask, this is probably not the time to show up in balaclava and black bloc, that's a pretty stark contrast. In fact, unless you're actually joining an all black contingent for a movement, it's usually best to aim for being a gray person. I usually show up looking like a generic Pacific Norwesterner in flannel and jeans or what have you. I wear a cap pulled low and a face mask, which helps cut down on facial recognition and/or being captured in bystander photos.

Once you've been generally accepted on the fringe, you can start to make your way closer to the heart of things, if you're so moved. I don't personally find it necessary and I assume the main organizers have more important things to do than welcome me to the action. You may have different needs and experiences. Remember that folks organizing are generally thinking about the safety of their people, keeping an eye out for law enforcement, making sure that no one in the line strays on to private property, and ensuring that things stay safe as much as possible.

The Next 20 Minutes

By now you've probably been there 20-40 minutes. You have a sense of the vibe. You might feel brave enough to start waving at the people who drive by honking. Do this thing. It's not implying that you're one of the most affected people. It simply says, "I see you, thanks for acknowledging this matters." It encourages more honking, which brings about more awareness. This is good.

Sometime soon someone is likely to start walking around with an unused sign, often because they are getting ready to leave, sometimes because more signs just arrived. If you're an extrovert just wave and ask for one. If you're an introvert, this is where your best "Dear server, I am so thirsty, please bring water" eye contact will work great. If no sign appears, that's okay. Continue to do what other folks do. By this point some folks may have left. Consider filling in gaps in the line. It is always helpful to contribute to the visual impact of a united front. 

Be Alert, Follow the Leader

At this particular grocery worker action we had to contend with cars trying to drive into the parking lot, unaware that the store had been shut down by the action. (Yeah!!) This introduced a constant danger that required some hypervigilance. We decided to fill in gaps in the driveway line, which meant having to talk to drivers. We saw that the protocol was to first shake your head obviously and give a big thumbs down or make a big x with your arms as they signaled to enter the lot. Then we would try to get them to stop and roll down their window so we could tell them the store was closed. Sometimes it worked and sometimes they blew past you (often flipping you off) and parked in the lot, huffing angrily to the door only to discover the store was closed. They were especially dangerous as they blasted out of the lot again. 

It was really important to carefully gauge what each driver was doing. No, we didn't want them to enter the parking lot. No, we also could not legally prevent them from doing so. As soon as it became clear they were driving in, you needed to get out of the way quickly. As I got more cold and more tired I realized I couldn't move quickly enough, so I traded spots with someone to get me back to the main sidewalk area. 

Keep It to Yourself

Was this how I would have managed this hazard as an organizer? No, probably not. That does not matter. This is not your action and unless asked your opinion is irrelevant. If the protocols lead to circumstances that exceed your level of risk tolerance you should leave. That's not a mark against you or the action. It's a sign that you can be trusted to look after yourself.

Not doing things the way you would doesn't necessarily make them wrong or incompetent. It means they have different considerations, metrics, and risk tolerance levels than you. It's your job to maintain yourself.

 Pack Your Trash

That said, it is also your responsibility to look for ways to leave it better than you found it. This means a few things:

1. Contribute to overall safety. If you see something, say something. See a cop? A car coming? Call it out. "MAKE A HOLE!" is an all purpose notice to get back and be aware. Plus it's fun to shout.

2. Literally pack your trash. If you brought it take it back with you.

3. Leave unused supplies (if they want them). 

4. Leave all signs (unless you brought your own and are returning tomorrow to do the same thing again). Someone else will use those, just leave them behind.

5. Let other folks know if the action will continue the next day. Tell them about your experience showing up. Tell them know anything they should know about in advance.

Finally, don't take any harsh interactions personally as much as you can. One of the organizers crabbed at me a few times in the driveway. She was stressed out and trying to keep her people safe. She assumed I was a novice at attending actions and overexplained at me (somewhat incorrectly) something I did not ask. I kept my thoughts to itself and kept it movin'. In the end it's not that important for me to make sure someone knew I knew something. 

Time to Go

Then you leave. Depending on how it went and who is still there you might say bye to folks. It's also okay to just grab your water bottle and head out. That part is totally up to you. In keeping with my desire to keep a low profile, I usually just leave. I generally wait until I'm a block or more away from both the action and the car before I take off my cap and mask. Sometimes I toss my blanket over my back like a poncho. I like to come and go in visually distinct and disconnected ways. That's my own quirk and does not have to be yours. 

Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive guide. It's also not a guide on how to attend a protest, which is a very specific type of action that has its own considerations. You should also always have a jail support form [pdf] filled out before you go to a protest. You likely don't need that to join a picket line.

Very last and not at all least. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not your mama. I'm not your union rep. At best on any given day I'm a community auntie trying to take care of us. Don't sue me, I ain't got shit.

Listen, Read, Watch

If you're interested in this type of content I have some suggested reads and other recommendations for you.

It Could Happen Here [podcast] 

It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future. Every day Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout take you on a jaunty walk through the burning ruins of the old world and towards a better one that lays just on the horizon.

The Ruckus Society

• Action Safety and Community Care in Times of Rapid Response [pdf] [español pdf]

• Security Culture for Activists [pdf]

Center for Third World Organizing

• Organizing 101 Bootcamp [online or in person]

Activist Handbook

• ⚡️ Organising: We believe that change-makers are more successful together. Learn how to set up an inclusive movement, how to make decisions democratically and how to mobilise people and keep them engaged.

• 💡 Campaign strategy: Social change can be achieved in various ways. Here we showcase different types of strategies depending on local political and social contexts.

• - 📣 Action tactics:  Guides on how to: protests, creative actions, digital activism, storytelling and more.

• ❤️ Wellbeing: When trying to make this world a better place, we sometimes forget about our own wellbeing. Learn how you and your movement can become more effective in the long run.

• 💬 Communication: In this chapter we will discuss how to keep in touch, formulate effective messages for your target audience and how to reach out to the press.

•  🛠 Digital tools: We made a toolkit to help you create and communicate. You will find tools for editing videos, designing graphics, managing social media, developing websites and much more.

• 👩🏾‍⚖️Legal rights: Learn about your legal rights as an activist & find out more about common police practices in your country.

• ⏳Theory of change: Here we explain what activism is. We argue anyone can be an activist. Even though you might not refer to yourself as an ‘activist’, we believe this handbook can be useful for anyone who would like to achieve societal change.

A Civilian’s Guide to Direct Action: What It Is, What It’s Good for, How It Works [toolkit]

TED: The Power of Protest  [video]

Across history, protest has shaped societies in tremendous ways. These talks explore how movements catalyze monumental change.

How the US Government Spies on People Who Protest, Including You

The Shocking Move to Criminalize Nonviolent Protest

Our Fight for Disability Rights -- And Why We're Not Done Yet

What the Gay Rights Movement Learned from the Civil Rights Movement

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation: Nonviolent Action Lab [podcast]

The Nonviolent Action Lab Podcast brings you the latest research, insights, and ideas on how nonviolent action can — or sometimes fails — to transform injustice.

The SNCC Legacy Lab: Episode 1: Get Up and Organize: Political Participation and Advocacy( [video]

The guests delve into grassroots organizing strategies in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia, from voter registration to ballot initiatives. They highlight the importance of organic community connections, effective use of technology, and building local power - as seen in recent Mississippi and Georgia campaigns. As the 2024 election nears, the conversation underscores the South's critical role and the urgency for communities to define their own narratives.

[Uprising: A Guide from Portland] [podcast]

Background and breakdown on 100 days of Portland insurrection, going in to the background, history of the current protests breaking down the struggles, successes and infrastructure that has made the uprising in Portland possible.

Strangers In A Tangled Wilderness [podcast]

Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness is a collectively run publisher dedicated to producing and curating inclusive and intersectional culture informed by anarchistic ideals.

Nuts and Bolts of Building an Alliance [toolkit]

Practical wisdom on building a strong, healthy alliance structure and culture; ranging from purpose and vision to troubleshooting, tools, practices, and models.

Massive Caveat The host of the Healing Justice/Irresistible podcast turned out to be an absolute garbage human. That said, she's not the main content of these episodes, they are almost all QTBIPOC folks delivering amazing content. It's set up in two-part episodes, the first is a conversation about something and the second guides you through a related practice. They are SO GOOD. And Kate Werning is still SO PROBLEMATIC. So, continue with caution:

Irresistible [fka Healing Justice Podcast]