So I found this story this morning...
[http://www.cnn.com/video/
...a guy who's "protesting" an 'all you can eat' joint because they *gasp* cut him off after eating enough fish for a family of 9....so he comes back with a "sign" made of cardboard with "POOR BUSINESS PRACTICES" written in ink pen and begins protesting. Upon attracting media attention, it comes to light that he actually has a running tab at the restaurant, one which has not been settled, and, oh yeah, he admits they have amazing pizza.
OK, there is so much wrong with this picture, so we're going to look at what makes a successful protest.
1) Make sure it's a worthwhile cause. I can't stress this enough...protest everything that upsets you and you'll just come across as a flake in your community. Did the chick at Subway stiff you on lettuce? Not worth it. Did the chick at Subway utter racial slurs while flashing her swastika tattoo? Probably worth it...but not until you've taken the proper measures (more on that later). Don't go picketing businesses/organizations for no reason or for a really dumb reason- if the media turns up, it will be negative press for you, not them.
2) Cover your bases. Yes, the sidewalk is public domain, but that doesn't mean you can just set up camp there and start protesting. Check with your city and get the proper permits for amplified sound (if you're using a bullhorn) or permit to assemble (if it's more than a few people). If you get arrested before the media arrives, it will be like you were never there. Don't waste your time and energy. If you're looking to get arrested, call the media first and inform them of what you're doing and why. Issue a press release FIRST (because, ya know, you can't from jail). Trust me, if you send a press release and let the media know first, they'll be there....they like arrests. If you're going to this extreme, it better be something big (see #1).
3) Give them a chance first. Before you go postal on the chick from Subway, contact corporate first. Go through their processes...give a statement, allow them to investigate...if she isn't fired or at least disciplined severely (OK, if she's flashing swastikas, fired is probably the correct choice here), then go ahead with your protest. But it's completely unfair to the company to give them tons of bad press if you don't allow them to take reasonable measures first. Definitely follow through, though...if you truly were offended, don't let it go because other customers may also have had the same experience. It's only through people speaking up that practices like this are removed.
4) Go all out. OK, so you've contacted Subway corporate several times and gotten blown off. You've checked with your city, gotten whatever permits you need, you've picked a date and time, now what? First, rally some troops. Reach out to friends and associates who might also be outraged over someone being discriminated against. Act quickly so it's still relevant...try to gather as many friends as possible in about a week. Don't look like homeless people spazzing out. What do I mean? Let's not tear up a cardboard box and write on it with ink pen. Dollar Tree, people, Dollar Tree. Get some actual poster board, sharpies, and stencils....all sold at Dollar Tree. Make your message clear, large, and neat so it can be read from far away and on news cameras. Speaking of the news, issue a press release! Most news channels and newspapers have contact forms on their websites...take a few minutes and submit forms to each site telling them when and where your protest is and a brief run-down of why you're protesting. Take the extra second to use proper grammar and spelling...you want to be taken seriously. Speaking of being taken seriously...
5) Take yourself seriously. If you were seriously offended, enough to go through the four steps listed above and STILL fired up enough to protest, then force others to take you seriously. Don't dress like a bag lady. I'm not saying you have to wear a suit and tie, but you want people to listen to what you say, right? Even wearing a T-shirt with your protest info neatly stenciled on it makes a better impression than wearing a ripped flannel shirt. Don't engage in arguments with bystanders or employees at the protest...focus on why you're there. Have a statement prepared for the media so you come across as articulate and reasonable. If you were offended by a statement or slur, stick to the issue- don't get into side discussions about other matters. Nothing ruins an activist's work quicker than someone looking like a whacko, ranting and raving on the six o'clock news and a chucking reporter signing off....there goes your cause and your credibility.
6) Know when to fold. Even if you've made the trip to Dollar Tree, even if you've made your press announcement and are in the middle of stenciling your T-shirt...if Subway's corporate office calls and informs you that their internal investigation is complete and the employee has been fired, do the right thing. Call it off. Don't give a business bad press when they've rectified the wrong. Notify the press of what has happened and call off the protest. Just forming a public protest page on Facebook and gently dropping the hint to the corporate office of the business (like posting a link to the protest page on corporate's FB wall) is enough to make them put their investigation in high gear and push it through. It takes balance in believing in yourself and knowledge of the offending situation to know when to raise a stink, and then knowing when to let it go and realize it's been resolved.
The story of the "all-you-can-eat fish man" is simply ludicrous, but there are instances in which a protest is totally called for. If you want to be taken seriously and have a situation rectified, take yourself seriously. Take your First Amendment right (and inherent responsibilities) seriously. I'm all for a good protest, for the right reasons.
Oh, and if protesting isn't your thing, then get off your ass and VOTE for the right elected officials who will do the right thing in the first place.
~m
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