Choosing The Best Location

Posted 11/16/2017 by Adam | Posted in How to Protest

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Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when choosing your protest location:

Choosing Your Venue

The purpose of your demonstration is to bring attention to your cause. This means choosing an appropriate location. Don’t always assume that you should protest where the injustice is occurring.

For example, the Let Live Coalition held a silent vigil to protest a DIY slaughter class being held in Asheville, North Carolina in 2016. They held the vigil in Downtown Asheville, not at the farm where the slaughter was to occur. The slaughter location was in a rural, remote area. By holding the vigil in the high traffic downtown area, they were able to garner thousands of impressions and better media coverage.

Private Vs Public Property

A best practice is to remain on public property and inform your volunteers to do the same. If a sidewalk is not available, contact the owner of properties adjacent to your target well ahead of your event date for permission to hold your gathering.

Safety

If you are protesting after dark, make sure your group members are visible. Standing under light poles is not enough. Carry flashlights and inform your group to take extra care to stand away from roads and driveways.

If you have a small group protesting with no law enforcement around, consider if it is worth the risk. For example, rodeo protests can get very heated quickly.