Protest 101

We know we are out there for a serious reason, but it is also therapeutic. We see and read the news every day and all we can do is scream at the laptop. When we go outside and meet with likeminded people, you find out there a lot of others that feel the same way. You can talk with people who share your views and learn ways to promote a return to normalcy. You can carry any sign you want, except those promoting HATE AND VIOLENCE.

Signs

First you need to figure you audience. For street work large letters and short 3- or 4-line statements are best. Before permanent assembly, look at it from 25 foot away and check its readability. Send a picture to a friend(non maga) for spell check and making sense. Two sided is also good, when traffic is stopped, you can keep flipping it. Give people time to read one side between flips. Signs on a stick are good in that they can be held higher than hand helds. While it’s nice to compare notes with others, spreading out makes the crowd look bigger. But remember it is still a democracy. You can sign what you want, you can stand where you want, you can say what you want.

BOCA has all kinds of rules about sticks, nothing longer than 1 ft long, but you can have a flag pole up to 10 ft high but only 3/4 inch wide, with blunt ends. Here’s a link.

Some of my signs

Safety

Here are a few links on how to be safe. We ARE NOT doing anything that will cause us to be GASED OR THREATENED by police. So far as yet our protests have been peaceful and there have not been any safety issues, but just in case.

Your Right to protest, for now, is legal and here are the rules

Below are a few links to explain your rights. Basically, we have the right to stand and carry signs on public sidewalks. We cannot impede anyone’s travel, and if you see someone coming, alert others to clear a path. Keep crosswalks and signs unobstructed. Keep your signs inside the curb and do not try to freak out the drivers. It has been my experience that law enforcement people are our friends, and should be treated as such. If they order us to leave, THEN LEAVE.

Below are some links on your rights to protest.