How do I organize a protest?

[tavalon]

I don't particularly want to start small (though I know that would be wiser). I want to organize a protest in Washington DC on January 20th, 2005. I want to figure out how to make this, oh, about as big as the RNC protests.

Have any of you organized large protests? Advice please.

Thanks.

Terri

[Goldmund]

1. LOL

Start with your family, then your friends...

[tavalon]

3. Check and check

Done. I've also checked with as many progressive groups as I know about. I'll be checking with others as I get info.

Next?

[Goldmund]

5. Seriously

get involved with UFPJ or ANSWER (though these guys aren't my faves) or start your own group. You can't just organize a million-strong protest out of nowhere. You have to have the infrastructure. Either get involved in an existing one, or start your own if you have the will and the patience.

[tavalon]

6. Yeah, exactly

I know that one but so far, I hadn't found any that were doing such a protest and I've solicited about 40 groups so far - no bites yet.

I'm going to check both of these you suggest.

I'm just saying that if I can't get a point group, I'm going to do this myself. I don't want to do this myself. I want to spend all of my time up in Seattle helping Bev Harris. But I think this is the second most important thing we need to be working on. Trust me, if I can offload this to a group that has done this before (like the anti-RNC groups) I will. I'm gonna be there with them but I really, really don't want to be heading up this giant endeavor.

[halobeam]

7. petiononline for congress to start election 2004 investigation

sorry, but I dont know how to start a new thread or if i'm even allowed.

Petitiononline is petitioning Congress for an investigation into the 2004 election. It just started and there are almost five thousand signatures...

I don't see this anywhere here on the site.

Can someone properly post this so that all members can see this???

http://petitiononline.com/uselect/petition.html

Thanks,

[cali]

2. First of all

find out if anyone else is doing it. Check with United for Peace and Justice.

[tavalon]

4. We'll do n/t

[donachiel]

8. Why wait for January 20th

They're already starting to squirm. I'll drive the 6 hours or so down from Pennsylvania with my husband and children. It would be a great history lesson on how we as the members of our country let them hear the voice of the masses!

[Rhiannon12866]

9. There already going to be massive protests. Just join one.

You don't have to do it on your own. This is one international organizing group that I am aware of, A.N.S.W.E.R.:

Take Action: Stand with the people of Fallujah
Top U.S. Marine in Iraq Calls for Massacre in Fallujah

The U.S. has surrounded the sealed off City of Fallujah and is preparing to launch the complete destruction of the city. They have told the people that any traffic on the street is now subject to attack and any males between the ages of 15 and 55 who go outside will automatically be killed by the U.S. soldiers. The U.S. is terrorizing and bombing the citizens of Fallujah every night, recently targeting and fully destroying its emergency hospital, collapsing homes around families, dismembering children. Many of the 300,000 population have fled for their lives, everything they have ever had left behind or destroyed.

Now the top enlisted Marine in Iraq has called on his troops to commit war crimes against the tens of thousands of remaining residents and what stands of that proud and historic city. Referring to the assault on the ancient citadel city of Hue, destroyed by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent told an assembled group of 2,500 Marines in a "pep-talk": "You're all in the process of making history. This is another Hue city in the making. I have no doubt, if we do get the word, that each and every one of you is going to do what you have always done - kick some butt." (AP, November 7 2004)

The U.S. moved to reoccupy Hue after Vietnamese forces has liberated it in the Tet Offensive of 1968. The Under Secretary of the Air Force, Townsend Hoopes, described the results of the U.S. assault on Hue in a March 1968 memo as leaving "a devastated and prostrate city. Eighty per cent of the buildings had been reduced to rubble, and in the smashed ruins lay 2,000 dead civilians... Three quarters of the city’s people were rendered homeless and looting was widespread, members of the ARVN being the worst offenders." (Noam Chomsky's forward to the papers of the 1967 International War Crimes in Vietnam Tribunal)

The resistance in Iraq is carrying out coordinated efforts across the country to dislodge U.S. occupation forces with attacks on police stations and other targeted representatives of U.S. puppet installations. In recent days many U.S. soldiers have been badly wounded and there is more to come as the U.S. military leadership predicts the most bloody urban fighting since Vietnam. The U.S. is using all of its firepower, night vision, high-tech weaponry, and bombing capacity against defenseless civilians as well as resistance fighters primarily armed with Kalishnakov rifles and improvised explosive devises. With all this military might, the U.S. is unable to stop the Iraqi people from fighting for their national sovereignty. The U.S. installed "prime minister" of Iraq has today declared martial law in Iraq for the next two months aggregating even greater unilateral authority.

This is no time for anti-war and progressive people in the U.S. to "mourn," dwell and lament on the failure of the Democratic Party candidate to defeat the Republican Party candidate, at least not those who are really committed to ending this criminal war and securing justice at home. If nothing else, we all know that if Kerry was President-elect, nothing would be different for the people of Iraq right now. Kerry has not condemned the bombings of Falluljah at any point, nor the attacks on the Iraqi people, nor the use of U.S. soldiers as cannon fodder in this war of aggression and conquest.

Now the people of Fallujah wait for the next attack, and the U.S. soldiers wait for their orders to carry out actions that they will have to reconcile for the rest of their lives, if they survive.

A.N.S.W.E.R. activists across the U.S. are planning emergency demonstrations the DAY AFTER a reinvasion of Fallujah. We call on other committed organizations and activists to also initiate such actions, at local federal buildings, recruiting stations, or traditional public assembly locations.

Please make a commitment today to fight for change. If you can help take the next steps by making a contribution please do so by clicking here.



January 20, 2005
Counter-Inaugural Demonstration in Washington DC
initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition


On January 20, 2005, thousands will be lining the inaugural route in mass protest. There will be simultaneous protests in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities on January 20. We urge you sponsor, support and organize for January 20.

Pledge now to support the January 20 demonstration against the war. Click here to endorse and say Bring the Troops Home Now!

If you are planning to organize buses, vans or car caravans to be in Washington DC, San Francisco or Los Angeles on January 20, fill out the Transportation Form to help spread the word.



March 19/20, 2005
Global Day of Coordinated Actions
on the 2nd Anniversary of the "Shock and Awe" Invasion of Iraq
initiated by antiwar organizations worldwide
including the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition in the United States


On March 19/20 there will be mass demonstrations in Washington DC and in other cities. This is the second anniversary of the opening of the criminal aggression against Iraq. The whole world will be marking this day with mass actions. We urge you to sponsor, support and organize for the March 19/20 protests. More information about the March 19/20 demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere will be available soon.

We will demand:
1) US Out of Iraq Now, End the Occupation - Bring the Troops Home Now!
2) End Colonial Domination from Palestine to Haiti, and Everywhere!
3) Health Care, Education, Housing, and a Job at a Living Wage Must be a Right!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.answercoalition.org/
[email protected]
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-533-0417
Los Angeles: 323-464-1636
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
For media inquiries, call 202-544-3389

[tavalon]

10. I actually don't want to do it on my own

I'll check into this one. Thanks.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I think that this would be really tough, without experience

Also, check out the MoveOn website, MoveOn.Org. They are always offering suggestions as to holding houseparties and vigils and protests. I suggest subscribing to their newsletter. They are the best, and offer access to local gatherings. You can enter your zip code, to find out the closest gathering to you. A.N.S.W.E.R. mostly takes place in large cities, and I live in the boonies, but a small MoveOn gathering can take place, anywhere. I thought first of A.N.S.W.E.R. because I had just received their newsletter, but MoveOn is more helpful for us rural folks.:-)

[ChiciB1]

11. Here's A Site I Just Got

I live in Florida and WILL ATTEND any PROTEST in D.C. I got this one in my regular mail, but I think it would be better to have it BEFORE the Inauguration. You can link to them and contact them about this. Suggest and earlier date.
http://www.BartCop.com

[cwadeohio]

12. protest

Ramsey Clark has started a petition to impeach George Bush on war crimes www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7265.htm , Bush can run but he cannot hide from constitution so get on board and sign the petition.