protests Archives - Nicole Clark Consulting

18 Jan, 2017

Why Are You Marching?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T19:02:46-04:00January 18th, 2017|Categories: Equity & Justice|Tags: protests, reproductive justice|0 Comments

“Few times in a nation’s history is the conscience of its citizens shocked and awakened – across racial, economic, generational and even ideological – lines. Times when the collective consciousness of a people screams – and demands without apology – that it’s time for a change, that things must be different and that it must start today.” ~ Marc H. Morial, “When People Ask: Why Do We March?”

If you’re like me, you’re still going through the 7 stages of grief to process the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election. For many people who share my political views, there was a sadness in the air, unlike any other period I’ve witness before the days, weeks, and month after a presidential election. It feels like the progress the United States has made towards more inclusiveness is tumbling down before our eyes, and the fact that this week started with the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and ending with the presidential inauguration of the most unlikeliest and most unqualified person to take the position is a hard pill to swallow.

And if you’re also like me, your inbox is filled with messages from local and national organizations who plan to be at The Women’s March, scheduled for Saturday, January 21st, 2017 in Washington, DC, and in many cities nationally and overseas. The fact that 200 buses have applied for parking for the Inauguration ceremony on Saturday, but over 1200 buses applied for parking the next day for the March (in addition to over 600 Marches happening simultaneously) is an indicator that this weekend is going to memorable.

While the March itself isn’t exclusively focusing on reproductive health, rights, and justice, it’s important to remember that the day after The Women’s March, January 22nd, marks the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (1973), which made abortion legal in the United States. According to a newly released report from the Guttmacher Institute, the U.S. abortion rate hit an historic low in 2014. Some factors include better access to birth control methods and a push for comprehensive sex education, but when states have enacted 231 abortion restrictions since 2010 , the fate of the Affordable Care Act hanging in the balance, and Planned Parenthood gearing up for another government showdown, there’s a lot to be raising our voices for.

But if you’re definitely like me, you probably debated if you actually want to go. The inauguration is on Friday, and the March is the next day, so what would be the point? When I signed up to take one of the buses down to DC, I still was undecided. When I began to hear rumblings about the March, I saw what other women and girls of color saw: a major lack of intersectionality. I didn’t want to attend a March in New York City, let alone DC, if the interests of people who look like me were not going to be centered.

(And the fact that it was initially called the Million Women March? Really?)

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29 Nov, 2011

Raise Your Voice with Activism: Lesson 4- Rallies, Protests & Civil Disobedience

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T17:34:15-04:00November 29th, 2011|Categories: Equity & Justice|Tags: activism, protests|0 Comments

This is part four in a 4-part series where I share strategies that you can become more familiar with when it comes to activism: lobbying, writing campaigns and action alerts, using social media, and rallies/demonstrations. If you’ve read any of my other blog posts (and I thank you if you have been), you know that I’m all about sexual/reproductive wellness and rights, but I believe that these tips can be used for a variety of causes. Feel free to focus on the tips throughout the coming weeks that inspire you the most and what makes the most sense for your cause.

We’ve come to the final lesson in the Raise Your Voice with Activism series: holding & attending rallies and demonstrations. I can say that participating in a rally, protest, demonstration, day of action, or civil disobedience/resistance (I tend to use the terms interchangeably, though it depends on the event itself) is a very adrenaline-pumping and exhilarating experience. From the demonstrations during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to the more recent Occupy protests happening in many major cities around the world, people have been forever taking to the streets to make their demands heard. I will provide some tips on what to do while attending a rally, how to organize your own rally, and share some important differences between planned rallies and unplanned rallies (which is important, because one of these can possibly get you locked up!)

Attending a Rally

Attending rallies allows you the opportunity to have your voice heard about a particular concern happening in your community or across the nation. It’s also a great way to get more information on a cause. You can find out about rallies through actions alerts from community organizations, the local news, word of mouth, posted flyers, and even social media. If you have never attended a rally, what you’ll usually see are a crowd (small or large) of people chanting, and many holding signs, like this one:

Rally Sign at Planned Parenthood Rally

You may also see people passing out fact sheets as well as petitions and invites to attend planning meetings and other rallies. Also, there will be plenty of speakers and even some musical performances. Finally, while the majority of people there will be in support of the rally’s cause, be mindful that there may be people in attendance who will be on the opposite side. Be prepared for counter-rallies and random outbursts from goobers who are not down with you. Don’t let these people deter you, and don’t stand for someone disrespecting you. Everyone has the right to free speech, but when that free speech makes you feel that your life is in danger, contact the proper authorities. And if things escalate, get out of there!

Planning a Rally

Planning a rally is also great because you can bring together a large number of people from all walks of life to gain support for a cause. If you’re ready to plan a rally, here are a few tips:

1.Location, location, location: Pick a place where your presence will really be felt. I’ve attended rallies outside of elected officials offices, in popular parks, and outside of major buildings on campus.

2. Make sure you get permission: Some places require a permit. Make sure you speak with your local police precinct in order to make sure that the proper roads are blocked off and traffic is re-routed. If there’s a department in your local government that handles permits for rallies, make sure to contact them as well.

3. What are y’all talking about?: Develop your messaging and your reason for why this rally is taking place. Also, will there be a spokesperson for the rally? This is especially important for Tip #4.

4. Let people know!: Not only is it important to get out the word for potential attendees, it’s equally important to alert the media. Whether it’s the campus newspaper, the local news, or CNN, you’ll want reporters there to take in the action and report on it. Your spokesperson may be asked to speak to reporters to get sound bites and quotes.

5. Have items prepared: If you’re going to have chants, make sure you write them down ahead of time to pass out to attendees. Also, feel free to pass out fact sheets about your cause.

6. Gather up your speakers: Invite people to speak during the rally. Some rallies flow well with a pre-determined list of speakers, and some are good with allowing anyone to speak. Use your discretion. Also, have your spokesperson or other rally organizers control the flow of speakers.

7. Have a call to action: Tell your attendees to take action to make sure that the excitement over the cause doesn’t just stop at the rally. Give attendees actions items to take to further the cause along. If you plan to have any meetings, make that known as well.

8. Let your targets know: Be sure to let the people/organizations (i.e. elected officials, board of directors, and other people on the opposite side of your cause) know how many people attended, signed petitions, etc. Having reporters there will come in handy.

Now….Planned versus Unplanned

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23 Aug, 2011

You Don’t Have to Go to Every Rally: Self Care & Activist Burnout

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T17:28:46-04:00August 23rd, 2011|Categories: Self & Community Care|Tags: activism, protests|0 Comments

When I was in graduate school for social work, my professors (particularly in my first year of grad school) told my classmates and I two things: 1) As a social worker, people will expect you to run around and put out fires and 2) you have to make time for yourself. It’s no wonder that many activists tend to be social workers themselves (or in some other profession that sounds social work-y.) When you’re working directly with populations that are marginalized and constantly being denied basic human rights, it’s hard to sit back and ponder on all of the injustices in the world and not have the urge to take action.

I’m in New York City, the biggest activist city in the world. During most weeks, you can find some sort of rally or protest going on that causes streets to be shut down, or people standing in the middle of sidewalks to ask for your signature on the latest campaign. I’ve experienced my fair share of rallies and protests in my day, and while it is exhilarating, there is more to life than fighting the good fight. The good fight isn’t so good when it costs you some peace of mind.

The most successful activist is the activist who strikes a balance between advocating for others as well as making the time to take care of self. In order to advocate for someone else, you have to be able to advocate for you first. It reminds me of safety instructions whenever you’re on a boat on preparing to take off on a flight. You’re asked to place the safety vest or the oxygen mask on you first before placing it on the other person. How can you advocate for people living in low-income neighborhoods to have health care clinics in their neighborhood when you haven’t gone to your primary care physician in over two years, or how can you fight to get better grocery stores in your neighborhood yet you spend more of your time in fast-food restaurants than walking down a grocery aisle?

The two biggest things that separate the well-off activist from the worn-down activist are self-care and burn-out. Self care is a very social justice terms that focuses on the ability to engage in this work while still being able to maintain and outlook on looking and feeling well. Burn-out, on the other hand, is when it feels as though you’ve hit a wall, literally and figuratively. You’re physically and emotionally drained, and maybe a little cranky towards the people you’re working with (and even working to help).

Here are 8 of my tried-and-true tips for preventing activist burnout and getting back to the person that matters most—You: (more…)

Why Are You Marching?

Raise Your Voice with Activism: Lesson 4- Rallies, Protests & Civil Disobedience

You Don’t Have to Go to Every Rally: Self Care & Activist Burnout

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