protest

Succesful Protesting
1. Get Organized
   a. Put up flyers on college campuses if they are near. Use statistics of non-violent
        drug offenders to show the appalling #'s of people in jail for the wrong reasons.
        Talk to your friends and neighbors if you have to.
    b. Read the local paper, send letters to the editor to invite like-minded people
        to your events.
    c. Be consistent in protesting. If you cannot handle once a week, try once a
        month.
    d. Buy a bullhorn. Renting one can be expensive.
    e. Make posters with short, but sensible slogans. (see bottom for examples)

2. Plan ahead
    a. Find a place that is high profile (e.g. lots traffic, pedestrians).
    b. Become familiar with the city's rules pertaining to noise and crowds.
    c. Send out press releases before the fact, announce the event.
           (i.e. local papers, radio shows, local news, internet news--see below MEDIA COVERAGE)

3. Law Enforcement
   a. Read police conduct manual, find out what they can and cannot do to you.
    b. Always have a pen & paper ready to record the officer's names and write
        down their actions & words as a precaution for evidence in court.
    c. ALWAYS! Be as courteous as possible to officers so they have no other
        reason to cite or arrest you.
    d. If you are arrested, do not resist. Go limp & make them carry you. Makes for
        great photo op and press. Also goes to show the public how very strongly you
        feel for the cause.

4. Opposition
    a. If people call names, ignore them. If you must answer for some reason,
         don't use profanity or low blows. Here are some examples of constructive
         rebuttals*:

          -"Yell facts, not names!"
          - " Come back and argue your point if it is valid!"
          - "A true intellect wouldn't walk away from his argument!"

        b. Sometimes, you will have people in your faces. When this happens, just smile
         and continue holding your sign. Just think of it as a tactic that makes you
         stronger. It may hurt you inside, but to show these folks that it affects you
         would be letting them win.

5. Media Coverage
      HAVE A PRESS KIT!! (which includes):
     a. A Bio on the leader and/or the organization.
      b. A statement of purpose and/or quotes the writer can use in their article.
      c. A B&W photo of the leader, org., patients (for med. mj), etc.

*With these materials in hand, the reporter is much more likely to include your statements, images, etc. Moreover, since the statements are put together in advance, you run less of a risk of saying something inaccurately in the excitement of a direct action.

d. Write letters to the editor of the local paper, call local radio talk shows,
papers, online mags & new sources.

AND REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE TOPIC AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! 6. How to survive activism:
       a. Remember: Thank you's go a long way. Compliment your fellow protesters.
       b.Learn from each other.
       c. Try not to fight within the group, esp in front of passers-by.
       d.Do not verbally attack others.
       e.Do not get defensive (Feeling defensive tells us what we need to work on).
       f.Relationships are the makers of a successful community.
       g.Forgive.
       h.Practice makes progress, not perfection.
       i.Take action, but remember to take breaks, do other things besides activism once in
          awhile.
       j.Don't abuse power.
       k.Don't forget to cultivate silliness, cynicism will ruin hope.

Sign ideas:
1. "WE ARE CITIZENS, NOT SUBJECTS!!"
2. "THE DRUG WAR IS A LIE!!"
3. "THE FOUNDING FATHERS, ARE TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES!"
4. "FROM KEYSTONE STATE, TO PRISON STATE"(use your state's nickname instead of Keystone)
5. "GROW MARIJUANA PLANTS, NOT NUCLEAR ONES!"
6. "IMPRISONMENT FOR GARDENING IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL!!"
7. "WHERE HAVE YOU HIDDEN OUR REPUBLIC???"
8. "DON'T PANIC, IT's ORGANIC!"
9. "MY URINE, MY BUSINESS!"
10. "LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE JAILED!"
11. "GOOD WEED, BAD LAW"
12. "COMPASSION, NOT COMPLACENCY!"
13. "NO POT, NO PEACE
KNOW POT, KNOW PEACE"
14. "BE FREED, SMOKE WEED"
15. "IN DEFIANCE WE STAND!"
16. "BOYCOTT URINE TESTING COMPANIES!"
17. "SCHOOLS NOT PRISONS!"

Got suggestions, comments, anything? Please email Diane Fornbacher aka Honeybuds

"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others. . .they send forth a ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." --Robert F. Kennedy For more ideas, please go to : PROTEST.NET or Marijuana Policy Reform Activists or ECOMALL's ACTIVISM PAGE or Earth First! International Day of Action Protest at Home Depot or Back to Honeybud's Freedom Forum marijuana protests, Diane Fornbacher, Honeybud Weedwhacker, HIGH TIMES magazine, Dr. Heicklen, women in protest, liberty, freedom, marijuana, ganja, bud, weed, freedom of choice, American rights, medical marijuana, college, university, Penn State University, smokeouts, smoke-out, Diane R. Fornbacher, Freedom Forum, Freedom Fighter, pot laws, protest, activism