Think: Why do we wait for DC rallies to act as our collective voice?

[stevietheman]

A minor thought crossed my mind today: Why can't we have nationalized, yet local demonstrations rather than waiting to accumulate in DC periodically? I mean, do we really have to get in Shrub's face to make our points? Or can we instead impress upon our local and state leaders to do something about Bush?

The bottom line is that it is far easier for most of us to congregate in our localities than making a trek to the nation's capital.

Is it time we took seriously the idea of "glocalized" protest? This mean: Globally or nationally synchronized local protesting. This may sound simplistic, but the Internet does indeed make this kind of protesting possible. MoveOn.org is already doing it to some degree... in fact, they're hosting nationwide local vigils this coming week.

Also note that since we cannot get access to national media very easily, we do hold much more sway over local coverage. Just think of all the local news channels and newspapers and alternative rags all over the country covering our synchronized rallies.

Imagine a different kind of protest. Imagine the '00s answer to what our parents did in the '60s.

I think it will work.

[laheina]

1. This way of protesting has two other benefits

Firstly, people of less financial means, those who are disproportionately affected by this administrations policies, have a more difficult time getting across the country. It is easier to get to the state capitol for most of the country than to get to D.C..

Secondly, there are lots of people who are enraged, as of late, but who are also sitting there trying to figure out how to get started. Attending local protests will strengthen the grassroots organizations that we are going to depend on to win this fight.

[stevietheman]

3. Totally agreed. It's time to harvest the frustration. n/t

n/t

[Webster Green]

2. Hell, yeah!

Stir up the shit.

I go out quite often and stand at the main intersection (at the little town square) of our small town, with my ever changing protest sign. Sometimes there are others there, sometimes it's just me.

These are not scheduled events. Whoever gets a bug up their ass goes out and stands with their signs, waving, giving the peace sign and getting motorists to honk. I've had people stop their vehicles and hand me money, and tell me to "keep fighting the bastards".

:hippie: