Is there a global tipping point for frustration? Everywhere, it seems, people said they’d had enough. They dissented; they demanded; they did not despair, even when the answers came back in a cloud of tear gas or a hail of bullets. They literally embodied the idea that individual action can bring collective, colossal change.
- Time Magazine
In honor of TIME Magazine naming “The Protester” as “Person of the Year,” (and also because I’ve wanted to do this for a while) I thought I’d put together some tips for any of you who want to host an INTERMIX: Please Stop Selling Fur (or, I suppose, any) protest in your own city!
1) Give yourself some time. I think it’s best to plan a protest at least two weeks in advance to give people time to arrange their schedules. This will also give you time to gather the appropriate materials. That said, if time is of the essence, don’t let a shorter timeline stop you!
2) Check out the location. Make sure there’s enough space for your group, plan parking, and (if you want to be super careful), call your local police station to make sure your plans are all legal (police are usually helpful- I’ve had multiple Beverly Hills police officers tell us they’ve seen the undercover fur footage and they’re on our side!). You have every right to protest on public property, but if it’s private you should also contact the property manager to discuss permitting. The last thing you want is to be surprised by some obscure restriction the day of your big event!
3) Create a Facebook event. Well, of course. But don’t stop there. These days, event invites seem to get swallowed up in the insanity of facebook, so be sure to send private messages to your invitees making sure they took note. There’s a fine line between making them aware and driving them nuts, so be mindful of that :) If you schedule an INTERMIX protest, definitely let us know so we can help you promote it! (we’ll even make the invite for you if you’d like).
4) Gather your materials. This is totally up to you, but I like having a mix of homemade & professional signs. If you’re making homemade signs, pick strong images/slogans and use big fonts. Googling things like “anti-fur posters” or “fur free protests” will give you tons of ideas. You can also contact animal rights groups like PETA or HSUS, and often they’ll send you supplies for free (or for a very discounted rate). I have amazing contacts in both organizations, so if you need me to hook you up, I’m happy to! Also, I love a few “Honk If You Love Animals!” or “Honk If You’re Anti-Fur!” signs, because drivers need instructions/encouragement. Call me crazy (I’m sure you already do), but I think a steady stream of honks can be incredibly energizing for your protesters!
5) Do your research. No one expects you to have all the answers, but the more you know about the fur industry, the better. Expect people walking by to have questions, and be receptive to them. Even if you don’t know the answer, thank them for their curiousity, and encourage them to do more research when they get home. The internet will be their best friend!
6) Dress the part. This is up to interpretation and debate, but I find that the more fashionable you look at a fur protest, the more concerned the company becomes about losing you as a prospective customer. That said, don’t feel pressured to change your identity.
7) Put a smile on your face. While there are many styles of protest, we at Fur Free LA prefer to kill them with kindness. The more you can make friends with neighbors and prospective shoppers, the easier it will be to get them to truly listen. It’s damn scary to walk up to a screaming person (even if you agree with what they’re screaming about), but much less intimidating to walk up to someone who looks inviting.
8) Take a gazillion photos. Nothing helps spread the word and encourage other activists like evidence of a successful campaign. Tweet ‘em, blog ‘em, facebook ‘em, just make sure to tag the company you’re targeting (in our case, INTERMIX), so they know what you’re up to!
With that, go forth and be a voice for the voiceless!
