A question for protestors.....

[BooScout]

I really want to know why people think they have to dress up in costumes and outfits to protest something? I have been in a few protests over the years including several protesting against the War in Iraq. Why do people feel the need to dress up? It seems to me that the cause is damaged when those with the silliest outfits are what is going to be seen on any newscast covering the protest and actually do more harm than good regarding whatever you are protesting against.

This is a sincere question. I really want to hear what everyone thinks. Especially those that have protested in various costumes.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Why don't you get out there and ask them yourselves?

You can either dress up, or dress casual.

[BooScout]

2. I have been out there tyvm.....

and I never thought at the time of asking.........I'm asking now if you don't mind.

[LittleClarkie]

It sounds like the choices are casual, and casual

Or is a clown suit high fashion these days.

[uppityperson]

3. Outrageous costumes get more coverage.

[LittleClarkie]

4. Yeah, but do you want the coverage?

Hmm?

[uppityperson]

7. It is a mixed bag. Being too polite, too courteous, too proper doesn't work either.

And I think the poster was asking why, so I responded with what I thought. My opinion, take it for what it is worth, about why people dress up at protests.

[LittleClarkie]

9. That's true. I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

I can see how, if the protesters are small in number and dressed out of the ordinary, it's easy to say their fringe people and ignore them.

I think what we really need is numbers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Depends

Do you want the war to end?

[Sparkly]

11. How do costumes help the war to end? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. It's called street theater

As someone else suggested, go to the Code Pink website and read. They explain why they do what they do in costumes.

Then share with us what you are doing to end the war.

Rev Yearwood had his ankle broken today http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1777353

[Sparkly]

14. I wanted your answer

because you answered the question about the costumes with a question about whether or not someone wanted the war to end.

Costumes = Ending war?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Creative protest

Standing there holding a sign doesn't seem to be working.

[Sparkly]

23. "Doesn't seem to be working" -- to end the war?

So the costumes are the thing that's been missing? That's why the war hasn't ended already -- we needed the costumes?

[LittleClarkie]

26. A production number

Fosse for peace.

[bobbolink]

57. "Keep those legs up, girls!"

:rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Got any better ideas?

We are in the streets 4 times a week in this city. Two weeks ago we had the largest crowd we have ever had. We sent out press releases to 4 different TV stations, 3 newspapers and several radio stations. NOT ONE REPORTER showed us up.

Then today the Moving America Forward bus was here. And every TV station in town was there to cover them. War mongers. They get attention. But our anti-war rallies are ignored.

So if you have any better ideas I would love to hear them. Because I am about over being ignored.

[LittleClarkie]

32. Is bad publicity better than no publicity at all?

We need the entire country behind us. I would reckon that anything that makes people shy away from joining us would not be a good thing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. At this point, any publicity is better than none

[Sparkly]

51. What do the costumes publicize? nt

[LittleClarkie]

18. I thought it was a good question, by the way

because I wasn't sure how being a clown for peace helped exactly either.

I didn't think the Republican Tigger outfit helped them much in New Mexico either. Remember that spectacle in 2004. The organizers probably told them to wear orange. They probably did not tell them to dress as a GOP plushie, however

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Got any better ideas?

[LittleClarkie]

27. Volume, baby

A whole lotta normal lookin' folk.

A veteran protest like Dewey Canyon III

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. I bought a bullhorn a year ago

[BooScout]

15. Is it really necessary....

to question fellow posters efforts to end the war when they have a difference of opnion than you? Show me the requirement that we all preface our posts here with our War Protesting resume? It reminds me of the tactic........America, love it or leave it. It's irritating as hell not to mention irrelevant.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Just getting tired of the criticism from the keyboard commandos

[BooScout]

24. Oh I see.......

........anyone who disagrees with you is relegated to the keyboard commando squad? And has their loyalty to the 'cause' questioned. So much for diversity.:eyes:

[LittleClarkie]

28. You assume they are keyboard commandos

In reality, you can't tell who these people are and what they do merely by how they type.

Unless it's just because they are here. But that can't be it, because you are here too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. I know who has blogged and posted pictures and videos about their activism

and who hasn't.

[BooScout]

37. The loudest person in the room......

Is not always the most valuable. People that don't feel the need to brag sometimes are the ones who are getting the most done.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. What are they doing?

I honestly want to know.

[BooScout]

41. Well what are you doing?

I know you have protested because you have told us so.....you also said it wasn't working. What else are you doing? I doubt you 'honestly' want to know what 'they - as in those who think differently than you' are doing..it seems you would rather just make acqusations and assumptions based on absolutely nothing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. I call my reps once a week

I write LTTEs - but they don't get published. :mad:

We are now setting up meetings with the press in our town to express our concern that they ignore us.

I also send what money I can afford to the activists in DC who have given up their lives to end the war.

I do a lot. But not as much as others do.

[LittleClarkie]

16. But is it really wise to make it look like the opposition to the war

is filled with weird fringe people. Wouldn't it be better to look like someone that people could actually relate to? That's why I thought the original Cindy protest was so powerful. Just a mom asking why. Who couldn't relate to that?

Not that I have to justify myself, but I will answer your question too, even though it wasn't directed at me.

There is a weekly protest near where I live. I've been there in the middle of winter, frozen my ears off, sign around my neck, on Christmas, on New Years, on Easter, getting yelled at, told to get a job (figure that one out) and given the finger. I've also beeb honked at and given the thumbs up too. Those are more frequent now, actually. Not there as much as I'd like, as I take care of my brother, but I'm there.

But anyway...

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I'm there too but it isn't working

So it's time to come up with new ideas. Costumes are at least different.

[kansasblue]

5. well I suspect that...

a person basically sees a protest as making a scene for a cause they believe in. One could be a basic ordinary person vs. a camera catching, eye catching, .....and DU catching outfit that means your arrest and confinement won't go unseen.

[Rick Myers]

6. In a larger protest, it's theatre to add to the 'camera value.'

I fully support public protest, but the repeated interruption of preceedings like today, don't reflect well on the protesters. I understand their anger, and I understand 'We the People' are getting the sh*t-end of the stick... There's a time and place for everything.

When a big public protest happens, it's good to add some visual elements to draw coverage.

Hell, I'd match in front of the White House in a bunny suit if Dubya would listen to me for 2 minutes!!!

[Breeze54]

8. Go to Code Pink blog and read!

There's a reason they wear pink.

[bobbolink]

12. The Civil Rights protests were so effective in large part because they wore SUITS

and were very orderly.

There was NOTHING they could be criticised for.

It wasn't spectacle, it was JUSTICE.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Orderly doesn't work anymore

[LittleClarkie]

29. People aren't saying they don't want peace if they don't want costumes

there is just a difference of opinion as to how to get there. People care. That's all. They are afraid the peace movement will not be taken seriously. They wouldn't worrky about that if they didn't care.

Which is why I think your "and what are you doing" was out of line. Just because people disagree with you about how to go about this does not mean they are not active.

[BooScout]

34. Thank you.......

Very well put.:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Then they should be glad to share what they are doing

We need new ideas. Let's share.

[LittleClarkie]

42. The protest I participate in was started by a couple of nuns

I wonder if getting left leaning religious folks involved would help. I mean, how can you yell at a nun?

We also stand at a T intersection (a location that has been used since Vietnam) People HAVE to look at us as they wait for the light to change.

A couple of small things. Don't know if they're useful to anybody. But you said share, so there ya go.

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. High profile intersections are great

We have a couple church groups. I love the nuns! That's great.

[bobbolink]

63. "how can you yell at a nun?" They get spit on.

I've protested many times with nuns, and many years ago, at a protest Sister Mary Ann was across a narrow street from me, and I saw her look up, puzzled. I asked her what happened, and she said, "Someone spit on me." Yes, spitting on nuns is what the nukes people do.

They also had great fun giving us all the one-finger salute. Great intelligence, that. (They were all supposed to be nuclear physicists......)

[bobbolink]

49. I shared, and zap! You told me it wouldn't work.

If you want "sharing", it would be nice if you would be willing to *hear* the ideas.

[Stinky The Clown]

54. "Orderly doesn't work anymore"

But you wrote, just upthread here: "Then today the Moving America Forward bus was here. And every TV station in town was there to cover them. War mongers. They get attention. But our anti-war rallies are ignored."

Do they wear costumes?

I see them with silly monkey suits and actual monkeys, referring, logically, to us as 'surrender monkeys'. So their silly suits at least have a purpose. Of course, not all of them are so dressed. Just one or two, to make their very direct point.

I surely do not agree one iota with their message, but you mentioned them and I'm wondering how costumes may have gotten them on teevee?

[rockymountaindem]

43. I've been thinking the same thing this whole time

Recently while I was briefly abroad, I had the opportunity to watch a really good documentary on the "infrastructure", if you will, of the 50's-60's civil rights movement. I caught it, interestingly, because it was one of the only programs on in English. At the time I was happy to find something on TV that I could understand, but at the end I was really happy that I got to watch it.

The people interviewed on the program were all marchers, demonstrators and organizers from Memphis, some of whom worked directly with Martin Luther King. They took a lot of time explaining to the viewers how important it was for people sitting on the fence to see that the demonstrators were people just like themselves. Thus, they emphasized the suit-wearing aspect quite strongly, because, as they put it in the language of the times, if the citizens of Memphis saw a bunch of "poor Negroes" being arrested, they would be quite happy. But, if they saw a bunch of suit-clad "respectable" people *like themselves* getting hauled out en masse, that would make the city government look like the bad guys. Lo and behold, it worked. It commands a lot of respect, then and now, to be well dressed, and the demonstrators used it to their advantage. IMHO, it would be an example current anti-war protesters would do well to follow.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. So we need to dress up in our best clothes?

But I like to wear this t-shirt to our protests! I guess I could put on a skirt instead of shorts or jeans.

[rockymountaindem]

52. Look, wear what you want

I'm just saying, wearing, shall we say, "ordinary" clothes can't hurt and can only help.

[bobbolink]

53. "it would be an example current anti-war protesters would do well to follow. "

Seems to me it's at least worth a try, eh?

But, I can hear it now..... "You're taking away my freeeee speeeeeeeech!" "You're dictating to meeeeee".

sigh...

About 3 years ago now, when some peace people in my area where so discouraged because the big marches weren't seeming to accomplish much, I said, "We've been doing the same things now for 30-some years, and the press and the nation are innoculated. It's time to put our heads together and try new expressions. We're smart... we can THINK, and we can innovate." They looked at me like I had two heads, so I figured..... well, OK, then... keep doing the same things....

Unfortunately, the RW carefully studied and used images that work on the minds of the people, and it's time we need to decide whether we want to be effective, or we want to be doing the same things. We really are clever people, and can figure out how to express things in a way that stirs the inner thoughts of a substancial portion of the nation.

It sounds like a really good program that you saw..... something that would be helpful for groups all over the country to watch and discuss.

Thanks for posting this!

[rockymountaindem]

56. It was a great program, and I saw it on Finnish TV of all things!

It was on right after an equally interesting documentary on Jesse James & crew. I mean, it kinda sucks that I had to go all the way to Finland to see 'em, but they were really interesting!

[bobbolink]

58. Those were expensive theater tickets! ^_^ Finns would probably have some good ideas for us,

if we were willing to listen.

We're in a bad rut.

[rockymountaindem]

60. The worst/best part was that they were American PBS shows

My PBS affiliate seems to binge on Antiques Road Show rather than engender any kind of controversy or touch a sensitive issue.

[goodgd_yall]

64. Good post and I agree n/t

[goodhue]

25. media coverage

pretty simple reason

[Raster]

31. for the life of me, I do not understand ANYONE making an issue of the protester's costumes.

Especially using the logic of "well they won't take us serious" or "the American public will think less of us." "Damaging the cause..." Talk about living on another planet!

The days of simple, honest protest are over. In case everyone hasn't been paying attention, the Main Stream Media focuses on protests and protesters ONLY if there is some kind of angle. Nobel cause and righteous indignation just doesn't cut it anymore. The goal now is to DRAW ATTENTION and make sure your protest efforts CAN'T BE MARGINALIZED. You want as many people talking about it as possible.

And finally to all those damage-our-cause-sters, the "cause" can use all the help it can get. Theatrics, melodramatics, whatever gets the attention of the media and therefore the American public. Code Pink gets it. Do you?

Wake up America!:kick:

[LittleClarkie]

44. Why do you think the media does not pay attention to honest protest

and only pays attention to those with an angle.

If its the same media that has been manipulating us, then wouldn't you think that there's a reason why they don't pay attention to serious protest by serious people? That there might be a motive for only showing those who go out of their way to be outrageous?

Because our side thinks any attention is good, maybe the rightwing media has trained us to give them exactly what they want.

I think those who don't want the movement to look silly have a point.

[Raster]

55. Simple question: do you believe the protesters in costume would have had as much media attention

as without their costumes? It is a form of theater, street political theater. The point is to get noticed ANY WAY POSSIBLE. The point IS to attract attention. Do you know why we all feel like we are butting our heads against a brick wall, when intuitively we know that many, many others feel the same way? Because the MSM have made it their top priority to minimalize any coverage that shows dissent. All protests are marginalized. Remember how those massive half a million person marches became just a "few thousand." The MSM will not show protest or dissent because they don't want us to realize just how many pissed off people there really are. People feel so hopeless against the cheney*/bush* juggernaut BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO FEEL. Code Pink, Billionaires for Bush, the bushco* Chain Gang and other groups utilizing street theater get noticed and remembered. There is room for all. Don't judge the delivery. Support the message. Hell, if the Raging Grannies all want to get NO W tattoos and bear their boobies, more power to them! Whatever it takes.

Wake up America!:kick:

[BooScout]

45. Not necessarily so......

My husband and I have both been interviewed by the media during protests. We were dressed in everyday clothes and they picked us out to interview rather than the drumbangers and the tamborine playing people in clown outfits. The angle we had was that we were just normal everyday folk who didn't like this war.

[Evoman]

40. I think protestors need to look scary and angry.

They should fear us. Less smiles, more tension. Dark clothes, suits, well dressed...but angry.

I don't advocate violence and throwing rocks (not yet, anyways). But you gotta show them your willing to do what it takes.

[minnesota_liberal]

46. This is the only "costume" I'll ever wear to a protest!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x52826

[Dukkha]

59. my most outrageous stunt

with other Greenpeace activist we colored Crisco in black food coloring and smeared it on ourselves in Ilamorada Key Florida when Poppy Bush was fishing there. This was back in 1990 when they wanted to drill offshore there right off the Florida Keys. We also covered broccoli in it and served "oilderves".

[alittlelark]

61. I go to the SF protests dressed for work

Business attire seems to me the best way to get attn.

In all honesty I do not understand costuming unless it is for a die-in, The Raging Grannies, other semi-theatrical groups (Billionaires for Bush...).


Business attire makes me look like MANY of the people that see me from a distance. When I carry a sign wearing work clothes I feel I have more of an impact. I get a lot of pics and looks from those passing by. Plus, when all hell breaks loose I can toss the sign and act as though I just got caught up in the crowd.

[LostInAnomie]

62. I've always said that if you want you and your protest to be taken seriously...

... you should try your absolute best to make sure that there is nothing about your presentation to marginalize. Make sure that the only issue the opposition can take is with your words.

Dressing up like in silly costumes only gives people more reason to tune out.