Do you believe that peaceful protests such as marches in Washington and in local Cities are effective?

Question

Demonstrations and marches in Washington D.C. and around the country to protest the war in Iraq, The WTO, environmental policies, g*y rights, and other causes are becoming at least as common now as they were in the 1960s. The right to assembly and free speech are basic liberties granted in our constitution. But I'm curious about whether all of you out there feel that this type of civil action (I am only refering to peaceful demonstrations not violent ones) has any ability to affect either how our legislators vote or public discourse and opinion.

Answer 1

if they occur all over and not just in D.C.; if they happen often enough ; in large numbers enough and on the front stairs of each and every politician from the top to the bottom from coast to coast and border to border; then we will have their attention

Answer 2

It really just shows the public and the politicians the large number of people who support this cause and that. But they're really just a chance to get a cause out in the open, or on the news.

Answer 3

I don't think so. To me they are rather sad. I see the same faces in the crowd that were there during the Vietnam War. Their hair is gray now, but they seem to have on the same "casual" attire as then. To me they are caught in some sort of time warp. Even sadder is that they all seem cloaked in their version of the truth and any attempts to challenge it is derided as not having merit or coming from the mind and lips of someone is not "enlightened". I can recall during Vietnam when I inquired why someone was marching and he replied with a sneer: "You've obviously never read Thoureau's Essay on Civil Disobedience!". I said that I had read that work and asked if he had ever read Thuycidides' History of the Peloponnesian Wars. He looked absolutely shocked that someone like me could be familiar with the works of Thoureau.

The demonstrations against the WTO are really laughable because you look at the crowd that's so concerned about the effect on the third world of the WTO's policies and you won't find one person of color in the group.

It is that elitist attitude that the "masses" have to be "elevated" by the demonstrators that is the most galling to me. The speakers at these things are preaching to the choir. Woe be unto anyone who tries to speak other than the party line. What a pity. Fascists wearing Birkenstocks.

Answer 4

The only protests that work are at the voting booth and at the check out line.

How and where you spend your money and who you vote into office makes the most difference.

Answer 5

I think a lot of people see most protesters as a bunch of professional s***t disturbers who have nothing better to do because they don't seem to have jobs.

And wasn't that basically true of hippies in the sixties?

As was already mentioned: voting and boycotting are more effective. And sending thousands of protest letters to politicians sends a message also.

Violent protests only produce cracked skulls.

Answer 6

Those peaceful protests at least call the attention of the public and the government officials to the issues they are crying about.

Answer 7

Yes, I think public assembly does influence those in office. How effective it is would have much to do with which legislators in particular and how much media coverage there is. These days I think it would be more effective to run TV ads, but that can't always be arranged.

Answer 8

I think that these protests make people feel better about themselves, but all to often people think that protesting alone is enough.  Politicians will only make the desired change when protesters start voting and unseating politicians that do not accurately and appropriately represent their constituents.  So by all means, protest, but don't forget to vote as well, or your protests will mean nothing...

On a side note, I wish protesters would at least make an effort to be somewhat mainstream, the message is often lost when it comes from the mouth of a unshaven, unkempt, and unclean  person wearing a "pot-leaf" T shirt...

Answer 9

Yes is the short answer.

Politicians react to public opinion especially if they think that enough people will be outraged and that might effect their chances for reelection.

Answer 10

Only in raising the awareness of those out there.

Without a solution to the mess out there.

What do you think?

Why not try and knock with YA for some answers?

Instead of standing under the hot sun all day long with all the drinks from own pockets.

Answer 11

Large demonstrations are media events and have little impact on the rest of us.

If you want to help your community, then join church volunteers or recognized organizations like the Red Cross or the United Way.

Cheers !

Answer 12

No. If the Powers-That-Be listened to the people, one wouldn't have to march in the street....

Answer 13

I've participated in four very large marches in Washington, also four big protest rallies in NYC, and well over two dozen in my own community.  I am convinced that the main effect is that it gives spook agencies practice in violating our rights and infiltrating our organizations.  The law should allow (but of course never will) that uncovered spooks may have their own lives spied on by the people they spied on.  As to whether any of these actions have changed the government's actions or policies, yes, but only EXTREMELY slowly.  Part of the problem is that everyone in govt is totally arrogant and convinced whatever they (or those who bought them) want is ordained by God.