How can protestors affect political policies?

Question

During the late 1960s the United States ushered in a wave of political awareness and protest that forced the Civil Rights Act into existence and protect Minority Rights, Ethnic Rights, Women's Rights, and the like. They also had a heavy impact on the failing war in Vietnam.

Likewise today, the people are suddenly faced with the stripping of personal liberties and rights and engulfed a seemingly endless war that's depleting the nation's resources. However, regardless of this parallel to past miseries the voice of protest is not nearly what it was before.

If the majority of the nation rallies together how can they protest to change political spectrum? (I mean in terms of actual activities that the people can do.)

Answer 1

Volumes of people and a well articulated message. Elected officials  consider that for every person who actually arrives there are another 10 that they influence.

Answer 2

Civil Disobedience, Street protests etc are democracy in it's purest from. I control this space, right now - if you see or hear me you will hear my voice and if you wish to move me you must persuade me or use force. Recently the powers that be have moved to deny the right to protest along with as you say most personal liberties/rights. By doing this the thugs and hacks that rule us now are effectively taking people out of the political process by putting the previously unassailable status of the individual into play.The act of protest is the reclamation by an individual of his or her right to self determination which is the foundation of all other democratic processes, and why of course violence not persuasion is so often used to stop it.

If we are to preserve democracy and retain any ability to effect public policy at all we must take back the streets and move to control our space.

No Pasaran.

Answer 3

Here are some various tips that you should find useful.

1. Use the Internet for activism, advocacy, and awareness.

2. Write pieces for the newspaper. A newspaper usually has a soapbox editorial page for people to publicly express their opinions on various issues.

3. Write pieces for magazines.

4. Call into live Radio Talk Shows and let your opinions be known.

5. Call into live Television Talk Shows and let your opinions be known.

6. Go to Townhall meetings and let your opinions be known.

7. Get in contact with your elected political officials to express your opinions on issues that concern you and urge your elected political officials to support your issues.  

8. Go to your political candidate's rally (rallies) and open discussion forums and ask questions on where they stand at concerning the issues that concern you.

9. Go to your opposing political candidate's rally (rallies) and open discussion forums and ask questions on where they stand at concerning the issues that concern you.

10. Vote in every election! By voting, you can let your political voice be heard.

11. Individual action is important but collective action is also important. The more people (a group) that has the same opinions/goals and they express their opinions on various issues that you care about, a bigger impact will be made.

12. Join a group or form a group that supports the issues that you are concerned about.

13. Join or form group coalitions that supports the issues that you are concerned about.  

14. Network with other political like-minded people like yourself.

15. Know your Foe (Enemy)! Do research on why your opponent(s) is/are against the issue(s) that you are concerned about. By doing this, you can be better prepared to present your case/argument to your opponent(s) when presenting your case. Know your opponent(s)'s agenda/goals about the issues that you care about.

16. Document everything! By doing this, you will be creating a paper trail to back you up and you will also have something to refer back to when talking to various political candidates and elected political officials about the issues that you care about.

17. Research and gather all of the facts about the issues that you care about so you can be very knowledgeable about the issues when talking to other people. Remember that "Knowledge (Information) Is Power!".

18. Teach, mentor, and empower other people to be political Activists, political Advocates, and political Self-Advocates.

19. An Activist-Advocate-Self Advocate is involved with Elected Officials, Media, Community, and Public Agencies.

Answer 4

How's this grab you posters with the word's ever seen  A Laser Guided Smart Bomb with an education.

Ever seen one smart enough to march in a protest.

Ask where is the mention of Post Traumatic Stress or even traumatic stress for Iraqi citizens.

Oil Cars as dangerous as Nukes.  Support a Non Proliferation Treaty for Oil Powered Cars.  Cars are The Evil Axelis.   War Abolitionist Movement maybe. Vietwam.  Marches to abolish war. Human Right to Peace in The Constitution. Maybe an aim to make it a right in The Constitution to not have war anywhere on Earth. Say no to war on Earth. If this helps that is.

Answer 5

The key there is that you must have the majority to do that.

Also, do you really want to make this into another Vietnam? Wars take time to achieve victory. Give it time.