this isn’t working anymore | adbusters
This essay originally appeared in Adbusters.
"In Miami, I saw a line of burly union men relieve a police line. These police officers set down their shields and removed their body armor to cool off, resting up so they could later beat the crap out of activists. It highlighted the state of disarray that progressive activism is in.
We rely on tactics that clearly aren't working. We hope against hope that our adversaries will realize children suffer in sweatshops and animals die in research laboratories. They won't. Those who have financial means to defend unjust institutions will never switch sides because of a well-phrased sign or catchy flyer.
Our world needs a serious rethink, but unfortunately our words and actions don't measure up. We set up huge demonstrations that are forced to the edges of the highways, far away from their targets. We scream and yell at people walking past but really, when was the last time you were suddenly moved by the fervor of anti-abortion activists?
Our audience is the media-savvy consumer, comfortable with ignoring billboards, advertisements and messages of all types. Yet we still frantically jam pamphlets in their hands, ignoring the multiple pamphlets that sit in garbage cans. And we give talks at universities to the same groups of campus liberals, satisfied with fulfilling the image of activism.
I've been at demonstrations where success was determined by wether the local TV news showed up (inevitably to interview the worst-spoken activist). This fixation on being seen as activists ignores the result: a 35-second fluff story that turns our protests into pep-rallies.
At the most recent Washington demonstrations against the IMF/World Bank, thousands of activists were corralled by police. Word that we would be able to march within shouting distance of the meetings circulated all day, and, after several hours, the march was allowed to walk (surrounded by a wall of police) to another corral opposite the IMF building. Of course, it was 6 pm and everyone in the building had gone home - but thousands shouted dutifully at and empty building. Why?
We beg and plead for change, but many of us don't really want it. Folks overwhelmed by suffering in the world often use activism to relieve the guilt of their privileges. We don't have time for this self-indulgence; we need to think about how our protests can directly affect the problems they are fighting. This requires analysis of our tactics. And tough questions:
1. Are you using an action to garner more support? if so, have you reached into the community? Sending an email to twelve friends doesn't count. Get out there. Talk to people.
2. Are you trying to damage a corporate enemy? Are you protesting outside there retail shop, or have you travelled to their corporate headquarters? Have you figured out a way to communicate with their shoppers? If not, you may as well shout at cars.
3. Are you going to a big anti-capitalism demonstration? Do you have a plan for yourself? If you come expecting someone to tell you what to do, you've missed the point. Make an affinity group, plan some street theater, or even better, cause a ruckus someplace where the cops aren't. Got the rich areas of the city you are demonstrating in and spray paint some revolutionary messages.
We are running out of time. The problems that face our world are complicated and difficult to solve. We need activism that is smart, challenging and effective, and we need to put all these questions on a table for debate.
The time for symbolic protest is over.
from Mar/Apr 2004 issue of Adbusters
_Maxwell Schnurer believes social justice is worth fighting for and that the master's tools cannot dismantle the master's house._