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Tactics
Name
Professor
Institution
Course
Date
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Protests are claims made outside institutions and in the public realm, as stated in the
slides presented during the lecture. The public sphere is open to the general public, where
political discourse can occur. Protests can handle many forms, including petitions, sit-ins, and
even rioting in extreme circumstances. Protests are an effective way to draw attention to an issue.
They frequently cause disruptions to everyday activities to catch the attention of persons who
support the cause being protested and those who oppose it. They often garner the attention of
various individuals and media networks as it fits them. In addition, they are pretty effective in
fostering camaraderie among the community of activists. The actual process of organizing and
planning protests requires time and effort. An effort of this kind enables the demonstration
organizers to join together and fosters a feeling of enthusiasm that fuels affinity.
Movements can disseminate their messages and accomplish their goals in a variety of
ways. This includes the disruptive and contained protest tactics. However, no one method is
always successful because various situations call for various approaches. Designing campaigns
that specifically target each of the individuals involved in bringing about change is crucial.
Tactics that are considered disruptive are those that interfere with typical everyday activities.
These strategies include the use of barricades and sit-ins. A historical example of this strategy
would be the freedom riders during the civil rights movement. Disruptive strategies are typically
quite effective at attracting attention, both positively and negatively. Because it is nearly
impossible to ignore what is taking place, disruptive strategies almost always prove to be the
most successful. Methods of protest that are contained within their boundaries are considered to
be more peaceful. They frequently continue their normal activities and are considered a natural
protest. Even though they are not as successful as disruptive techniques
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An additional tactic is the use of violence during demonstrations. During specific social
movements, there is, on occasion, an outbreak of violence, which can result in individuals being
injured or property being damaged. People are upset and frustrated after a significant occurrence
that prompts them to take to the streets to protest. This provides some social movements with the
rationale they need to initiate riots and encourage violence. Even while it brings a lot of attention
to the subject, violence in social activities brings a bad reputation to those groups. According to
the slides shown in the lecture, not only does violence result in unfavourable media coverage, but
it also attracts the attention of police enforcement. However, under appropriate circumstances, it
can also have a good impact. If an act of violence became part of a societal movement, the
relevant authorities might treat the matter more seriously. The assassination of George Floyd is a
potential illustration of this point.
The riots that broke out after the murder of George Floyd are an illustration of how
violence in protests can have real-world consequences. People were shocked and angered by
Floyd's death, which received extensive media coverage. Protesters flooded the streets of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, less than 24 hours after the tragedy. They were justified in their fury,
which manifested itself in rioting. Looting, violence, and the destruction of local businesses
ensued. According to a MinnPost report, damage from the rioting was estimated at $500 million.
Police resisted the demonstrators, and the national guard was called in to help. Many news
outlets gave the protests a lousy spin, airing footage of looting and arson. But the rioting
accomplished their goals. The cops involved in Floyd's killing have been apprehended and
charged. A demonstration of the role violence can play in such events.
The civil rights movement employed disruptive techniques by using freedom riders.
According to Taylor (2020), we know that the freedom riders' mission got underway around that
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time. The first 13 freedom riders took the first step in Jackson, Mississippi. They rode all over
the south to show their opposition to the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation. Both ordinary
citizens and law enforcement officials harassed them frequently. The victims were beaten and
had objects thrown at them. Most of them spent "six weeks in prison, sweating in filthy, vermin-
infested cells" after their arrest in May of 1961 for disturbing the peace. As Taylor of the New
York Times reported, the results of this uprising were positive, as it laid the groundwork for the
Civil Rights Movement of 1964. The original freedom riders' courage inspired others, and many
soon joined the cause. The implementation of this disruptive strategy exemplifies the
effectiveness of such strategies.
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Reference
Taylor, D. B. (2020, July 18). Who Were the Freedom Riders? The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/freedom-riders-john-lewis-work.html
