Stand Up and Stand Out: Holding a Demonstration to Help Animals
Holding a demonstration is a fun, effective, and easy way to show people how animals are abused on factory farms, on fur farms, in laboratories, and in entertainment. It’s one of the easiest ways to reach a lot of people, and if your event is covered by the media, you have the potential to reach thousands more.
A demonstration can be as simple as one person with a sign, a stack of leaflets, and an hour to spare, or it can be more elaborate. You’d be surprised at how far you can get with a friendly smile and the simple question “Would you like to learn about how animals are raised on factory farms?”
To plan a demonstration, you need to answer the following questions:
- What are you asking your opponent or target to do?
- What do you want the public to do or learn?
- Will you need a permit from the police or city hall?
- What types of visual aids (posters, banners, or costumes) will you use?
- What type of leaflets will you hand out?
You can protest anything under the sun, but it’s crucial to have a strategy and to be organized in order to make your activism as successful as possible. A typical demonstration should last only about an hour so that attendees will retain their enthusiasm the whole time. The best time is a weekday at around 12 noon, during lunch near a busy street or intersection that has a good amount of foot traffic. A Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is also a good time.
If you’ve uncovered an important local issue, create and print leaflets to hand out on the street. If you want to hold a demonstration outside your local zoo to inform people of the horrors of captivity, we can send you digital leaflets to print. If you’re not sure what issue you want to tackle, or if you’re unsure what information to include in your own leaflets or signage, contact us for help!
You should also be prepared with the facts. Knowledge is one of the most important parts of activism, and accurately conveying your message will make your demonstration stronger. Read up on our website about the issues, and contact us beforehand for additional information. You should also create a basic fact sheet for your fellow activists to review so that you all can clearly explain the issues to the people you are trying to reach.
Don’t forget to get the word out about your demonstration. Promote it on Facebook, Twitter, and other social-networking sites, and e-mail everyone you know with the details!
E-mail us at [email protected] for digital leaflets, guidance, tips, and questions. We’d love to help you become a superhero for animals! Send us your demonstration photos, and they might even be featured on our Facebook and Twitter accounts!
Posted by Edwina Baier
