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Any interesting non violent protest ideas? (lemmy.wtf)

submitted 3 days ago by mental_block@lemmy.wtf to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Wondering what some ideas in the theme of malicious compliance, chaotic good or even legal non-compliance for protesting?

Stuff like chaining yourselves to a tree or purposeful graffiti has been there in the past but I'm curious about yer experiences/stories.

I recall there were some issues with household waste collections and the folks, unfortunately, would stuff their rubbish into public bins. Was wondering why everyone couldn't just dump their bags outside a politicians house who could have power to affect change.

There were some inspiring ones here: https://nonviolencenews.org/2025/01/03/top-10-creative-actions-in-2024-nonviolence-news-special-report/

Stuff like that.. any ideas?

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Join a party like PSL, and be ready for violence. Pacifism is handcuffing yourself and handing the gun to your captor. That's not to say that protest should only be violent or adventurist in nature, of course, but we should prepare and be ready for revolution, and that starts by studying strategy and tactics, training in firearms, first-aid, logistics, etc, and organizing in working class parties.

[–] mental_block@lemmy.wtf 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thank you, didn't know about them.

I'm not advocating for pacifism but maybe something in a same vein as a viral satirist cartoon can be considered a protest. A public performance, coordinated with a vision, that doesn't always slide into "looting and fighting". As you say, we should be ready for it but it's a last resort since the opponents want the protestors to you turn violent to discredit and ignore.

Easy examples like Boston Tea Party, Singing Revolution or Salt March.

I would love a month long general strike but would accept random mildly coordinated actions towards a greater purpose.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 days ago

The biggest issue is that non-violent protest doesn't really change anything. They can be useful for organizations to practice and develop logistics and mobilization, but not as a direct method of change. Lady Izdihar made a great graphic on the Leninist theory of revolution:

This is how we need to organize for actual change. Non-violent protest is helpful in practicing revolution, but not in achieving change itself.