Welcome back to The Spark, our monthly celebration of how people just like you are creating positive change, one meaningful step at a time. The Spark is generously supported by Laura Rice. Sign up to Reasons to be Cheerful’s weekly newsletter here and you’ll get The Spark in your inbox at the start of each month. ‘Think about protests as a demonstration of values’ The demonstrations that drew global attention to the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis expanded throughout the U.S. this weekend. Thousands participated from coast to coast, and a “national shutdown” called for people to stay home from work, school and shopping on Friday. For many participating in the protests, activism isn’t a regular part of their lives. To learn about how to get involved safely and effectively, we talked to ONE Northside, a Chicago organization with deep roots in the activist world. Does protesting work? In July 2024, about a hundred people rallied in Chicago outside the Leland Hotel with homemade signs declaring “the rent is too damn high” and “we can’t choose between food and rent.” The Leland, one of the last buildings in the area to provide single-room affordable housing, was poised for development when the landlord was unable to keep up with rising costs. Credit: Cameron Petti for ONE Northside The protests, along with neighborhood canvassing and a town hall meeting with a city official, were a success, and helped put the building in the hands of an affordable housing developer. That developer not only expanded the number of units in the building, but also added facilities like a gym, according to Seri Lee, deputy organizing director of ONE Northside. Whether rallying with dozens of others to preserve local affordable housing, or marching with 50,000 people in opposition to immigration enforcement actions, protests can be a powerful way to make a statement and affect change. The demonstrations in Minneapolis are credited with helping lead to the drawdown of I.C.E.’s presence in the city. “We saw […] that peaceful mass protests inspired by a sense of justice can succeed,” wrote The Atlantic. “Mobilization works.” Credit: Vanessa Bly for NRDC “You can think about protests as a demonstration of values, an expression of some type of demand of what people want,” says Lee. They are just one tactic in a suite of nonviolent community actions. Some, like mutual aid, focus on providing practical support, like groceries and rent, to people most impacted. Others are tightly targeted, like neighborhood watches that alert locals to the presence of immigration agents with car horns and whistles. And others leverage the collective power of large groups of people, like the general strike that saw hundreds of businesses voluntarily close in Minneapolis. In combination, these strategies can have a significant impact, says Lee. “It’s not enough just to have one protest. There’s a series of tactics that are used strategically in an escalating way, that are bringing more and more people to apply public pressure to the right kind of person that will actually give you what you want.” How to get involved No matter the issue, Lee says, a good first step is to find a local group. She suggests searching online, or looking for likeminded friends on social media and seeing who they follow and tag. Even better, she says, is seeking connections through existing social networks like religious institutions, school communities, or book clubs. “The most valuable way to be able to connect to local organizing is really to talk to your neighbors.” When you decide to participate in an event, Lee suggests doing some research. “You should know what you’re getting into.” Before attending a protest advertised on social media, look up the group behind it to learn more about their past actions and how risky they were. Credit: Citizen Kepler / Shutterstock If you want to make a sign, go for it, she says. Signs and chants not only help amplify a protest’s message, they shape the energy of the crowd, raising spirits when people are tired, or deescalating things when tensions run high. When the day of the protest arrives, be prepared with water, snacks and weather-appropriate clothing. (Handwarmers have become standard-issue gear in cities smacked by the past week’s cold front.) Another thing to take with you: A friend. Having a buddy by your side doesn’t just help boost the numbers, it’s also smart for safety reasons, Lee says. Either way, she advises bringing ID and making sure someone who’s not at the protest has your contact information. Look up a legal hotline number, like those run by the National Lawyers Guild, and write it down. (Some activists write the number on their arms.) As the federal government increases the use of facial recognition, privacy is becoming a concern. Particularly for riskier actions, some activists wear face masks or nondescript clothing. Protesters can protect their security by turning off biometrics, like fingerprint or facial unlock, on their phones, Lee suggests. You can also protect others involved with the protest by not taking pictures of their faces. Weighed down by negative news? Our smart, bright, weekly newsletter is the uplift you’ve been looking for. [contact-form-7] First and foremost, however, it’s important to accurately gauge the risk level of the protest you’re considering joining. Marching with tens of thousands of people in a permitted rally is different from jumping into the fray of an I.C.E. action with your cell phone “brandished.” Demonstrations come in all stripes, and all are impactful. Choose one you feel comfortable with. And if public protesting doesn’t suit you, Lee says there are many ways to support community action, like cooking meals or babysitting for friends who are participating in rapid-response efforts. “All the different practices and strategies, I think, in this moment are definitely welcomed and needed,” she says, “and not everyone needs to be doing the same thing.” The post The Spark: How To Protest appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.