Real Organizing: Beyond Online Activism
1. Organizing: Build the Movement Before You Hit the Streets
You don't just wake up and decide to protest or boycott—you plan.
Step 1: Identify the Goal
- Are you trying to stop a specific policy?
- Are you targeting a company or a politician?
- Are you raising awareness or forcing action?
You need a clear demand. If people don't know what they're fighting for, the movement fizzles out.
Step 2: Build a Core Group
Movements start small. Find 10-20 dedicated people who are serious about organizing, not just tweeting. Assign roles:
- Communications: Social media, flyers, press outreach
- Strategy: Planning actions and messaging
- Legal Support: Know your rights before protesting
- Security: Keeping people safe at protests
Step 3: Pick the Right Tactics
Not every action is a march in the streets. Some battles are won with:
- Phone/email blitzes: Flooding reps or companies with calls
- Social media storms: Coordinated hashtag campaigns
- Strikes: Workplace shutdowns
- Direct action: Disruptive but peaceful acts that force attention
2. Boycotts: How to Actually Hurt a Business or Politician
A boycott without discipline is just a feel-good stunt. You need to hit them where it counts: profits and reputation.
Step 1: Choose the Right Target
- Who are the decision-makers? Don't just boycott a company—boycott the key brands they rely on.
- Who funds them? If it's a politician, look at their donors and attack the companies that support them.
Step 2: Make It Painful
- Public pressure: Flood social media and news outlets with the message.
- Get influencers & organizations involved: The more reach, the better.
- Create alternative solutions: Tell people where TO spend money instead of just where NOT to.
Step 3: Be Consistent
Boycotts fail when people lose steam after a few weeks. You need long-term commitment and measurable wins. Set goals (e.g., forcing a sponsor to drop a deal, cutting profits, forcing policy change).
Examples of Boycotts That Worked:
- ✅ Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56): Took over a year, but segregation laws were overturned.
- ✅ Nike & Kaepernick (2018): Some conservatives tried boycotting Nike for supporting Kaepernick, but Nike gained customers instead—because it was a badly organized boycott with no long-term plan.
3. Protests & Direct Action: Maximize Impact
If you're hitting the streets, don't just show up and scream. That's how movements die in the news cycle.
Step 1: Choose the Right Time & Place
- Target locations of power: City halls, corporate HQs, major highways.
- Disrupt business as usual: Timing matters—don't march on a Sunday when nobody's working.
- Coordinate with national movements: Link up with other protests for more impact.
Step 2: Stay Disciplined
- Have clear messaging (no random slogans—stick to a demand).
- Keep it peaceful unless your goal is civil disobedience.
- Be prepared for counter-protesters & police (know your rights).
Step 3: Use Media to Your Advantage
- Livestream everything.
- Get press releases out before and after.
- Turn viral moments into momentum (e.g., George Floyd protests turned into actual police policy reforms in some states).
4. Keep the Pressure On
Protests and boycotts don't work unless you follow up. Here's what winning movements do:
- ✅ Track results (did sales drop? Did sponsors pull out? Did politicians react?)
- ✅ Escalate actions (if the first protest doesn't work, increase pressure).
- ✅ Stay organized (movements need structure, not just outrage).
🚨 BIGGEST MISTAKE:
Movements that die out after one big event. Sustained action over time is what wins.
Final Thought: Do You Want to Make Noise or Make Change?
If you're serious about change, it takes work, sacrifice, and discipline. Keyboard activism is worthless without real-world action. The people who run this country don't care about hashtags—they care about power, money, and influence. Take those away, and they listen.