Have you ever participated in a political protest/rally?

[Phoenix84]

You read about political protests and rallies in the news, and some of them can get pretty large.  Like the immigration protest that turned violent in Seattle yesterday.

It just got me thinking, I've never participated in any political protest or rally ever.  I never saw the point, and it just seemed like I always have something better to do with my time.  They rarely seem to work anyway.

But what about you?  Have you ever been part of a political rally, or protest or something?  What was the cause?  And did you end up getting what you were protesting or rallying for/against?

[amishgal]

Nah, I'm way too lazy. 

I work across from the county courthouse though, so I've certainly witnessed a few.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've been part of a protest. It was in high school.  We protested the termination of our high school drama teacher.  Long story. We had a sit in, made signs, had petitions, wrote the paper, the whole shebang.  No we did not get him rehired. 

[Phoenix84]

Why was he fired? 

My freshmen biology teacher was fired for looking at porn while teaching class.

My freshmen algebra teacher was fired years after I had him for sleeping with a student.  Ufortunately, he ended up killing himself afterward .

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It wasn't porn or sleeping with a student, I can assure you of that.  

I really can't remember what it was all about to be honest.  I just remember everyone mobilizing including quite a few of his former students.  It turned into a community wide protest.  We students were the catalyst.

[Bob Ross]

The answer is yes.  Every weekend when I mow my lawn, I make a personal protest against the wearing of pants. 

Down with the system!

[HoneyBBQ]

I went to a rally once and saw Al Gore speak in Madison, WI. 

[milee]

I used to participate in the abortion rights/anti-abortion protests around the local abortion clinic in the late '80s and early '90s.  I don't think many clinics do it any longer, but they used to have people that supported choice act as a human shield around the clinic to protect women who were seeking healthcare there.  Without the human shields, the anti-abortion protesters would physically block clinic entrance.  There are laws preventing that now, so the human shields aren't needed.

I also marched in the the Immigration March/Rally in Phoenix in '06.  100,000 people marching through the main streets of Phoenix... and my pasty white son and I appeared to be the only white people there.  I was surprised and saddened that none of the churches - Catholic, Protestant, Jewish - brought out their congregations to support what I viewed as a humanitarian cause.   


Edited to Add - In the first example, the pro-choice group was effective in keeping the clinic open and protecting women who were seeking services, even though the anti-abortion protesters were very active.  So, somewhat of a success.  In the second example, the immigration protests/rallies weren't effective then but may have helped build long-term momentum for some of the immigration reform that is now being discussed. 

[Tennesseer]

Anti-Vietnam war protests in Boston back in '69 and '70.  Over 100,000 Boston area students at a number of these rallies.    

[Tiny]

Hmmm, let's see  there's lots of rallies and demonstrations and marches that I go to as a tourist to view the happenings.   I don't consider myself actively attending them though.  

I did go to the demonstration (more a show of support)  held right after 9/11 happened - office workers thronged all the streets around Daley Plaza for that.  My coworkers and I couldn't get close enough to hear the speeches much less see Plaza  - but the moment of silence did filter back thru the crowds.   It was eerie - thousands of people standing in the street all silent.   
I think there might have also been a group sing of the National Anthem too.  

I also went to an anti war rally (the early years of the Iraq war) and participated - as I went purposefully to lend my physical support (being a warm body in the crowd).   A march was also part of this and did that too.

My coworkers and I wandered around  the the G8? or some G-thing protest that was held too.  It was fun to people watch.   

I go mostly as a 'spectator' or tourist though...  it's fun to people watch, read the signs,  and I have to admit the cops in riot gear are intimidating (and yet somehow reassuring).  I do like the mounted police, though.  I have to stifle saying and pointing "OOOOO look! Horse-ies!!"  


ADDED:  it's also a tiny bit amazing to me that "we" Americans get to have a loud sometimes rowdy 'demonstatration' while the police in full Riot gear hang out lined up on the fringes looking bored.     I did see at one anti war demonstrations (not the one I specifically attended) a couple of people possibly get arrested - AFTER they went up to the Riot Police and actually started pushing the police (while their friends snapped pictures of them 'fighting' with the cops).  I remember a big shout and a movement and then the Pushy People were removed behind the line of police and it was over...the main demonstration (singing/chanting/speeches) just kept going undisturbed.   Weirdest thing I've ever seen... and makes me reconsider how much abuse the riot cops take before they actually remove/arrest people (in that maybe the cops aren't the 'bad guys').    I'm thinking if you get arrested at a demonstration you probably had to really really really work at specifically provoking the cops OR you were part of a brawl with other demonstrators. .  

[Tiny]

On final thought - I don't think the rallies do a whole lot - especially if there's no national media coverage of the event.  I also don't think they do much if the protest isn't about something specific (something too general like 'stop war' or 'lower taxes') and aren't  organized nationally if it's a national issue.   Those 99% people or whatever they were called who were protesting "Wall Street" for example.  I wasn't even sure what they were protesting... much less what change they were proposing.  

I do think the immigration rallies may have ultimately helped - or atleast got alot of people who normally wouldn't care/think about it to think about the different facets of immigration and illegal aliens etc.    The rallies did put faces (it was good that someone suggested the marchers wave American Flags more promenantly then their home country flags) of real people on the issue.
 

[Deleted]

Pro choice rally in the early 1990s in San Francisco. I think that's been it.

[midjd]

I accidentally stumbled into some sort of animal-rights protest when we were in NYC, and heard Bernadette Peters speak... that's about it. My stepmother's brother (who is in his early 20s) was part of the Occupy Wall Street movement in Indianapolis for a few months. I was always afraid to walk by them for fear he'd start talking to me in front of my conservative coworkers.

I used to participate in the abortion rights/anti-abortion protests around the local abortion clinic in the late '80s and early '90s.  I don't think many clinics do it any longer, but they used to have people that supported choice act as a human shield around the clinic to protect women who were seeking healthcare there.  Without the human shields, the anti-abortion protesters would physically block clinic entrance.  There are laws preventing that now, so the human shields aren't needed.

They still do that at the original Planned Parenthood in NY - there are volunteers who come out to escort patients past the angry mob. The protesters do at least have to stay across the street, but they are very vocal and not above grabbing your arm and waving a photo of a partial-birth abortion in your face while you go for your annual pap smear.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

The kids and I marched in a protest march against the war in Iraq (BUT supporting the troops actually ordered to fight) a few years ago.  We happened to be in the Kennebunkport, Maine area when the younger President Bush was at the Bush summer home.  President Bush had Russian President Vladmir Putin over for lunch (shutting much of Kennebunkport down to allow Putin's helicopter to land and for him to travel from the landing back and forth to the Bush home).  What a perfect opportunity for a bunch of liberal Mainers to embarass Bush (and show up Putin and his stranglehold on any opposition efforts by his Russian constituents).  

So, about 3,000 people peacefully marched up to the first Secret Service checkpoint on Ocean Avenue.  We all took pictures of each other against the backdrop of the Secret Service agents and the Bush home in the near distance.  Then, we all marched back into Kennebunkport.

The kids and I carried a sign they made that said something to the effect of "Support Our Troops.  End an Unjust War".  (I've always made an effort to keep my kids informed about current events.)  One of the highlights was seeing a couple of anal-retentive, far right, Republicans from our old town watching the marchers from the lawn of the Colony Hotel (no doubt telling their kids about the evil, far left, socially liberal, Democratic hippies marching by, LOL).

No doubt the kids and I now have C.I.A. files.    

[TheOtherMe]

I protested the Viet Nam war back in the day.

Marched in protest of Iraq in London right after war started.  Parents were afraid of me flying to London because of 9/11.  I told them if my plane is going to be blown up, let it be on the way home.

Been to plenty of political rallys over the years.

[Deleted]

No.  I got caught in traffic in a major pro immigration rally in San Jose - around 100k marchers.

I riot like a white person - voting and giving money to my causes.

[Tennesseer]

May 2, 2013 21:28:37 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

No.  I got caught in traffic in a major pro immigration rally in San Jose - around 100k marchers.

I riot like a white person - voting and giving money to my causes.

White people do riot.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 2, 2013 21:28:37 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

No.  I got caught in traffic in a major pro immigration rally in San Jose - around 100k marchers.

I riot like a white person - voting and giving money to my causes.

  

[mmhmm]

May 2, 2013 16:53:14 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Anti-Vietnam war protests in Boston back in '69 and '70.  Over 100,000 Boston area students at a number of these rallies.    

Same, but in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

[Shooby]

   I went to some McCain/Palin rallies and got to hear Palin speaking.  Peeps can bash her all they want but she is a very dynamic speaker.  I also participated in one of the earliest Tea Parties in my area where we gathered at the town square with tea bags. 

[Bob Ross]

May 2, 2013 21:30:46 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 2, 2013 21:28:37 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

No.  I got caught in traffic in a major pro immigration rally in San Jose - around 100k marchers.

I riot like a white person - voting and giving money to my causes.

White people do riot.

Mostly after sports championship victories / losses.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

The protesters do at least have to stay across the street, but they are very vocal and not above grabbing your arm and waving a photo of a partial-birth abortion in your face while you go for your annual pap smear

They do that here too.  A problem is there is a back alley behind PP so what protestors would do is sneak around to throw rocks at the nurses coming into work.  My dad worked at the auto parts store next door, the guys would take turns escorting the staff to their cars.

[Tennesseer]

May 3, 2013 9:11:00 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

May 2, 2013 21:30:46 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

White people do riot.

Mostly after sports championship victories / losses.

May Day rallies and G8 and G20 summit meetings can always be counted on for a good old fashion white riot.

[wvugurl26]

I've never been to anything like that. And now if it involves politics/fundraisers that sort of thing, I'm prohibited from participating due to my job. I cannot run in a partisan election and on and on it goes. We get bombarded with emails when elections are coming up about what we can't do. I fall under tighter restrictions than other feds because I work for an inspector general.

[Deleted]

does being an officer on the other side count?

nothing happened...it was an uneventful protest (not even sure what the damn thing was about...maybe the IMF but that is strictly a guess), but i was in full riot gear with fiberglass shield and baton

and i was scared shitless during the the event...just hoping no one would get stupid

i was in national guard at time.....fulfilling my last few months after being active duty for 6+ years

one of many...but felt so alone on that line

3 hours later we were allowed to leave....it was a long 3 hours

[justme]

I went to a Tea Party rally. It was ridiculously boring, everyone being nice and getting along and listening to the speakers. The only crazy part were the handful of people protesting the rally, they were a bunch of wack-a-doodles.

[dannylion]

No political protests in the traditional sense.  I have joined other veterans and decent people forming a human wall between the Westboro Baptist loonies and a military funeral. 

[NoNamePerson]

May 2, 2013 21:23:40 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

May 2, 2013 16:45:15 GMT -5 milee said:

I used to participate in the abortion rights/anti-abortion protests around the local abortion clinic in the late '80s and early '90s.  I don't think many clinics do it any longer, but they used to have people that supported choice act as a human shield around the clinic to protect women who were seeking healthcare there.  Without the human shields, the anti-abortion protesters would physically block clinic entrance.  There are laws preventing that now, so the human shields aren't needed.

I also marched in the the Immigration March/Rally in Phoenix in '06.  100,000 people marching through the main streets of Phoenix... and my pasty white son and I appeared to be the only white people there.  I was surprised and saddened that none of the churches - Catholic, Protestant, Jewish - brought out their congregations to support what I viewed as a humanitarian cause.   


Edited to Add - In the first example, the pro-choice group was effective in keeping the clinic open and protecting women who were seeking services, even though the anti-abortion protesters were very active.  So, somewhat of a success.  In the second example, the immigration protests/rallies weren't effective then but may have helped build long-term momentum for some of the immigration reform that is now being discussed. 

As someone who took her friend to a clinic that was being protested, I will say THANK YOU!!!! It was horrible walking past those people and it still makes me sick to my stomach today when I think about it (almost 15 years later).

Same here. But this was 30 yrs ago when I took a friend to clinic. There weren't many protesters but the TV crews were there.

[Deleted]

No and probably never. I just don't care enough or passionate enough.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 3, 2013 19:05:18 GMT -5 dannylion said:

No political protests in the traditional sense.  I have joined other veterans and decent people forming a human wall between the Westboro Baptist loonies and a military funeral.