The Moral Monday protests organized by the NAACP in Raleigh have entered their fourth week, and despite rising arrest rates, they show no signs of slowing.
The protests have been successful in getting the attention of legislators and other state residents, but activists need to plan and employ a wide range of tactics if they hope to build a lasting movement or bring about real change in the policies of the General Assembly. They must also be wary of unintentionally harming their cause as they proceed with existing tactics.
Vocal protestors and direct civil disobedience are effective for drawing press coverage, but aggressive protests and arrests can be alienating to the uninformed public.
The protestors have so far remained sympathetic and have not let their passion for reform inadvertently tarnish their image. But this is an ongoing concern. It will become even more difficult if protests continue without obvious results.
Activists need to be committed, but they can’t let their anger get the better of them. The focus should always be on the issues — the harmful policies themselves.
The protestors should remain civil and rational to everyone they encounter, even the police officers who make the arrests. They should avoid actions which might give others license to demonize them or write them off as irrational radicals.
Focusing exclusively on the issues also keeps the movement from engaging too obviously with the rampant partisanship that defines the current political climate. The movement’s primary goal should be to appeal to the people and tell them why their concerns affect everyone in North Carolina. Party lines alone should not be enough to stop them from reaching any particular segment of the population.
Loud demonstrations in Raleigh will not be enough to fully achieve this goal. Press coverage will quickly fade if tactics begin to get old.
The N.C. Student Power Union plans to run weekend programs this summer to educate and equip potential activists throughout the state. This is a step in the right direction, but it’s just a start.
