Do local anti-war rallies make more sense than national ones?

[Armstead]

Full disclosure. I've participatred in a number of local anti-war rallies, but never gone to one of the big ones. So maybe I'm a little biased. I'm also not saying it's eitehr/or.

But it seems to me that instead of these big rallies, more energy ought to go into simultaneous local events to oppose the war. From where I live, the average person probably doesn't even know there's an anti-war demonstration going on in DC today....Sure, can blame it partly on Rita, but the complete blackout does prove that the anti-war movement really does have to find ways to bypass the media.

The MSM is never going to give the big national rallies full and fair coverage. There could be 3 million people in DC, and it might get a line or two mention, along with "equal time" to the 100 pro-war protestors. The MSM would also not talk to any of the articulate "mainstream" participants or show protestors unless they have a lime green mohawk or are yelling something stupid while tossing a trashcan.

Local rallies or marches, on the other hand, are inescapable. Everybody in town sees them.

More important, they also are better to draw a broad spectrum of participants, including people who see it and join or even honk their horns. Rather than the wild looking cretins the media seeks out as "representative" protestors to show, it's likely to be people's neighbors. It's harder to demonize your neighbors (unless you don't like them anyway).

[Poll_Blind]

1. I agree 100% I believe it permeates the community more fully...

...not when it happens x hundreds or thousands of miles away but in the city center. It is nice to meet folks from other states who believe the same things, though, but even then it's more useful to network at local events because you are likely to interact with those participants more regularly.

PB

[cloudythescribbler]

2. NO, major national rallies attract large numbers & get national press

They are also fora for a lot of events and effective political conferences for activists. Major national mobilizations often bring in people who don't otherwise demonstrate.

I say do both. Many who don't like the movement radicalism or militancy try to insist against national actions, but that is plain silly. I agree that ANSWER needs to have a role proportionate to its numbers (ie minor) in the leadership of the movement

[Armstead]

3. Both have value

And I'd also distinguish between national (regional) conferences or events.

But it just seems like from my experience, local rallies have more of as "bang for the buck" in terms of letting average people know there are others who share their opinions.

When I've taken part in local vigils that include a "Honk for Peace" banner, I've always been surprised by the diversity and enthusiasm of people who drive by and honk and give a thumbs up. Or the passers by who stop and talk and express agreement. They're the kind you wouldn;t see at a peace rally.

Seems more effective at generating momentum than when it being filtered through the media whore.s

[0007]

4. The whole world is watching the anti-war rallies in major

cities thought out the world. Everyone is watching except die hard jocks and freepers that can't face the truth.

[Armstead]

7. They can't watch it if they don't see it

I'm not pissed at the demonstrations. I'm pissed at the media who have acted like this didn't happen.

That's my point. We've got to find ways to do end runs around the media. Local can do that better.

[Kolesar]

5. The March 2003 rally in Washington was front page Cle Plain Dealer

They had a huge photo & it was above the fold. I think it was March

[Armstead]

6. I'll make a wager about tomorrow's front page

Rita: Damage Assessment

Page 3: Anti War Protests

"Several thousand demoinstraters for and against the war were in Washington..."

[Kolesar]

14. Pleasant surprise:Protest on p1 and a referral to Paul Hackett for Senate

...story down at the bottom. Both were below the fold and the protest story was rather weak.

Image: http://www.cleveland.com/frontpage/pdfs/sunday.pdf

[Armstead]

17. Well, that's a wager I'm glad to lose

I'm glad I was wrong on that one, and don;t mind eating crow when I make assumptions based on pessimism.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. They both have their place

and today they were competing with a national disaster

That said, it took years for the Nam era ones to really permeate the consciousness and fully be covered, am afraid it will take just as long this time

[Armstead]

10. 60,000 deaths later....I hope we don't have to wait that long this time

I agree both have their place.

But these jerkoffs in the media are a major obstacle.

[Telly Savalas]

15. Was it the protests that permeated the conciousness...

or footage of our youth being hauled off in bodybags?

[jim3775]

9. Working for anti-war democrat's election campaigns locally

is more important. Instead of organizing a protest, organize a meetup.

[Cleita]

11. I went to our local one.

There was about one hundred of us. We made a statement walking through downtown I'm sure. Since it was a small protest we focused on stopping the war and there weren't any others there making other kinds of statements like in the big rallys. Many of the workers in the stores came out and cheered and waved the peace sign to us. I think a lot of the shoppers were sort of stymied and just watched us.

One kid asked me if it was anti-war or anti-Bush. I told him the rally was anti-war, but I was anti-Bush. He said I shouldn't be. So I said if he liked Bush and his war so much, he should go enlist. He said he disagreed with the war but not Bush. I told him he couldn't like Bush and hate the war because Bush loves the war. He started it. This kid and his friends left, but later joined the march.

I met some new people and I'm glad I went. There was one poor lone freeper on the support the war side. This poor guy is apparently a veteran. He had a sign saying that he supported the troops and he supported the war against "terraists". God these people can't spell can they?

[madeline_con]

12. "...left, but later joined the march."

AWESOME!!

You made a difference! :yourock:

[Cleita]

13. You know I think I really did.

Maybe it's time to reach out and not be rude but chat with these kids if they have questions.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. Well, since neither of them seem to work...

...I'm not sure what either is intended to accomplish any more.

[Mutley]

18. I like having both.

Having small rallies all over the country help more people see the rally, but having big rallies can show that big numbers of people are against the war.

[cassiepriam]

19. All the protests are important. All are speaking truth to power. nt