I don’t understand how screwing up a bunch of people’s commute is supposed to win them over.
Lessons in Protesting (*excellent* opinon piece about lessons from Ferguson and more)
So, what are those lessons?
Don’t burn your audience. “Burn it down! Burn it all down!” This battle cry works fine when aimed away from the people you hope to win.
But when Ferguson protesters started burning businesses—or even just stopping traffic and interrupting an NFL game—they crossed a line. Those businesses, the highways, and the game weren’t just used by twelve hated jurors. Everyone was affected. Either literally or figuratively, the Ferguson protesters “burned” those they hoped to persuade.
Likewise, when Wisconsin teachers closed classes to march, they stopped affecting Scott Walker and started affecting families. This torched education itself. So, when they stormed the voting booths screaming, “Who’s with me?!” they came up short.
Be the good guys. I’ll never forget those enraged Wisconsin teachers. Same with Ferguson. For a protest to gain support, people must see it as building, not destroying, for many won’t follow petty wrath. People want to follow good guys.
As I expected, though, the people who most need this advice are the same people who are least likely to listen to it.