Wondering what some ideas in the theme of malicious compliance, chaotic good or even legal non-compliance for protesting?
Stuff like chaining yourselves to a tree or purposeful graffiti has been there in the past but I’m curious about yer experiences/stories.
I recall there were some issues with household waste collections and the folks, unfortunately, would stuff their rubbish into public bins. Was wondering why everyone couldn’t just dump their bags outside a politicians house who could have power to affect change.
There were some inspiring ones here: https://nonviolencenews.org/2025/01/03/top-10-creative-actions-in-2024-nonviolence-news-special-report/
Stuff like that… any ideas?
Join a party like PSL, and be ready for violence. Pacifism is handcuffing yourself and handing the gun to your captor. That’s not to say that protest should only be violent or adventurist in nature, of course, but we should prepare and be ready for revolution, and that starts by studying strategy and tactics, training in firearms, first-aid, logistics, etc, and organizing in working class parties.
Thank you, didn’t know about them.
I’m not advocating for pacifism but maybe something in a same vein as a viral satirist cartoon can be considered a protest. A public performance, coordinated with a vision, that doesn’t always slide into “looting and fighting”. As you say, we should be ready for it but it’s a last resort since the opponents want the protestors to you turn violent to discredit and ignore.
Easy examples like Boston Tea Party, Singing Revolution or Salt March.
I would love a month long general strike but would accept random mildly coordinated actions towards a greater purpose.
The biggest issue is that non-violent protest doesn’t really change anything. They can be useful for organizations to practice and develop logistics and mobilization, but not as a direct method of change. Lady Izdihar made a great graphic on the Leninist theory of revolution:
This is how we need to organize for actual change. Non-violent protest is helpful in practicing revolution, but not in achieving change itself.
Any things to spread awareness on issues and the reasons/persons/systems responsible? Together with actionable plans?
If it is efficient and ‘viral’ that would be the best non-violent thing
Makes sense, I guess I was looking for that viral factor.
Just these days it sounds like a regular protest, while fantastic for raising awareness and bringing people together, can easily get reported as “just another protest” and be dismissed easily.
From the replies here, feels like protesting is an act of life, not sporadic.
I always carry 2 items on me; a sharpie and pretty butterfly stickers.
Sharpie is kind of obvious. I use it to write phrases on places where people will see them. Just last night, I saw a “trump is a pedo” on an electric box, that one wasn’t me.
There were a few incidents of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other hateful stuff in my area. I saw a sticker on the back of a stop sign that said “reject woke nonsense”, so I bought pretty butterfly stickers to cover things like that. I try to cover that kind of hate with something beautiful.
🦋 reject 🦋 nonsense! 🦋
Precisely!
Being kind to people is the best nonviolent protest you can do.
I work with people who dislike me. I make them work at it. Like I don’t come up and give them a hug, but if I see someone isn’t feeling positive, I say hi, wish them a good day, etc. I believe when we spread malice, it spreads and it grows. I believe kindness can do the same, and more of us should put kindness out into the world. Help people. Let someone go ahead of you. Hold the door for someone. Stuff like that.
Good point!
Reminded Thoreau’s words something like “I’d rather become a good neighbor than a good subject”. Kindness radiates.
For real, I think this might be the core of my personal system of ethics and beliefs.
I always enjoy images projected onto the offenders buildings.
Was wondering why everyone couldn’t just dump their bags outside a politicians house who could have power to affect change.
Because that’s likely violating a number of city ordinances and possibly also several crimes.
I think a PETA-style human display would be a good idea right now, in the imagery of Pretti/the Last Jew in Vinnitsa.
Maybe not interesting or creative, but shopping locally and buying from small businesses helps.
This should be a way of life. I hate when we have to shop at big chain stores, but we can’t always afford to pay more for the same thing to buy it locally. When I used to eat out more, I’d almost never go to chains if I could help it, favouring local chains.
That’s a good point too, local restaurants or if you have to buy from big stores cooking at home. There’s a lot of ways to resist 💪
wheatpasting
That’s a wonderful addition to the vocabulary. Effective and biodegradable method used throughout the ages, dang. Thank you.
It’s got some good ➕➕ for propaganda:
- Can’t be peeled off like a sticker
- Can print at home, don’t need a print shop (it’s ordinary paper plus the wheatpaste)
- Quicker to throw up than graffiti; easier to wheatpaste 100 posters than write 100 graffiti
- It’ll be there longer than stickers
