Demonstrations

A ‘demonstration’ describes various ways in which individuals and groups publicly demonstrate their opposition to a policy or a (perceived) injustice. A demonstration is non-violent. It is certainly true that demonstrations can become violent, and for a variety of reasons, but by definition, a demonstration is a legitimate, legal and peaceful form of campaigning.

Demonstrations can include:

• Pickets
• Marches and parades
• Sit-ins
• Rallies

While some stunts may take the form of demonstration, by definition they are quite different, and so are looked at separately.

They can sometimes be spontaneous (see SOCPA for some the legal implications) but are often planned a long term in advance. They may be focused on a single issue, as per the Anti-Iraq War demonstration in London in March 2003.

Or demonstrations can be made up of potentially disparate groups, voicing their campaign messages on a range of issues. Such demonstrations are often timed to coincide with important political events, anniversaries or visits from key policymakers. This is the case with the G20 demonstrations in London in April 2009:

As discussed in Protest and the law there are a range of potential legal and policing restrictions on demonstrations.

Considerations if you planning a demonstration

There are a number of considerations that you need to make before planning a demonstration:

• Fundamentally, why a demo? While legal, demos are by their nature provocative and unpredictable. Is part of your campaign strategy to actually be provocative?!
• What impact are you seeking? Is a demo the best way to achieve that impact? (Demos, while highly visible and often attractive to the media, often do not actually achieve their goal. The Anti-Iraq war demonstration, cited above, for example was the single biggest demonstration that has ever taken place in the UK, but did not change the UK Government’s policy on the issue).
• Following on from this could a demonstration be counter-productive in terms of influencing your target(s)? (If, for example, through part of your campaign strategy you have already got your local MP on side, it might alienate him or her if you then also hold a demo outside the Town Hall!)
• Do you have the resources (time, money, logistical know-how, a solid support base, publicity costs, insurance) to make it a viable proposition in the first place?
• How many existing and new supporters are likely to join your demo? (A low turnout to a demo could be worse than not having one at all)
• While no one can accurately predict if and how the media will cover your demo, is there a strong chance that the media will represent your campaign negatively?
• Is it quite possible or even likely that your demonstration is ‘hijacked’ by other groups who have their own agenda (which may considerably undermine the message or the peaceful nature of your demo)?
• Similarly, does your campaign have an opposing, countervailing group, who might organise a counter-demonstration?

There are no clear answers or solutions to any of these questions. But they are questions you should at least consider very carefully if you are thinking about planning a demo.

Case study

The Student Stop AIDS ‘Patent Pool Party Campaign’ aims to ask pharmaceutical companies to join up and put their patents into a pool so that drugs for HIV/AIDS can be cheaper and more accessible, especially in poorer countries where the virus is prevalent.

Here is a video of a day of action which showcases a number of demonstrations which happened mainly in one day, the main event being a ‘flash mob’ on Oxford Street in London. Later in the day many of the demonstrators met up with their MPs to ask for their backing on the ‘Patent Pool Party’.

So a day of action can incorporate different activities and if filmed and photographed, like in this case, it can be a great way to build up a varied library of images.