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What
is a demonstration and what's the point?
What do you do on a demo?
March & rally
Simple, easy demo's
Mobile demo's
Top tips
Intro
All
types of demonstrations are important for the animals, whether you are one of
a thousand marching round a city centre or a single activist stickering and
leafleting... they all count, and they are all vital.
If
you want to go on any demo's like the ones mentioned here visit the SARC site
to find your local group. If we don't cover your area, please contact us and
we will try and find your nearest group
or give you some tips to get started.
What is a demonstration
and whats the point?
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A
demo can be a visual public display to show that a group of people are for or
against a certain issue. It can highlight issues to the public and is also a
good way to get the media attention for your issue.
A demo can also be a means of putting pressure on either the government, or
the company you are targeting because it draws unwanted attention on them and
can cause them some embarrasment!
Often just one simple demo outside a shop selling fur can be enough to make
them stop.
What
do you do on a demo..?
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You can hand out leaflets, make lots of noise, display posters, shout through a megaphone... there are all different kinds of demo's, and they will each be different!
March
& rally
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A
few times a year there are large national animal rights demonstrations at different
locations around the country. Transport is often arranged by local groups to
help people get there. Generally this type of event will usually involve a meeting
point where there will be stalls and food, which is a good chance to stock up
on leaflets and find out about different campaigns. Then sometimes there will
be speaches which is followed by a big march around the town/city. There will
be lots of banners and posters on display, lots of airhorns, musical instruments
going off, people handing leaflets to the public and people calling through
a megaphone.
The purpose of this kind of demonstration is to raise public awareness by bringing the town/city to a halt and showing the mass opposition to a particular issue. It usually attracts lots of media attention too, bringing the issue to the whole nation.
Simple,
easy demo's
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So, a shop near you is selling fur... you are sick of KFC cruelty... and you want to do something about it? It is really easy to do an effective small scale demo.
You
don't need an army, just get a friend to tag along, take a few posters or make
a diy banner from an old sheet and paint, take some leaflets to hand out to
the public, and off you go. If you can get lots of people together thats amazing
and you could form a picket line.
If you are braver you could enter your targets premises and ask to speak to
the manager to can explain why you are there. The manager may be unaware of
the issues you are raising and they may infact agree with you, so your demo
might not be needed after all. Lots of shops stop selling fur after a quick
chat and the threat of a demo!
You could also try making a petition and taking it along on your demo, you can
ask people to sign it and hand out leaflets, and when your demo has finished
you can give it to the manager to show the public support you have.
Mobile
demo's
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A mobile demo basically means packing in lots of hard hitting demo action all
in one day whilst on the move. You will need to plan ahead with a list of targets,
a map, a planned route, some posters/leaflets, something to make a noise and
your voices all at the ready to do some shouting!
The
idea is to turn up to your first demo, make lots of noise, and let that company
know you are there, and you are angry about what they are doing, you can blast
airhorns, shout loudly about the horrors you are protesting against and perhaps
try and speak to the manager about whats going on, just ask to see them at reception.
These demo's aren't about educating the public, but more about applying pressure
on a company to change their ways, and they have proved highly successful and
at the end of the day when you are targeting large multi-nationals, pressure
like this is more likely to have an effect than a petition.
Businesses
hate mobile demo's as they are largely un-policed, because by the time the police
turn up to ruin your demo, you are on your way to the second demo! Obviously
the police aren't a problem, as these are legal demos but they often side with
the enemy because its their job to protect big business, so they like putting
silly restrictions on demo's to put people off.
You can do this on a smaller scale, we have heard of people doing mobile demo's on foot, visiting lots of animal abuse industrys in one town on an afternoon.
Top Tips
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*
You can buy cheap sheets from charity shops to make banners, and cheap paint
from recycling centres.
* You can buy cool airhorns from Halfords or the SARCshop to make noisey, vibrant
demo's! Or you can pick up whistles from a sports shop.
* You can get free posters & leaflets from most animal rights groups.
* Laminate your posters to make them waterproof and tearproof. Most printers
offer these services, and if they are sympathetic to your cause they often give
discounts.
When
on your demo:
*Plan ahead, know where you are going and make sure you have maps if you need
them. Decide in advance whether this demo is about educating the public or putting
pressure on a company. Keep it effective!
*
Use your time wisely, don't sit around having a chat to your mates - put some
effort into it!
* Shout clear and with passion, think about why you are there!
* Be polite to the public, not everyone will agree with you - but don't get
into a fight over it.
* If any-one wants more information about your cause, but you don't have any
on you, note down their details so that you can send them some later.
* Know your rights! Demo's are your legal right, so don't let people tell you
otherwise. Just don't block any entrances, don't break anything, don't assault
anyone, and you'll be fine!
* Try and have a chat with the staff at the place you are holding your demo,
some may be sympathetic. (Well, unless you're outside a lab that is - but still
give them a leaflet and tell them where they are going wrong!)
* Be sure about who you are aiming your demo at, you don't want to be shouting
at members of the public instead of your demo target. Make sure your angst is
aimed in the right direction, but you are calm and polite if you are handing
out a leaflet or chatting to a supporter.
* Don't be alarmed if the police turn up on your demo, don't be scared or put
off. You are not breaking any laws so just carry on with your demo. If the police
ask for you name, they are just being nosey and you have no legal obligation
to tell them. Just tell them its none of their business and that you are there
to do a job and would appreciate it if they didn't interfere!
* If the police hear you swearing at people, you'll be in trouble so watch it,
and think about what you are saying!