Civil disobedience is the active and professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders, or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be called "civil". Hence, civil disobedience is sometimes equated with peaceful protests or nonviolent resistance.
"Acts of civil disobedience involve the premeditated breaking of a domestic law for reasons of conscience or because it is perceived to be the most effective way to raise awareness, express social or political dissent or to bring about change. For example, Rosa Parks’ organized resistance when being told to move to the back of the bus during the nascent stages of the Civil Rights Movement as a way to oppose racial segregation.
Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA): Actions that do not make use of physical force against an individual, do not cause others to fear the immediate use of violence, nor advocate violence or discrimination. NVDA is an umbrella term that includes civil disobedience as well as activities that do not infringe domestic law. It covers a spectrum of activities, from letter writing and collecting petition signatures, to rallies, demonstrations, and media stunts, and extending to higher risk activities such as banner drops, sit-ins and acts of civil disobedience.
Mass civil disobedience: Civil disobedience can sometimes involve large groups of people organizing for a common cause. Examples may include mass blockades of buildings or facilities, or mass refusal to comply with laws deemed to be in breach of human rights law and standards. When an organization is planning to engage in civil disobedience, it may be considered mass civil disobedience when it reaches a scale where the organization is unable to provide direct training and gain informed consent in writing from all participants."
Tap on photo for Civil Disobedience toolkit. We recommend you download, save and read. If you choose to do so please reach out to us afterwards.
ACCESSIBLE WAYS TO RESIST
If you can't protest, make signs.
If you can't make signs, donate.
If you can't donate, make leaflets.
If you can't make leaflets, share honest information and posts.
If you can't share online, talk to your family, friends and neighbors.
If you can't talk to your family, friends or neighbors, call your representative.
If you can't call your representative, email or write them.
If you can't boycott, support businesses that align with the movement within.
You can...
Show and offer support to organizers and protesters such as rides, water, food and safety, supplies, etc.
Educate yourselves on the mater at hand.
Create art, music or writing that spreads awareness. Share your talents. Offer emotional support to those involved.
Stay informed and get ready to act in any way that you can and know your limits. State your limits. Think about them and set those boundaries. Where can you help in the resistance?
ANYTIME ACTS OF RESISTANCE
Sign up to get immediate notifications about our local and state legislature on
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov
Call, email or send your reps a letter or postcard
Read the bills
Join mass zoom calls:
Trainings and Trainings to look for:
Deescalation Communication
Nonviolent Women’s tactics
Ways to healthily communicate with MAGA or Republicans
Where you can find Action Trainings calls:
Sign-up
Moveon.org Take Action
Indivisible.org Take Action
Women’s March Action Hub
https://www.youtube.com/womensmarch
Build the Resistance 50501 Movement
Feminist Generation’s Action Hub
Sign petitions
https://campaigns.moveon.org/petitions/
ACLU Action https://www.aclu.org/action
https://indivisible.org/take-action-now
Environmental Defense Fund
https://www.edf.org/take-action-current-opportunities
Deploy honest information
GOOD TROUBLE IDEAS
Good Trouble- Strategic Actions (Acts of Resistance)
“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” -John Lewis, politician and civil rights activist
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Stop spending money (only shop small and essentials)
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Use a projector to spread knowledge and awareness
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Hand out info cards and leaflets
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Hang up posters around your town
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Send postcards to our Reps and the White House
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Sidewalk chalk protesting
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Throw butterfly and bee flower seeds out in the random grassy places in town, no matter the size
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Stage a sit-in in the town hall
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Go and educate standing outside of your local church
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Waste ICE agents time if you see them
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Archive, download and save history
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Thrift history books
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Feeding our community and helping them save their waste
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Bartering, trading and paying what you can
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Host a banner drop
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Thrift a t-shirt and paint your protest sign on it and wear it
If you have any ideas to add to these lists, please email me!
Resist, resist, resist. Do not comply in advance. Be a brave safe space!
RALLY, MARCH AND PROTEST ACTIVITIES
Get involved.
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Banner to paint or write what matters most to you.
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Chalk protest signs on sidewalks
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Donation drives and fundraising efforts
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Write, call or email your representative
Intersection between non-violent direct action and civil disobedience.
Civil disobedience can involve breaking a law that is in contravention of international law or breaking a law that is consistent with international law.This is an important factor in state responses to civil disobedience.
Examples of Civil Disobedience:
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Not asking for permission before protests where governments impose an authorization regime.
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Protests during States of Emergencies
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Filming/recording government and/or law where it is prohibited
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Public displays of affection by queer or same sex couples is prohibited
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Dressing in a way that is prohibited
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Refusing to be drafted
Breaking a law that is in contravention of international Human Rights Law. Breaking a law that is consistent with international Human Rights Law.
Examples of Civil Disobedience:
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Blocking roads and traffic
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Sit-ins
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No paying for services (bus fares, taxes)
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Eco-vandalism
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Graffiti painting on public walls
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Tearing down a statue
Can fall under either category depending on context:
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Occupying land
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Refusing arrest and passive resistance to law enforcement during street protests
COMMITMENT TO NONVIOLENCE AND THE ORGANIZATION’S CORE VALUES
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Do not use or advocate violence, hatred, or discrimination.
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Be consistent with international human rights law and standards.
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Do not objectify or stereotype particular groups.
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Take into account the negative impacts that your actions might have on the rights of others (for example, blocking transport routes where this could cause significant harm to the livelihoods of marginalized groups or taking action that may undermine the cultural rights of others, such as by carrying out actions in cultural or religious sites without permission).
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When organizing or participating in acts of civil disobedience which plan to intentionally cause damage to property, consider the extent of the damage and whether it is reasonable and justified by the circumstances.
DANNY DON'T ACTIVIST AND PROTESTER'S TRAINING VIDEOS
APPS TO DOWNLOAD
Participate in democracy. Call your representatives and let them know what you expect them to do for you. It only takes 5 minutes with 5 Calls.
1. Pick an issue you care about.
2. Look up your reps.
3. Read the short script if you don't know what to say.
Signal
Communicate with your community and others safely.
Goods Unite Us
Spend your money where it matters.
Stop giving your money to those who do not need it and actively take your money to fund anti human rights organizations and are complicit in genocide.
A helping hand system is coming for all of us to collectively boycott all big business as much as we possibly can. I know we only have walmart but we can be capable of a new system within our communities.See more on our community page.
ICEBlock
Stay updated and inform others of ICE in your community and state.