Summary
Are you wanting to protest? Don’t know how? Here’s a quick wee guide to protesting basics and how to find your protesting pals.
Are you wanting to protest? Don’t know how? Here’s a quick wee guide to protesting basics and how to find your protesting pals.
Don’t be a radge:
If there’s a counter protest, don’t aggravate them more than everyone else. Annoying your opposition is SO fun, but for your own safety, don’t be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Even if you’re fully confident that you can take on an angry mob, not everyone at your protest can. If not for your sake, for your fellow protester’s, don’t be the one to light the match.
Bag packing:
Not to sound like someone’s mum but you need lots of fluids. You’re going to be in a dense crowd of people for hours, and depending on the weather, you could get roasting. Please take a full water bottle with you.
In addition to that, bring scran. Extra, if possible, someone will definitely forget to bring some, and sharing is caring. This especially applies if you’re going to a protest with a crowdyou’re not familiar with, or if you’re going by yourself. Can you think of a time someone offered you food and you didn’t think they were friendly? Neither can I. Scran is love, scran is life.
You also definitely do need a sign. The first picket I went to, I didn’t bring a sign, because surely not everyone does that? Low and behold, everyone had a sign. So, I stood there, sign-less, and looked like a twat. Don’t be me. Bring a sign.
Bring friends! Another crucial mistake of mine, I showed up to my first picket alone, and it’s not fun. Bring your pals.
If you have no pals:
All been there girly. It takes time to find your people. Especially to find ‘your people’ who actually have good politics (as much as I care about politics, sometimes you have to accept that some people have never had to care, and most likely never will). Fortunately, Stirling really lives up to that old stereotype of students being lefties from animal rights to feminism, to climate change, to action for refugees, there is a cause that matters to everyone, and a place for likeminded people to discuss and protest for the causes they care about. Check online for Stirling Uni Societies, I guarantee there’s one you’ll want to try.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
4th year Politics and Journalism student.
Secretary for Brig
The Herald Student Press Awards Columnist Of The Year 2024 (which sorry i’m still not over)
