Forms of Advocacy
Define "advocacy".
What is, the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal : the act or process of advocating (Merriam-Webster) Bonus points (50 each) available if you can provide types of advocacy.
A free resource that provides local news
Answers will vary. If needed:
News Stations include KCRA (Sacramento specific), Fox 40, ABC10, CBS, CapRadio, etc.
What other sources do you utilize to access information?
When people refuse to work, often picketing with signs, preventing or obstructing work flow of the employer.
What is a strike.
a quote or image that carries meaning and connects ideology for large groups of people beyond the physical.
Hashtags, posters, art pieces, memes, social media movements.
True or False: Communicating to at least one emergency contact is an important way to maintain your safety in advance of engaging in a protesting event
True, please take a moment to consider who you would select as an emergency contact (it shouldn't be another individual attending the same event). How will you contact them if a peaceful protest becomes violent or something unexpected happens at the event where you require their support? (50 pnts bonus)
What is voting.
Emergency Alerts in the form of calls, texts, and emails.
Sacramento Ready
How do you tell your representatives if you agree or disagree with their votes or their behavior on your behalf?
What is to make phonecalls, letters, tags on social media, etc. Answers may vary.
True or False, protesting can be direct or indirect (a person going to a protest/walkout/organizing an assembly of people, or could be a person providing space, food, shelter to others)
True, bonus point opportunity for listing additional ways to engage in protest not listed here (50pnts)
These protect your eyes from irritants.
What are, eye goggles or shatter resistant glasses.
An organized group of employees who join together to bargain collectively with employers for better wages, benefits, safer working conditions, and improved job security.
What is a union?
Government websites that provide information, resources, and are contactable by the public.
What is... Answers may vary.
Examples include, Sacramento County's Sacramento Ready: https://sacramentoready.saccounty.gov/#gsc.tab=0
USGS, https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/prepare
An event or gathering where people show up with signs, it may be stationary or there could be walking along a route. There may be speeches, chants, artwork, music, food, etc.
Protesting via marches and/or rallies
(Source: USC Bass Lab)
True or False? One must be an expert in politics or have a degree in political science to be able to contribute meaningfully in terms of advocacy, organization, or developing policy.
False. Being informed can support us all in effectively communicating while preventing harm, and there are certainly instances where an expert or a person who has put considerable effort towards their education in an area/topic has a valuable and necessary role... and there are many things that inform individuals, including life experience, different viewpoints that provide perspective, or the ability to zoom in/zoom out on an issue, etc. Each person here has both the right and the capacity to be involved in community and politics and each person may engage differently or to varying degrees.
Where will you be? How will you get there? Where do you intend to go in an emergency? What time do you intend to get back?
Recommended information to share with your emergency contact.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
True or False, knowing your audience means considering the way information is given to people based on their knowledge, demographics, interests, needs, etc.
True, can you provide any examples of when it's important to know your audience?
Social Media can be a means of staying informed of major events, even seeing things that traditional news outlets may under-report or deprioritize.
Somewhat true, and caution is important because misinformation is a business of its own. Bonus questions for 50 points each:
What are some strategies to verify information initially learned on social media?
What are signs to look for that demonstrate authenticity and journalistic standards?
a tactic of nonviolent civil disobedience. The demonstrators enter a business or a public place and remain seated until forcibly evicted or until their grievances are answered.
Sit-in. Other terms may be occupation or blockade.
(Source: USC Bass Lab)
Beyond the civic engagement of voting and protesting to make voices heard, this is a form of developing belonging, connecting on shared values/identities, and developing capacity to share informing and organize as groups of people
Community Building. This can be a direct or indirect method of civic engagement but is deeply necessary for the development of strong community based movements and advocacy for groups of people, few and many.
The following are all ways to what?
Stay hydrated and dress for the expected weather.
Bring any needed supplies including water, meds, and cash.
Fully charge your cell phone and bring a battery extender if possible.
Protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
Take supplies to protect from and safely remove chemical irritants (face covering, milk of magnesia, towelettes).
Know emergency contact numbers written on your body or paper (don’t rely on your phone).
What is, to be prepared to attend a protesting event.
(Source: Human Rights Campaign)
This protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest.
The First Amendment.
"Police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights" which is why it is important to know your rights
(Source: ACLU)
The following are all examples of what?
American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU), HRC(Human Rights Campaign), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP), National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, etc.
What are, non-profit advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, and legal organizations which focus on public interest. There are many, many different ones which focus on different areas and operate with various styles and direct or indirect impacts.
When students or workers perform leaving their school/work early in protest to an issue
What is to walk-out, may also be called a strike or grouped in with a strike in many employment spaces.
(Source: USC Bass Lab)
This is a group of people who may attend a protest of an opposing viewpoint/political goal to express their thoughts/feelings. (Please use nice words).
What are counterprotesters.
"They also have free speech rights. Police must treat protesters and counterprotesters equally. Police are permitted to keep antagonistic groups separated but should allow them to be within sight and sound of one another."(Source: ACLU)
Why is important to prepare for all possible situations when attending a peaceful, familiarly organized protest?
Sometimes groups, whether they agree in ideology or not, will attend events with the intention of increasing agitation and urgency of the crowd and force action either by police or civilians (all of us) so it is important to be prepared for what that could look like, even though a majority of protests are peaceful/non-violent (Source: ACLED 2020)
Additionally, any large gatherings can be an opportunity for people(s) to do harm, so it is important to remain vigilant to danger, in the same ways that we may do that when attending a concert or a large block party.