Towards Becoming a Photographer
I never intended to become a protest photographer. I rarely expressed artistic creativity in my youth. I was so focused on math and sciences, always seeking the inner beauty and surety of mental constructs...
Category: Activism
Since the 2016 election, I have become heavily involved in Trump protests and activism. Here are some of my stories.
Banner Making
An alternative to having a banner printed professionally is to make it yourselves. Plural intended, this is a group activity. Weed barrier fabric and white duct tape gives a home made quality,
Principles of Demonstrating
Rise and Resist is a direct action group that frequently exercises First Amendment rights by protesting in New York City. Here are our principles of non-violent demonstrating.
Printing for Activists
Graphics and the written word have been important to activism since time immemorial. Much surviving graffiti from the Roman era (yes, the Romans had graffiti artists) dealt with politics. As always, the Lesbian Avengers...
Anatomy of a Protest
We gathered together before the protest. Familiar faces, familiar roles. The planning had all been done in committee, but it was a familiar plan—put up a call on social media for a demo at...
Protest Marshal Training
Video of protest marshal training by Jamie Bauer. Useful for protesters as well as volunteer marshals, know what your rights are and what to expect. Jamie draws on their long experience, including ACT UP...
Identity
I called a friend who does not identify on the binary gender spectrum “she”, not “they”, and was rightfully called out for it. It was impolite, and politeness is important to me. That is...
Patricia and Me
A few months ago I was spending my Wednesday evening as usual at the action committee of Rise and Resist, the New York City direct action group which I have spent so much time...
198 Methods of Nonviolent Action
From Gene Sharp’s book Politics of Nonviolent Action by way of the Albert Einstein Institution. Sharp carefully catalogs protests into 198 methods of non-violent action. Remarkably little has changed – Twitter campaigns are an...
ACT UP Zap Action Teach-In Outline
ACT UP was (and still is) a tremendously successful direct action group formed in 1987 to effect change in the response to the AIDS epidemic. Many of its members are still activists, and are...
