Make Normal Normal Again

 Yesterday's protest has resulted in mixed feelings. The turnout was great for all 16 protests across the UK and it's always good to get out, mix with like-minded people and fill the streets. On the other hand the route was quite empty of observers, probably due to it being agreed with the police beforehand, and the energy was lower. I think that there were multiple reasons for the overall dampened spirits. One is the division between organisers who possibly all want to be the one person in charge and take credit. Another is the division within the cause - people campaigning about child trafficking and other causes that, despite being important, aren't to do with lockdown. They may well be linked to the same figures who are profiting from lockdown, but the lack of focus definitely dilutes the impact we could be having. Finally, another reason is the frustration and exhaustion that is coming from having so many protests so close together with no coverage and less reaction from observers every time. This is why I feel that our efforts need to be refocused to a local level, where we can consistently plant the seeds of a simple message: let go of your fear of Covid, let go of your fear of being punished by the government. The bigger and more dramatic actions can be shrugged off as a one-off event or presented as a threat, a dangerous  act. But pamphlets and stickers spotted daily around the town centre or a weekly group of people meeting in the park who don't seem to be getting ill are sustainable actions that are much harder to ignore. 

A Stand In The Park is a great example of sustainable campaigning. I enjoy watching passers-by as they notice us hugging and smiling and laughing. I almost always discern curiosity and hesitancy, as if they are unsure whether we're "supposed" to be doing that. Maybe they can't comprehend the idea of disobedience and think that they've missed an update. Sometimes they show jealousy, fear, or (my personal favourite) righteous condemnation, but I believe that the hesitant and curious have the potential to connect with us and even listen. A member of our Stand had a brilliant idea to set up a table or booth with leaflets and an incentive such as free coffee, which is a great way for us to encourage others to take up the peaceful passive resistance. They may not be bold enough to go to a protest, but we could persuade them to take their mask off in the next shop they go to, just once and see how they feel.

The resistance will gain more support by helping people to re-normalise normal behaviour. Make faces normal again, remind people that it's normal to accept a small amount of risk in return for living life and that it's normal to be in control of the amount of risk that you personally take. I very often hear talk about "waking people up" but shouting at them in masses is only going to make them hide under the covers. Let's quietly open the curtains and show them the sunshine instead. Protests are for making our voices heard, and spreading information to encourage civil disobedience is how we add voices to the protests. 

Protests are an important part of democracy. They demonstrate dissent, they get messages heard and they show the number of people who are united in resisting an injustice. They're also important for our mental health, because the feeling of unity and being assured that you are not alone in opposing the regime is absolutely critical to being able to continue. But when they become draining and frustrating, that's a sign we may be going the wrong way, marching too often and not effecting change at other levels. We mustn't stop protesting - that is the government's goal in ordering the BBC and other news channels not to cover it. The protests simply need to be refocused on our actual single cause, and spaced out enough for us to recover properly so that we can bring 100% every time and keep working locally in between. 

To anyone that was demoralised by yesterday's results or lack thereof, it's understandable. We are putting ourselves under a lot of pressure, taking responsibility for the future of the country and trying to do the right thing against a tidal wave of stupid. Take all the time you need to process the emotions from the demo. Take the overwhelming task of saving the world off your shoulders for tonight. Remember that we are together, and we have right on our side. 

"Our daughters' daughters will adore us, and they'll sing in grateful chorus" 

- Sister Suffragette, Mary Poppins.