In General…
Find your people, pick a location.
As you make your plans, collaborate as much as possible with authorities, police, management, etc. Be respectful of the facilities. Clean up when done. Work with media to get publicity.
And in this sometimes difficult and critical work, include opportunities for socializing and fun. Have meals, picnics, dances, volleyball games together. Have balloons and big bubble making time for the children. Sing songs.
[ consider incorporating Peace Literacy by studying the work of Paul K. Chappell which combines the wisdom of Gandhi, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., religious and non-religious leaders, military experts and philosophers. ]
Locations…
Schools
For each school, the students can work out their own time and location. Two possibilities are to pick a time during: lunch (12:12 pm suggested) or during a sports game, rally or performance.
Rallies & Town-hall Meetings – Ones you support or oppose
If the event is one you support, decide as many days beforehand as possible on an opportunity for when to initiate the Stand Up Hands Up action and spread the word.
To avoid interrupting your speakers, perhaps pick the time right after a certain speaker has finished or after a certain song has been sung.
Or the timing can be announced before the speeches start so everyone knows, but do it half way through to interject some excitement and let it be initiated by We-The-People in a Flash Mob like fashion.
If the rally or town-hall is organized by one your group opposes, you could pick a clock time. Or your group could take action as soon as someone you oppose begins to speak, thus interrupting them. Let your people know who that person is beforehand.
Sporting Events – with History to know
It used to be that NFL football teams were not on the field during the national anthem, it was after the song was done when the team would come running out onto the field – busting through a paper wall – to the roar of the crowd. But then the U.S. military started paying the NFL to have teams on the field during the national anthem.For any sport event, you could of course pick the time when the national anthem is finished. Or right after the end of a quarter, period, inning or after the first score. Be creative but also well organized.
And folks who want could take a knee during or at the end of the Moment of Silence if they’d also like to support that Non-white Lives Matter TOO.
Work Places
Find some co-workers who would be supportive and try to work with the management upfront to see if they’d also be supportive.Pick a time, perhaps during lunch when many folks are gathered, maybe at 12:12 PM.
Probably don’t interrupt meetings at work to avoid upsetting management unless they too are supportive and want to do that. It’s best to win hearts, and not unnecessarily anger potential supporters.
Marches by and for the 99%
For a march, a time could be picked for the middle of the march. For the 2014 NYC People’s Climate March it was Bill McKibben and 350.org that preplanned and promoted 12:58 PM. That’s when 500,000 of us stopped marching, put our hands in the air and went quiet for a couple minutes until a roar came rolling through the crowd.
Another method is to initiate the action when the front of the march reaches a certain destination.
Shopping Centers or Malls
Organize a team and try to collaborate with the management & security or police. And if that won’t work at least let them know your intentions are to be non-violent.Find supportive businesses there and develop positive relationships with the shopkeepers and employees. Ask if they’d like to endorse these actions and if so add their businesses to the info flyer.
Ask participants and observers to do business at the supportive establishments which are listed on the flyer, maybe businesses will give a discount when shown the flyer. If not, ask them to consider doing so.
Dine with security or a cop, management or someone who doesn’t look like you, maybe pay for their meal, buy an ice cream or a ride for their kids.
Talk face-to-face with – not at – each other. Listen to each other – more ears and heart – less mouth and head.
Encourage each other to brainstorm where and when actions could happen in our own lives.
Make sure to clean up when done.
Check with shops that are not yet supportive and encourage them (us, the 99%) to join in.
Action leaders can check in with management, security or police to debrief and modify plans for next time. Thank them for their collaboration when appropriate, or challenge them to be more supportive next time.
Then shop at supportive shops or catch a movie.