Wondering what some ideas in the theme of malicious compliance, chaotic good or even legal non-compliance for protesting?
Stuff like chaining yourselves to a tree or purposeful graffiti has been there in the past but I’m curious about yer experiences/stories.
I recall there were some issues with household waste collections and the folks, unfortunately, would stuff their rubbish into public bins. Was wondering why everyone couldn’t just dump their bags outside a politicians house who could have power to affect change.
There were some inspiring ones here: https://nonviolencenews.org/2025/01/03/top-10-creative-actions-in-2024-nonviolence-news-special-report/
Stuff like that… any ideas?
Steal from businesses that exploit their workers.
I remember this incident being pretty funny:
Oof now that’s out of the box. Effective.
Where can one even get that many crickets? Asking for a friend. He makes bad jokes.
A group of Bus Drivers in Okayama did a fare strike; that is - continuing to run Bus Services whilst not taking any fares. Apparently it worked quite well - management felt the pressure whilst they faced no backlash from the public from Bus Service disruption.
Brilliant. Target the money without collateral damage to third parties
Shooting cops with guns.
Paintball guns? Water guns? Glue guns?
I don’t think any of those types of guns count as “non-violent”. None of the movements that have been the most effective have been strictly non-violent. You don’t have to be killing people at every action you do, but all the most effective movements have been willing to strategically use violence whenever the situation calls for it. Every strictly non-violent movement I’ve seen has simply been shooting themselves in the foot. When you’re shot at, shoot back, or you’re a coward obsessed with losing.
Is property damage considered violence?
I’ll allow it. As long as you punch up!
Please don’t punch property. You might hurt yourself!
But seriously, important point. I’ll never be upset that the downtrodden decided to put a brick thru a bank window but leave the immigrant couple with the small restaurant alone. All too often when folks are desperate enough to start fucking shit up, they just lash out against whatever’s close and it ends up being their own community they’re hurting.
Property damage is the name of the game. Part of why the ira was so successful is that they tried not to kill civilians. They’d put a bomb next to something expensive, tell the police to get everyone out of the area and then blow it up.
That’s the extreme example but you can do other things. Graffiti and breaking windows are super quick and easy and are real expensive to fix. Target damage to corporate buildings and private property, don’t be the dick that vandalises public transport
True story. Causing economic damage with large bombs in Britain while making good faith efforts to prevent civilian casualties was exactly what forced the British government back to the negotiating table and eventually led to the Good Friday accords
I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from people like Robby Roadsteamer and humor based protesting (pdx frog stuff). I have medical/financial issues preventing me from doing much on the street but I would definitely be doing thus style of protest if I could.
That is brilliant thank you. All it takes is one!
Join a party like PSL, and be ready for violence. Pacifism is handcuffing yourself and handing the gun to your captor. That’s not to say that protest should only be violent or adventurist in nature, of course, but we should prepare and be ready for revolution, and that starts by studying strategy and tactics, training in firearms, first-aid, logistics, etc, and organizing in working class parties.
Thank you, didn’t know about them.
I’m not advocating for pacifism but maybe something in a same vein as a viral satirist cartoon can be considered a protest. A public performance, coordinated with a vision, that doesn’t always slide into “looting and fighting”. As you say, we should be ready for it but it’s a last resort since the opponents want the protestors to you turn violent to discredit and ignore.
Easy examples like Boston Tea Party, Singing Revolution or Salt March.
I would love a month long general strike but would accept random mildly coordinated actions towards a greater purpose.
The biggest issue is that non-violent protest doesn’t really change anything. They can be useful for organizations to practice and develop logistics and mobilization, but not as a direct method of change. Lady Izdihar made a great graphic on the Leninist theory of revolution:
This is how we need to organize for actual change. Non-violent protest is helpful in practicing revolution, but not in achieving change itself.
I always carry 2 items on me; a sharpie and pretty butterfly stickers.
Sharpie is kind of obvious. I use it to write phrases on places where people will see them. Just last night, I saw a “trump is a pedo” on an electric box, that one wasn’t me.
There were a few incidents of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other hateful stuff in my area. I saw a sticker on the back of a stop sign that said “reject woke nonsense”, so I bought pretty butterfly stickers to cover things like that. I try to cover that kind of hate with something beautiful.
🦋 reject 🦋 nonsense! 🦋
Precisely!
Being kind to people is the best nonviolent protest you can do.
I work with people who dislike me. I make them work at it. Like I don’t come up and give them a hug, but if I see someone isn’t feeling positive, I say hi, wish them a good day, etc. I believe when we spread malice, it spreads and it grows. I believe kindness can do the same, and more of us should put kindness out into the world. Help people. Let someone go ahead of you. Hold the door for someone. Stuff like that.
Good point!
Reminded Thoreau’s words something like “I’d rather become a good neighbor than a good subject”. Kindness radiates.
For real, I think this might be the core of my personal system of ethics and beliefs.
I always enjoy images projected onto the offenders buildings.
Any things to spread awareness on issues and the reasons/persons/systems responsible? Together with actionable plans?
If it is efficient and ‘viral’ that would be the best non-violent thing
Makes sense, I guess I was looking for that viral factor.
Just these days it sounds like a regular protest, while fantastic for raising awareness and bringing people together, can easily get reported as “just another protest” and be dismissed easily.
From the replies here, feels like protesting is an act of life, not sporadic.
Maybe not interesting or creative, but shopping locally and buying from small businesses helps.
This should be a way of life. I hate when we have to shop at big chain stores, but we can’t always afford to pay more for the same thing to buy it locally. When I used to eat out more, I’d almost never go to chains if I could help it, favouring local chains.
That’s a good point too, local restaurants or if you have to buy from big stores cooking at home. There’s a lot of ways to resist 💪
Was wondering why everyone couldn’t just dump their bags outside a politicians house who could have power to affect change.
Because that’s likely violating a number of city ordinances and possibly also several crimes.
I think a PETA-style human display would be a good idea right now, in the imagery of Pretti/the Last Jew in Vinnitsa.
