The Role of Large-Scale Protests

Large protests remain one of the most visible and powerful tools in our movement. They demonstrate strength in numbers, capture media attention, and give participants a sense of unity and purpose. Large-scale events make it harder for the news media, the government, and the people to ignore what is happening. These large-scale events provide an opportunity to showcase the depth of community opposition to injustice and remind people they are part of something bigger. Yet, these events require a tremendous amount of effort. From obtaining permits (for those events that choose to do so) and coordinating logistics to ensuring safety and accessibility, every protest relies on countless hours of volunteer labor. All of this is done by individuals balancing activism with jobs, families, and personal commitments. That reality makes it all the more important to recognize that large protests, while critical, cannot stand alone. They must be part of a broader, layered strategy. Often, we receive the same question, “Why are there not large protests every single weekend?”

The Power of Smaller-Scale Actions

Smaller, localized actions, often referred to as “pop-ups,” are the backbone of sustained activism. They may involve only a handful of people or a few hundred, but they accomplish critical objectives:

Visibility Across Communities: Not everyone visits downtown areas or other urban locations regularly. Many people face challenges that prevent them from traveling into the heart of larger metropolitan areas, such as a lack of transportation or insufficient time. Taking the movement into suburbs, neighborhoods, and busy local intersections puts the message directly in front of people who otherwise may never encounter it.

Lower Barriers to Entry: Smaller actions are often less intimidating for first-time participants. Someone hesitant to attend a large protest may feel more comfortable joining a neighborhood demonstration or informational table.

Flexibility and Agility: These actions can be organized quickly to respond to urgent developments, ensuring the movement stays relevant and visible.

Community Ties: Local events help build personal connections among neighbors, strengthening trust and creating a network of engaged citizens ready to step up when larger mobilizations are needed.

Examples of small-scale, high-impact actions include:

• Standing with signs during rush hour at major suburban intersections.
• Organizing “honk for democracy” corners to engage passing drivers.
• Hosting small, informal neighborhood gatherings to share updates and distribute flyers.
• Tabling at farmers’ markets, community festivals, and local sports events.
• Coordinating door-to-door literature drops in targeted neighborhoods.
• Using art, street theater, or creative visuals to spark conversations in unexpected places.

Engaging Those Still in the Dark

One of the most significant challenges is reaching people who are not yet paying attention, or who feel disconnected, apathetic, or powerless. To grow the movement, we must make deliberate, consistent efforts to engage these individuals. There is a wide range of actions that can be taken to reach the public. Some strategies include:

Storytelling and Human Connection: Stories are powerful. More people are moved by stories than by statistics. Sharing personal experiences, whether at a small gathering, through a flyer, or on social media, helps others see the human impact of policies and decisions.

Meeting People Where They Are: Not everyone will come to us; we must go to them. That means showing up at community events, PTA meetings, union halls, neighborhood associations, or even casual spaces like coffee shops and libraries with literature and information.

Practical Entry Points: Many people are unsure of where to begin. It can be overwhelming for those who are just getting their feet wet in the movement and activism. Offering simple, low-commitment actions, such as signing a petition, attending a one-hour training session, or helping to distribute flyers, can get people involved without overwhelming them. In today’s online world, many people can participate from home if they are uncomfortable or unable to attend in person. To take a statement from a local union leader, “We do what we can, not what we can’t”. That was a powerful message: don’t worry about what you can’t do, focus on what you can do.

Education and Awareness Campaigns:

• Hosting public forums or teach-ins that explain issues in accessible terms.
• Creating easy-to-read fact sheets that break down the stakes clearly.
• Launching community workshops on civic engagement, protest safety, or voter protection

Offline Outreach

With social media platforms actively restricting event and information visibility, physical outreach is essential:

• Flyers, posters, and yard signs in high-traffic areas.
• Literature drops in neighborhoods.
• Community bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops, and churches.

Creating a Sustainable Movement and Preventing Burnout

A healthy movement is a sustainable one. Burnout is a constant threat, especially when the pace is fast and the stakes are high. We must normalize cycles of rest and emphasize that stepping back for self-care is not abandonment, but essential for longevity. Ways to help reduce burnout and keep things moving forward include:

• Rotating leadership and responsibilities to prevent overburdening a few individuals.
• Building strong support networks where volunteers check in on each other.
• Creating spaces of joy and community—potlucks, social events, and celebrations—to balance the intensity of activism with connection and renewal.
• Offering trainings that prepare new volunteers to step into leadership roles, preventing the same few from carrying the entire load.

Building Toward Meaningful Change

Large protests inspire and energize, but lasting change happens through sustained effort in multiple areas. We must go beyond rallies with ongoing efforts that go far beyond one-day rally events.

Grow Partnerships: Collaborate with established organizations like Respect MO Voters, KC WAC, SURJ KC, ACLU, Labor Unions, Do Something MO, AIRR, The Talk KC,  and many others. These groups have decades of experience and infrastructure that magnify our impact. These are the groups that have created, and will continue to create lasting change in our communities.

Focus on Policy: Channel energy into lobbying, signature drives, and public pressure campaigns to ensure the movement translates into legislative and structural change.

Mutual Aid and Community Building: Offering tangible support, whether food drives, legal aid, or childcare, strengthens community bonds and demonstrates the movement’s commitment to care as well as protest.

Training and Education: Regular workshops on organizing, digital security, public speaking, and grassroots advocacy equip more people with the skills to lead.

Six Key Strategies to Strengthen the Movement

There is so much to do, it is hard sometimes to figure out where to start or what path to take to move forward. To grow and strengthen this movement, here are six things we can focus on to make the movement strong and sustainable:

Expand Beyond the Large-Scale Events: Localize actions across suburbs and neighborhoods to reach more people.

Raise Awareness: Launch targeted efforts to educate and awaken those still uninvolved.

Increase Participation: Offer multiple entry points so anyone can take part, regardless of time or capacity.

Diversify Outreach: Break reliance on social media by “flooding the zone” offline with flyers, signs, and in-person contact.

Invest in Grassroots Organizations: Encourage people to volunteer with local groups that have the expertise and infrastructure to drive real change. These groups have worked tirelessly for years, even decades. They have the expertise, experience, and resources to drive real change. They have been doing it for a long time. Volunteering and supporting these local and state-level organizations is key.

Center Listening and Inclusion: Commit to listening to and working alongside a wide range of people and groups from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Prioritize elevating historically marginalized voices, ensuring they are not only heard but also shape the direction of our work. Building an inclusive movement rooted in mutual respect strengthens both trust and impact.

Lend Your Voice, Lend Your Time, Lend What You Can

This movement thrives because of ordinary people who have stood up and said, “I will do this. I will help.” Large protests are powerful symbols, but it is the countless smaller, everyday actions that keep momentum alive, spread awareness, and ultimately bring about meaningful change. By expanding our reach, engaging those still in the dark, protecting our energy, and strengthening grassroots networks, we can build a movement that is not only powerful but sustainable, resilient, and effective in shaping the future, a better future for EVERYONE.