Effective protests have clear, unified messages. Recent protests in Arizona do not.
Stephen Richer
| opinion contributor
Hundreds protest the Trump administration at the Arizona Capitol
Arizona Sen. Analise Ortiz and Phoenix City Councilwoman Anna Hernandez speak to hundreds protesting the Trump administration at the Capitol on Feb. 17, 2025.
Dear Arizona protesters,
Congratulations on your strong showing on President’s Day — more than 1,000 people protested outside of the Arizona State Capitol, and you had companion protests throughout the Valley.
You and I probably don’t have the same politics. I’m a conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan, Bill Buckley and George Will. If I’m permitted a bit of deduction and — forgive me — a bit of stereotyping, I doubt that describes you.
But we do share a similar view of President Donald Trump. I’m not a fan, to say the least.
So, with that point of solidarity in mind, I hope you’ll receive the following laundry list as well-intended recommendations for future protests.
1. Never be violent
Academic research largely shows that violent protests are less effective at achieving their desired results.
The guys who hit police officers at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot are still unpopular, even with Republicans. As are the Black Lives Matters protesters who broke into business places.
Most of us intuitively grasp this. And, happily, you were largely successful, although there was a near miss outside the doors of the state Senate, and things got a little rowdy in Glendale, according to ABC 15.
Just don’t do it.
2. Define your message
I get that you don’t like President Trump. But beyond that, it was a little unclear.
According to Derek Staahl of Arizona’s Family News, you were protesting a “range of topics, including cuts to federal workers, mass deportations,” and local legislation.
Gabriella Bachara of 12 News reported that you were advocating for “justice” and “equity for all.”
And Fox 10 said the protests were about Elon Musk, DOGE and the abrupt termination of many federal workers.
That’s a lot.
Michigan State Professor Danielle Brown, who studies protests, says effective protests should have a “clear, unified message and concrete solutions.” Salome Nthenya Nzuki, who led of the successful #MyDressMyChoice movement in Kenya in 2014, teaches that “for a protest to be powerful, you must communicate clearly about why you are protesting and what changes you desire.”
What were you trying to clearly communicate? It can’t just be that you don’t like President Trump. That’s not actionable.
3. Ditch the Mexican flag
You’re proud of your Mexican heritage. That’s great. You should be.
But you’re playing right into the hands of your detractors.
Instead, invite your detractors to empathize with you by showing a point of commonality — that we are all American, and that we all love America.
You do that by carrying the stars and stripes.
Moreover, do you really think that carrying the Mexican flag is effective advocacy on the point of immigration? Majorities of both Republicans (80%) and Democrats (65%) “favor a ‘melting pot of cultures’ rather than immigrants maintaining distinct cultures in the U.S.”
That means that if you’re flying the Mexican flag, you’re likely going to make President Trump’s already popular immigration and border policies even more popular.
4. Appear inviting
According to multiple news reports, you now plan to protest outside the State Capitol every Monday.
You presumably want to increase the size of your protests.
That means you have to be inviting.
Your goal, as psychology professor Lauren Duncan stated, is to get the “silent majority on [your] side,” and the “majority of Americans … are politically moderate and … not typically convinced by extreme actions.”
So, don’t be a nuisance.
That means no lying down in traffic. No throwing paint on artwork.
After a 2023 spate of such protests in Britain, 78% of Britons said “this kind of protesting hinders, rather than helps a cause.” And even 61% of the protesters agreed.
It also means losing the creepy Antifa-like masks and black clothing that some of you were wearing. Bullhorns should be used sparingly. Guillotines should never be used (fake or real).
5. Palestine, what?
And speaking of not pushing people away, definitely lose the Palestinian flags that appeared in every newscast I watched.
Unless you’re on a college campus, the vast majority of Americans are supportive of Israel in the current conflict. That’s especially true during a week in which Hamas is slowly returning both the dead bodies of the people it abducted, and the live hostages they tortured for months.
Plus, as stated above, your protest can’t be about everything, and what the heck does the Palestinian flag have to do with fired federal workers, Elon Musk, deportations or executive orders?
I’m not the street protesting type, so I’m afraid you’ll never see me out there.
But by following the above five recommendations, you might be able to expand your movement and effect change.
As the kids say, FWIW (for what it’s worth).
Stephen Richer is a former Maricopa County recorder. He is now a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and CEO of Republic Affairs. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @stephen_richer.
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 23:02:00
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