chat

I'll lay out some things I've learned, particularly in the last year or so, that are effective at these sorts of events. Be mindful that much of this is situational, so adapt accordingly. 

For starters, bring a table of some sort as well as something to provide other protesters. Water, coffee, snacks, etc. This will provide an opening for engagement. Also on the table, printed material. I suggest bringing material from your org despite your reluctance stated elsewhere. You never know who might be in attendance and you might find attendees who are more open minded than you think, especially considering current conditions. I helped set up and work with a local org that is anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist and works to build community and solidarity in the immediate area. Despite what others have said, not everyone is ready to dive in head first to socialist/communist ideas. This org acts as an entry point for those people as well as providing mutual aid and community defense programs. It's also a sort of pipeline into more theory heavy groups once they reach that level. I bring printed material from this org as well.

Your ice breakers stated elsewhere are good, but depending on the situation, might want to reeled back just a bit. I've had great success with "Trump is the symptom, capitalism is the disease" on signs. For MLK and Einstein, maybe print out a relevant quote and leave it at that. These libs often need to be handheld and this is a good way to ease them into things. While somewhat bothersome in my opinion, the terms Epstein class, pedo class, and billionaire class are effective for strengthening the idea of class consciousness. In reality it's all referencing the capitalist class, but you can get into that later.

I brought up whether you are known because this determines how deep into the theory you can effectively go without scaring off folks. I've been going around to local lib protests for the last year and have made a name for myself amongst many. They know what I'm about to some degree, and have become comrades in other endeavors. Many are ready and willing to help out with mass orgs, which opens the door to further radicalization like the other org I mentioned above.

If you have the willingness and ability, find a chant book and lead them in chants. If you have a megaphone, that's even better. There's hardly any leadership and organization at these things, in my experience. Fill that role.

I understand your frustration with the marches as you also stated. I'll keep my own opinions of PSL to myself, but the marches do serve a purpose as well. Aside from being a good way to raise awareness and educate with counter-propaganda, they are good places to network and meet like-minded people which will be crucial in the days ahead. I've met many at these and other events that have joined me in labor organizing and mass org work that have proven invaluable.

Good luck out there comrade.

A couple orgs will be there including PSL, but from comrades' stories from the last two of these they don't actually bring up Socialism during their speaking slots and talk about imperialism instead.

maybe because PSL is smarter than you at agitating

Idea, showing this to people I meet Saturday

I need to help break these peoples notions that America is in anyway good or redeemable. If folks have similar UN vote images from the Oba or Biden years that would help me make my case in anticipation of the "that's Trump's fault"

When my comrades talk at these lib-attended events we definitely talk socialism, but you don't just shout the word. Talk about the billionaire class and that their interests - especially this imperialist war - can never be resolved at ours.

But generally, more important than going with your list of talking points is going prepared to listen. Ask people why they're there and draw connections from the issues they raise through capitalism to other issues. Focus on the intractability of political solutions under the current political and economic system. Find the people who really want to do something and swap contact info with them.

What are your goals?

I just ask libs what they think the protest is accomplishing. Usually you get a variety of answers, all of which are obviously wrong. Then I ask them what their followup actions are. When they say they don't know, I ask the first question again.

This annoys them heavily but eventually it starts to click for some of them

Idea for an ice breaker: "What do MLK, Einstein, and Jesus have in common? They all supported Socialism."

"Trump is the symptom. Capitalism is the disease. Socialism is the cure."

"Why do you think Florida Republicans are so scared of you learning about Socialism and Communism? And why is it they never do the same thing for Nazi ideology?"

Anti-Imperialism is Anti-Capitalism with a socialist and internationalist character …. and imperialism is the primary contradiction in the world that every Communist and Socialist/socialist system faces. Anti-imperialism in the imperial core is also a fantastic gateway into socialism, as the class that are waging war on the periphery are also oppressing and exploiting the core. We can point to the injustices of the US military-finance-complex/its proxies and draw a direct line to the US ruling class/Wall St. The people of the world, including the US, will never find liberation without destroying US empire. So I don’t understand why you would think the conversations would be either/or.

The anti-imperialist movement in the imperial core is essential in maintaining the class character of the revolutionary movement, it serves as both a practical function and a litmus test- otherwise it can and will be coopted by opportunism and bourgeois politics. It is a signal to the people of authenticity and honesty in principle and its consistency will ultimately foment trust in true working class organization.

Your other comment that you don’t want to direct the masses of people to your own org tells me that you already understand your org will fail at emboldening the masses of people and that you do not believe the people will embrace your politics. If you want to get out of insular, academic circles and create an organ of power for the working class and oppressed- you should change your analysis and actions.

Your pessimism and short-sighted view that the PSL only leads to more toothless marches also leads me to believe that you 1) don’t understand what the PSL is doing tactically or strategically 2) don’t understand that these demonstrations are actually for the people- and are a method of mass communication that can spread consciousness and when well timed and thoughtful can elevate the agency of the masses of people 3) your politics is divorced from the material reality of US workers

Are you known amongst the attending crowd? This is an important factor on how focused your agitprop should be and on what.

I think it depends on where the person is in their leftist journey so far, so maybe a probing question to start with to find that out, or like bringing up something recent and seeing how they feel about that to judge where they are?

After that, idk. Definitely going to try to come back to this question though because it's a good one. All my points I can think of right now are about imperialism lately because it's in the news, but maybe something about AI? Everyone has been starting to acknowledge that it's pretty cool sometimes but there are parts of it that are hugely sucky, and it's hard to ignore when everyone is losing their jobs constantly lately with AI often being the excuse.

The pedophile ruling class is not gonna let you vote your way out of this one.