Protesting is not a strategy to change policy.
For a day it makes people feel engaged, empowered and involved in something bigger than themselves. Their views are re-affirmed by like-minded, passionate Americans committed to the same vision for our nation. But inevitably, after a few days, the press stops covering the event and the protesters go back to their daily lives. People likely just remember the most outrageous speeches rather than the meaningful reason behind the march itself.
Saturday’s Women’s March could easily become yesterday’s Occupy Movement in the blink of an eye. The powers that be in Washington will be implementing their agenda full steam ahead without a second thought about the thousands of people who showed up in communities across the country.
I spent 10 years as a state senator in Ohio. As a legislator, I was the target of advocacy efforts and in my younger years engaged in policy advocacy myself. From my experience, elected officials do not make decisions based on demonstrations outside of their office, change.org petitions, setting up a Facebook page, or sending a barrage of form letters. It takes more than these traditional tactics to create impact these days.
Democrats and progressives who participated in the Women’s March would be wise to identify tangible and creative ways to effect change beyond chanting catchy slogans and holding pithy signs. There is a lot at stake over the next four years and Americans are justified in their concern. Everything from the status of climate change policy to the future of healthcare access is on the line.
It’s tempting to try to engage on every important issue in the balance, but we must focus and employ a new approach if we have any chance to be heard. It’s easy to scream, but it’s hard to develop a thoughtful, coordinated and pragmatic approach to engage someone who does not agree with you. This hard work is what’s now required.
Here are some of my suggestions on how to make progress. These are based on my experience negotiating with Republican lawmakers to pass bills such as the rape kit backlog protocol and Medicaid reform, as well as what strategies I have seen that have worked to sway colleagues or change policy outcomes.
Talk to others that do not share your viewpoint. Don’t just talk at them either. Really try to seek out and engage others that hold opposing views. It’s the best way to understand where they are coming from, and to explain your views as well. You may find there is some common ground you can work together on.
Leave your echo chamber. Get out of your comfort zone on MSNBC and the Huffington Post. The same goes for those who only consume information from conservative news outlets. Vary the sources you learn from and keep an open mind. It’s a good way to understand what motivates those you disagree with.
Focus your efforts. As I mentioned before, it’s tempting to jump on every issue in the news. Resist the temptation. Focus your efforts on one or two policy areas or outcomes. You will earn the respect of your adversaries if you can demonstrate a genuine unwavering commitment and competency in a specific policy area.
Be specific with your ask/objective. I recently heard someone say their objective is to “ensure that misogyny and bigotry do not become normalized.” I agree with this statement, however, you must identify what tangible action you can take towards this goal. Maybe that means focusing efforts on the next Supreme Court nominee, or organizing advocacy training for Muslim-Americans to lobby against a possible Muslim registry to members of Congress.
Educate yourself about the tools available to affect change. There are many ways to make an impact, especially at the state and local level. Find out if your state has a process for recalling elected officials, or to repeal laws passed by the state legislature. In many states, people can pass or repeal laws through ballot initiatives, though it’s time-consuming and costly. You want your state to reverse defunding Planned Parenthood? See if they have a process to bring it to the ballot.
Tell your story. The most powerful way to be noticed by decision makers is by telling your own story. Did you take care of an ailing parent with Alzheimer’s and want paid family leave? Write a letter or testify in front of a committee while giving painstaking detail on how your life was altered without paid leave in place.
Know your audience. Not everyone is motivated by the same thing. Some may be touched by emotional stories that humanize policy, others just want a pitch focused on dollars and cents. Do your homework be prepared with the right pitch.
Write to your local newspaper or call into local talk radio. This is pretty self-explanatory. But, in an era of information overload, sometimes focusing on local media has a greater impact.
Run for office. Be the change in the world you want to see.
Capri Cafaro is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a former member of the Ohio State Senate, where she was the Senate minority leader. She is now an Executive in Residence at American University’s School of Public Affairs. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
