Organizer Mapping Your March Route

Why Map a Route?

Have you ever been at a protest that didn't seem to know where it was going? That didn't seem to have someone leading the March? Did that make you feel like there was a plan and purpose? Did you feel safe from cars, counter protesters, and police?

Establishing an official route will help keep your protest organized and it will help keep the energy of the protesters channeled. Your route helps you shape your message and maintain the safety of those marching. Leading a safe protest will build your credibility and encourage others to attend your future protests.

Having a root and march leaders not only keeps the confidence in the protesters following you. It helps make sure your protest doesn't get hijacked or distracted from it's vision. By someone else taking over who may not share the same goals or organization of your group.

You worked really hard to organize your protest. And having a plan for your march will help that hard work pay off in sending the message that matches your goals.

Making Your Protest Easy To Find

Have you ever been with a group moving around and had to use the restroom in the middle and had a hard time finding your group after? Have you ever been arriving late to a group on the move (like a bar hop) and had a hard time figuring where they were at?

It's not uncommon for people to be late to a protest or for people to hear about your protest and want to come later. It's also not uncommon for people to have to split off your group to use the bathroom or quickly grab food.

While designing your protest route take into consideration the need for it to be visible not just to the general public but those that want to participate but may not know where you are.

We can help those trying to join us with a some simple considerations when planning the route.

• Posting the march route in advance if one is planned
• Keeping the march on the biggest well known streets.
• Having chants so we can be heard from blocks away.
• Keeping our march in as straight of a line as possible

When needing to make a turn in your protest route consider making it a "U turn". Having the march loop around with a path 1 block away will make it easier for people that have to dip out fir a couple minutes to rejoin the march.

Local Laws of Street Vs Sidewalks

Some cities may have laws requiring that protests stay on sidewalks. While others may actually require marching in the street after our march reaches a certain number of people. Unfortunately several cities have made it not only illegal for a standing protest in the street but have even

Although our goal is to "fight the power" taking into account local laws can lower the chances of our protests ending in arrest or police violence.

Checking your local laws on when and where your protest would need to be in the street can help keep coverage of our protests focused on the message we want to send. Instead of having coverage drawn from our message by police violence.