Reading Micah White's The End of Protest

We know Micah White was the co-starter of Occupy. Now we know he saw the errors in the strategy used that resulted in no world change. Occupy simply followed the tried and true protest narrative and the fiction that if ENOUGH people were involved, governments would change. They didn't. Back to the drawing board.

What if protest went to Marshall McLuhan for advice? What if it mirrored his genius of spontaneity and brilliance? What if protest actually became a NEW MEDIUM? McLuhan tells us the New Medium's content is the Old Medium. The MESSAGE influence comes from the MEDIUM NOT the CONTENT. But in what form?

I see. NO FORM.

Without a template there can be no form to be replicated, learned by those being protested against. Like Christmas with all hidden packages and no leaktavists. Nothing to memorize, no posters to be designed, no T-Shirts to be assembly line manufactured AND SOLD ahead of time so everyone will be wearing the appropriate attire. Spontaneous, creative, AND FUN! 

IF YOU AREN'T HAVING FUN YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!

Few now still alive remember the glorious trial of the Chicago Seven. They made the legal and justice system of the United States Government in Judge Hoffman's courtroom the SPECTACLE it has always been. Each day was such a surprise Judge Hoffman looked as if he might die on the spot.

WE ALL LOVED IT!

Here's an account of it in the newspaper media style that is now joining the dinosaurs in great haste. But if you are interested in the way history was/is written it is an informative piece. But the circus atmosphere of the trial was a part of everyone's life and conversation at that time. Great merriment was had!

The content was the typical courtroom trial. But that wasn't the message. The MEDIUM of the courtroom was the Message; its complicity and corruption designed to comply with the demands of government prosecutors performing according to orders:

get a conviction.

None of them planned the conspiracy or the court performances.They played off each other in an unscripted performance that was joyous, hilarious, and dangerous. It was risky but it captured the imagination of activist sympathizers the world over. It still resonates.

IT CANNOT BE REPLICATED OR REPEATED.THE US JUSTICE SYSTEM BECAME THE LAUGHING STOCK THE WORLD OVER. THE REVERED US JUSTICE SYSTEM! 

ROTFL!!

Governments everywhere know how to stonewall it, punish it before it starts now.

In other words, as a form of protest, it no longer surprises. It was singular, unique and wondrous. 

A remarkable piece of theater.

So was Occupy.

To create a media event that is invisible until it happens. A bolt out of the blue sky - in a no contrail day.

This was 9-11. It was the Boston Marathon Bombing. The school shootings. There is no defense. 

Resistance is cultural and it must be nurtured, embraced as a sign from the future. 

Only an awareness of the possibility of the medium of protest can send them the message they need to receive and understand.

AND IT MUST BE NON-VIOLENT AND FUN.

If it is not then violence will be the consequence.