Traveling Show

draggle:

I’ve never lived in an area that hosts an Autism Speaks walk before.  I lived in Philadelphia for a time, but that was before Autism Speaks existed.  Point being, I’m very worried.  I want to protest, I have a lovely team with which to do so, and I’m scared to pieces.  A$ supporters are going to be hypocritically angry at me for involving my children should I choose to do so and really I don’t know how how I can not, and they are going to try to make my children think I don’t love them, and things could get very very ugly.

Help. 

I respectfully disagree with the response.  You have every other day to be polite.  It is the pragmatic approach to talking individuals away from the organization.  That is not the goal of a protest.  You are there to present a counterpoint to their narrative to your community.  It helps to be conspicuous.  Be dignified, but be seen and heard.  Your town is the target audience, not Autism Speaks.  The only message for them is that they are unwelcome. 

It looks worse than it is.  Last year, I was alone.  I made a ‘cure closed-mindedness’ shirt.  My placard called for rational discourse.  It had contact information.  I was still trying to talk to them as an organization then.  I saw soccer moms bare their teeth.  It was unnerving, but no one hurt me.  This year, I returned with two others.  They were somewhat better behaved, though we were quickly rousted by police.  Know whether there is a place you can be seen and still stand on public property.  Know local laws on protests.  Know whether you are willing to get arrested in advance.  Pass out ASAN flyers.  Print them early.  I did them the night before.  The cartridge was low.  The coloring was awkward.