Ideas for Direct Action

Taken from: The Methods of Nonviolent Action: Political Jiu-Jitsu at Work by Gene Sharp


Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion

Formal Statements
Public speeches
Letters of opposition/support
Declaration by organizations and institutions
Signed public statements
Declarations of indictment and intention
Group or mass petitions
Communications with a Wider Audience
Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
Banners, posters and displayed communications
Leaflets, pamphlets and books
Newspapers and journals
Records, radio and television
Skywriting and earthwriting
Group Representations
Deputations
Mock awards
Group lobbying
Picketing
Mock elections
Pressures on Individuals
“Haunting” officials
Taunting officials
Fraternization
Vigils
Symbolic Public Acts
Displays of flags and symbolic colors
Wearing of symbols
Prayer and worship
Delivering symbolic objects
Protest disrobings
Destruction of own property
Symbolic lights
Displays of portraits
Paint as protest
New signs and names
Symbolic sounds
Symbolic reclamations
Rude gestures
Drama and Music
Humorous skits and pranks
Performances of plays and music
Singing

Withdrawal and Renunciation
Walk outs
Silence
Renouncing honors
Turning one’s back
Processions
Marches
Parades
Religious processions
Pilgrimage
Motorcades
Honoring the Dead
Political mourning
Mock funerals
Demonstrative funerals
Homage at burial places
Public Assemblies
Assemblies of protest or support
Protest meetings
Camouflaged meetings of protest
Teach-ins



Economic Noncooperation
Action by Holders of Financial Resources
Withdrawal of bank deposits
Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments
Refusal to pay debts or interest
Severance of funds and credits
Revenue refusal
Refusal of government’s money
Action by Consumers
Consumers’ boycott
Nonconsumption of boycotted goods
Policy of austerity
Rent withholding
Refusal to rent
National consumers’ boycott
International consuemers’ boycott



Nonviolent Intervention
Psychological Intervention
Self exposure to the elements
Fast (moral pressure, hunger strike)
Reverse trial
Nonviolent harassment
Physical Intervention
Sit-in
Stand-in
Ride-in
Walk-in
Pray-in
Nonviolent obstruction
Social Intervention
Establishing new social patterns
Overloading of facilities
Stall-in
Speak-in
Guerrilla theater
Economic Intervention
Reverse strike
Stay-in strike
Nonviolent land seizure
Defiance of blockades
Preclusive purchasing
Dumping
Alternative markets/transportation/economic institutions
Political Intervention
Overloading of administrative system
Civil disobedience of “neutral” laws