The street march and the corner demonstration have a proud place in US history and in the history of social movements around the world. The abolitionist movement, the women’s suffrage movement, the labor movement, Gandhi’s anti-imperialist movement, the civil rights movement, and the movement against the Vietnam War all made good use of marches and demonstrations.
Today the tradition is alive and well, and Kids Right To Know is known for organizing peaceful, thematic fun marches for the protection of nature, bees, butterflies and the entire ecosystem across multicultural groups of all ages (families) and their children (not just activists).
When I started to speak up, and organized the very first Kids Right to Know March on the Streets of Toronto, my goal was to create awareness among families and children about the issue of unlabeled, untested, genetically engineered lab-made ingredients in our food. Since then I began receiving many letters from around the world, requesting information on how to start a Kids Right To Know March. So I have compiled a few ideas, the best I could, providing a general guideline on how to create your own march, in your own community.
Personally I love marching, it unites everyone’s passion for justice, a form of celebrating our hard work and finding out how the movement continues to expand. And we get to meet amazing passionate people. It is a moment when we stop to just talk about how we would like to see change, or use social media, or demonstrate the spirit of taking action to create the change we want to see in this world. It’s a moment in which our true spirit to create change and defend truth and democracy comes to life.
In solidarity,
Rachel Parent
Marching on the streets is one the most effective ways to show support for a cause, draw new people to that cause, and attract the attention of those in positions of power.
Organizing a Kids Right to Know March may sound like hard work, but it doesn’t have to be. Gather together two dozen of your friends, choose a theme, make some signs, come up with some chants, wear costumes according to your chosen theme, and you’re ready to March. All you have to do is hit the streets!
What is a March?
A march consists of a small or large group of people holding signs and shouting chants that express their need for change on a particular issue, walking as a group from one designated point to an agreed upon destination.
Kids Right to Know public marches are fun, theme customized, peaceful, and great for the whole family. They bring attention to issues affecting our health, our environment, and our democratic rights. The goals are to convey a message, gain public support, and get the attention of political leaders. A great example of this is theWomen’s March, which became a massive rally in many cities around the world.