20 Creative Civil Dissent Ideas

Protests are the tip of the dissent iceberg. Discover 21 creative forms of civil resistance.

Nonviolent action has the ability to topple regimes; however, successful movements are diverse. They are not only phone calls and demonstrations: they are also targeted, creative forms of dissent.

In this publication, you will discover 20 ideas for civil dissent. I hope they will inspire you and your organization. Amnesty International also has a list worthy of a read.

Things to Consider

1. Permits | Several of these ideas may require permits. Enquire with your local municipalities.

2. Safety | Think through safety concerns and create a plan. Have medics on stand-by and volunteers trained in de-escalation.

3. Know the Law | Depending on where these ideas are staged, police may have the right to ask you to vacate the premises. If your group elects to engage in civil disobedience, be sure to inform the participants of their rights and the risks ahead of time. Take appropriate precautions.

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20 IDEAS FOR CIVIL DISSENT

Insurance Boycotts

In November and December millions of people will chose new health insurance plans through the ACA and managed Medicaid plans. Approximately 72 million people are on managed Medicaid plans and 40 million people have insurance through the ACA. Twenty million of ACA recipients select UHC, and UHC manages another 8 million members through Medicaid. UHC is one of the largest health insurance providers. They also have a history of denying claims for profit.

Collectively, a mass boycott of UHC could send a message and potentially tank their profits. All people would need to do is not select UHC or its companies, and instead, select another insurance provider for 2026. If you are interested in working with me to organize this, please contact me.

Empty Pots, Lunchboxes, or Plates

To illustrate the food shortages caused by the budget cuts, consider hosting an empty pot, lunchbox, or plate demonstration. Place hundreds or thousands of empty plates, lunch sacks, pots, etc. in lines in front of a capitol building or other public space.

A Wake

This one is inspired by Laughing Warrior Brigade. Host a wake to grieve the loss of rights, mourn democracy, or freedoms. A casket built of foam core, lists of rights in jeopardy, programs lost, or names can be read.

Silent Marches

In 1917, Fifth Avenue fell silent, save the sound of a beating drum. Thousands gathered to take a stand against racism. They marched carrying banners condemning violence and discrimination.

Silent marches can be powerful, especially when paired with a poignant message.

Silenced

For decades, protesters used tape and markers to send a powerful message. In 2020, a former marine stood in uniform outside of the Utah state capitol. His mouth was taped shut with the words, “I can’t breathe” written in black marker. In his hand he held a sign bearing the names of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

He was not the first. With the number of groups being silenced, this form of protest can deliver a powerful message. As you plan, consider ways people who cannot safely tape their mouth can participate.

Statue Art Installations

If your town has statues in public, consider creating temporary displays using signs or chalk. This idea comes from Laughing Warrior Brigade. Write messages in chalk around the art or place cardboard signs on statues. Highlight injustices or the cost of policy. Remove the signs after a period of time so as not to contribute to litter.

Price Tags

Our government has put a price on our lives or well-being. Consider printing and distributing price tags to be worn in a protest. The bounty promised to ICE workers could be displayed on the tag or the amount of money a health insurance profits year per enrollee. For example, in 2024, UHC netted 14 billion in profit from its 52 million members. That’s $269 per customer.

This form of protest can be used to take a stand against trafficking, mass deportation, or food assistance cuts.

This idea comes form this publication by Amnesty International.

Die-In

In the 1980s and 90s, AIDS activists hosted die-ins, a form of protest where demonstrators feign dead on public sidewalks or squares. In 2014, medical students gathered in 70 locations to protest police violence. Such protests send a powerful message, reminding the community that lives are at stake.

Today, local groups could coordinate a nationwide die-in to protest the slashes to medical care, the atrocities in GAZA, etc. Tombstones can be added or protesters can stand with banners bearing statistics. These can be combined with a flash mob (see below).

Candlelight Vigils

Candlelight vigils can be an opportunity to grieve or honor victims. It can also be a powerful visual. Consider purchasing hundreds of battery-operated tea lights to represent the people affected by healthcare cuts, the casualties in Gaza, or people disappeared by ICE. During the event, attendees can be cued to snuff out or turn off their candles.

Candles can also be set in lines on a path or in a field. Along the display, post signage sharing statistics or stories. By buying battery-operated candles, they can be used repeatedly.

Story Walks

My city hosts story walks. Throughout towns in shop windows or other places, families can read a story as they walk. The city posts oversized print-outs of pages from children’s books. This idea can be adapted to tell the stories of those who have suffered under this administration. It can be combined with a vigil as well.

Empty Shoes

Mass firings, budget cuts, and mass deportations have left a lot of empty shoes that need filled. In a public space, ask demonstrators to line up shoes. Note cards or signs can be placed with the shoes to highlight who might have filled those empty shoes or the roles which are not left unfilled.

In 2018, Avaaz placed 7000 pairs of shoes on the lawn of the Capitol building to represent the children who had lost their lives to gun violence.

Flash Mobs

Many of you have likely never heard of a flash mob. A flash mob is a preplanned performance that takes place in a public space. Groups often practice dances or songs, which they perform without notice in malls or squares. The audience are the unsuspecting passersby. Here’s an example: Les Miserables (a performance not a protest).

This is an excellent way to disrupt the status quo. With a group of a couple dozen or a hundred, you can meet in busy station or shopping mall, sing an anthem, read a poem, dance, or recite a speech. Here are a few examples: Rome, Stand with Ukraine, Myanmar, School Programs.

These can even be staged during public events and meetings.

Chalking Protest

Mark off squares in front of a public building, in a popular park, etc. and invite participants to chalk powerful messages, pictures, or art. This is a way for artists to create beautiful displays that highlight injustice. Here is an example:

Singing our Dissent

Singing can a powerful of protest. Crowds can sing dissent while marching or in front of state buildings. Audacity in Maine gathers on a regular basis to combine music with protest. Watch their videos to gain inspiration.

Projector Protests

With a projector, blank wall, and a well-planned slide, a handful of people can make a powerful statement. There is a lot of controversy around the legality of this form of protest and whether it’s protected by free speech. Learn more by watching this documentary.

Walk Outs

Walk-outs are a time-honored form of dissent. In 1968, 15,000 students walked out of their schools to protest education discrepancies. A year later, students walked out of schools in Colorado to demand bilingual classes among other demands. When paired with clear demands, walk outs can be a powerful form of civil disobedience.

Turning your Back

When school boards, superintendents, city council, or other governing bodies refuse to hear the public’s concerns, one option is to coordinate a group to stand and turn their back during a meeting. Standing, arms crossed, in silence can send a message and will likely dominate the nighttime news.

Wall of Shame/Lies

Radio Free Brooklyn and Phil Buehler coordinated to create two mural displaying the first the lies told by Donald Trump and second, the 1500 pardoned January 6 rioters. This idea can be adapted to tell stories or turn Trump’s own words against him. If a permanent display is not an option, demonstrators can print and hold quotes or tweets.

Not for Sale - Public Lands

Public lands and national forests are being threatened. To highlight this issue, groups can organize protests or sign postings. Demonstrators can carry real estate signs along the route leading to national parks busy holiday weekends. For sale posters can be hung around towns near these spaces.