Organizing a “Die-In”

For years, the left has spread the myth that they speak for Americans. They have done this with loud protests that catch the eye of the media. The perception is that they are a larger group in society than they really are. In fact, they make up only 18 to 20 percent of American society and are outnumbered in every single state in the union. What they have done well is use their willing accomplices in the media to get their word out.

It’s time to counteract their strategy by becoming loud, vocal and protesting in more creative ways ourselves. I’m no expert on these tactics, but I have studied hours of YouTube video to come up with this strategy.

Polls show 81% oppose the new standards for mammograms and Pap smears. Evidence suggests that these new standards will increase female mortality due to breast and cervical cancers. With early detection, both of these cancers have high survival rates.

So, taking a page from the Alinsky playbook, organizing a Die-In is a low-cost, effective strategy to put this issue to the forefront.

You Don’t Have to Have Hundreds Show Up

Most of the die-in’s organized by the left against big tobacco and other companies were just a loud handful of people, usually less than 20 persons, showing up and putting on a great show for the media.

Find a group of very vocal women to join you in this endeavor. This is a women’s health issue, and it is best protested by women. But don’t discount the supporting roles that men can play. The guys can use the bullhorns, run video, cover the “dead” with sheets, etc.

Find a High Profile Target

Pick out a well-known women’s health center in your area. For example, here in southeast Alabama, the best target is Southeast Alabama Medical Center which just opened a new, multi-million dollar state-of-the-art women’s health center. If you don’t have such a clinic nearby, consider using the local oncology, mammogram facility, etc.

Timing

The best time of day will be mid-morning when a lot of people are heading in and out of the clinic for appointments. Also, morning is typically a slow time of day for local news media. Camera crews have nothing to do and could be available for live shots. If you wait until afternoon, you may find news coverage sparse as they head out to cover local high school sporting events and other human interest stories.

Props

This is a visual event, so don’t underestimate the power of props. If you can get cardboard coffins, body bags, even just sheets to cover the dead, don’t discount the visual impact. The idea is to show that women will die from these policies. You have to be willing to offend some sensibilities of others. This has been the key to the left’s success. People are offended at the idea of big tobacco profiting while people die. Make the same point for this cause. People will be offended by government changing standards to save money while women die needlessly.

Fliers

Don’t miss out on the chance to let people take the message home. Please consider preparing fliers of statistics of women diagnosed early having higher survival rates. Include on the flier information for your local grassroots group, such as 912 project, etc.

Media

Don’t think the media magically will sense that you are putting on a protest. But walk a fine line between too much lead publicity. The idea is for the event to be a surprise to the clinic and its patrons. So, too much advance notice to media could lead to calls to the clinic asking for comment before you even get there. It may be best to simply show up and meet a block away, call the media, and then wait about 10 to 20 minutes and then proceed to the protest site.

Media will not always be available, but if you contact newspaper, TV, and radio, you should get someone there. Also be sure to have your own media crew there. This is where the guys can help out. They can video the event from a number of different angles. These videos can be sent to news outlets, including such ideas as UReport@foxnews.com. Be sure to have good quality video taken from tripods. Shaky video will be usually rejected as unwatchable. If all else fails, put the event on YouTube.

Civil Disobedience

This is where most conservatives get a bit squeamish, especially Christians. The Manhattan Declaration has made it clear we are free to engage in civil disobedience if it is in obedience to God’s will. I don’t believe God gave us the brains to come up with life-saving technology and then shelve it to save a few dollars. What you believe is up to you.

Here are some key points:

Don’t block the entrance to the clinic. People need to be able to come and go. But be in close proximity to the main entrance so that you can be seen and heard.

Don’t destroy private property under any circumstances. No spray painting, breaking windows or similar hooligan behavior can take place. This probably goes without saying, but I have no idea who is reading this.

If the police show up and order you from the premises, this is where it gets dicey. The left is often willing to get a minor arrest for trespass. So, they remain in their dead pose and force officers to physically carry them from the premises. This makes for great video, but an arrest record is not something most conservatives care for. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you agree in advance with the group. My recommendation is to comply with police orders. If you use video properly, get media attention lined up, you should have made your point before the police get there. You may keep the police from being summoned completely by explaining what you are doing to the director or other official of the facility and how it will benefit women and how you are drawing attention to this issue which is obviously of great importance to the facility, as well.

The Players

Each person has a role which should be carefully planned. There needs to be a leader/spokesperson. This person will use the bullhorn or their own voice to project the message that the new mammogram and Pap smear criteria will lead to later diagnoses of these serious diseases, and as a result, more women will die completely preventable deaths.

The “dead” can play a verbal role, too. Consider using statements like, “My name is Debbie. I’m 41 years old. Under these new rules, I won’t be able to get a mammogram until I’m 50. As a result, I may die.” Then lie down on the ground.

The “undertakers” also play a key role. By symbolically covering each person as they “die,” they drive home the point of the finality of death.

Dress casually, but nice. Jeans, etc., are preferable so that clothing does not get ruined by lying on the ground. If it’s cold, consider an extra layer under outer clothes. Concrete can be very cold. The idea is to appear dead, not shivering and miserable.

Good Luck

Like all live events, things can be very fluid. There may be interactions with by-standers, facility officials, and others that can change the flow of events. The key is to be good improvisers and roll with the flow.

I wish any of you who decide to undertake such a protest the best of luck. This is an important issue, and it does serve to highlight the flaws of government control of health care choices. And don’t limit this to women’s issues, too. You can use the die-in for senior health issues, disabled child health issues. The imagination is your only limitation.