Student Ashley Holmes March 4 paper

Ashley Holmes

Social Movements

Professor Kubal

May 4 2014

March 4th March

          In my Social Movements course I was apart of the March on March 4th event. The event was a march for rights and different causes. I attended the march with my group members. The issue that has been a great concern for my group and I would be hunger. Hunger is not only an issue in third war countries but it is always a problem in America as well as other countries. What was important for us to bring the awareness of hunger particularly in Fresno. This is important to us because Fresno is our home and community is important to us. During the March 4th event we were able to promote and organize in different way. We used tactics such as marching and creating posters  to support our cause. We used the tactic of tabling and speaking to eager students and faculty who stopped at our table. Not only did we do that but we also passed out flyers that were informational to students and faculty. I think these tactics were really useful for us throughout the semester. 

          The first tactic that we tried was tabling. Our tabling was very successful because we had informational flyers for the public. My whole group was present and we all helped in explaining the goals and the mission of our group. Everyone was engaged in helping with answering questions and mingling with others on campus. I think that we were really able to capture the attention of the people around us. We also handed out fliers to the people who were interested in our cause as well as the people who were walking past our table. We also had signs on our table to catch the attention of the people walking past. Another tactic that we tried at the tabling was making our signs for the march. I noticed that making the signs caught the attention of a few people. It intrigued them to ask question and get involved.

          The fliers that we passed out to the people on campus had information such as statistics on hunger and local businesses that help with hunger. W choose to use the facts that would really gather the attention of people. We passed out fliers a few times throughout the semester to inform others of our cause as well as our organization Helping Hand For the Hungry. I think that we were able to achieve a lot of attention and awareness to hunger. I think that we remind People that if if they personally aren't struggling with this issue it still effects people in our community. I enjoyed helping making the posters and the fliers for the cause of hungry because I was glad to help. I think that bringing awareness to this issue is exactly what we need. Posting the fliers around our campus really brings awareness to what we are  trying to achieve. I think that people around campus will be informed of hunger in our community as well as in the world.  

         At the end of March 4 we completed the final tactic the march. I have never been apart of a march for rights so for me it was empowering and it was a great feeling to know that I did something to raise awareness to the issue. My groups members and I made huge signs and posters for the march. The posters that were created for our march were very similar to the fliers that we passed out for our event. They included statistics of hunger and lots of information. I do think that the march was successful because it was a lot of people who attracted attention. Everyone had signs for their particular cause and I believe that it was very successful. The event was very successful because others we able to promote for their causes as well. I think it is better that way because people are able to see the different issues that college students are worried about. I was also able to see other issues that my peers were interested in. In a protest the more people that you have involved the better for the cause.

        I was very excited and proud to be apart of an event where people were protesting for things that they believed in. I do think that the several tactics that we displayed were very informational to the public. I think that the march was a success. Next time I do think that there are some things that we can change about the marching process. I think that we should remember to have a chant together. If we have more time for organization I do believe that that would be very helpful. I enjoyed the idea of making the posters at the event but I do think that we can make more signs prior to the event. What I think worked for the event was the setup. The location of our event was in a good place in the quad of our campus where free speech is. I believe that free speech is the best place to hold a protest. If you can choose a good time when it is crowded and there are a lot of people out you can really spread awareness. Throughout the course I have learned that inviting friends and family to your causes and events you can represent your goal more clearly. Overall I do think that it was a successful event. My group and I were able to give information to help people with their foods and resources. In the future I will defense key be apart of protests and marching because I see what it does for the community and I enjoy being apart of the outcome.