Tabling Tactic #1/LandonClow

Landon Clow

5/15/14               

Tabling Tactic #1

Words: 437

 

The tabling event that was part of the March Forth on March Fourth was the first social movement experience. Minutes before arriving I was extremely nervous due to not knowing how the event would go. When I first arrived myself and one other group member helped set up the tables for the event. As the set up process continued I began to feel a sense of empowerment knowing that I had the ability to share important information about advocating for pre- trial expansion. Little did I know at the time that experiences from the tabling event would still have a positive affect my outlook on life.

            During the tabling I was able to have a one on one conversation with two people about why they felt so strongly in support of the C.A.P.E social cause. The first person I met was a young lady who said she had family members who had gone through the jail system and how negative the experience was on her whole family. Right after I finished speaking to her I could not help feel a since of pride that although C.A.P.E.  was created for a class, the group still resonated with people who have gone through a hard time because of the criminal justice system.

            The other individual I spoke to about the social movement was a young man who had some serious doubts about the importance of the social cause; it was during this conversation where I gained a strong emotional attachment to the social movement group. It marked the first time in which I had to argue in a constructive and positive manner for a social injustice that I truly believe in whole heartily. Once the conversation was over I had convinced the man to see the importance of the need for pretrial expansion.

            Although I was extremely pleased with the effort of involvement I had put forth, there were still a few things that looking back on I wish I had done a little differently. One mistake being that during the tabling event each group had to read their mission statement. Due to my fear of speaking to large groups of people I did not speak as loudly as needed and mumbled during some parts. The other mistake I made was I did not allow myself to sit back and enjoy the event as whole but rather came off as being serious throughout. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of my first social movement. It has inspired me to make an effort to get involved in events outside of class.