Why Should I Show Up?
A guide for those who want to resist authoritarianism but wonder if protesting actually works.
Your Presence Matters More Than You Think
Every person in a crowd represents dozens more. Authoritarian regimes conduct internal polling and carefully monitor protest sizes because they know these numbers reflect much broader public sentiment.
When you show up, you're not just representing yourself — you're the visible tip of a much larger iceberg of opposition.
Movements Start Small and Grow
The Monday Demonstrations in East Germany began with just a few dozen people in Leipzig in 1989. Week after week, more people joined as they saw others willing to act. Within a couple of months, hundreds of thousands were marching, immediately contributing to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Change happens through accumulation, not single events. Keep persisting.
The Science of Success
Research shows nonviolent resistance campaigns succeed 53% of the time, compared to just 26% for violent campaigns. Even apparently “failed” movements actually achieve partial victories and set the stage for later success by shifting public opinion, building organizational capacity and creating precedents for future resistance.
We must continually demonstrate that opposition exists.
Breaking the Spiral of Silence
Authoritarian power relies on the appearance of inevitability and popular support. When people see others willing to act publicly, it becomes socially acceptable — even expected — to join in.
Your presence signals to others that they're not alone and resistance is possible.
Start Where You Are
Can't commit to every protest? Show up when you can and bring friends or family to make it social and sustainable. Join organizing groups to build lasting relationships and community.
Worried about safety or time? Find roles that work for your circumstances, whether that's shorter participation, support roles, or connecting with affinity groups within larger movements.
The Bottom Line
Showing up physically over time works because it creates visible proof that resistance is real, growing, and sustained. Each person who participates makes it easier for the next person to join. Each gathering builds the organizational skills and social connections needed for long-term change.
Your individual participation contributes to collective power that authoritarians take seriously — because they know that's how change actually happens.
The question isn't whether your single presence one time will topple a regime tomorrow. The question is whether you'll be part of building the sustained, visible opposition that creates the conditions for democratic change over time.
Ready to stand up for your community? Join the movement. Your voice is needed.