This past fall, SFL and Bureaucrash teamed up to support student activism for liberty. Student protests are some of the most important forms of student activism since they are extremely visible, have high rewards for minimal costs, and are extremely fun. What’s more, student protests archetypically represent the collegiate experience. Unfortunately, most people automatically associate student protests with statism. These Student Protest resources are meant to empower students in a decentralized manner to hold protests for liberty and challenge statist voices on campus. For groups that want to take the fight against government growth to the streets, this is the program for them. This year SFL received 15 requests for grants and provided 7 grants.
The Protest Grant project includes a number of resources available for students interested in hosting protests on campus. Here are a few of them:
- A Student Protest Handbook with ideas for protests and a step by step guide for how to get the most out of an activism event;
- Bureaucrash Contraband – Bureaucrash’s famous T-shirts, stickers, and other materials to help students promote their event;
- Student Protest Grants of $100-$500 to help cover the cost of the protest. These grants can cover resources such as printed fliers, banners, posters and gimmicks like coffee beans and cigarettes.
Washington University-St. Louis
Free Trade Protest
The first Student Protest Grant was awarded to the Washington University-St. Louis Young Americans for Liberty to host a Fair Trade vs. Free Trade Coffee Taste Test. The group handed out free samples of coffee along with literature on the benefits of Free Trade and speeches against the supposed benefits of Fair Trade coffee on a campus where Free Trade coffee is banned.
- 200+ flyers distributed
- 60+ students participated in the taste test
- Many changed minds about “Fair Trade” from both students and faculty
Arizona State University
Tax Day “Mandatory Donations”
Arizona State University Students For Liberty received a protest grant to conduct a unique twist on tax day protests. The group dressed up as IRS agents and police officers to collect “mandatory donations” from unsuspecting students. They visited a block party in downtown Phoenix where the reaction was mixed. Many eyes were opened about the waste that tax dollars pay for, and Ross Kenyon, leader of the ASU Students For Liberty, conversed with students about being forced to pay for things with which they do not agree.
California State University, Berkeley
4/20 Rally & Brownie Sale
Students For Liberty at California State University in Berkeley teamed up with Students for a Sensible Drug Policy to protest the current War on Drugs. To protest three decades of failure and billions of dollars of wasted resources the students organized a rally that included student speakers about a variety of marijuana related topics, a brownie sale and live music. Despite a rainy day in California and local law enforcement continued harassment over 100 students participated in the protest.
George Mason University
4/20 Brownie Give-Away and Guest Speaker
The students of George Mason Liberty teamed up with the newly formed Students for a Sensible Drug Policy to protest the War on Drugs at their campus. They gave away free brownies to students in an effort to draw them into conversation and show solidarity in opposition to the War on Drugs. In addition to the free brownies Matt Welch, editor in chief of Reason Magazine, spoke to the students about the effects of America’s War on Drugs.
Drexel University
Tax Day Protest
Members of the Student Liberty Front at Drexel University protested tax day by handing out free t-shirts stating “Don’t Steal, the Government Hates Competition” as an incentive to answer a few quiz questions relating to taxation. This educational experience enlightened many students and professors to how little they know about taxation and the system used in the United States.
University of Michigan
“Burn the Ban”
In response to a proposed smoking ban at the University of Michigan the UM College Libertarians held a “Burn the Ban” event on campus. The students printed fake citations, purchased candy cigarettes with printed literature and created a large map of the areas affected by the ban. They also circulated a petition against the ban that gathered 570 signatures in just one day. Along with the event, a media campaign was launched that received preemptive cover from the Detroit Free Press. UM CL’s president published an open letter to UM’s President pointing out the administration’s goals of “promoting a culture of health” is absurd and dangerous to individual liberties and responsibility.
University of California, San Diego
“Smoke One for Freedom”
The University of California, San Diego administration imposed “smoking zones” on campus to restrict the freedoms of the students. In response the UCSD Young Americans for Liberty hosted an event called “Smoke One for Freedom”. The group passed out free cigarettes and handouts to students explaining why they should oppose the smoking ban. UCSD YAL Founder and SFL Executive Board member Ankur Chawla, a non-smoker, created a video where he talks about why he supports freedom to smoke on campus even though he does not smoke himself.
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