UN flag burn in Keene: What we've learned

[Dave Ridley]

Well I may have written that handbook-article on media relations, but all my experience in the past has been on the media side.  This month was the first media event I've ever organized, first time I've ever been on the PR side.   So it was interesting to take all that stuff I was preaching and try to practice it, see if it worked, etc. 

You can only get good at something by doing it, and we haven't done much doing.   But this seemed to work out well!

What went right:

1) Turnout was higher than expected, 22 people if you include the three reporters, the one stopping passerby and the two who sat and watched us from fifty feet away after we met them (maybe they were counterprotesters without a counterprotest)?

2) We got local publicity:  WKBK in Keene, WGIR (reaching most of southern NH), Manchester Union Leader and Keene Sentinel. 

3) All or most of these four media outlets reported on us in some form or fashion *before* the event, which helped the turnout.  I called the two radio stations and got on the air during their talk shows, WKBK's news department picked up on this and put it in their news segments for two days before the event.  Mike Lorrey submitted an LTE to the Union Leader that got published.   We also had announced this to most of the major NH-centric web forums.

4) Most of the Press coverage was relatively positive; some of it was *very* positive (Gardner Goldsmith's show on WGIR and Al Kulas's show on WKBK).  ) No one tried to portray us as nut cases.

5) We got national publicity in the form of a brief mention on Matt Drudge's radio show, three different discussions on Free Talk Live and a fairly massive discussion about us on FreeRepublic.com.  And apparently other publicity we don't know about, if the traffic on Kat's site is any indication.    The event led Drudge to specifically pontificate on the rebellious nature of New Hampshirites, saying "they don't want to be governed by anybody."  I'm guessing hundred of thousands of Americans heard this.

6) No one in the press tried to misrepresent this as a Free Stater event.

7) We got a chance to measure public reaction to this sort of thing. 

We brought a ton of traffic to the new NH Underground site (can someone post a link to it please?  I'm away from my Net connection as I write this...).  That activity has not stopped, the place is roaring to life!  That inspired the creation of a new web forum for organizing liberty activism inside NH.  The forum is already active ( can someone post a link to it too please?)

9) Even though we did this event in one of the most liberal towns in New Hampshire, even though it was admitedly a controversial thing to do...opposition was muted, almost token in nature. 

10) We were able to make new liberty contacts; I got lots of new e-mail and phone info for people I'd never even heard of before.   This was definitely not the same old Monadnock Porcupine crowd, these were almost all new faces to me but people who've been here for a long time and represent the heart and soul of the place.

11) Our ability to broadcast to freedom lovers around the state and mobilize seems to be sufficient, provided it is an issue that resonates.

12) The Keene and Manchester papers appear to be easy enough to work with.

13) The event generated a lot of activity on the RLCNH forum and the FSP forum.

What went wrong:

1) We created some divisions among libertarian types in NH as well as some divisions among those who haven't yet moved here but plan to. Lots of folks whose opinions I respect attacked the idea of doing this.

2) We didn't get a press release out to the local talks station I don't think; I just called them one day to announce it on the air.  This left them with a controversial piece of news to report but none of  "us" to call at first.  So WKBK, at least, ended up reporting the thing from the point of view of a group that opposed the event.   The opposition hadn't really done anything except stay in touch with the station, apparently.  However Russell corrected this the day before the event by giving them his contact info, and their news department did not take advantage of this.   Probably some bias there but not enough to act on.  Next time they do the bias thing maybe we complain to a superior or what not.

3) I accidentally invited a group that supports the UN - LOL.    Of course that may have helped since their attacks got us more publicity yet they never delivered on their promised counterprotest.   Also now we have a clear idea what kinds of protests they *would* support.   

4) We put too much accellerant on the first store-bought UN flag.  It went up in flames so fast I don't think anyone was able to get a good pic of it.  The second one we used less lighter fluid.

5) We didn't have a quick reference list in place for contacting national media.  After the event we had to do a lot of surfing to find the right national media outlets to contact.

6) The press didn't notice our open carried firearms and  Keene's paper reported that we didn't appear to be wearing any even though we had invited folks to do so.  Maybe next time we should make sure reporters have spotted the weapons (but for God's sake keep them safely holstered like we did this time!)

7) I'm sure this must have alienated *someone* out there in the undecided center....not much evidence of this yet but I would welcome anything you guys are hearing about public reaction to this.


What we've learned:

1) We've discovered that one of the best human resources for getting turnout is Howard Wilson of the NHLP  I believe three of the people there (besides him) heard about it from him.   So be sure to e-mail me next time any of you stage an event like this and I'll send him the announcement.

2)   We've learned that the press sometimes will Google your name; I'm guessing they googled Russell's because they knew things about him that he never mentioned to them.  In other words this is yet another reminder to play it straight with the media, they will check out what you say.

3) Obviously everyone wants the press to be accurate.  But we have to do our part in that area:  Don't complain to the press about something that is unsubstantiated.  If possible make sure you have a source for any claim or accusation you make in their presence or, if you don't....then present it as more of an inquirey  What worked well for

4) Expect the press to Google you, i.e. to look up your name on the Net. 


Anyway, it was fun to just test out our capabilities.  I kind of tend to think you get from point A to point B not by detailed planning but just by hopping in your car and driving there.  You learn what the mistakes are by making them.  There is no way to test out and improve our infrastructure than to just go out and do stuff....sometimes risky stuff like this.

For me the main goal of this thing was to make a point to the nation; let people know that  NH is still slightly wild and
very independent-minded.  As long as people continue to understand that we will continue to get immigrants who come here for the right reasons.  "America's America."

Our ability to get the word out nationally is much less developed than we might want it to be, and probably we can benefit in some way from the existing contacts that the Free Staters made over the years. 

Anyway, there's that old expression:  Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result each time.   We have to break the mold of history and do things that libertarians have not done much in the past.  Publicity stunts are something libertarian activists do *not* have a history of.  Perhaps there are other such things, but publicity stunts are the ones that interest me.  Maybe next time the event should be more positive, maybe more local.  Certainly it doesn't have to be a protest even. 

Questions I have:

Where did we get the first UN flag online?  They did a good job getting it to us fast...  And John can you tell us where you got the store-bought one so we can shop there again?

What do you guys think we should do differently at future events we're involved in?   What would you like to add to what I've said above?

[Kat Kanning]

Also from the burn, we've had people contact us and want to help with other liberty oriented projects in the Keene area.  And one woman from Keene joined the FSP as friend as a result of this publicity.

[Kat Kanning]

Oh yeah, this happened, too.  I'm sure it was because of our flag burning. 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=18&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_us/un_changes_at_top

[John]

Turns out that Army Barracks, Inc. has two stores in NH.  One in at 347 White Mtn. Hwy (Rt 16), in Conway (603-447-6323) and the other is at 316 S. Broadway (Rt 28) in Salem (603-893-4864).

Obviously if they carry that U.N. rag of a flag they carry lots of flags (they even had the blue rag in stock).

So they also have some very nice flags.  The N.H. state flag quickly comes to mind.  . . . and (I think) three different Don't Tread On Me flags.

Oh, and they're just 10 bucks.

[rothamerica]

I think that the U.N. flag burning was great.? I wish that I had known about it in advance.? My wife and I would have joined you there.? I think that a clear message was sent to those who think that the U.N. is such a great organization, or worse off, to those who are so ignorant about world politics that they just aren't up on what's happening, or could care less.? Those are the ones that will fall quickly when the World Police come knockin'.? There are many here in the state of NH who would love to get involved in matters such as this, and not just the FSP or Libertarians.? I've lived in NH for almost 30 years, and I'm ready to get out there and let the world know what "Live Free Or Die" is all about.

[Russell Kanning]

That is the dream of most of us that are part of the FSP. We want to help bring all of the freedom lovers in NH out of the woodwork and start pushing back tyranny.  We don't know what different forms it will take, but the freedom movement must happen. Our government and others have already gone too far. We dumped tea for less than this!

[BlueLu]

What went wrong:

1) We created some divisions among libertarian types in NH as well as some divisions among those who haven't yet moved here but plan to. Lots of folks whose opinions I respect attacked the idea of doing this.

I am very interested in hearing more about any real divisions that came from this.? I know I was one of the comentators saying that this was local political organizing, and that political organizing should fastidiously be kept off the FSP forums, but not that any new activists in Keene should shy from a good old fashioned protest in their city park.?

Has this really caused a split?? Especially after there were no shootouts (practically nobody even showed up with sidearms)?? And after it was such a mainstream success?

[Kat Kanning]

The divisions Dada was referring to were among porcupines in NH....I'd say specifically he was talking about Seth and I fighting.

[John]

I have mixed feelings about  . . . 
Anyway, I am sure glad that I was already a member . . . I was coming here regardless.  N.H. is now my home!   

I recall an old saying:
"If you don't like the news - go out and make some of your own."

Gridlock is for bureaucrats - not activists!

(Again, thanks for helping me off the bus.)

[SethCohn]

The divisions Dada was referring to were among porcupines in NH....I'd say specifically he was talking about Seth and I fighting.

Not sure I'd agree that Dada was speaking about you and me... (I can think of some others whom I felt were divided about this...)

But since you brought it up... Kat, here is a public attempt to patch things up.  I posted and then removed a post on the FSP forum in response to your attack on me.  If you want to discuss this offline, I'm open to it.  I'm not interesting in fighting with you, that serves nobody's cause.

[jcpliberty]

Well, I suppose now is the time to say that I now offer New Hampshire Flags, Gadsden Flags and Culpeper Minuteman Flags, 3 X 5 Feet for only $7. Goota love capitalism :-)

JCP

[Kat Kanning]

Would you like that on your Liberty Business page too? 

[jcpliberty]

Oh yeah... I forgot about that LOL

Jim

[John]

Hi Jim,
Welcome.  Great price.  I'll be buying from you.  No Ma. tax on items delivered to N.H. correct?

BTW, how much for the blue U.N. rag?  Those damned things sure don't last very long.  Seems they are very prone to catching fire.   

Hell, the one I sent to Keene was only used several times to clean the bottom of people's shoes - and the next thing you know - poof, its gone.

[Russell Kanning]

We forgot to burn a couple of our cotton flags last time. We will have to burn them at the next picnic.