Tactic : Maximising Sydney Sunday March Visibility

Be Seen: Spreading Out for Maximum Visibility

Protests are powerful, but they’re often confined to predetermined routes. Sometimes, these routes take us through quieter streets where fewer people can see us. Meanwhile, nearby streets are bustling with pedestrians and cars. To maximize public visibility, small groups can break off the main march route and engage directly with people in these high-traffic areas.

Example of public visibility during a march from Hyde Park. Amount of red and green dots represent the population density in that area

This tactic is inspired by all the imagery of tree roots: instead of sticking to one rigid path, we spread out to places where we’ll have the most impact.

The Idea

1. Find nearby streets with more people. For example, during a Sydney CBD march from Hyde Park, high-traffic streets like Pitt Street Mall or George Street are excellent branching points.

2. Be an individual or form small groups that split off at key points. These groups can carry flags, chant, or hold signs to represent the cause.

3. As you are walking away from the march you will be able to hear the chants and chant them on your own if you wish to increase the range of audibility of the protest.

4. Reconnect with the main protest later. Groups can rejoin the march or meet up at the final rally point. As an individual you walk a lot faster than the main march, do not worry you will be able to regroup.

Why It Works

• You reach more people by going where foot traffic is highest.
• People who hear distant chanting but don’t see the march will understand the message when they see you up close.
• Small actions, like walking with a flag or sign, can dramatically increase visibility with minimal effort.
• The people who watch the protest are not likely to be the people we are trying to reach. Everyone knows the protest is on and avoids it if they want to be in the city

A Real Example

I like to split off and walk alone with my flag on adjacent streets to the march, I hear people talk to each other, commonly I hear them ask about the inaudible noise of the protest, confused about what it is, then they see my flag and I hear them say , “Oh, it's a Palestine march”

It is always a clear reminder that even one visible symbol can make a huge difference.

I have never got in trouble for doing this outside on the streets, inside is a bit different, the local malls really hate flags for some reason.

How to Plan

If you’re organizing or participating in a march, keep this tactic in mind:

• You don't need anyone's permission, you can do this alone of your own accord. We don't need big numbers for it to work, a single person can stop huge numbers of public viewers from ignorign our march.
• Keep an eye out for the changes in civillian density over the route of the march
• Use tools like the [City of Sydney Walking Count Dashboard](https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/public-health-safety-programs/walking-counts) to find the busiest nearby streets.

A Final Thought

A protest doesn’t need to stay rigid like a concrete pole. Like tree roots, we grow where there are resources to thrive. By spreading out strategically, we ensure our message reaches the people who need to see it most.