The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution prohibits Congress from restricting the right of the people to assemble peacefully, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
This provision is a fundamental reason that, while America is not perfect, it is one of the few places in the world that explicitly provides for and embraces the concept that everyone has a right to challenge their government.
Protests in America have been the norm since we were founded and secured independence from Britain which was driven in large part to a failure by Britain’s leadership to provide a path for the colonists to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Notable and successful protests that made a difference in American society are beyond counting.
They include protests for women’s voting rights, for civil rights for Black Americans, and against military actions like the war in Southeast Asia. Historically, these protests are known as “grassroots” protests.
A hallmark of grassroots protests are groups of volunteers who are energized and mobilized by a shared commitment to addressing a grievance of deep concern to them. Their goals are to educate the public and generate public support for ideas on how to address that grievance. A perfect example of grassroots protests done right were recent protests organized and executed by a group of Mid-Shore volunteers. Their peaceful protests helped secure the release of Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal from detention by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Unfortunately, America is experiencing fewer grassroots protests and more astroturf protests.
Astroturf protests do not include volunteers who are energized and mobilized by a shared deep commitment to and sincere concern about a grievance. They include paid protestors who are energized and mobilized solely by a shared commitment to receiving payment for services rendered.
Their goals are to help create an often-false perception that there is significant public support for addressing the grievance for which they are being paid, either directly or indirectly, and often by limited transparency on exactly where funds are coming from to pay them.
Their carefully orchestrated protests are especially appealing to some in the national media, who feature reports on astroturf protests to attract readers and viewers and also promote a perception there is widespread public support for addressing astroturf protesters grievances and their proposed solution on how to do so.
A perfect example of astroturf protesting is now occurring in Washington D.C., which not coincidentally, is the center of the political universe for almost all the national media.
These astroturf protests are focused on the Trump administration’s decision to deploy military troops to help address crime in Washington D.C.
This decision is very contentious in large part because of conflicting and unresolved questions on the accuracy of past and current reports on the actual levels of serious crimes there.
In any event, these protests confirm the growing use and problems of astroturf protests.
Adam Swart is president of Crowds on Demand, a nationwide company that provides clients with hired actors to serve as paid protesters.
His business in Washington D.C. is booming.
In a recent interview, Swart said, “Right now, D.C. inquiries are up roughly 400 percent compared to the same period in 2024.”
Swart also said his company always sees a spike in requests during what he calls “high-stakes political moments.”
Most revealing is Swart’s candid acknowledgement that the “vast majority” of people at political or advocacy events in D.C. are in some way paid.
This affirms their actions are based more on what they are paid to say and do, rather than on an understanding of and commitment to addressing the protest’s stated grievance.
Such motivations were certainly not what was envisioned by America’s national leaders when they adopted the Bill of Rights as amendments to the U.S. constitution in 1791.
These amendments have served America well. Until now.
Comparable to the years before and during the War Between the States, our society is deeply divided, politically and socially.
Astroturf protests do nothing to help heal our divisions. In fact, they make them worse.
That said, our constitution allows for carefully scripted astroturf paid protest performances, even if the protesters are making a mockery of true grassroots protest principles.
Accordingly, the public, elected officials, and the national media must continuously exercise due diligence in evaluating the motivation and commitment of paid astroturf protesters performing in nothing more than political stunts.
At the same time, we must listen to and respect the grievances of legitimate volunteer grassroots protesters, even if we may disagree fully or partially with those grievances or how to address them.
David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant In Easton.
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