When engaging in struggle against powerful forces, documenting your own story gives you the power to mobilize supporters who would never have heard it otherwise. Whether you’re in a remote location or the mainstream media simply never shows up—or never tells your side of the story—sharing your own footage with the world can act as a strong deterrent against injustice while amplifying your group’s calls to action.
“Non-violence is a piece of theatre. You need an audience,” Arundhati Roy said in a 2011 interview with The Guardian. Nonviolent protests are only as powerful as the numbers of people who are watching them. They play a leading role in many campaigns and movements, but suffering or threats need to be heard and witnessed in order for change to occur.
Whether armed with an iPhone or a DSLR, film gives us a means of sharing our struggles with supporters across the nation or world. As we livestream an event or document an ongoing environmental injustice in our community, we connect with people who will speak up about human rights violations they may observe on video. By doing so, we cultivate a network of human rights witnesses. The power lies not just with the filmmaker, but with all the people whose emotions are stirred by the video, and who take action to join us or speak up on our behalf.
As testament to the power of film, in response to a 1,200% increase in ICE arrests at courthouses in 2017—including victims of human trafficking—the groups WITNESS, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), and Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) created a guide to documenting such incidents through film called “You Have the Right to Film ICE.”
“Horrifying videos like this one and this one, and stories shared through IDPs ICE watch Project have already helped lead to advocacy efforts like the ICE out of Courts campaign,” asserts the NYCLU. “Filming and sharing these stories helps us to track ICE tactics and trends, better understand how they’re operating, and channel that knowledge to protect ourselves and fight back.”
As the NYCLU notes, video documentation can provide factual evidence that informs a campaign, helps people understand an issue—or possibly even deter aggression toward an oppressed group.
That’s not to make film sound as though it can serve as a saving force in every case. Atrocities and injustices certainly happen in some cases despite the presence of a live-streamer or videographer. However, film can decrease the chances that such things will occur, while promoting a strong and timely response if they do. It’s also vital to strive to keep community members safe through other means as well, such as thoroughly appraising everyone of what is expected to occur at an event and having spokespeople to calmly explain the focus of the event to non-group members who may show up.
Ready to start making your own films or livestreaming events? You don’t have to do it perfectly to have a powerful effect. Grab your iPhone, and with the permission of those around you, get started. (Always ask if you can film people before doing so, or ensure the event coordinators make a broad public announcement letting people know in advance that filming will be taking place! Even if you legally have the right to film others in a public setting, building trust requires you to get consent, every time. Agreeing on guidelines such as these with your group will help keep everyone on the same page.)
Through the videos you share, you’re helping expand the network of human rights witnesses who are prepared to respond to your group’s calls to action. Keep it up, and be sure to share your knowledge with others!
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