PEACE Iowa
Peace Education and Action Center of Eastern Iowa
Promoting international peace through education, intercultural communication, public witness, citizen involvement, and personal choices
Click to download PDF (accessible)
Peaceful Protest Guidelines
Conduct and Participation:
- Follow protest leaders’ and peace marshals’ instructions.
- Ignore hecklers when marching. Stay peaceful and focused on your message (e.g., "ceasefire now").
- Remain calm at rallies or vigils, even when provoked. Don't let opponents divert the group's focus.
- Remember, your response represents Palestinians, peace activists, and Jews who support peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.
Use De-escalation Strategies:
- Avoid shouting at opponents; it causes defensiveness, escalation, and distraction.
- The public and media are listening.
- If safe, speak calmly and respectfully to those who disagree with you. Otherwise, ignore them or let someone else talk to them.
- If an opponent is willing to engage:
- Find common ground (e.g., acknowledging areas of agreement like the horror of the Holocaust).
- Share your personal reasons for supporting peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.
- Use personal stories and listen to theirs.
- Share just a few key facts.
- Thank them for the dialogue.
- Respect an opponent’s choice not to converse.

PEACE Iowa volunteers Georgiane and Nancy at our booth at the 2019 Iowa City Soul & Blues Fest.

The first visitors to name 3 countries on an unlabeled map of Africa at our booth at the 2019 Iowa City Soul & Blues Fest.