Affinity Group
From English 194 Wiki Site
Affinity groups consist of small teams of people (usually between 5 to 15) who join together to participate in some kind of activism or social protest because they share the same beliefs and ideas. Oftentimes during a rally individuals will unite to protest in order to make their voices heard in a more effective manner. Affinity groups help individuals feel more comfortable and more assertive-- the idea of working together for the same goal is usually more appealing than protesting alone.
Affinity groups are sometimes part of a larger collection or organization. For the production large scale rallies, organization members usually hold meetings prior to the event to set the framework and inform people of how to act and respond. The group then decides split off into several smaller parties in order to protest in multiple areas. This not only helps to structure the rally, it also creates a form of solidarity among the group members, and it reduces the chances of being split up by opposing forces.
Affinity groups usually participate in non-violent protesting. As for the guidelines or structuring within a group, the members usually have an open consensus and delegate positions in a considerate manner.
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Tiffany Kimoto 14:36, 2 May 2006 (Pacific Daylight Time)
