Demar Tracey, Outlook Youth Writer

In this section, Outlook Youth ventures into the streets to ask persons about what they should or should never do when they are placed in some of the most common situations.

Scenario: "We want justice"! Thinking about demonstrating? Well, if your answer is yes, then may I suggest you don't begin with that? (It's annoying!) But if you really think that protesting is the only solution to your problems, then you:

SHOULD

Have a valid reason

Melanie, 20:

"Half of the persons that you see blocking roads and demanding 'justice' are just doing it because their friends or other members of the community are doing it, or say that they have to."

Do it peacefully

Delores, 21:

"It seems impossible for Jamaicans to protest peacefully, but it can be achieved, and that's the constitutionally correct way to do it."

Invite the media

Ashton, 18:

"The media being present is the whole point of the demonstration. Who demonstrates for just their community? You need the wider society to see that you are frustrated."

Get your message out properly

Christa, 20:

"You have some people that are just saying that they want justice, and when the demonstration is over you don't know what they wanted justice for. Seems like the camera makes them speechless."

BUT PLEASE DON'T

Block the road (and/or start a fire)

Rodney, 23:

"Blocking the road and lighting tyres only serve to damage the road, which will soon force you to go back out there and block it again, because you want it to be fixed."

Inconvenience others

Kimone, 18:

"You are the ones that are taking a stance, so don't allow your actions to make persons who don't care about your 'cause' to suffer because of you."

Engage in vandalism

Delano, 20:

"These protesters need to know that vandalism is a serious offence, not only because you breaking the law, but persons will hurt you if you even attempt to destroy their things."

Engage the police in argument

Kirkland, 21:

"Based on the reputation of our security forces, I don't think that would be a wise idea (laughs). This is not the United States, it's Jamaica, so get your head straightened out before you get hurt."

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