The Coalition Youth of 14 Feb Revolution used an online petition campaign to protest Bahrain as the host for the Formula One Race. The activists were able to mobilize almost 500,000 people worldwide to sign the petition. This eventually led to the cancellation of the race in Bahrain in 2011. The impetus for the campaign was the Bahraini government’s suppression of peaceful protest earlier that year.
Racing Against Human Rights Violations
In order to bring attention to brutal human rights violations, the activists of the Coalition designed an online petition demanding the Formula One race withdraw from Bahrain. It called for people worldwide to stand in solidarity with the Bahraini protestors who have faced intimidation, torture, and murder at the hands of their government.
To collect as many votes as possible, the Coalition organized multiple events to invite people to sign their petition. In one event, ten thousand Bahraini citizens participated. This march called for the Formula One Race to be suspended while the human rights abuses continued. The Coalition also reached out to journalists and Arab and Western newspapers to have their voice and demands heard. Readers were encouraged to sign the petitions and to support them in not hosting the Formula One Race. The Coalition started another campaign on social media. It resulted in sending more than 20,000 messages on Facebook and Twitter to Formula One promotional pages. Through the use of social media, the Coalition was also able to gain the support of some of the race’s drivers, including Damon Hill, one of the race champions.
This tactic is called the Boomerang Pattern, which activists use when local advocacy is blocked by oppressive governments. In such cases, activists look to the international community for support to pressure their home government for change. For example, activists targeted the Formula One Race organizers to withdraw from Bahrain, using this well-known event to amplify their message. By gaining international attention, they could publicly highlight their government’s human rights abuses. This strategy often includes naming and shaming the government for not adhering to its laws or international treaties. The activists’ success came from combining multiple tactics: online campaigns raised media awareness, while social media allowed connections with race participants. Additionally, organized events like rallies demonstrated the strength of civil society. Overall, using various methods, especially online platforms, helps to quickly raise awareness for a cause.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
