Final answer:
Staples alters public space by discussing the power of protests and grassroots movements in shaping public policy and opinion, contrasting the immediacy of speech with the permanence of print.
Step-by-step explanation:
Staples alters public space in his essay by not directly engaging in public protests and demonstrations but by examining how various forms of public engagement, including protests, shape social attitudes and political processes. The impact of writing for speech as opposed to print is that the former can convey emotions and urgency more directly, capturing the immediacy of the speaker's passion and intentions. Public protests serve as collective political participation, as they are utilized worldwide to demand government accountability and express policy demands, irrespective of urban or rural voter characteristics.
Another significant way to influence public opinion is through grassroots politics, where an issue is propelled from the lower echelons of society to policymaking levels through public outcry, marches, and large-scale events involving voluntary participation. However, this concept has been challenged by the practice of 'Astroturfing', where interest groups fabricate grassroots movements to manipulate public opinion and pressure policymakers. Regardless of the method, both speech and print have the power to persuade and engage audiences on issues of public concern.