Being Safe During a Protest March in the USA

Being Safe During a Protest March in the USA

Please see here for a wonderful and brief post about Protest Safety from our  @OpDeathEatersCD and @OpDEmaritimes comrades north of the border.

I'm adding some informal notes for you all, garnered from watching many hours of protestor abuse here in the United States.

I have experienced police focusing on those using video equipment. Any person that chooses to film the event in a noticeable manner must expect to be targeted. Especially when carrying a large camera, or not in the see/film/hear/report nothing "press safety" area designed for those recording events.

I recommend dedicated cameras on all police - get name tags, badge numbers, identifying clothing for follow up. This is crucial because LEA have been known to camouflage themselves in order to escape consequences, or hide participation from groups that are not local. Also note that they will wear the wrong uniforms - you need to catch details and faces.

"They attempt to provoke violence in order to justify arrests and discredit the protest."

There are 2 options for an approach to saboteurs, and I would advise creating a firm suggestion about it up front, in the beginning.
If people get all anarchy at your protest, it's an excuse to shut it down and create bad press so your message is ignored. So it depends on your local strategy - do you want people arrested to call attention to your "cause", or do you want your people safe? If you want them safe, ask that someone (or a group) act as guard - they don't have to broadcast this. Just tag another in your team so people can deal with any risky behavior.

Make your statement up front about what you prefer the behavior be at your local event - you will get some people pissed. So what?

Police have been rumored to start fires, break windows, bust up vehicles and otherwise wreak punitive economic damage on communities that may support protest. They may do this as part of a group, individually as undercover operatives in your protest, or while attention is diverted elsewhere. Please be alert to threats within your area and do not approach anyone you see behaving in this manner. Film them if you can do so covertly, or go get others to bear silent witness.

There is a different between civil disobedience and protest. Civil disobedience carries legal consequences. Engaging in illegal acts to support your community means that you are willing to be arrested. Willing to take that risk. For instance, if there is no permit those who march are defying the law as an act of Civil Disobedience and can be detained.

If police haul you away, always ask if you are being detained or are under arrest. If not, they must let you go - not keep you in a cell as they would do with someone under arrest. You also do not have to comply with an interview in this case. Many times protesters are taken to a police station solely in order to photograph them for facial recognition, run iris scans, gain access to their electronic devices, etc. This does not mean you are being formally charged, and should be reported to your local legal support.

Other facts you may need to be aware of are not local. For instance, you aren't allowed to protest at a national monument site. Some people will do it anyway, but others in the group may not know and get caught up while following them. You need to provide clarity in the form of flyers on the day of your action that include local rules/laws/ordinances.

NOTE: You should never "follow" anyone doing something you are uncomfortable with - your fearless leedurrs may not always be leeding on our/your behalf.