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Page Preface
This section of “Watch and Learn” contains some basic safety and awareness tips for those of you who choose to show up at live public protests, broken down into some handy bullet points with accompanying memes and videos.
Due to this structure, we’ve handled this page a little differently from prior sections of the project: rather than breaking each separate point into its own page, we’ve embedded a playlist that contains both the “full” video/audio presentation of this section, and then each point broken into its own video.
If You’re Going To Protest…
With all that said, if you’re going to be involved in public action, protests, or similar events:
- Learn and know what to bring and not to bring for the role you intend to play.
- Research and look at the various available guides for things you might think of doing and shouldn’t as well as things you should be doing and might not think of.
- There are obvious things to not bring, like weapons.
- In an organized protest you’ll want to have communication that doesn’t rely on cell towers – satellite phones are okay, radio phones are better if you can get them. Medical and other assistance supply if that’s your role.
- If you can, try to document everything. Do not give credence to those claiming they have to protect themselves from malicious prosecution – that just tells you they intend to cross lines that you don’t want to, creating destruction and violence. It also tells you there’s a high probability that if they’re identified they’ll prove to be associated with some neo-right movement or ideology entirely opposed to those who are protesting. Don’t let anyone push you around about this.
- We are the people and we have the right to speak and assemble and protest peacefully. Being afraid to be seen doing the right thing is a weapon the monsters use against us. Secrecy begets tyranny.
- We do not have the right, legally or ethically, to destroy things and hurt people. Plus it’s strategically stupid and puts those participating (and perhaps swept-up innocents as well) in a position to be criminally prosecuted, possibly for serious crimes and serious time. That’s to say nothing of social impact and guilt by association in the court of public opinion. It’s dumb and there are better ways to say your piece and make your stand.
- Stay in groups of people you know, and watch each other’s backs for incoming trouble – and not just from the cops
- Consider ahead of time what you will be doing if something goes haywire…and if that’s getting out of the way, fine. We need people who know when it’s time to take evasive action, especially in a high-speed, high-emotion situation.
- Whatever you’re going to do, have a plan. Know the physical area you’ll be in, do some real recon, look for the places that could be dead ends or trap points where you could be at risk. Google Earth Pro can be an excellent free resource here but may also have outdated information. Direct observation is best.
- If you don’t know what role is best for you, find an organizer and ask. If you think you do, volunteer to do that.
- That said, whatever role you intend to play, if you intend to play one, you’d better learn your lines and blocking starting right this minute.
- Know your people. Know your people. Know. Your. People. Not everybody’s gonna know everybody, but somebody better know someone. There are a LOT of dirty tricks in play here, and if you leave them an opening they’ll use it. Keep eyes wide open for COINTELPRO style infiltration and provocation tactics, people appearing to be on the inside who are always pushing radical action and always have the most emotional arguments to escalate.
- A protest or a march is not a party. You are not here to get good selfies. Decenter yourself. This isn’t a marketing opportunity for your brand. That said, there are valid people and functions related to being a visible personal presence in work you’re doing related to direct action. Sometimes picking the grifters from those genuinely trying to raise awareness or share news is difficult. Do your best, and remember to keep refining your decision-making skills in this area.
- Don’t think “it can’t happen to you” or that you’re going to be the exception if things get hairy and people with badges start hurting people without them. It can happen to you, you are not going to be the exception, and the closer you get to places where there’s a lot of activity and high energy, the more likely that you’ll see that up close in ways you’d rather not. Keep your head and remember why you’re there, know your risks, and avoid putting yourselves in situations likely to create more risk than you’re willing to be responsible for taking.
- If it’s your particular contribution to be a journalist or documentarian be sure you’re aware of how you may be expected to conform to the various laws that protect journalists, in order to avoid accidentally becoming a “protester” when you came to be an “observer.” Legally and ethically they’re different things. You can be there with protest in your heart but if you’re going to ID yourself as press or journalists, avoid engaging in any direct action unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
- It seems counter-intuitive to wave around “the law” and “don’t break it,” in a context where you’re living under a dictatorial regime who wants to outlaw your right to PEACEFULLY assemble. Still, it really shouldn’t require a lot of line drawings for anyone with a little sense. Don’t go around breaking stuff and getting into fights and causing trouble.
- Don’t wear colors and logos or try to look like an organized group with a label. We are – and in this moment we must be – “the people.” Not “antifa” or “BLM” or “the democratic party” or “independent voters” or “the LGBTQ community” or “environmental activists.”
- Leave the tactical gear and imposing costumes at home – it’s protest, not cosplay, and if you’re walking into a situation where you think you need tactical gear, you probably don’t belong anywhere near that situation in the first place.
- I recognize that for many their identity and affiliations may be of primary relevance to the movement, and hold great personal importance and emotional weight, and I don’t want to suggest there’s anything wrong with being any of those things or carrying those values into the field. But leave the identities aside in the practice of direct action for this movement, please. That’s how they split us up and divide us and appeal to those among us who might be willing to trade a little this for a little that, who can be pressured to continue appeasing and attempting to negotiate with those perpetrating this outrage on our nation, our history, and our species.
- We are the American People, and right now that’s all that matters. We can get back to sorting the rest after we defend and fortify our nation and its institutions from the ongoing attack. Yes that sucks. No, there’s nothing to be done about it right now. We have to do this job first, or the rest of it isn’t going to matter anyway. I’m sorry for that, but my sorrow doesn’t change the situation either.
- Know your rights, and if all possible have a lawyer in mind and keep their contact info with you “just in case.”
Direct Action: Summary
We are THE PEOPLE, and we must function now as THE PEOPLE, each of us who we are, but all of us THE PEOPLE. The presentation of a united front is not traditionally a strong point of people’s movements. This time, it has to be. We all work in various spaces. We have to step out of all of those spaces, all of those identities, for this moment, and step into the space and identity of THE PEOPLE. That is the only way we’re gonna break this attempt to crush us.
