Practice Safe Protesting
if you (or your partner) are worried about protest safety Oct18th, start small. Find a corner or overpass event today and drive past, honking encouragingly. If it looks fine, park and walk by to get a feel for it. Stop for fifteen minutes, or say hello and make new friends.
How to do it:
I’m seeing a new spike in posts from women whose male partners don’t want them attending the October 18th No Kings! protests. The same thing happened before the June 14th protests, and the gender division has been men telling women not to attend in 100% of the posts I’ve seen.
I will skip the feminist rant and address the concern.
Protest safety is not guaranteed. We’re fighting fascism. If that was safe, we wouldn’t need to do it. There are two vectors of risk: the government, and “lone wolves.” I do not believe the government will crack down on the October 18th No Kings protests. Their overreach is disorganized and focused on ICE facilities. To avoid it, protest away from ICE detention centers.
Right-wing violence at mass protests is a real risk, but it’s also not that common. A quick review suggests about six serious attacks on protesters since 2016. You’re safer going to a protest than your kids are going to school. This could escalate, of course, but we do not comply in advance.
So protest while it’s safe (and often fun!) to do. Use sensible protocols. If you have a nervous spouse, get them involved if you can. Take them to small protests to debunk whatever they’re hearing. Giving them a job can help too : a friend’s ex-military husband waits nearby with the van and a walkie talkie. He shuttles his wife and all her friends to and from the protests, and watches for trouble.
Here are some safer protesting tips:
- Tell someone where you’re going and check in when you’re home
- Take appropriate gear for the weather, water, and snacks, plus a little cash
- Memorize one emergency number in case you lose your phone
- Stay aware of your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable, leave the area. Trust your instincts.
- Protest/carpool only with people you trust. Have a plan to get home if you’re left behind.
Basically approach protesting the way you’d tell your daughter to approach dating.
For more advanced protest safety:
- Includes phone tips: https://ssd.eff.org/module/attending-protest
- Comprehensive info from the ACLU: https://www.aclu-wa.org/protest-center/
- Learn de-escalation tactics: https://bridgingdivides.princeton.edu/de-escalation-and-community-safety-training-nationwide-virtual
