So, you’re gonna be a protester?
Even with my lack of experience, I’ve learned a lot from the few times I’ve been in the crowd. What to know, where to go, and an emergency exit if all hell breaks loose; you’ll need to be prepared for all of this. Its important business, though potentially risky, so let me begin by saying that I handle no responsibility for any mess you end up in. Depending on the nature of the situation/government involved/how the crowd “goaded you on” to do something stupid, you may be opening yourself up to legal and physical conflict, so don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Okay, now that we got that straight, what do protesters need to know?
Here are five major tips to get you started.
- Dress for Success: This is a bit of a challenge. Make sure to not go over or under board. If you come out with thousand dollar suits and Rolex’s protesting against homelessness, people won’t likely take you as serious. However, if you come out in ragged clothes with no concern for hygiene, you’ll likely just be brushed off as a bunch of complaining hippies (not that there’s anything wrong with a natural lifestyle, it just may not garner the attention you’re looking for). Stick with the garb of the area you’re in and make sure to prep for the weather. As one who dressed up during a protest that got flooded out in the end, I can’t stress this enough.
- Keep It Simple, But Be Prepared: Even if your issue is well known, thanks to misinformation and a generally uninformed public, a decent amount of people will have no idea what you’re talking about. For this reason, it’s ESSENTIAL you remain on message. Don’t change topics or make your chants over-complicated. Also, make sure to have at least one person whom is very well-informed at the event (if you are unsure about this, become that person). Certain groups love nothing more than to show up at events like these and stump or ridicule people, sometimes on camera. The more you know, the stronger you’ll be in the face of opposition.
- Know Your Rights: Normally, police and security are around for your safety and protection as well as for those around you. For this reason, if your protest is done legitimately, you shouldn’t have concern with their presence. In some cases (particularly those involving controversial issues or mass demonstrations), the safety of a location or other’s needs may impede this. This is why you MUST know your rights as a protester . With this, you’ll know the risks you may be taking in some more escalated movements as well as have better legal standing if you are unlawfully harassed/arrested.
- Escape Plan: Sometimes, things get bad. Like REALLY BAD. Whether that one rotten apple in the group escalates things into a full scale riot or an over-militarized presence decides it’s sick of you being around, things can go from zero to sixty at the drop of a hat. As someone whose college has had full scale riots, even being in the area has its dangers:
First off, if you don’t feel like getting arrested or experiencing the full-force of “less-lethal force”, DO NOT STAND IN THE FRONT! These are the first people to get pulled out or pepper-sprayed/teargassed/tazed/shot if a show of force occurs. Even if things seem calm, there are rules about physical contact against officers, so being at the head of the pact opens you to all sorts of trouble if the rest of the mob wants to push closer. Stay far enough back that you can leave if need be or run if gas is deployed (From just the residual effects of gas, I ended losing sight and knowledge of where I was for a short period of time). Also, don’t intentionally antagonize the police. If you are harmed/arrested for being in the area or legitimately practicing civil disobedience, you will be taken a lot more legitimately than the jerk that gets too close trying to take a selfie flipping off the line of riot police. - Have A Good Time: When the situation looks grim and bleak, this will be the hardest step. Just know that if the issue truly matters and you give all your heart and soul, you will among the pillars to which history is built on. Through storm and strife, keep your head high.
