50501 Veterans Protester Guide
Part 2 – At the Protest
Note: As stated in our mission, 50501 Veterans stands firmly for nonviolence
Photo by Joshua Myers, 50501 Veterans
In Part 1 of this guide, we discussed the steps you should take before heading out to a protest. In Part 2, we’re going to discuss what you can expect at a protest and how to safely participate.
The recent escalation of the use of military force in Los Angeles and now in our nation’s Capitol are the clear first steps by this Administration to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law. But even without an official declaration of martial law, it is more important than ever for you to know what to expect once you arrive at the site of a protest.
Following is a compendium of some of the more critical recommendations from various advocacy organizations and media outlets. While this guide cannot prepare you for every possible situation, we do provide links to the sources used to compile these tips at the end of this article, where you can dig deeper to make sure you are ready for your protest.
Many of these organizations also offer Spanish-language versions of their protest safety resources as well as online training. 50501 Veterans frequently shares notices about training through our social media channels and in our chats on Signal.
PLEASE NOTE: 50501 Veterans urges every protester to attend at least one protest safety training session online before they attend a protest, in addition to reviewing this two-part guide and some of the resources which are linked at the end.
Observe, Orient, Decide and Act
The OODA loop that you learned about in the military is a decision-making framework that stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act.
This continuous cycle of thought and action – designed to emphasize quickly processing information and adapting to changing situations in high-stakes environments – is just as applicable to any protest as it is to combat operations.
OODA should be your mental North Star throughout the protest and even when you safely arrive home. This framework allows you to get inside your opponent’s OODA loop and make them react to your actions, rather than the other way around.
Let’s break it down:
Observe – Gather information about the environment, potential threats and the resources you have available at the protest. For instance, monitor crowd movements, the presence of law enforcement or military forces, and signs of escalation.
Orient – Analyze that information, understand the context, and then form a mental model of the situation you are facing at a protest. This is a crucial stage – one where you have to understand not only your own capabilities and limitations, but also the potential actions of law enforcement, military authorities and counterprotesters, as well as the resources you can tap into. If you have attended protests previously, compare your current protest to what you have experienced before, so you can analyze the best next steps.
Decide – Once you have made that orientation, choose a specific course of action or plan so that you can best address the situation at hand in a way that minimizes your risks the most. Here, you could choose to stay, reposition yourself, or leave. Or you could tap into those other resources you have available, such as protest organizers, safety marshals, fellow protesters or medics. Or you could go back to your protest plan and work with your buddies to rally somewhere else in the case of an emergency.
Act – Execute that course of action and observe the outcome, so you can feed those insights back into the Observe stage and stay aware of more changes happening at a protest, which can come fast and furious. So be prepared.
Situational Awareness
From the moment you leave for a protest, you should maintain 360-degree situational awareness. Stay attuned to what is going on all around you at all times.
Protest organizers have safety marshals, usually wearing neon orange or green vests, and medics easily identified by the red cross or crescent on white vests.
The old adage “If you see something, say something” holds true – whether it’s a person’s behavior, unclaimed packages, activity that seems unusual, or suspicious vehicles.
Situational awareness also includes your own mindset. You should arrive at a protest calm, focused and peaceful, and try your best to stay that way. You want to make a point about what you are protesting, not provoke counterprotesters or authorities into a violent response.
But it isn’t just about adversarial encounters. Solidarity starts with those close around you. This is a great opportunity to make new allies, but also to take care of your new friends. Keep an eye out for those who show signs of heat illnesses. Offer them water or get them to a shaded area or medic if they are starting to falter. If someone has fallen or suffered an injury while marching, do an initial triage to determine what action needs to be taken.
When it comes to allies, it’s important to remember that not everyone wants to publicize their involvement. So be respectful and ask first if you want to take someone’s picture or a video and share it on your social media channels.
On the other hand, you may see another protester acting in a way that makes you uncomfortable – whether it’s disruptive outbursts, tagging, looting, vandalism or provoking the authorities or agitators. Keep in mind that it’s not your job to police other protesters, and doing so may even inflame an already tense situation.
In this situation, it is best to let a safety marshal or protest organizer know about the person. Do not try to reason with the person. If you aren’t able to quickly notify a protest official and you are still uncomfortable with the person’s behavior, the best course of action is to leave and head home.
There is always a chance you will come across agitators – either at the protest, or on the way to or from it. Keep in mind that agitators also have their 1st Amendment right to peacefully assemble and protest, so you need to respect their space and safety as well.
It is important to step away and de-escalate those situations when possible. How? Again, stay calm, keep your voice steady or even lower it, and avoid provocative behavior, such as obscene or threatening gestures. Finally, if necessary, walk away and remove yourself from the adversarial situation with the agitator(s).
Another critical component of your situational awareness is your own physical bearing. If agitators, law enforcement or military forces start to aggressively move against protesters – especially if they are deploying weapons, pepper spray, tear gas and such – the impulse of the crowd collectively may be to panic and run.
It’s important to effectively manage your fight or flight impulse in this situation. This is a personal decision for each protester, but remember that as an organization 50501 Veterans remains committed to nonviolence.
However, if you decide that discretion is the better part of valor, don’t run as you make your escape. You may see the crowd running, which quickly cues your own flight senses, but any protesters who are running will also attract attention from those who are targeting them for attack. It may also create a collective panic, which especially at large demonstrations can be dangerous, if not deadly.
A better response is to leave the assembled protesters and move quickly – not running – to the edge of the crowd. Then rely on your pre-protest planning to use the best escape route to get to your rally or departure point.
Another myth that has gained traction on social media is that if you are attacked at a protest, you should just sit down. Unless the protest was designed as a sit-in, this is an extremely dangerous tactic that turns you quite literally into a sitting duck.
Sitting down makes you vulnerable to being trampled as well as physical attacks – especially if there is gunfire or mounted police – while also compromising your ability to flee or protect yourself.
If tear gas, pepper spray or other chemicals are fired at protesters, those irritants linger close to the ground unless there is a strong wind. Again, it also makes it difficult for you to flee, since you will have to breathe more of the irritant as you exert yourself to get back up from the ground.
If these weapons are used, the best thing to do is just to leave – especially if you have asthma or other compromising respiratory conditions.
Policing the Authorities
Part I of this guide addresses your rights as a protester, so we won’t cover too much of the same ground here. Instead, we will discuss what you can expect – and do – if you find yourself interacting with authorities.
Unfortunately, in today’s racist, misogynist, homophobic America, different people may experience discriminatory policing. A white person may well be treated differently than an undocumented immigrant, a person of color, a member of the LBGTQ+ community, or other marginalized groups by law enforcement at protests. On the flip side, a white person’s presence may also help deter police brutality, and a white person filming those situations may also prevent it from occurring.
Regardless of your demographic group, if you believe the authorities have violated your rights or those of someone else, video record what you can as it happens. As soon as you can, document everything you remember – the sooner, the better. If you can see the officer’s badge number, write it down, as well as the license plates for any vehicles they use and the agency they work for.
Keep in mind that one of the benefits of protesting in a group is that you are building your own network of allies. If your or someone else’s rights are violated, get the contact information of witnesses and take photographs of any injuries to include in a written complaint. File that complaint not just with the legal authorities, but also with an advocacy organization
When you are lawfully present at a protest in a public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal, state and municipal buildings, as well as the police and military who are there. Remind the authorities that they can not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant.
Some precautions you can take in this situation include staying calm, keeping your hands visible, and not arguing or obstructing the police, even if you believe they are violating your rights. Calmly point out that you are not disrupting anyone else’s activity and the First Amendment protects your actions.
Still, it is important to remember that a lawful authority can order you to cease any of these activities only if they are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations. Still, authorities have stopped or detained protesters just for taking photographs/videos without due cause.
If that happens, stay calm and don’t resist. Ask the officer if you are free to leave. If the answer is yes, calmly walk away.
However, if the officer still detains you, ask what crime you are suspected of committing. Then remind the officer that taking photographs and video is your right under the First Amendment and does not constitute reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
If, in a worst-case scenario you are placed under arrest, you have the right to ask the officer why. Some other important things to remember in this situation:
Say immediately that you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. Don’t explain or negotiate with the arresting officer.
Don’t say anything or sign anything without a lawyer.
You have the right to make a local phone call. Police are not allowed to listen if you are calling your lawyer, so be sure to have that number on hand.
Never consent to a search of yourself or your belongings if you are not being arrested.
Police may conduct a “pat-down” of your clothing, but only if they suspect you have a weapon. They can only search you if you are arrested.
If legal observers are available at a protest, or hotlines are available, know who to call if you are arrested.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it is important to note that for the vast majority of protests, many of these situations will never arise. However, 50501 Veterans believes all protesters should prepare for the worst
and hope for the best as they exercise their First Amendment rights. Stay safe and continue to help us protect our democracy against the rise of Fascism in our country.
SOURCES
Human Rights Campaign: Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety
WIRED Magazine: How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid
American Civil Liberties Union: Know Your Rights – Protestor Rights
National Resources Defense Council: How to Protest Safely
Mental Floss: How to Stay Safe During a Protest
The Conscious Citizens: High Risk Protest Safety Guide
Indivisible SF: Why You Shouldn’t Sit Down at a Protest
How to Protest: What to Know, Bring, and How to Stay Safe
The Intercept: How to Stay Safe Protesting ICE – And What to Expect from Cops in Your City
The Emancipator: Here’s How to Protect Yourself During Protests