Thought I'd share some stuff about protesting. Things I do. Things I avoid.
Got any plans for the weekend?
Participating in a protest march can be a helluva lot of fun. A group of spirited, even pissed-off, people coming together in a common cause can have almost a music festival vibe. It's a wonderful thing to know that you're not alone in whatever you're feeling. And like a music festival, it works best when you go into it prepared.
Because like a music festival, occasionally things can go a bit sideways.
Here are my suggestions for fellow protesters, especially first-timers.
The "do" list-
Check for an organized protest near you. I actually found some this time, in both Sedona and Cottonwood. They're about the same distance from me but Cottonwood is an easier drive, so I'm going to the No Kings Verde Valley event.
Search for an event near you at Indivisible.org, or Mobilize.us which is where I found the event I'm attending. It's possible to protest without an organized event; I've been doing that myself recently. But an organized event will have lots more fellow protesters, will be permitted, and likely to be ADA accessible.
Make a sign. If it's a big protest it's possible that pre-printed signs will be available. But the clever and snarkily funny homemade signs you'll see are a big part of the fun. If you've seen the pictures from previous marches you know what I mean. They don't have to be professional looking to get noticed. So have fun and get creative.
Homemade signs at a Tesla Takedown protest.
Know before you go. Check your state's laws regarding protesting. You can find information on that here.
Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen. You'll want to stay hydrated and keep your energy up. Slather on the sunscreen and bring it along to reapply later. If it's going to be really hot consider adding a bottle of Gatorade or other electrolyte drink. If you bring your dog be sure to include water and snacks for them, too. Maybe some dog shoes to protect their paws from hot pavement.
Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return. Same as you hopefully would when going hiking or on an overnight trip. Plan to let them know once you're back home.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking or jogging. Ideally, something fairly close-fitting but not very tight. Avoid long scarves, blousey sleeves, floaty hems, anything that could be easily grabbed by or snagged on someone else. Do wear a hat. If you have long hair maybe tuck it up under your hat, but avoid ponytails. Leave expensive jewelry at home, and avoid dangling necklaces and earrings. Your shoes should be comfortable and supportive with low or no heel, and fit closely. Leave your flip-flops at home.*
Wear your glasses. Leave your contacts at home. If you get sprayed with anything the glasses might help protect your eyes, but contact lenses will Hurt. So. Much. (Trust me on this).
If you're in a group, stay together. Make a plan in advance to meet up at a certain place and time in case you get separated.
Park in designated public parking. At the end of a fun day of marching & singing & camaraderie it really really sucks to discover that your vehicle has been towed away by an angry business owner.
Bring your teenagers if they're up for it. This can be an important learning experience for future voters, one that they'll hopefully enjoy. I strongly recommend leaving little kids with a babysitter. Even when things go perfectly very young children can get bored, hungry, tired and cranky pretty quickly.
Keep your situational awareness on at all times. Go there expecting to have fun. You probably will. But keep your eyes and ears open; if you notice more police suddenly showing up, or a really angry vibe brewing, it might be a good idea to leave. (This is when I'd use the glamour of invisibility, which I wrote about here).
I made my sign last Sunday including the 8647 sigil I created.
And now a few "don'ts" and related stuff-
Don't leave valuables in your vehicle. If you are detained or arrested it could be days before you can get to your car. If it gets towed things you left inside could be lost. (That's not supposed to happen but it does sometimes). Leave valuables at home.
Don't voluntarily engage with law enforcement unless it's an emergency. This might be controversial, but I recommend not being chatty or making eye contact with the police. Don't give them a reason to single you out for notice. There could very well be LEOs present who are sympathetic to our cause but it's safer to assume that they are not.
Watch yourself around them. Be aware of how many LEOs are present and where they are, but don't stare at them. Be mindful of what you discuss with others when police are within earshot.
If you are approached by law enforcement, be calm and polite. Show your ID if they ask for it; you in turn can ask to see their badge number and name (although these days they might not give it to you). If they start asking questions, ask them if you're being detained or arrested. If not, shut up. If you are, decline to speak without an attorney present.
If fighting or other violence starts, leave. Stay calm, move quickly (try not to run if you can avoid it) and remove yourself from the vicinity. If you must get pictures or video do it from a safe distance. If you hear screaming, loud noises, or popping/banging sounds, get out.
•••
* I really can't say this strongly enough: flip-flops are hazardous on a good day. They're unsafe to wear while driving and far too easy to trip over while walking. If you try to move fast in them you'll end up face-planting on the pavement.
•••••••
Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.
