1. Sign in when you arrive at a demonstration.
Organizers keep track of everyone at an event so they are aware of who has been arrested or injured.
2. Always stay in pairs.
Never arrive at or leave an action alone.
3. Dress appropriately.
For marches or sit-ins where police may be present and disruptive, men should wear clip-on ties so they cannot be strangled by them. Women should wear comfortable shoes, rather than high heels, to marches to allow for a faster getaway. Neither men nor women should wear any jewelry that can be yanked or pulled.
4. Prepare to be arrested.
Leave your car keys and personal items with someone who is not planning to go to jail. Carry a toothbrush, cigarettes (even if you don’t smoke-they are useful currency with other inmates), and at least enough cash for a phone call, if not more.
5. Make eye contact with the police.
To defuse anger, look officers in the eyes and show them that you realize they are human and are doing their job. Make them realize the same about you. Keep your gaze compassionate or neutral; do not scowl or furrow your brow.
6. Sing.
Group singing creates strength and unity, helps to calm anxiety caused by the potential for violence and arrests, and provides an outlet for frustration. Songs also communicate your message and set a rhythm to the march or picket line. Encourage every participant to join in the singing, whether they feel they have a good voice or not-these songs are for protest and bonding as a group, not for showing off vocal talent.
7. Ignore teasing and taunting.
Do not react-vocally or physically-to jeers and name calling. The only appropriate response is to join the group in singing if the leader starts a song.
8. If you are arrested, go limp.
Fall to your knees and force the police to carry you to the bus or paddy wagon, but do not actively resist arrest. Call out your own name from the bus if you don’t know if others saw that you were arrested. When you are interrogated, identify yourself to the police, but do not answer questions, and do not engage even friendly officers in conversation.
9. If the police attack, assume the nonviolent position.
If the police use force and you are not willing or unable to run from them, assume a nonviolent position: Put your head between your knees, with your elbows together in front of your eyes and your hands over your head to protect your skull. Try to shuffle close to a wall or a curb to protect your back. This position has a double benefit-it protects your vulnerable areas, and is clearly nonthreatening to the police, eliciting sympathy from onlookers and the media.
Be Aware
A movement will have the most success if it is well organized and its followers are familiar with the plan.Hold training sessions so members of the group can participate in roleplaying skits to practice nonviolent reactions to stressful situations, learn protest songs, and plan for future actions.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
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