General tips for demonstrating during a pandemic
Tips for harm reduction in mass protests when civil liberties are non-existent or being ignored
As always, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Peaceful demonstrations may become violent for a number of reasons. Arrest is always a possibility.
Here are a list of sensible precautions that you can take.
Compiled by Kelly Cogswell and Alexis Danzig for the soon-to-be-updated The Lesbian Avenger Handbook: A Handy Guide to Homemade Revolution
- Wear a mask or face covering.
- Wear goggles to prevent transmission, but also injury, especially if you anticipate rubber bullets or tear gas.
- Bring water. You need to stay hydrated. (Water is also good for washing tear gas out of your eyes.)
- Use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Consider using signs, drums, or similar noise-makers to get your message across. Chanting and singing expel droplets with a lot of force.
- Stick with a small group of buddies to keep your unknown contacts low, and, if possible…
- Practice physical distancing. Try to stay 6 feet (2 meters) away from other people or groups.
- Acknowledge the risk. Demonstrations are unpredictable. Peaceful marches may become violent. With the violence instigated either by frustrated marchers, outside instigators, or police. It is almost impossible to maintain safe distancing during the chaotic aftermath. If you should be arrested, expect to be jammed into small spaces with other demonstrators. Cops might also take away your mask.
Tips for harm reduction in mass protests when civil liberties are non-existent or being ignored
As always, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Peaceful demonstrations may become violent for a number of reasons. Arrest is always a possibility.
Here are a list of sensible precautions that you can take.
- Wear goggles to prevent injury. DON'T WEAR: contact lenses.
- Wear sensible shoes. You don’t want to be wearing open-toed sandals when a crowd panics and starts to push and shove.
- Carry 2 bottles of water (one for drinking, one for washing tear gas out of eyes) + hand sanitizer + bandages.
- Bring snacks.
- Disable your cell phone's Face/Touch ID functions, or better yet, don’t bring it, or bring a burner phone.
- Expect cops to seize your possessions, so DON’T BRING: anything you'd be sad to lose, or that will get you arrested for other reasons including illegal party supplies or weapons.
- Bring your medication. Sometimes cops let you keep it, but sometimes not. Prepare for both eventualities.
- Carry photo identification. It will take a lot longer to get out of jail without it.
- Do not expect to be able to make a phone call.
- Make sure someone outside the march knows you are participating, and arrange for a check-in time, so they can start looking for you if you don’t check-in.
- Make sure your contact and demo buddies know if you have medical issues.
- If possible, go with a small affinity group so that you can look out for each other. If you all get arrested, and someone is hurt or in trouble, you can advocate for them. The one who is released first, can report back for the others and advocate if need be. If some don’t get arrested, they can try to track the others through the system and advocate for them.
Compiled by Kelly Cogswell and Alexis Danzig for the soon-to-be-updated The Lesbian Avenger Handbook: A Handy Guide to Homemade Revolution