Rule #1: Use the buddy system. Don’t go by yourself.
If you are driving, park somewhere away from the combat zone, and somewhere that won’t likely end up being in a barricaded area. Know multiple ways to drive out of the area. ETA: put on sunscreen at the car or before. Very important.
Wear layers with plenty of pockets, comfortable running shoes, a broad brimmed hat, have extra bandannas in your pocket.
Carry minimal stuff: ID, some cash, glasses, keys, phone, paper, pens, water, maybe a snack. Assume you might loss all this stuff in the excitement. Have backups for what you can in the car. A hide-a-key at the car is a good idea too. ETA: do not even think about carrying any sort of weapon. Not for a second.
Don’t take or carry any leaflets peeps might be handing out.
IIRC you have health concerns re: the crowds. You should stay completely on the outskirts. Social distancing should be your #1 priority. Don’t even imagine being a peace keeper. Don’t try to jawbone folks.
Keep your head on a swivel. Being on the outskirts makes you a natural scout for the whole crowd. Play that role, it’s doing quite a lot for everyone else. Important: always have two separate escape routes back to your car.
Pick a time limit. Let others know where you are and when you’re expected back.
Rule #2: Don’t be paranoid. Have fun. These are the times of your life. Good luck !!!1!
Everyone’s already said pretty much everything, except…remember why you’re there. Don’t be the guy quoted in this tweet. (Not that I think you would be)
I’m probably going to be by myself at first, may have someone with me by the weekend. There’s not much I can do, don’t know of anyone in the area who’s down for this who I’m tight with. If anyone in the Philly area is, let me know. Not sure which day I’m going in. I’ll be extra cautious and hang with the crowd as much as I can. I know that’s not advised, but it’s kind of my situation.
Plan on walking, so where things are going down is also key to my decision. Not trying to get my tires slashed by cops or catch a friendly fire car fire.
Good idea, hadn’t thought of that. All I have are baseball hats, but some have wider/bigger brims.
Good stuff.
OK, won’t do that - why?
Yeah, that’s my plan, I only intend to really get in tight if it’s forced upon me by all of us getting forced a certain way or if someone is in dire need of assistance. I’m not going out there with the goal of peace keeping being my function, but if someone is hit by something and needs help or is in a dire situation and needs a buffer, I’m going to do what I can live with myself having done when I think about it in 10 years, assuming I get out safely.
OK, cool. Obviously I’m scouting for cops approaching or moving, changing their tactics, etc, and for like mobs, a car trying to kill us, etc. Other than the ones that obviously require shouting “RUN RUN RUN” what is the sort of normal behavior here? Am I shouting “5-0” if the cops are coming or something? Just calling out what I see into the crowd?
Good call, I think my intended time limit is going to be the curfew + an hour or so to head back in my general direction.
To add to this, it is really never worth being arrested if it can be avoided. There are exceptions, but it’s not cowardly to peace out facing arrest. You can do more good outside of jail. Some people like to wear it as a badge of honor and it is part of the game for sure, but don’t just sit by passively and take it.
This is going to be me, at least the first time. Could meet some folks nearby and trade numbers and get a buddy for next time.
Plan to have their number in sharpie on my arm.
I’m torn, I have a good sense of direction, but I also want to be able to document things by recording video even if I’m in airplane mode and share it later.
Keep seeing this - I guess the cops can force your hand onto it?
Definitely not. Today protesters blocked the Interstate and I assume most got arrested. I’m torn on something like that cause I believe in blocking the highway as a good form of civil disobedience, but I’m not trying to get arrested. I’m also not trying to get run over by a MAGA terrorist. Definitely plan to peace out if I can in a likely arrest scenario, and avoid getting boxed in.
I don’t plan on just sitting in the street after curfew trying to get arrested or anything like that.
Cops are gonna bomb everyone everywhere now, and of course there will be media outrage over this but not over the 10-15 incidents of cops and right wingers running people over.
Let’s see how long it takes this video to get to CNN versus all the other ones of protesters being victims.
(To be clear, bomb is hyperbole, but maybe not even at this point… like they’re not going to be fucking around with non-lethal force against people they feel at all threatened by, which is bad news since they’re threatened by everyone over six years old who’s left of Mitt Romney and/or who has more melanin than Mittens.)