Day Dreamer's Lament

Hey Everyone,

A little late out of the gate, but welcome to entry #5. Sorry for the delay, but things have been a bit hectic lately, and this post was important and I didn't want to rush it...

Before I start, I should point out that I am not a doctor, a lawyer or any kind of expert on protester safety. So by no means is anything I have to say the end all be all on this subject, nor am I responsible for anything anyone chooses to do with this information. In the immortal words of Homer Jay Simpson: "One, Two, Don't Sue!".

However, before you write me off I should point out that this advice doesn't all come from me. It comes from various resources online like the Boston Area Liberation Medic (BALM) Squad and Black Cross Collective websites among others. It also features advice directly from friends of mine such as Jaime Taylor (a librarian in the people's library at Zuccotti Park) and Sasha Sagan (a medic during the Occupy Boston and March for Climate Change movements) in New York and Boston respectively. Neither of them claim to be the end all be all experts either, but they have plenty of great advice all the same. In other words, this information comes from people who have been there and have first hand reliable information on the subject at hand.

Honestly the biggest reason I'm writing this is because I know many people who have strong feelings about the Eric Garner and Michael Brown cases, but feel hesitant to speak out and show up to protests because of the violence they see in the media from both an aggressive police force and a small number of agitators who go out looking for a fight to vent their frustration and attack the police, society, anyone and anything... it's a hopeless outlook, and there is a lot to be upset about, but it doesn't excuse violence. There are also people who go out to stir up trouble in order to discredit a movement as nothing more than violent rioters, etc., but that's another story, for another blog entry.

And these are legitimate things to be fearful of to some degree... Violence does happen sometimes, even though the vast majority of protesters are peaceful and law abiding. Protesters can also face violence at the hands of police. The police are generally given an extreme amount of leeway when it comes to excuses to commit violence to enforce order... Even when there's video evidence, rarely are cops ever punished beyond a slap on the wrist for their brutality. Not to mention that in addition to police brutality you can also be subject to being arrested and detained for hours if not day and all the bullshit that comes along with that (a criminal record, having to hire a lawyer, etc)... needless to say it's a drag, and it can be downright intimidating. That said, the threat of these actions actually play into the goals of the ruling elite by enforcing the status quo. By denying people their rights, they keep things from changing for the better.

That said, with some careful planning a lot of these risks can be limited, and you may be a lot more comfortable as a result in the event that something bad happens. That said, nothing is a replacement for common sense. Knowing when to leave a protest when things turn violent, or when to comply with a police order (even if you're within your rights) is as important as having a remedy for pepper spray or carrying essential medication. The overall point of this advice is to make sure you stay safe and comfortable while exercising your rights. You can't help your cause if you are arrested or incapacitated. So with that in mind, read on for a few tips on how to prepare or deal with some of the conditions you may encounter while exercising your constitutional rights.

Dress for the Occasion:

Wear. Comfortable. Shoes. - Chances are you will likely be spending quite a bit of time on your feet. You should also consider the fact that you may be marching, or may need to run or walk in order to avoid a dangerous situation. This means sneakers or boots as opposed to high heels or sandals.

Check the forecast - Be sure to check the weather when planning what to wear. Things like rain gear, sun screen and snow gear should be packed/worn as required.

Dress in layers (and not just for cold weather) - Dressing in layers that cover your skin can protect you from the wind and the sun, but it can also protect your skin from pepper spray and gasses deployed from crowd control. More layers can also provide valuable padding that can lessen the effects of rubber bullets of batons. Lessen means lessen. Rubber bullets and batons will still hurt, but they may allow you enough protection to move/leave a protest area in the event that things get violent.

Bonus tip from bostoncoop.net: Try not to have a fleece as your outerlayer, as it soaks up chemical agents.

Consider wearing head protection - A bicycle helmet can go a long way to protect against projectiles being thrown by other protesters or rubber bullets and gas canisters being fired by police. Additionally consider wearing a hat to protect against the sun and or chemical agents.

Eye protection - Consider packing swim goggles or shatter proof eye protection, with a rubber seal if possible (foam seals can trap chemicals against your skin). These can help keep your eyes safe from pepper spray, tear gas or other chemical agents.

If you wear contacts, you should bring an extra pair, solution, a case and your glasses as well. Should you be subjected to pepper spray, you will want to be able to take out your contacts, and still be able to see.

Please note, if you expect that you're likely to encounter riot control agents (RCAs) like pepper spray and/or tear gas, that it may be a good idea to skip the contacts entirely, and just bring your glasses.

Heavy Duty Gloves: We don't often see them in New York, but tear gas cannisters are often HOT and will burn you should you try to handle them/throw them away bare handed. Wear gloves or leave these alone and vacate the area.

Pack a spare set of clothes in a plastic bag - In the event that you are exposed to chemical agents or pepper spray, having a spare set of clothing you can change into is essential. Bringing an extra plastic bag for soiled clothing is probably a good idea as well.

Wear a zippered back pack on your back (and one on your front) - In addition to being an easy to carry mobile place to keep your supplies for the day, a zippered backpack is the ideal place to keep your ID and other pieces of personal information that you may need throughout the day. Avoid keeping your ID and cash in your pockets, as large crowds of people (even at protests) make ideal places for pickpockets to operate. Chances are the cop keeping the peace at the protest isn't going to help you find the person who took your wallet.

In addition to keeping your ID and clothing in your backpack, a hardcover book or two would be a good idea as well, to give yourself a little extra protection from rubber bullets.

Having the 2nd backpack on your front can also help give you slightly more protection from any projectiles or violence coming from in front of you. It also can be a place to store items you need quick access to (like your ID if you need to present it to an officer).

What else to bring:

Medicine - Arguably the most important thing to bring with you. Make sure to bring any medication you'll need to take while you're out protesting with you, and then make sure to bring a little more. If you get kept out longer than you anticipated you'll want to have that extra medication there. All prescription medications should be brought in their original containers, which have your name and dosing information on them.

Blackcrosscollective.org also recommends carrying a doctors note in the event you are placed under arrest and need to prove to the police that you have necessary medication you need to take. Not a bad thing to ask for at your next checkup/physical. According to them it should have the following information on it:

" your name, diagnosis, that you must have access at all times to your medication, a list of all meds that you require, a statement that you must be allowed to keep meds on your person so that they can be properly administered, and that no substitutions are acceptable. Since your name will be on the document, you may want to hide it on your body as a sort of insurance policy - perhaps you won't need it and then could eat it and participate in jail solidarity tactics, but perhaps you'll be worn out already at the time of arrest and will want to cite out in order to take care of yourself."

You will also want to make sure you have any emergency medications you might need like a rescue inhaler, epi pen or insulin (if you have diabetes) on you as well in the event of an emergency.

Note , if you have EVER used a rescue inhaler, you should make sure to have one with you. Everything about protesting is asthma inducing. One of the only instances that RCAs are fatal is when they trigger an asthma attack.

Having some other OTC (over the counter) medications with you as well like pain killers (advil, aleeve, tylenol, etc) as well as some OTC allergy meds can go a long way in a pinch.

Food & plenty of Water - Protesting means that you'll be out on your feet for long periods of time, with little opportunity to grab a bite to eat. Plan ahead and eat before arriving at your final destination, but also pack snacks that store well without refrigeration and also don't take up a ton of space. Think granola bars, trail mix, etc. Foods that can provide a nice caloric boost are a big plus.

The other item, that many sources cited as being absolutely crucial is bottled water (preferably with a plastic squirt top). Staying hydrated is crucial to staying comfortable and active. If you're exerting yourself, you are going to sweat and become dehydrated. Additionally, in a public space your access to sources of water may be extremely limited. It may be crucially important for helping to flush your eyes in the event of having been exposed to pepper spray or some other chemical agent. It also can be used to wash out any cuts or scrapes sustained while protesting.

Rubber bands - For garments that don't have elastic at the wrists and ankles, a rubber band can be used to cinch closed clothing at these points to prevent chemicals from getting in

Don't forget the toiletries! - Simple things like tissues and toilet paper can come in handy in a million different ways. Other items like suntan lotion, vaseline can provide protection from the sun and chaffing respectively. To quote the folks over at The Matador point out that getting pepper sprayed sucks. Getting pepper sprayed when sunburnt REALLY sucks.

Note!: Oil based products like moisturizers, sun tan lotion and vaseline can trap oil against the skin

Baby wipes can also be used to wash off chemicals, should you be exposed to pepper spray or tear gas.

Ladies, if you need to, consider using maxi pads instead of tampons. Tampons carry the risk of toxic shock syndrome if left in too long, which could be a problem if you're trapped in a public place or being held under arrest.

Basic First Aid Kit - A basic first aid kit should include simple things like bandaids, some kind of antiseptic, medical tape, plastic gloves, gauze, an ace bandage. Other items such as cool or hot compresses are also good to have. There are single use chemical varieties out there. A friend of mine has also sworn by a metal flask filled with ice for years.

A bandana soaked in water or vinegar (sealed in a plastic bag) is also a good idea and can be used as a breathing aid in the absence of a gas mask in the event pepper spray or tear gas are deployed.

These Cards - These cards are a good idea to keep on your person at all times, especially during protests that may bring you in contact with law enforcement.

http://toasterdog.com/files/KnowYourRightsCards_TheLaw.pdf

These are not the end all of your rights, but it can't hurt.

Pen & Paper - you may need to write down some important information (officer badge #s, names of groups at the protest, etc).

What NOT to bring:

The general rule of thumb here is not to bring anything you wouldn't mind being trampled on/lost forever. In the event things get dicey, you could have anything on your person lost/stolen/confiscated/just plain thrown away if it is separated from you over the course of the day. Here are some other obvious (and not so obvious) things to leave home.

Weapons of any kind - This is a no brainer. You're there to protest. You should not need a weapon. If you are stopped and searched by police this is just the kind of excuse they need to arrest you.

Your Wallet - As covered above, you should keep your ID, some small cash for food, transportation and other emergencies in a zippered up pocket (possibly in a plastic bag to keep it together) inside a backpack. It's also eliminates the possibility of other important cards (credit cards, debit cards, etc) from getting lost/stolen.

Your Cellphone - In addition to the possibility of theft, a cell phone out of your possession is insecure and could possibly be probed for personal information by law enforcement. Unless you are using your phone for a specific purposed related to protesting, consider leaving it home. Bringing a prepaid calling card and a list of phone numbers instead is a much more secure option.

Jewelery & Oil Based Cosmetics - The general rule of thumb here is that anything that might be at risk of being ripped away from/out of your skin accidentally (or purposefully) is a bad idea. Don't wear it.

Same goes for oil based cosmetics. These products can trap chemicals against your skin and make washing them off more difficult. Consider going au naturale' or using only water based cosmetics when going to protest.

What to Know Before You Go:

Much like anything else, the 7 P's apply. Proper planning prevents piss poor performance. Doing a little planning before you leave the house can save you from a world of hurt should things take a turn for the worse later on.

Have a protest plan - Know exactly where, when and with whom you are going. Use the buddy system, and use it smartly. Make sure the person(s) you are buddying up with have the same protest goals (eg. someone who can't get arrested as an undocumented immigrant vs. someone who plans to be on the front line would be a bad match) , and have a place to meet up with you buddy near by outside of the protest zone should you become separated. Also having a plan about when you are showing up and when you want to leave is a good idea.

Once you have these plans make sure to share them with someone you plan on meeting up with later. These plans should also include instructions on what to do (for work, taking care of pets, etc) should you be delayed or incarcerated.

Set up legal support - There may very well be legal support at the demonstration, but it won't be anything like you can set up on your own. You can find more information regarding this topic at www.nlg.org

Have an Exit Strategy - Plan on how you will leave a protest zone before you leave home. As you move about throughout the day keep this plan in mind, wherever you go. Plan a secondary exit strategy as well, should those roads be closed off by police actions or violent confrontations.

Know when to hold em, know when to fold em - Given people's strong feelings at protests, things can get violent quickly. At the end of the day, you are there to make sure your voice is heard. It doesn't do you or your cause any good if you're incapacitated by violence or arrested in a pointless confrontation. Should things take a turn for the worst, your best course of action is leaving the scene as soon as it's safe to do so, and meeting up at an agreed upon meeting place outside the demonstration area.

The last thing you want to do is give into antagonism by the police or other protesters. Assault on a police officer is a serious offense (usually a felony), and resisting arrest can be reason in and of itself to justify police use of force/aggression. Your overall goal should be to make your voice heard in a peaceful manner.

Should you be exposed to RCAs:

So, you've been doused and exposed with RCAs... what now? Knowing the following can help keep you from getting overwhelmed and reduce your overall suffering.

Effects of RCAs are (for the most part) Temporary - They do feel awful, but the most irritating effects of RCAs will last no longer than 20 - 30 minutes. If no help is available/you're detained, know that in a relatively short amount of time the pain will subside. Every police weapon or action is about inducing fear and intimidation. Once you remember that its a lot easier to be brave.

Seek out a Medic immediately - Chances are that there will be medics at an organized protest. You can generally recognize these people because they'll be emblazoned with a red duct tape cross. Medics should be equipped with LAW (Liquid Antacid & Water mixture) that they can flush your eyes/face with to relieve the effects of RCAs.

Please note that only LAW mixture and time will relieve the symptoms from being exposed to RCA. Don't assume you can treat this by yourself, and don't try other remedies. Bottom line: If it ain't Black Cross Collective approved, don't do it!

After the protests shower with cold water and lots of soap. Avoid using warm water as it can restart the chemical reaction and open your pores allowing more of the chemicals to seep into your skin.

After the protests you'll want to wrap your contaminated clothes in a plastic bag and either discard them or wash them several times with strong environmentally UNfriendly detergent. Do not dryclean and if possible, do not clean these clothes at a laundromat.
In The Event you're being arrested:

This next section comes directly from Sasha Sagan. There have been a few minor edits for layout made.

Handcuffs - If they put you in cuffs, either make fists or spread your fingers as far as you can. That'll keep them from tightening them as much as they otherwise could.

Check your circulation ASAP!!! - If you're in cuffs, you and a buddy or two can touch each other's fingertips to check for CSM: circulation (does the color return to the nail bed after a pinch?), sensation (which finger am I touching?) and movement (do you have your usual range of movement in your fingers?). Cuffs that are too tight can pinch nerves, which puts you at risk for short/medium/long-term damage.

If someone's cuffs are too tight, or if someone has another need in jail, chant about that shit. "MIC CHECK! (mic check) OUR CUFFS (our cuffs) ARE TOO TIGHT (are too tight)!" When an officer comes to check on the ruckus, politely but firmly inform them that you (or person X, with their consent) is experiencing a loss of [CSM], which can cause permanent nerve damage if not treated. Are they authorized to remove these cuffs, or will they get their superior? Just keep chanting and politely demanding until you get one who's friendly. This is a great time for white allies to put themselves out there and be annoying; they're less likely to get beaten for it than people of color.)

Following the arrest/protest action - If you leave a police encounter with any physical health complaints, go to a medical professional to have them documented (photographs, descriptions, etc.).

Not all injuries are physical - If you leave a tense situation not feeling especially emotionally healthy, the evidence-based thing to do is find some way to make yourself a narrative about it. Draw a picture, phone a friend, whatever floats your boat... if possible, do it before sleeping. Don't let anyone pressure you into coping differently than you choose, because that makes things worse. (Now isn't the time to start drinking/drugging, but it isn't the time to stop either.)

I think that covers everything, but in the event I missed anything, PLEASE let me know in the comments and I'll add it to the post!

Thanks! And keep safe out there everybody!

Thank you again to Jaime Taylor of Occupy Wall Street and Sasha Sagan of the Boston Occupy Medics, the Black Cross Collective, the Matador Network, the good folks over at Life Hacker and the BALM Squad for all their information. You can find a full list of my sources below. They have a wide variety of information not in this guide! Check them out below!

Cheers,
Chris

Sources:

Advice from Jaime Taylor - active member/librarian of the people's library

Advice from Sasha Sagan - a medic in boston, part of the BALM Squad.

Life Hacker article: http://lifehacker.com/5859590/how-to-protest-safely-and-legally

BALM Stay Healthy Guide: http://www.bostoncoop.net/~balm/stay_healthy.pdf

BALM Squad Website: http://www.bostoncoop.net/~balm/

Black Cross Collective website: http://www.blackcrosscollective.org/

National Lawyers Guild Website: www.nlg.org

The Matador Network: http://matadornetwork.com/goods/essential-packing-list-for-protesters/

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