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10 Things Not To Do During Protest And Riots

Citywide curfews have been issued in various locations in the Bay Area after protests over the death of George Floyd turned violent and destructive. This includes San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Walnut Creek. The best security guard company in San Francisco has been booked completely because of this.

In San Francisco, 1000’s of protesters gathered at UN Plaza to demand justice for George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, and for other African-American victims of police violence. Due to this protest security guard companies in San Francisco have been more active than before. As the police and business owners ask for extra protection. 

There are many ways to help the black lives matter movement, one of them is joining the protests. During the protests and riots you need to take care of yourself as well, so here are some tips of what not to do during the protests to keep yourself safe.

1. DON’T FORGET YOUR RIGHTS

The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. Make sure you’re prepared by brushing up on your rights before heading out into the streets.

2. DON’T WORRY OF UNEXPECTED PROTESTS

Protests are supposed to be disruptive, so there’s no harm in keeping the authorities on their toes. Sure, there’ll be a plan in place, but others might have their own actions or splinter-protests planned. Protests, like parties, are at their best when they’re hard to contain and control.

3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ENGAGE IN DIRECT ACTION 

Attention-grabbing stunts like sit-downs and road blockades have long been used by activists to make themselves noticed. It’s 100 percent true that taking a seat in the middle of a busy road on your own is an awful idea and you definitely should not do it even if you really do hate climate change but if thousands of people refuse to be moved they become hard to ignore, so then maybe you should.

4. DON’T HOLD BACK FROM POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

If enough people start sharing online it’s easy to get the protest trending, and it won’t be long before your message is reaching people all across the world. Activism is also very trending in 2020. As in the case of the death of George Floyd and the black lives matter protest the videos and photos of these events are all over the news and the internet everywhere you look. Social media is the best platform to convey your message in this day and time.

5. DON’T FORGET TO SHARE THE PROTEST

It would be a good idea to share the protest as much as possible so more people show up to it. If the number of people kept increasing the effect of the protest and riots would also greatly increase. As in the case of black lives matter the protest have spread throughout the country and people are finally listening to the people.l

6. DON’T FORGET TO PRINT OUT A BUST CARD 

These are little slips of paper with advice about your legal rights. Familiarise yourself with basic information, if you are arrested then make sure to say “no comment” to all questions until you’ve spoken to a solicitor. And scrawl a phone number for a lawyer onto your arm in permanent marker in case the printout goes missing: it might prove invaluable if it all kicks off.

7. DON’T GO ALONE

You should always bring a partner to a demonstration as your first step for safety. Have a plan for where to meet if you are separated, as can easily happen in a crowd, and a contingency if you aren’t able to use your cell phones. If you are part of a larger group, set up a group text to help you stay connected in case you are separated. You should also make sure someone else, not attending the march, knows where you are going. Be sure to look out for other protestors, especially those who might be more vulnerable.

8. DON’T FORGET TO WEAR A MASK

Protesting is well and good but the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is not gone yet and new bird flu has just started so it’s best to wear a mask and prevent yourself from catching anything. Masks are also a good way to hide your identity. Adding sunglasses to the masks gives you a good cover for all the surveillance. There are a lot of people who want to join the protest anonymously. Masks not only protect your identity but also protect you from the ongoing flu and COVID-19.

9. DON’T WEAR COLORFUL CLOTHES

Colorful clothing or prominent logos makes you more recognizable to law enforcement and easier to track. If you have tattoos that make you identifiable, try to cover them. With all the surveillance technology around now, it will be easy to identify you. If you’re driving a car, consider too that automatic license plate readers can easily identify your vehicle’s movements.

10. DON’T FORGET TO PROTECT YOURSELF

It can be very scary to be trapped in a tight crowd. Keep your arms free rather than pinned at your side and use wide-spread footing for balance to prevent falls. Protests and riots get rowdy and violent at times especially during the black lives matter protest for the death of George Floyd. The police may throw tear gas or attack the protesters so it’s a good idea to protect your body. When the crowd is moving, go with them rather than attempting to remain still, but look for openings to make your way incrementally towards the periphery and out of the congestion. Warn others about obstacles in your path, holes in the pavement, and other tripping hazards. You should immediately seek assistance for anyone who has fallen.

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June 10, 2020 9:55 pm