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PEOPLE AT HOME: if you're not going out on the streets to protest, you're not limited to helping via petitions & donations (although those are important/worthwhile) any successful protest NEEDS some people to stay home in order to fulfill the following roles:
1. RECONNAISSANCE monitor police scanners & social media in order to keep track of movements by cops, fash, & the protest itself. relay this information to the people on the ground via a SECURE channel (the signal app is best imo) scanners:https://m.broadcastify.com/listen/
if you don't have friends on the ground, then posting information you glean from police scanners onto social media is still helpful! fact-check any info you get from social media before you pass it along-- there's a lot of misinfo out there, incl. scare tactics to incite panic.
2. JAIL SUPPORT give your phone # to your people on the ground to write in permanent marker on their skin. before they leave, get their personal info (legal name/DOB/emergency contact(s)/medications & conditions) preferably in a sealed envelope you only open if they're arrested
keep your phone near you with the ringer on until your people say they're home safe. if they get arrested, you'll be their phone call, and it will be your job to a. notify their contact(s), b. get them linked to bail funds if necessary, & c. arrange transportation home from jail.
3. RIDES public transit is currently unreliable, and parking for a protest is a nightmare if you have a vehicle, give rides to/from protests, and be prepared to pick folks up quickly if things go south. also let jail support know you're available to give rides home from jail.
4. SUPPLY RUNS check in with protestors (especially MEDICS) about what's needed, and bring supplies to a secure rendezvous point. common needs include: - water (both for drinking & rinsing, see quoted tweet) (cont in next tweet)https://twitter.com/gendervamp/status/1266992842536153088 …
- snacks (granola bars are fine but also include options that are hydrating, non-allergenic, easy to chew) - menstrual supplies (can be bandages in a pinch, tampons good for bullet wounds) - clean facemasks/bandanas - gauze - cold packs - duct tape - umbrellas (if it's raining)
5. SIGN & SHIELD MAKING this may seem silly but it takes work to make signs, & it's often the last thing people think of before they head out + a sturdy sign (made of wood, plexiglass, etc) can serve as a makeshift shield against teargas cannisters & other light bombardment
i don't have a tutorial for this but i'm sure y'all can figure it out. (reply to this tweet with any crafting tips you have) hand the sign(s) off to your protesting friends before they leave. if you take a pic of the sign, don't include anyone's face or other identifying info.
6. KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYONE ask your friends to message you when they leave home, when they arrive on the scene, when they leave the scene, and when they're safely back home. (if they're there for a while, check in with them every couple hours.)
if you go an unexpected amount of time without hearing from them, check in with their buddy/ies, because their phone may have died. (nobody should protest without a buddy.) if you still don't hear back, or if their buddy says they're unsafe/arrested/missing, you can:
- check in with other protesters - scour social media for info - check in with jail support public PSAs should be a last-ditch effort, and for safety reasons should not include their legal name or a clear photo of their face.
once your friends are home safely, offer them support. they will likely be tired, angry, high on adrenaline, panicky, and/or traumatized. be there for them any way they need-- talk it out, provide distractions, remind them to do self-care, order them food, etc.
i will add more to this thread as i think of it/as people give suggestions!
some tips for making sturdy signs/shields: https://twitter.com/faustwissen/status/1267288105989615617?s=21 … https://twitter.com/FaustWissen/status/1267288105989615617 …
https://twitter.com/faustwissen/status/1267289495956852736?s=21 … https://twitter.com/FaustWissen/status/1267289495956852736 …
https://twitter.com/faustwissen/status/1267291034372972546?s=21 … https://twitter.com/FaustWissen/status/1267291034372972546 …
https://twitter.com/jumping_joonist/status/1267499155154276353?s=21 … https://twitter.com/jumping_joonist/status/1267499155154276353 …
re: the tampon/bullet wound note-- this is just something i've heard offhand from more experienced medics on why they carry tampons. i've never treated a bullet wound myself, and would not feel comfortable doing so. this is not intended as advice or tutorial.
if you're interested in learning about how to be a street medic, check out this manual, and get in touch with experienced street medics who can train you. definitely don't just grab some tips from the internet & run as a medic.https://riotmedicine.net/
muting this for now because it's too difficult to keep up with at this point. if you want more suggestions on how to help, check the replies, there's some good stuff in there. solidarity, be safe
suggested by @dr_raskin: covering care obligations for people who could/want to be in the streets but are obligated to the needs of their children, elders, disabled family members and friends, etc
suggested by @ghostmouse64:
this group is accepting volunteers to help add captions/transcripts to BLM related videoshttps://twitter.com/ProtestAccess/status/1267546595983126529 …
movement & protests. Please tag us in a video if you would like it captioned or transcribed and we will do our best to make it accessible to you.Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.
