Riot - Haiti Observer Blog

How do you deal with the Police during a Demonstration?

Guidelines for Dealing with Police During a Peaceful Demonstration

If you are a member of a protest group, informing yourself on the dos and don'ts of dealing with the police will ensure relations between your group and those officers assigned to monitor the event are kept non-violent. Use the following guidelines to keep peace between you and the police.

• always present your id card or driver's license when requested.

• don't put your hands in your pockets or otherwise conceal them; they may think you have a hidden weapon.

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Student protest has had a long history all over the world, dating back to at least 1229, when the University of Paris student strike occurred.

The tactic of student protesting continuously is one favored in certain parts of the world. In Chile, student protests have been taking place since 2010. They have come to be called the Chilean Winter protests due to the enormous participation that occurred in August 2011.

In Quebec, students have been protesting all during 2012 in response to large tuition hikes planned for the next five years. They are demanding tuitions be frozen and the Quebec government seek out other funding means. Students are using a number of tactics to force the government to meet their demands. Among them are whole-scale demonstrations in the streets, occupation of university buildings, and alliances with well-known radical groups. They have also done coalition-building with opposition parties, unions, and peripheral groups to force government's hand.

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When you protest, you want your message to have maximum impact on the public and institution you are protesting against.

Non-violent protests are a way to get your issue heard without violence to mar the event. Here are guidelines to help you prepare for a non-violent demonstration.

Decide how important the issue is to you. Don't waste time if you're just planning to annoy the opposition. You want to deliver a clear and focused message.

Determine your municipality's legal requirements for holding a protest, and whether you need a permit.

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To endure a mass demonstration, be well prepared. Since you can't predict how long a mass demonstration will last, get ready for the weather conditions. If there will be mass arrests, and other unknown contributing factors.

Apparel

Dress for comfort and the weather as you are ready to participate in a mass demonstration. Wear walking or running shoes for long hours spent on your feet marching. Protect your eyes from sun's glare and/or possible outbreaks of violence (you could get caught in cross-fire between police and agitators). Sweatshirts, hoodies, rain jackets, or other weather-appropriate gear will protect you against the elements during the long hours of demonstrating.

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