If you come to the event to be disruptive or “mess shit up”, do us all a favor and STAY HOME. That will save us having to tell you to leave. We are strictly peaceful.
Mountain Indivisible’s Commitment to Nonviolence
How to interact with uncertain bystanders, edgy/hostile individuals or opposition protesters
First off, be polite to passersby on foot and be sure to use every courtesy to let them by on the sidewalk. Just wave and be friendly to folks in vehicles whether they are reacting to us positively or objecting. Stay on the sidewalk! Stay out of the street unless we are marching and using crosswalks!
We welcome dialogue with people who respectfully ask questions and want to talk about what we are doing, are courteous and conversational. Keep the conversation friendly and informative. Answer questions about Indivisible and our common cause. Don’t answer questions about any other person besides yourself. Refer them to mountainindivisible.org and indivisible.org .
Instigators are people who want to argue and get something started, may be loud and use abusive language. Be very observant, careful, and SILENT. Pay particular notice of whether the person has anything in his/her hands. Make sure that others around you are also paying attention, and if all he’s doing is making noise, turn your back and move away from the instigator.
Multiple instigators, whether or not they have their own signs, are counter or opposition protesters. Counter protesters may be organized and have as much right to express their opinions as we do. What they don’t have a right to is to get in our faces or otherwise disrupt our event. If that happens, we will count on local law enforcement to assist.
In case of agitated disruption by an instigator or counter protesters, event organizers will give the Signal and we will all lower our signs and flags and move away from the trouble spot. We want law enforcement to see that we are doing what we said we would and remaining peaceful, while the trouble makers are standing out like sore thumbs. We are going to let local law enforcement know to watch for this. The Signal will be shared the day of the event.
Finally, while we all hope and expect to never face violence or deadly force from anyone, you really never know. Be smart. Be watchful. Pay attention to people’s hands and faces. If you see something, say something. Plan your escape route, and remember what the little children learn in school: run, hide, fight. Do not intervene if you can avoid doing so. Let the police handle it. You will be safer and the police won’t have to waste time trying to figure out who the instigators are.
If you see a fellow protestor doing something they shouldn’t (blocking streets or sidewalks, taunting or otherwise trying to get a reaction from a maga), stop them or call for assistance.
If you have any concerns about escalation or simply want to be prepared, begin recording any negative interaction you see and record continuously until the interaction is ended.