Protests

Can we come to a productive understanding of the anatomy of a protest? Though each protest is different from another, can we find similarities and patterns that would help to them to reach their intended goals?

 

Some thoughts:

1. Any protest is composed of large numbers of individuals representing multiple viewpoints on an issue. Complexity at the start.

2. Protesters usually lack the leadership and governing rules that police forces do.

3. Consciously intended or not, unfortunate tensions are created that can precipitate violence with one thoughtless act.

4. In a crowd of passionate individuals, it is hard to maintain respect for the role and the beliefs of the other.

5. Historically, peaceful protests can result in violence and looting. This possibility needs to be acknowledged and thwarted at every turn.

6. The goal of a peaceful protest should be the conscientious meeting of all sides to resolve the issues. The goal of a protest is not a protest.

7. A protest should come only after efforts have first been made to clearly define and address the problems.

8. Police deserve protection, but they don’t need to come armed for the worst possible scenario.

9. News coverage should be balanced and objective, and not attempt to turn the situation into a spectacle. The news should give adequate time to leaders and organizers and not excessively to their own reporters.

10. Every individual in the protest drama brings their own life history and passion to the protest. This is an intensely human experience that can never be fully controlled.

11. Both protestors and law enforcement will have rogue players who must be appropriately called out for the sake of the success of the cause.

12. City officials must be prepared to respect and work with protestors at the earliest stages to prevent escalation.

 

OK. Enough. Anyone who believes large crowds on a mission can predictably be managed, doesn’t know history. But there must be ways to prevent violence, maintain respect and resolve problems.