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Protesting in the Era of the Police State – How to Stay Safe When Exercising Your Rights
3rd October 2014
Guest Writer for Wake Up World
If you’re planning on participating in a peaceful demonstration or protest, keep one thing in mind - it could turn at any time.
In the past it has been a common practice for governments to send agent provocateurs to mingle among the demonstrators until a given time or signal, and then to begin instigating violence as both a way to demonize the peaceful protesters in the media, and as an excuse to send in the riot troops to bust heads. As demonstrators around the world can attest to, this tactic has not gone out of fashion.
So what should you do if suddenly rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and ‘flash bang’ grenades are whizzing past you while a hundred Mad Max extras with clubs start goose-stepping in your direction?
The following will provide you some tips and advice to keep you as safe as possible, should you suddenly find yourself in a riot situation.
How to Stay Safe When Exercising Your Rights
When the storm troopers make their appearance at your protest march, you’ll notice they came dressed to kill. They typically wear helmets, face shields, gas masks, chest protectors, elbow pads, knee and shin pads, and combat boots. In addition, they will carry shields, batons, tasers, radios, medical kits, shotguns and pistols. Meanwhile, you are standing there in a t-shirt and flip flops.
The first tip is to come dressed for the occasion.
What to Wear
Long pants and long sleeves. This reduces the exposure of skin to RCAs (Riot Control Agents like pepper spray and tear gas).
Wear only cotton or wool. Natural fibers are fire resistant whereas most synthetic materials are highly flammable and can quickly ignite from a spark, a Flash Bang (stun grenade) or Molotov cocktail. When these materials burn they will melt right into your skin and cannot be removed without taking the skin with it.
A bicycle helmet. This can be a life saver in case agitators begin throwing rocks and you happen to be in the line of fire. Also useful as protection against police nightstick attacks.
A backpack. Fill the book pocket, the pocket that is closest to the back straps, with a large hardcover book. This can act like body armor protecting your back from rubber bullets etc. In addition, it can be used as a shield by placing your forearm through the shoulder straps and holding the pack as a shield in front of you, if you have to escape volleys of projectiles.
A bandanna. This can be used as an emergency bandage, sweat band, improvised dust mask, and wash cloth.
Bring work gloves. Work gloves protect your hands if you have to escape through broken windows, or other sharp wreckage caused by rioting. Wearing gloves will also help prevent burns if you have to remove smoking tear-gas canisters.
Wear work boots or hiking boots, or at least good high top leather runners. This is to help protect your feet from broken glass and sharp debris on the ground, and will help support your ankles if running, or climbing over barriers.
Wear protective eye-wear. The sports style sunglasses with padding on the inside work best, like those used in racket ball and other sports. This is to protect against RCAs, rubber bullets and fragments from tear gas canisters and Flash Bangs.
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