Protest Safety Strategies with Kalaya’an Mendoza: Unarmed Civilian Protection

Understanding Unarmed Civilian Protection

• 🛡️ Nonviolent Peace Force utilizes unarmed civilian protection in conflict zones globally, as exemplified by their work in South Sudan and South Brooklyn.
• ✊ Kalaya’an Mendoza's personal journey into human rights defense began after his family fled the Marcos regime in the Philippines, shaping his commitment to community safety.
• 🤝 Mendoza co-founded Across Front Lines, supporting frontline human rights defenders, and has been involved in significant movements like Ferguson, Standing Rock, and Occupy.

Framework for Protest Safety: Before, During, and After

• 📍 Before: Identify personal activation points (triggers) and anchor points (calming mechanisms), and share these with a safety team or buddy.
• 👥 Never protest alone; ensure at least one person knows your personal information in case of arrest or injury.
• 📝 Research police tactics and necessary gear to protect yourself and others from potential munitions like pepper balls or tear gas.
• 🔄 During: Practice situational awareness using the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) as a crisis decision-making tool.
• 🌊 Move like water, adapting to the situation and always knowing your primary and secondary exit points to avoid being surrounded.
• 🏡 After: Engage in community care and debriefing with your action group or loved ones, using a holistic check-in (physical, psychosocial, energetic) to assess needs.

Adapting Safety for Diverse Needs

• 💊 Older activists should create precise safety plans, go with trusted groups, and ensure personal needs like medication and inhalers are met.
• 💻 Digital peacekeeping or remote support, involving monitoring police scanners and live streams, is a vital role for those unable to be on the ground.
• ⚠️ Recognize personal vulnerabilities and communicate them to your team, practicing radical community care.
• 💧 Avoid unproven remedies like milk for chemical irritants; instead, carry water for eye flushing and be aware of nearby hospitals.

De-escalation and Community Care

• 🧘 Self-deescalation is key, focusing on staying within your window of tolerance (cool, calm, collected, connected).
• ⚡ Protective intervention involves acting as a third party or "lightning rod" to redirect aggression and help others exit dangerous situations.
• 🎶 Seek moments of radical joy and community, such as dancing, music, and shared resources, as these acts are revolutionary and build resilience against division.
• 📣 When encountering ICE, use the SALUTE method (Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, Equipment) to document and share accurate information, spreading power, not panic.
• ❤️ The most hopeful sign is seeing ecosystems of care being built, demonstrating that community and solidarity are the foundation for safety and a just world.