i am about to attend an emergency demo in response to palestine action being banned in terf island, and honestly i have crippling anxiety about attending, do i just walk up and make it clear i fully support? sorry if this is dumb
make it clear i fully support?
I assume this is the bit you’re having anxiety about, and all you need to do to show you fully support the cause is stand somewhere that’s clearly part of the demonstrating group. You don’t need a placard or to chant or anything like that, it’s as simple as walking up and joining the crowd.
For your first one, just follow the crowd with chants and try to network with people to find like-mindedness. If you strike of a convo and find people with similar politics, you’ve made a connection.
The usual rules are:
- leave your phone at home if you can. If not, turn off biometrics.
- cover your face
- stay hydrated
- keep an eye out for plainclothes cops and don’t engage. They generally look like bored dads.
- NEW: protect other comrades if you can. Our(US) 50501 shitlibs are targeting anarchists and communists at their brunch protests.
keep an eye out for plainclothes cops and don’t engage. They generally look like bored dads.
Shoes can sometimes be a giveaway. They wearing sneakers? Less a chance of being a cop. They wearing the same shoes/boots as the cops milling around are? More likely to be a cop.
This is anti-boot discrimination.
sorry for the insanely late reply, but what is your view on a picture being taken of you by media? do you actively avoid it or just play it off? i went out of my way to avoid but i feel that would seem suspicious to one. i suppose it doesnt matter if you cover your face but what about if someone recognises you from the clothes you wore ?
Since I started being active again, I generally go to protests with a face covering. As soon as I see camras, I cover up.
I do have a very distinct hat so covering my face is a kind of silly so oebs my need to work on that. I’m thinking about getting a less conspicuous hat.
For clothing, plain, all black clothing that covers up any identifiable things like tattoos is a good way to go. If you are at a protest that is being out on by 50501, they are targeting people in all black and suggesting that they are agitators. So maybe just wear casual clothing ng without like graphics on them if you are worried about being lumped in with other leftists lol.
do not bring your phone. leave it turned on at home
As others said, leave your phone at home. If you mask, STAY masked. Don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing, especially since you don’t know anyone yet. You’re always free to dip when you are not feeling comfortable.
Don’t worry about approaching anyone to state your intentions. If you want to make yourself known, you can approach someone and say you’re new and there to support and want to know if there’s anything you can do to help the demo. Otherwise, just hang out in the crowd and try not to stick out.
