Organizer Setting The Tone In Person

As organizers there are ways we can also set the vibe of a protest before the protest even starts.

Before a protest we can make craft our messaging on the protest to make sure attendees know that even though they are angry and rightfully should be that our focus is using that anger for positive change on that day.

At the protest we can set the vibe before hand with music that's has power and inspiration behind it, but that pumps up the crowd in a John Legend "Glory" way and not a Rage Against The Machine "Killing in the Name" way (both great songs but for different times).

During the protest we can maintain that tone. We can let your speakers know in advance what the goals and tone of the protest are. Again it's not a "You shouldn't be angry", because we are all there because there is a very legitimate reason to be angry. But rather a focus on channeling that anger to actually make effective change.

We can also remind the crowd not to engage with counter protesters. Yeah those guys suck, but they'd also like nothing more than to draw focus from our protest and to make the headlines about we were the bad that punched their "poor wittle nazi faces" and gave them a boo-boo. And some of the counter protesters might like nothing more than an excuse to start violence, and may have even brought weapons for it. By not engaging with them we can keep the focus on why we are there and make it our win and not theirs.

Having a de-escalation team in place is also very helpful. Our de-escalation team can help remind people that are engaging with them that our focus in our our message and not theirs. That team makes it so we don't have to get on the mic every 5 minutes reminding our attendees not to engage with them since that will draw focus from our message.

A unconventional but successful de-escalation tactic is big boxes of Motts fruit snacks. Giving food is a universal peace offering. Other food can be used but Motts are a quick go to since they are yummy, chewy, vegan friendly, and liked by most people. Eating the food literally give 2 groups of people that are yelling at each other a moment where they have to yell at each other a little less. Bringing the tone back down for a little bit.

So when things are looking like they may get real rough between protesters and counter protesters, break out the Motts and just kindly go down the line offering them to both sides that are yelling. We want to offer then to both groups not only to foster de-escalation on both sides but to subconsciously ensure everyone that the food isn't dangerous, poisoned, etc. Even if they just have to say no to the offer of food that's a quick distraction to bring down the tone without actually tone policing anyone.