Direct Action Event Monitoring: Why and how you can help

The No Kings demonstration in San Francisco was peaceful for two reasons: First, because almost everyone there was there to participate in nonviolent resistance, and second, because our pro-democracy movement trains on and practices violence prevention and de-escalation.

The importance of nonviolence

We practice nonviolence for a reason: research shows that nonviolent resistance is more likely to succeed because nonviolence invites and allows more participation from a broader section of the population. And more participation is better. The oft-cited research by Erica Chenoweth, PhD and Maria Stephan, PhD shows that few recent nonviolent resistance movements in autocratic societies failed if they sustained at least 3.5% of the people in active demonstrations.

As the US swerves toward autocracy, the peaceful Hands Off and No Kings protests attracted large numbers of new participants to the pro-democracy movement. The No Kings events may even have crossed the threshold of 3.5% of the US population derived from Dr. Chenoweth’s research. So many people making the effort to show up in person for a march and rally demonstrates to pro-democracy policy- and decision-makers that the people are behind them and will support them, and to anti-democracy actors that they don’t have the popular mandate they’d like to pretend they do.

But right-wing interests have long been fomenting authoritarian opposition to democracy. You can see this in the increasing election denialism culminating in the January 6 insurrection, in Trump’s pardoning of convicted J6 insurrectionists, and in the increasing threats to pro-democracy politicians and judges. The worst example since J6 was the assassination and attempted assassinations of Minnesota legislators and their spouses of June 14.

We haven’t faced threats that dire, but we do have agitators and provocateurs sometimes, trying to stir up trouble and provoke violence so they can slander us on their video channels.

So, as our pro-democracy movement gains momentum, we must recognize a low but non-zero risk that opposing forces will try to disrupt future demonstrations and elections. Therefore, we must prepare: if people try to provoke violence, we can de-escalate it by following our training.

This is why safety monitors are so important to Indivisible SF. In your neon vest, you will stand out as a beacon of peace and calm. We provide experienced leadership and both on-line training and on-site briefing, coordination, and communications, so you will be equipped. And as you volunteer in this role, you’ll gain experience that will serve you well at future events.

Maintaining nonviolence will help ensure our long-term success, and you can help with that critical component. 

Resources

Deep Dive, Action GuideAnna KrasnerDirect Action Event Monitoring