Timely lessons for keeping people safe in the streets 

When Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to squash protests in Los Angeles, it was a move many of us had predicted. In fact, knowing that Trump was looking for a pretense to increase repression was a major reason I agreed to help Choose Democracy Director Daniel Hunter pull together movement wisdom about how to keep peace in the streets.

The workbook we created was in the final editing stage when Trump started exaggerating property destruction at anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles to justify his own illegal power-grab. As Daniel writes in the introduction, “When dictators want to crack down on people speaking out, they hope for chaos. They want to make us look dangerous. They win when the story is about broken windows instead of broken systems.”

We know we can’t control what Trump does, or even what people in our own crowds do. Still, effective peacekeepers can influence the people around them. As the introduction also states, “By projecting calm, modeling solidarity and preparing for the unexpected, peacekeepers help movements withstand pressure without fracturing.” This makes it harder for authoritarians to divide us — and easier for others to join us.

“Streetwise & Steady: A Workbook for Action Peacekeepers or Event Marshals” has now launched, arriving just days before the June 14 “No Kings Day of Defiance,” which could see the largest protests of Trump’s second administration. Whether or not you believe that large marches will thwart Trump’s authoritarian aims, protests that turn violent could certainly help him consolidate power. To reinforce this, we decided to primarily use the term “peacekeeper,” though many organizations have been calling the role “marshal” or other labels.

After years of peacekeeping for large marches in Philadelphia, I learned a lot from activists around the country. For example, since 2020, I’ve heard a growing number of peacekeepers worry about what we would do to keep people safe if armed counter-protesters showed up. No one I knew felt very prepared.

In looking for real-life stories for the workbook, we heard about protests where counter-protesters carried weapons to intimidate — not to actually shoot, as those of us not used to gun culture are quick to assume. In those cases, the peacekeepers kept their cool and violence was averted. Such stories don’t make the news, which is why we need to share them with each other. I began to think that, as a movement, we might know more than we think we do.

Of course, there are many ways that such situations could go horribly wrong. In one case, a peacekeeper was doing a good job calming down a man with a gun, and a crowd member tried to “help” in a way that made the situation worse. The sobering truth is that options are limited if someone actually starts shooting, so defusing and de-escalating are our best tactics. Many of us have been strengthening our de-escalation muscles in recent years, especially through the ceasefire protests. Nationally, thousands of people now have training and experience in these skills.

One challenge of this time is to deepen our own capacity for calm amid chaos, while training and preparing the many new people suddenly surging into the streets in opposition to Trump. On the whole, a growing movement is a good problem to have, but it also means more people who might not understand what is helpful and what isn’t. There are also more people legitimately enraged and terrified by Trump’s heartless policies. Then there are the infiltrators, stirring up the trouble that Trump so badly wants. It won’t always be clear who is who.

Again and again, whether it was dealing with angry participants, counter-protesters or mounted police, the same advice kept coming up: stay calm. This makes it easier to assess how dangerous a situation might be and discern what to do.

To help meet this need, we compiled lots of tips for specific situations — along with illustrations, participatory exercises and a one-pager for all the new peacekeepers. One of my favorite tools is a clear, easy to remember approach developed by Beautiful Trouble, which we shortened for the workbook to the acronym A, B, C, D.

Assess what is happening. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen a crowd get agitated by a rumor. Whether the rumor is spread by agent provocateurs or anxious participants, it’s important that peacekeepers ask each other, “What do we actually know?” I’ve found it helpful to observe people’s body language and track the mood of the crowd, as well as the movement of police, to assess whether a situation needs attention and what type.

Breathe to keep yourself calm, whatever the circumstance. One advantage of in-person trainings is that we can practice such somatic techniques as a group. As a trainer, I often invite people to identify ahead of time the practices they find most grounding, such as prayer, song or looking for a piece of grass to remember our connection to the Earth. When we role play difficult situations, peacekeepers can get a taste of how their bodies react to the chaos that might await in the streets. We can train ourselves to take a breath, or whatever else will keep us grounded.

Choose if you will get involved and how. In compiling the tips, I was struck by how many lists we wrote, mostly because there is never just one option. Sometimes, a peacekeeper might choose to engage with a shouting participant or bystander. Other times, ignoring them may better serve the goals of the action. Knowing what the goals are and keeping them in mind will help peacekeepers hold the big picture. For example, when counter-protesters are trying to get attention, I like to say, “Don’t take the bait!” to nearby crowd members, who otherwise might jump into the fray without realizing that reacting is a choice.

De-escalate using a variety of tactics, from distancing and distracting to direct engagement. Although none of us can control other people, it’s remarkable how much our energy can affect those around us. If someone is upset, hostile language or body language is unlikely to help. Respect and empathy can go a long way, whether the upset person is a member of your own group or a counter-protester. Some peacekeepers need to be reminded that it’s not their job to convince anyone, just to defuse situations that could undermine the action’s goals.

Dealing with law enforcement is probably the area where peacekeeper choices will be most influenced by the culture of a particular group. Some organizations coordinate with police ahead of a large march or rally. Others find such collaboration anathema. This is a good time for groups to have more explicit conversations about if and when they might ask for help from the police, so that peacekeepers have clarity about that before they are in a crisis. It’s also a good time to remember our ultimate action goals and be willing to increase our range of motion to reach them.

We heard about one racial justice protest where organizers learned that armed counter-protesters were planning to show up. They reached out to police and other town officials, but instead of asking police to intervene, they asked them to keep their distance, explaining that police presence could increase tensions. The police complied and, though tense, the protest and counter-protest remained nonviolent.

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Collaboration between groups that have differing attitudes — toward the police or other issues — can be hard, but it will be just a little easier if we make an effort to get to know each other beyond our usual bubbles. This was one goal of a recent training in Philadelphia, where we intentionally recruited trainers from different generations and organizing styles. One training will not suddenly create consensus, but I hope it will make communication a bit easier when these folks see each other in the streets.

I am hearing this same impulse toward connection in every part of the country where I am planning to offer peacekeeper trainings while on tour for a new book called “Common Ground.” People are telling me that they recognize the need to deepen their skills for these unpredictable times, and that they thought that sponsoring a training would be a great way to connect with others in their area who have similar concerns. It’s a terrific impulse. As Daniel Hunter wrote in a recent article, “If fear is the goal, solidarity is the antidote.”

That’s why the “Streetwise & Steady” workbook begins with an invitation to adapt it and ends with a sample training agenda for those who want to build skills together, in-person. We hope that sharing the movement’s collective wisdom about keeping peace in the streets can both reduce fear and build solidarity — two keys to defeating Trump.