GUIDE TO HOSTING A RALLY – PROTEST – DEMONSTRATION – VIGIL
Indivisible North Coast Oregon June, 2020
This guide is meant to provide general information to plan and execute a successful event. Please consult local officials for specific information for your community.
This guide is meant to provide general information to plan and execute a successful event. Please consult local officials for specific information for your community.
GOAL: A PEACEFUL EVENT
People bringing signs.
People wearing masks and maintaining physical
distancing.
At most events participants should smile and
wave as cars drive by.
If possible, organizers should welcome
participants as they arrive.
Organizers should arrive at least 15 minutes
before start time and plan to stay after the event to clean up trash and
leftover signs.
LOCATION
It’s usually easiest to hold your event in a
public place on public property. Permits are usually not required for
events on public property.
Consider and anticipate any potential hazards
or safety issues for your participants, including potential distractions for
vehicle drivers, traffic blind spots, and not enough space between people on
the sidewalks and passing traffic.
Check out safety and accessibility of your
location for people in wheelchairs, using canes, or having to walk from where
vehicles are parked. Be aware of wet and uneven grass and sidewalks.
Make sure there is ample room for pedestrians
to safely walk by your event.
Stay on the sidewalks, stay off the grass,
don’t block intersections or driveways.
DATE AND TIME
Consider pros and cons of a daytime vs
evening event.
Visibility to passing
vehicles and pedestrians
Amount of traffic at
lunch, rush hour, weekends, etc.
Safety of people
arriving and leaving your event during fewer hours of daylight
Consider length of time for the event itself.
Usually 60-90 minutes is ample time. Some people might arrive before the start
time, so organizers should be on site at least 15 minutes before the start
time.
Is this a single event or repeat event?
PROGRAM
Some events have a speaker, singing, chants,
or musical instruments. It is helpful to
use a portable sound system or bullhorn; sound will otherwise only carry for a
limited distance.
Handing out flyers can be useful, but can
also result in lots of discarded flyers that organizers need to pick up and
dispose of.
Organizers might want to circulate sign-up
sheets on clipboards to get contact info for future events or organizing.
At times it can be helpful for organizers to
bring extra signs for people who don’t have them. Make sure all signs are
picked up after the event.
SAFETY
Notify the police a day or more ahead that
you are holding a peaceful event. Event organizers should have phone number(s)
of local police with them.
Rally organizers should be visible and
identifiable e.g. hat, badge, t-shirt etc.
Assign safety monitors to defuse any
problems. Monitors should be identifiable — safety vests, bandanas, etc.
Student-led events should have a few adults
there who can intervene or guide as needed.
Learn de-escalation techniques to reduce the
risk of violence.
Instruct participants to not engage with
hecklers or counter-protesters, on site or passing by. Hecklers usually want attention
or to create distractions and disruptions. Ignore them. Ignore rudeness,
gestures & such from passersby. If the situation is feeling
threatening or dangerous, police can be called.
MEDIA
MEDIA
Let the press know that you are holding an
event. Provide a press release.
Tell your organization’s members and
supporters about your event.
Post your event on social media.
Take lots of photos. You can post them on
social media. If there was no press coverage of your event, you can submit them
to the newspaper right after the event. In Clatsop County that would be to
news@dailyastorian.com.