GUIDE TO HOSTING A RALLY – PROTEST – DEMONSTRATION – VIGIL

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.

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  


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.