Nonviolence 4 Equality

• Peacekeeping

PEACEKEEPER TRAINING

[HANDOUT #1 Peacekeepers (downloadable .PDF)]

[HANDOUT #2 peace-keeper-guidelines-n4e-031909 (downloadable .PDF)]

[HANDOUT #3 ACT-UP San Diego Peace Monitor Notes (downloadable .PDF)]

In numerous demonstrations of the past it has been found that the effectiveness and nonviolence of the action has been greatly enhanced by the participation of people with special skills. These specialized participants, or peacekeepers, perform specific facilitating roles for the action. Even if you have not decided to specialize in the role of peacekeeper, however, you may find yourself in a conflict situation in which peacekeeper skills will be useful. In a nonviolent action everyone is, to some extent, a peacekeeper.

Peacekeepers:

• Set the tone for the action. They establish a positive and affirmative atmosphere by being warm and helpful to participants.

• Act as a communication network. They act as an important face-to-face communication link between the coordinators of the action and the participants as well as the internal communication system for the coordinators themselves.

• Provide emergency medical and legal aid. Peacekeepers are frequently the first people on the spot when a medical or legal emergency arises. They can play an important supportive role for the person who needs assistance.

• Maintain the internal self-discipline of the action. Peacekeepers facilitate the movement and action of large groups of people by directing traffic, encouraging people to walk and not run and providing information to the group. Peacekeepers are also prepared to handle conflicts among demonstrators.

• Act as mediators between authorities and demonstrators. It may be important to have people as buffers between law enforcement officials, workers, and demonstrators. Peacekeepers help to maintain the nonviolent self-discipline of the demonstration and act as mediators in confrontations between authorities and protesters. Peacekeepers have primary responsibility to the participants in the action, but they should be prepared to protect legal authorities, workers, and non-participants from demonstrators if necessary.

Some Guidelines to Help Peacekeepers Do Their Jobs:

• Be warm, friendly, and helpful. The tone of the demonstration depends on how you respond to your fellow demonstrators, police, the media, and workers. Our attitude should be one of openness, friendliness and respect toward all officials and participants.

• Be creative. Nonviolence does not mean being aloof or failing to act. You must be creative in your attempt to intervene and resolve a conflict.

• Be firm, but not rigid. If you have agreed to be a peacekeeper you have already agreed to uphold the nonviolent principles of the demonstration. This occasionally means encouraging people to do things they do not want to do. Stick to your commitment to nonviolence and strongly encourage others to do the same.

• Be forthright. Deal fairly and honestly with people engaged in conflict, no matter what they have done.

• Be calm. It is a rare person who does not become angry or afraid under stress. Don’t think that you are weak if you have fears. The important thing in being a peacekeeper is learning how to control your feelings by remembering the overall goal of the action. Try to deal with fears and angers before the demonstration rather than during it.

• Be forgiving. Give up resentment over the wrong you are trying to set right. Gandhi said, “Hate sin, and love the sinner.” This applies to conflicts between demonstrators as well as to conflicts with police, workers, onlookers…

• Work as a team. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Use and rely on the support you can get from other peacekeepers and from your fellow demonstrators.

• Do your job. If you feel you cannot perform a specific task due to either physical, emotional, or moral reasons, inform a peacekeeper coordinator so that a person can be found to replace you. It is not a disgrace to say “no, I can’t do it.” If you feel you cannot handle yourself nonviolently in a situation, notify another peacekeeper and step away from the conflict. It is better to step out than to risk an escalation of the conflict.

• Peacekeepers should avoid other responsibilities during the time they’re “on-duty” as peacekeepers, This includes caring for children, carrying signs or banners, working at a concession or table, distributing literature for other organizations, etc.

Peacekeeper Suggestions:

Heckling

• Your primary responsibility is toward the witnesses involved in the procession and to keep the procession moving smoothly and peacefully.
• Try to engage hecklers in polite conversation as an intervention technique, but understand that you are not going to “convince” or “convert” them. If you talk, “discuss” but do not argue.
• Be polite. Smile. Nothing is more disarming.

Conflicts

• Stay between conflicts or confrontations and the marchers. Keep the march moving. Your back should generally be toward the conflict while quietly urging others to keep moving and not to join the conflict.
• Let the conflict fizzle out. You do not need to be a hero and interpose yourself.
• DO NOT “TOUCH” or push people. Most people resent that action.
• Do not run toward conflicts. Move quickly but quietly toward the conflict if you can help isolate it.
• Stay calm. It’s only a conflict.

Arrests

• Urge people to stay back from the arrest.
• Do not try to block civil authorities and urge others not to also; it will only provoke a more stringent response and escalate the conflict.
• Observe what happens; the reason for and manner of the arrest; the names and badge numbers if possible, or at least a reliable description of the arresting officials. Be sure to keep a non-threatening distance from the arrest and do not interfere.

Police

• Maintain contact between yourself and the police whenever possible by introducing yourself, making eye contact, smiling, engaging them in conversation to establish the “human” connection.
• Inform police of your intentions in a non-threatening manner.
• Be open to their legitimate concerns, such as traffic flow or any other safety issues.

Disruptions within the vigil and action

• Talk with disrupters if possible. If they are demonstrators, they may be open to good arguments and reminders to adhere to our “Nonviolence Pledge.”
• Sometimes it’s better to distract other demonstrators from the disrupters. Focus or refocus peoples’ attention on the vigil and action itself by encouraging them to keep on moving, singing, chanting, or whatever is appropriate to the situation.

-Adapted from Rocky Flats Action Group nonviolence manual 

** ACT-UP San Diego Peace Monitor Notes provided courtesy of Wendy Sue Biegeleisen, Membership Coordinator of S.A.M.E. (San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality).

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