Protests on campuses are nothing new, in fact they have been with us for generations. What is different is the recent uptick in the violence we see during a protest. Social changes, political changes, world events, and other trends in societal norms, beliefs, and attitudes combined with the stress of our modern world has created the atmosphere for violence.
In our modern world there is an “Expected Level of Care” that every institution/ business/ organization must provide to their students, staff, and visitors.
We must take care in advance of any kind of event taking place on our campuses to ensure we have prepared ourselves for any eventuality that may take place. We must consider our plans, preparation, and responses to both non-violent and violent events- failure to do so can be catastrophic to life, limb, and property.
As part of the bedrock of our society is the right of people to express their concerns in private and in public. To make their voices heard on topics that affect their lives. To advocate for change, vent anger, grieve, or to celebrate. A positive demonstration or protest can have good effects on a campus, it can bring people together, clarify a point of view or help heal a wound.
When planning for a protest or demonstration we need to understand the mindset of the participants so we can plan properly. Concerns about a positive event, one with no violence, can include many of the same things we look at for addressing a violent one, the difference can be in the consequences for NOT being prepared if the protest turns violent. Because of that reality we will cover both types simultaneously. Better to be overprepared than under prepared.
What we need to consider and cover as part of our planning can include:
Planning, Preparation, Training, Performance, Handling Problems, Responding to Danger/Violence, Securing the Location, Moving People, Addressing Injuries, and Recovery from Known and Unknown events.
There are things to consider before the event. First, we must breakdown the event into two categories and address each one individually.
- The Known Event- This is a protest or demonstration that we know about in advance. It may have been publicized, posters can be put up, and other notifications made to let people know about the event and get them to attend.
- The Unknown or Unexpected Event-POP UP
This is a protest or demonstration that happens organically based on immediate events in the city, state, nation, or the world. These events can be based on social incidents, cultural events, violence outside of your campus, national conversations, protests outside of your area that begin to spread across your community. They can happen quickly.
The key to a proper response to either of these kinds of events is being prepared in advance.
Let’s look at the Known Event, There are some steps we can take to prepare ourselves and our organizations, such as:
- Review the announcements- Posters, social media, newspaper articles and others looking for insight into potential problems.
- Understand the event and the issues present to help you plan the response.
- Know who is coming and who is expected to come.
- Investigate previous similar events for lessons learned.
- Gather all possible intelligence.
Where a Known Event or an Unknown Event we must have a process to prepare for them. The known event gives us some time to prepare, assess, and act before anything takes place. The unknown event requires the same actions on your part, but if they are not considered and planned for in advance you can be caught off guard/short-handed/ undersupplied and unprepared to properly handle the events as they unfold. This can lead to additional violence, injury, and property destruction.
Getting ready for each kind of event:
- The Known event
Based on your pre-event information and investigation you begin to develop your plan for handling the activities, how you will deploy your personnel, train your staff, and respond to potential problems that can arise.
- The Unknown or PO-UP event
You must have plans, policy, training, and equipment ready and at hand to be activated the minute we get indications of potential trouble.
One of the next main steps in preparation is to Identifying Areas of Concern.
The concepts of preparation and planning can be overwhelming if we don’t see them as a priority. If seen as a priority, we can provide the time and resources needed to properly consider all possibilities, engage our teams to work together, dedicate time for training and obtaining the required supplies, equipment, technology, and assistance we need in advance of any problems.
This is Key.
The question we must ask then is how to Identify Areas of Concern. A simple and easy way to consider how to identify areas of concern is this:
Think of the old saying “Murphys Law”, which is a supposed law of nature, expressed in various humorous popular sayings, to the effect that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. **
** Definition from Oxford Languages
With that definition in mind, we set out to look for areas of concern.
What this means for us is this:
- Plan on a worst-case scenario. (for non-violent and violent events)
- Consider the unexpected. Do we create barriers?
- Conduct “What if” sessions.
- Go outside of your own experience (Lessons Learned).
- Conduct a Tabletop drill.
- Better to be overprepared than underprepared.
Here are some of the concerns to address before the event:
- Security personnel- uniform and undercover
- Pre-event training- Laws, Policy, Procedure, First-Aid
- Pre-event route review (Bricks/ Bottles/ Weapons)
- Staging places- Incident command/ Reinforcements/ Incoming help/ First Aid
- Equipment- Tech/ Cameras/ Riot gear/ Gas/ Pepper Spray/ Shields
- Route with escapes for protesters
- Securing facilities along the way.
- Fast response teams
- Arrests
- Damage to public property
- Shots fired/ Lone wolf/ other (Technology)
- Overcrowding in areas
- Communications
- Emergency responses to : Fire/ Explosion/ shots fired/ knife assault/ other weapons.
- Outside assistance (Who, where from, Financials MOAs)
Thank you and always be safe!
Lt. Joseph Pangaro
contacts:
Email: JPangaro@IntegraServices.com
Website: www.IntegraServices.com