PJALS trains supporters and community about protesters' rights, risks

 

In this time of many protests and actions to challenge authoritarianism, the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS) has been training supporters and community members about protestors' rights and protest methods that mitigate or reduce risk of negative outcomes.

Liz Moore, PJALS executive director, recently described the content and purposes of several trainings they have offered.

"We started holding Protesting 101 trainings in the summer at the request of Spokane Indivisible, which is linking in with national No Kings and other protests of authoritarianism," Liz began.

More than 300 people participated in the first two of those trainings. A third is being offered on Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The goal is for people to know their rights when they are in a public space, to learn safety strategies and risk assessment, to plan for participation before a protest, to pay attention during it and to determine what to do after a protest, Liz said, listing the elements of concern.

"It's important to pay attention and understand what the event is: What is it for? Where is it being held? When is it, including the starting and ending times? Who is putting it on? Why is it being held—objectives?" she listed.

PJALS also encourages those planning a protest to include their logo clearly on posters and promotional materials, so people know if they align with the event and want to support it.

"Making a risk assessment means knowing what one is willing to risk when they go to a protest," Liz said.

She also advises going with a buddy to "take care of you," like reminding each other to drink water, to breathe deeply to cool down and to know when to leave.

"We are facing a fascist power grab, so there is no guaranteed safety," Liz clarified. "The best plan is to have a buddy."

Other dynamics to promote safety are to follow the organizers' directions, unless they encourage actions that are not what a protester wants to do. In that case, the protester should leave.

Another piece of advice is not to engage with any opposition because it may create a risk for others nearby.

Liz described some other trainings PJALS has done for many years.

De-escalation training prepares Peacekeeper Teams of volunteers to be at events. More than 200 have gone through the training and are on PJALS' list to go in groups of four to 30 to protests and other events. There were 30, the largest number ever, at the October "No Kings" rally.

"As part of their event safety planning, other groups can fill out a form to request a peacekeeper at pjals.org/peacekeepers," Liz said.

PJALS also offers workshops for Event Safety Planning for protests or other community events, to train planners to keep in mind the wellbeing of participants and safety strategies for protecting those at a community event.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, PJALS will offer training on "Non-Violent Direct Action." Those who register online will be notified of the location.

Many of the rules for Protesting 101 come from this training, but this training goes into understanding the strategic value of a commitment to non-violence and includes role playing.

Liz announced a new training PJALS is offering from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22. It is on "People Power: Creative Resistance against Authoritarianism." Registration is also online with the location given at the time or registration.

This training is based on other successful nonviolence movements against authoritarianism around the world.

"We are looking at patterns in the authoritarian playbook, so we are in a place of choice and plan in advance to avoid being caught in constant reaction," Liz explained.

"We are also looking at ways all of us can use our existing relationships and networks to enact and encourage a wide range of non-cooperation—small things individuals can do in collective acts of non-cooperation," she said, beginning with not complying in advance—like journalists walking out of the Pentagon and airports not playing a Department of Homeland Security video blaming Democrats for the shutdown.

"There is an entry point for everyone. There are many ways to act. Some assume if they act against authoritarianism, they will risk arrest. Some may, but there is a vast range of possibilities for individual or collective actions," she commented.

"Not all will be like former PJALS co-director Nancy Nelson, who was arrested 13 times," Liz said. "There are many actions people can do. They can just use creativity to figure what it is."

To keep attuned to opportunities, Liz invites people to join the PJALS email list or follow PJALS on social media.

PJALS collaborates with many partners, including Indivisible and 60 groups who recently called for community solutions that included emergency aid for immigrant families and transparency by police and the sheriff. They sent out the list of solutions on July 24 and held a press conference on Sept. 10.

They also worked with partner organizations to advance their solutions and encourage elected leaders to use creativity to protect immigrant neighbors, to speak up boldly to protect first amendment rights and to support inclusive, multiracial democracy.

The PJALS staff team collaborates to make the programs, trainings and actions happen, the staff team includes development director Shar Lichty, community organizer Shantell Jackson, digital organizer Trévis Ray, operations coordinator James Hiers, and youth organizers Foster Transue, Nico Jaggar, Wyktoria Taschler and Fenrir Close. Gian Mitchell is the new regional organizer.

She shared that PJALS is intergenerational. When it launched the fall Young Activist Leaders Program (YALP), 30 young people showed up with a passion to make change happen. Four part-time youth organizers on staff are coordinating the youth program to engage in voter contact to support Together Spokane, which connects improvements in parks and schools, and then to learn the nuts and bolts of organizing.

"Folks sharpen their skills through workshops, webinars and our annual Action Conference and take what they learn into action in the world," she said.

At its recent 50th anniversary lunch, PJALS raised $34,000 of its goal of $37,000 and added new friends.

For information, call 838-7870 or visit pjals.org.