Five Ways to Intervene when They're Being Brutal

Some More Risky Than Others

As we prepare for the big marches and demonstrations upcoming this weekend April 5th, I find myself thinking a lot about how to counter what some have called the bystander effect. Back in February, in Coeur d/Alene, Idaho, a woman named Teresa Borrenpohl was accused of being disruptive, and Security Forces roughly dragged her out of a Town Hall meeting. That’s her, in the picture. No one actively defended her. It's possible, in deep red Idaho, that no one wanted to. But it's also possible that people may have wanted to intervene, but simply didn't know what to do.

Unless you've thought about it beforehand, or had some nonviolent direct action and de-escalation training, it's unlikely that you would spontaneously know what to do. I've trained people in nonviolent direct action since the days of the Diablo Canyon Blockade against a nuclear power plant built on an earthquake fault in California, back in the early ‘80s. I've been to hundreds of demonstrations and marches, and helped to train activists for situations ranging from peaceful and legal marches--which the April 5th demonstrations are planned to be-- to activists facing police riots or brutal military. standing up to brutal police forces and military. I’ve seen police run into a crowd and snatch someone to arrest—and sometimes, I’ve seen the crowd stop them nonviolently. Again, we’re hoping and expecting this weekend will be calm and peaceful. But just in case—and because this struggle is going to go on for a long time, here's five nonviolent but proactive ways you can intervene when authorities are brutal, starting with the least risky and going on to the most risky.

1. Point and chant:

It's the middle of a mass rally, people are shouting, and suddenly you see two black clad figures dragging someone away. Or perhaps a cop is beating a proteste. What can you do? The simplest intervention is to visibly point at the incident and get others around you to do the same, to focus group attention on it. You can also start a loud and vigorous chant: for example, “Police brutality! Police brutality!” Or “The whole world is watching!

A snatch squad or out-of-control cop may be deterred, and will certainly feel uncomfortable, when they find themselves at the center of a loud and most likely angry crowd.

2. Get information:

If someone is being dragged away, call out to them and ask “What's your name? Who can I contact?” It can be really helpful to know quickly who the victim is. One of the most terrifying aspects of the current moment is the fear that people can be abducted and disappeared, and their friends and relatives may not know what's happened or where they've been taken to. Getting this information will help the victim feel less completely lost and isolated, and can speed up the process of getting them legal aid and media attention if needed.

3. Film the incident:

Why do we have these ubiquitous, do-everything smartphones with great cameras if not to whip them out and use them on such occasions? The power of those videos cannot be overestimated. Darnella Frazier’s video of the murder of George Floyd countered the police attempts to cover up the incident and ignited the #Black Lives Matter movement. In many other cases videos have figured in court cases and brought accountability. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/us/police-violence-george-floyd.html

4. Become a Passive Obstacle:

Imagine if, when security guards were dragging Teresa Borrenpohl out of that Town Hall Meeting, a crowd had simply filled the aisles? Or sat down and blocked the exit doors? This is a riskier tactic, and it requires either a group already prepared to act together, or someone with a loud voice and great determination to mobilize the crowd. You may end up getting dragged off or even arrested. But it will, if nothing else, delay the snatchers.

Do be careful, however, not to surround police without leaving them an exit route. Make sure they have a clear avenue to escape the crowd—otherwise, they may panic and become even more dangerous.

5. Puppy Pile:

This is the highest-risk intervention, but I’ve seen it work many times to stop a beating or prevent someone from being taken away. You simply place your body atop the person being beaten or dragged. Be careful not to touch the police or any of their equipment—technically, that counts as assault. It works best, of course, when, as soon as one person does it, others pile on. In order to prevent the person on the bottom from being crushed by solidarity, the first puppy-piler should use their hands and arms to form a bridge. Others can clasp their hands behind their heads, at the base of their neck, to protect that vulnerable spot.

This tactic can get you beaten up or arrested, so be aware of those risks if you make this choice. But it can also be very effective. Often, an out-of-control cop is in a sort of trance of rage—interrupting it can give them time to recover, or give other police a chance to pull them back. And their immediate instinct generally seems to be, not to just start breaking , but to peel off the puppy pilers and get back to their original victim. But there are no guarantees!

As a nonviolence trainer, I present people with an array of choices; I never tell them which choice to make. Only you know how much risk is right for you to take. There are many circumstances which might come into play—from your home or work responsibilities to your physical state. There are many things I’ve done when I was younger that I wouldn’t do now. And higher-risk actions may not always be the most effective actions. Not all of these will work in every circumstance. You must be the judge. But being prepared, thinking ahead and practicing, if you have the chance, will help you be more empowered in an emergency. You don’t have to stand paralyzed with shock and fear—you can do something!

I keep my posts free for all to read—and if you subscribe, at any level, you’ll get them delivered to your inbox. If you can afford to upgrade to a paid subscription, you will help support my writing and organizing and earn my undying gratitude! Our next Community Conversation for Paid Subscribers is coming up on Sunday, April 6! Upgrade now and join us!

Paid Subscribers: $6 a month or $60 a year

· Full access to all posts and archives.

· Community Conversations: A monthly live discussion with Starhawk.

· Starhawk's Tangled Web: A dedicated chat thread for paid subscribers

For WebWeavers: Founding members at $300 a year ($25 a month)

All of the above, plus:

· The Spider's Thread: A dedicated chat thread for WebWeavers

Regardless of what level you choose, know that I am so grateful to have you part of this community!