Page 31 - American Survival Guide - October 2017

FROM

PEACEFUL TO

PROVOCATION

As already mentioned, protests are organic events that can
change dramatically with just a small incident. People who
take part in a protest are there because they are passionate
about the topic, so they often act based on emotion, not
rational thought. Mounting frustration when their “opponent”
isn’t doing what they want, an unintentional shot, a single
act of vandalism or police use of riot-control techniques
are all things that can turn frustration into acts of violence,
vandalism and theft.
Staying calm is the key to keeping the flame away from the
fuse that feeds the powder keg.

when I see tra c slowing down on my daily commute, I will check my GPS to see what ‹ Above: Protests ESCAPE ROUTES
are based on
might be causing it and then take a new route the fi rst chance I get to bypass it. Do the things that But where do you go? Research has
same thing when walking or driving in the city. people are shown that the best strategy is to move
passionate about.
Another way to get news of trouble as soon as possible is to use social media (Facebook, They often end along connecting streets and safe alley-
Twitter and Instagram), through which people tend to share their lives and their world peacefully, but ways that run at right angles to the location
sometimes, they
in their posts. can turn violent or direction of travel for the rioting. Then
due to activists
or outside move at least a few blocks away before
agitators. (Photo: continuing on your way.
Wikimedia.org)
If you are stuck in the middle of a block, look
for large businesses like hotels or o ce buildings.
These often have entrances on more than one
side of the building so you can walk through
them to get to the next street over.
If you have time before you visit the
area, you should look for possible escape
routes from the areas you expect to be in.
You should also look for places that could
turn into choke points that could slow
your movement out of the area or which
might be locations where protesters
planned to block traffic.

AVOID AREAS
WHERE

‹ Left: Bean bag PROTESTERS
shotguns (such
as this one with AND LAW
orange furniture
to show it is a ENFORCEMENT
nonlethal device)
are another way
to safely control MIGHT COME
crowds and
stop assaults by INTO CONFLICT.
rioters or violent
protestors. (Photo:
Wikimedia.org)
[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 31

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