This document provides guidance for peaceful protest and civil disobedience. It outlines the objectives of staying safe and exercising First Amendment rights. It emphasizes practicing nonviolence and avoiding actions that could escalate tensions like damaging property. The document discusses that protesters may be arrested and how to communicate effectively during civil disobedience by maintaining eye contact and not saying anything threatening. It also provides tips for de-escalating violence if it occurs and the importance of history showing nonviolent protest can create change.

1. A BRIEF TRAINING
PEACEFUL
ACTION

2. OBJECTIVES
01. To peacefully exercise your First Amendment Rights.
02. To stay safe.
03. To be aware of what may happen if you are arrested.
04. How to tell your story.
05. What NOT to do.

3. A THOUGHT
It is ok to stand up to your government.

4. IF YOU STAND UP, YOU
MAY BE ARRESTED

5. PRACTICE
YOU NEED TO PRACTICE NONV
NONVIOLENCE IS:
ACTIVE

6. AVOID VIOLENT
WINIT’S HUMAN
LOOK TO THE
FUTURE
WILLINGNESS
DEFEAT EVIL
First, nonviolence is resistance to
evil and oppression. It is a human
way to fight.
Second, it does not seek to defeat
or humiliate the opponent, but to
win his/ her friendship and
understanding.
The nonviolent method is an
attack on the forces of evil rather
than against persons doing the
evil. It seeks to defeat the evil and
not the persons doing the evil and
injustice.
Fourth, it is the willingness to
accept suffering without retaliation.
Fifth, a nonviolent resister avoids
both external physical and internal
spiritual violence- not only refuses
to shoot, but also to hate, an
opponent. The ethic of real love is
at the center of nonviolence.
nonviolence.
The believer in nonviolence has a
deep faith in the future and the
forces in the universe are seen to
be on the side of justice.
PRINCIPAL
S

7. HISTORY
monstration has been used for hundreds of years to change some of the most important issues
• Civil Rights Discrimination
• Wage and Labor
• Vietnam
• Suffrage
• AIDS Awareness
• Anti-Apartheid

8. Do not damage property,
and do not alter the
environment.
Do not commit violence
against police, property,
observers, or ANYONE.
Do not bring weapons,
illegal drugs, This includes
things that could be used
as weapons like scissors,
nail files or other common
objects. In doubt? Don’t
bring it.
DO NOT
DO THIS

9. HISTORY
From ACT UP:
Power itself is not derived through violence, though in governmental
form it is usually violent in nature.
Governmental power is often maintained through oppression and the
tacit compliance of the majority of the governed. Any significant
withdrawal of that compliance will restrict or dissolve governmental
control. Apathy in the face of injustice is a form of violence. Struggle
and conflict are often necessary to correct injustice.
Our struggle is not easy, and we must not think of nonviolence as a
"safe" way to fight oppression. The strength of nonviolence comes
from our willingness to take personal risk without threatening other
people.
It is essentia
plays. The "
roles.

10. COMMUNICATION
The following are basics of communication during Civil Disobedience:
1. Your objectives must be reasonable. You must believe you are fair and you
must be able to communicate this to your opponent.
2. Maintain as much eye contact as possible.
3. Make no abrupt gestures. Move slowly. When practical, tell your opponent what
you are going to do before you do it. Don't say anything threatening, critical, or
hostile.

11. COMMUNICATION
The following are basics of communication during Civil Disobedience:
4. Don't be afraid of stating the obvious; say simply

12. COMMUNICATION
The following are basics of communication during Civil Disobedience:
5. Someone in the process of committing an act of violence has strong
expectations as to how his/ her victim will behave. If you manage to
behave differently-in a nonthreatening manner you can interrupt the flow
of events that would have culminated in an act of violence. You must
create a scenario new to your opponent.
6. Seek to befriend your opponent's better nature; even the most brutal
and brutalized among us have some spark of decency that the nonviolent
defender can reach.

13. COMMUNICATION
The following are basics of communication during Civil Disobedience:
7. Don't shut down in response to physical violence; you have to play it
by ear. The best rule is to resist as firmly as you can without escalating
the anger or the violence. Try varying approaches and keep trying to alter
your opponent's picture of the situation.
8. Get your opponent talking and listen to what s/he says. Encourage
him/her to talk about what s/he believes, wishes, fears. Don't argue but at
the same time don't give the impression you agree with assertions that
are cruel or immoral. The listening is more important than what you say-
keep the talk going and keep it calm.

18. ACTION
IF YOU SEE VIOLENCE:
REPORT IT

20. CLOSING
The balance of power in our country rests on people like you. People
who are willing to face arrest to exercise their First Amendment rights
and to fight for those who cannot be heard.