Bottled water, cash and coronavirus: How to stay safe while protesting in Kansas City
Protests against police brutality, entering their fifth day Tuesday in Kansas City, became dangerous at times as police and demonstrators faced off on the Country Club Plaza.
On several nights, police deployed tear gas and pepper spray, while some protesters threw water bottles and rocks. Cars were set on fire and windows were broken. Several injuries were reported during the weekend and dozens were arrested.
The protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed during an arrest by a white Minneapolis police officer. But in Kansas City many residents raised complaints about the local police department.
Among the protesters were many Kansas Citians, and residents of Overland Park, Belton, Lee’s Summit and other surrounding cities.
As the demonstrations continue, The Star gathered some safety tips from activists and the Kansas City Health Department:
What to bring, what to wear
According to a protest safety guide from Amnesty International USA, anyone going to a protest should bring a water bottle with a squirt top, snacks, cash, medication and a first aid kit.
You should come wearing an N95 face mask and goggles, protective shoes, fresh clothes and a hat. If you have room you should also bring a plastic bag filled with wet bandannas as extra protection against chemicals that police might use, said Justin Mazzola, a researcher at Amnesty International USA.
“Obviously it depends on how much you can carry on you,” Mazzola said.
This gear and clothes are helpful to protect protesters from the sun and from pepper spray and tear gas that could be deployed by police officers to contain the crowd.
Mazzola also said that protesters should be sure not to wear anything that hangs off of them and could be easily grabbed and anyone with long hair should tie it into a bun. Protesters, Mazzola said, should avoid wearing contacts because it could trap chemicals in their eyes.
In the event of arrest leading to confiscation of loss of personal items, protesters should write their emergency contact on their arm or leg in permanent marker.
At the protest
When at a protest, Mazzola said, demonstrators need to keep their “head on a swivel.”
The situation can change quickly and it is important to be aware of surroundings in order to react, he said. Protesters, Mazzola said, should know how they will get out of a situation if they need to do so quickly.
It is not always possible to predict when tensions will rise or when chemicals will be deployed but it can be. Mazzola said that interactions between police and protesters can be an indication of what’s to come. The behavior and gear of officers can be too.
If officers do something that seems unjust or intervenes with the ability to peacefully protest, Mazzola said, witnesses should take note of the agency they work for.
“It’s inherent on the law enforcement agencies that are involved in policing that they’re engaged in such a way that they can deal with (non-peaceful protesters) without infringing on other people’s rights,” Mazzola said.
The Kansas City Police Department Policy on protests provides little detail on when officers should use non-lethal force during a demonstration. Officers primary objective is to restore order, the policy says, “when conditions so dictate and groups become disruptive or are endangering the lives and property of others.”
Branden Mims, the Director of Corrections Intervention for the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, said that protesters should take cues from the organizers and if they see someone escalating tensions unnecessarily take it upon themselves to ask them to stop.
“If you see somebody that’s going to take you off mission in an unnecessary way you’ve got to calm them down,” Mims said. “Especially if you’re protesting the police you want to make sure you’re self policing and you’re not giving opportunity for the police to take action.”
Protesting in a pandemic
Frank Thompson, Deputy Director of the Kansas City Health Department, said he would not tell people to avoid joining the protests because of COVID-19. The issue at hand, he said, is important.
However, he said, there is always a risk of transmission of the virus in large gatherings and those who go should take steps to protect themselves and be aware of their surroundings.
Those planning to protest, Thompson said, should wear a mask and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. Although it can be difficult to social distance in a crowd, Thompson said that even staying an arm’s length from others can help prevent the spread of the virus in an outdoor setting.
They should avoid shaking hands, or hugging other protesters, Thompson said.
Thompson said he would encourage protesters to bring an extra mask and, if they encounter tear gas or pepper spray they should try to get away from other people before they pull their mask down.
If protesters plan to put their mask back on they should only touch the straps so they do not spread chemicals over the mask itself, he said.
Anyone who plans to regularly protest for an extended period of time should seek out a coronavirus test and if they test positive stay home, Thompson said. Similarly, anyone who feels sick should stay home rather than risk exposing a large crowd to COVID-19 or any other contagious disease.
“This can’t be a social pressure kind of deal where folks are pressuring their friends and family members to go out and join,” Thompson said. “Every person knows what their status is, what their conditions are and what their risk is.”
