How Are the Protests in Your City Fighting the Defenses Against the Coronavirus?
While protests are necessary in a democracy – a ploy to get your voice heard between elections – any large gathering carries the risk of transmitting COVID-19. But there are ways to reduce this risk , and many protesters are organizing with these measures in mind.
For example, many protesters wore masks and tried to keep their distance of six feet whenever possible. Photos from the protests often show a sea of masked faces. In just one example, the Black Life Movement ordered thousands of “stop killing blacks” masks to pass out during protests. (They made it into the news because these consignments were confiscated by federal law enforcement and then released.)
Volunteers in many cities also distributed masks and hand sanitizer to protest comrades, like this doctor and nurse at the White Coats for Black Lives protest in Los Angeles, and these people at the Washington DC protests.
Die-ins with nine minutes of silence are a powerful reminder of how long George Floyd was under the officer’s knee, but they also pause the screaming and chanting known to throw breathing droplets into the air. During sit-ins or capital punishment, people also have a chance to create space for themselves without facing crowds.
Meanwhile, the actions of the police often violated some security measures. Keeping protesters in a small area prevents them from keeping their distance. Arrest them and put them in jail, even more so. Many police officers also refuse to wear masks , despite agency orders. Since the police have more power in such situations and often approach protesters, one might think that they should have a greater responsibility than the average protester to ensure the safety of marches.
I’m curious what you see at the protests next to you. What actions are organizers, individuals and the police taking to reduce the harm from being in a large crowd? Who do you think is working against these measures and how?