Devices for alerting relatives, equipment against tear gas or truncheons, recording of an arrest… Activists and collectives give their advice to demonstrators on Twitter.
“I see many new protesters of incredible strength and courage, but friends, I invite you to protect yourselves as much as possible”, wrote “Nrgss”, an opponent of the pension reform, on Twitter. Then he unfolds a whole series of advice addressed to those who have planned to take to the streets on Thursday, January 23 for the day of interprofessional mobilization: “Contact friends so as not to go there alone or via the networks an already formed group”, “Put on an outfit without distinctive signs, dark, do not forget scarf masks, FFP2 mask”.
>> Demonstrations against the pension reform: in what context can a police officer use physical force?
Protesters, elected officials, lawyers and magistrates have been denouncing police violence and arbitrary arrests for several days . They also point to a disproportionate use of force. However, the latter must respond to a specific framework, provided for the forces of order, which “have a duty to set an example”hammered the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, Tuesday, March 22, at the Assembly. Guest of franceinfo, Laurent Nuñez, prefect of Police of Paris, affirmed that if ” gestures“are accused of police officers, he asked each time” a report“.” At a minimum, there is an administrative investigation and the IGPN (police of fonts) “can intervene” in court“.” When there are extremely borderline gestures, the police must be held accountable“, he assured.
Among the first questions asked by the demonstrators, that of the arrest comes first. So what if a police officer intervenes? If a lot of false information about the right to spontaneous protest is circulating, a diagram shared on Twitter offers a quicker overview.
Reacting to testimonies of demonstrators beaten by the police or sprayed with tear gas during the last rallies, associations, collectives or simple citizens are writing guides to march “safe”. This ranges from a reminder of the protester’s rights to the “protective kit” the most elaborate.
THE “survival basics” of the collective “Disarm them” for “Protect yourself from police weapons” are, for example, widely relayed on Twitter . ” Whether or not we are in favor of direct action in demonstration or confrontation with the police, explain the activists on their site, the protection and self-defense are a matter independent of any offensive strategy, which must be approached in a pragmatic and rational manner”.
“Let’s disarm them” even offers a kind of “crash-test” of the protester’s equipment: models of “eye protection”, “head protection”, “respiratory protection” And “hearing protection” are evaluated. Thus, wearing a site mask is “highly recommended” by the collective when “industry” type glasses are not recommended.
“Record your inquiry”
Some tweeters also share a kind of “guide for injured protesters or witnesses of injuries”, published by the Information Anti Autoritaire Toulouse et Surroundings site. The article explains in particular how to act if a demonstrator is the victim of bleeding, burns, blows from truncheons… And details a whole series of anti-tear gas remedies: “spray of diluted Maalox”, “physiological serum”, “cry”.
Other accounts look at ways to document rallies and police brutality. “You can set up an automation on your phone to log your call in case something goes wrong,” asserts for example AVA MIND. In her tutorial, the streamer explains in particular how to trigger via an iPhone with “localization by your relatives or even an automatic SMS to people you trust to warn them of the situation”.
The Nothing2hide association relays a digital protection guide intended for professional journalists and apprentice reporters: “If you are going to demonstrate today #Greve23Mars, go out covered and read our guide to protecting smartphones during demonstrations”. It gives both advice to demonstrators to protect their data and their images, but also to make their phone a warning tool.
Between 600,000 and 800,000 demonstrators were expected this Thursday, March 23 in France for the 9th day of interprofessional strike against the pension reform, according to a note from territorial intelligence, which franceinfo was able to consult this Wednesday. Following the use of 49.3, and the ” insurrectional climate that has developed in recent days “, the information fears in particular overflows in a dozen cities in France such as Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Rennes, Lille or Caen.