Safety Guidelines

A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to non violent action. 

     We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values, and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

     If you take part in these demonstrations, protests, or events, you are committing to nonviolent action in words as well as deeds. 

     To keep everyone safe and to make sure our WHAT WE STAND FOR is heard above all else, please follow these simple guidelines:

Do not yell, make gestures, or confront anyone who opposes our views.

Stay on the sidewalk and out of roadways. Be mindful of private property.

It is not safe if someone stops their car to chat. Ignore them if they oppose our views, and encourage supporters to move along safely. 

Stand back and leave room to allow any neighbors passing by the ability to pass though unimpeded. 

Encourage signs that tell others what we stand for, not just against, like healthcare, schools, social security, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, feeding the hungry, veterans, safety, peace/ceasefire, human rights, etc....

Leave spaces better than you found them and do not tamper with any public or private property.

Take responsibility for yourself and gently remind your allies to follow these rules if need be.

If an unknown person approaches and claims to be an "independent" or "citizen" journalist, politely direct them to that day's designated press coordinator. We recommend that you not engage or answer any questions.

Some simple de-escalation techniques include:

Listen!

Speak quietly

Move slowly

Keep your hands visible

Use non-threatening body language.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Six Principles of Nonviolence  

Principle one: 

Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally. 

Principle two:

Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community. 

Principle three:

Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil, not people. 

Principle four:

Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform. Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities. 

Principle five:

Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative. 

Principle six:

Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice. The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.