21st Century Protest Structure: Field Coordination Model
Protesting in 2025 requires structure. The State is organized. Protesters must be, too. The following framework is designed to reduce harm, increase adaptability, and document misconduct in real time.
Central team monitoring police radio (Broadcastify, OpenMHz, analog scanners)
Tracks crowd movement, street closures, staging by police
Sends real-time updates through Signal, Briar, or secure radio systems
Flags signs of kettling or crowd control escalation
Utilize handheld transceivers ("HT")/handheld radios ("Walkie Talkie") or Prepaid cellphones with encrypted messaging apps and encrypted VOIP to communicate with organizing teams in the crowd.
2.) Direction & Movement Teams
Goal: prevent mass arrest via entrapment
On-the-ground teams to scout ahead and identify traps (dead ends, underpasses, bridge bottlenecks)
Quietly redirect crowds as needed; don't give intel/counter-intel a reason to zone in on any particular person or group; be strong but not a target
Teams blend in with the protest but use predefined signals to coordinate
If you have to break (leave and dart away) due to illegal, dangerous, or aggressive trap behavior by authorities, do so in small groups. Assign a scout or decoy to move in a different direction with deliberate speed to create the impression of urgency and redirect pursuit. After separating, attempt to re-establish communication in 15-minute intervals to reduce noise, avoid signal triangulation, and limit detection risk. Use low-visibility methods (predefined encrypted channels, burner devices, short-wave bursts) if possible.
Record frontline police behavior: badge numbers, arrest techniques, excessive force
Operate from both within the crowd and elevated locations (windows, rooftops)
Footage is backed up live or regularly to offsite/secure storage
Purpose: create admissible evidence, not confrontation
Volunteer teams modeled after or trained by National Lawyers Guild observers
Stationed at likely points of tension (front lines, transport wagons)
Record identifying information on officers and arrestees
Maintain professional distance and neutrality
5.) Information Collection Teams
Gather voluntary protester IDs and emergency contacts for jail support
Log officer misconduct with timestamps, location, and unit info
Match scanner audio to observed events when possible
Prepare formal documentation post-protest
6.) Internal De-escalation Units
Monitor for behavior that gives police pretext for crackdown (property destruction, attempted arson, provocateurs)
Isolate and calm those individuals
Document suspicious agitators if needed
Priority: avoid PR collapse and legal justification for suppression
7.) Social Media Coordination
Designated accounts post verified updates, police positioning, arrest reports
Monitor and counter disinformation in real time
Preferably run by people off-site using VPNs and alt accounts
No central account—decentralized posting reduces vulnerability
If you use public transportation pay with cash, use cash to buy metro/transport cards at a currency exchange (or similar location) or use a pre-paid RFID debit cards that allow them
If you use private transportation park away from protests to reduce harassment, potential theft/destruction, and to give yourself an reasonable exit.
9.) Response Unit (Healthcare, Hydration, Tactical Defense, De-escalation)
The Response Unit is tasked with frontline and midline support during moments of escalation, crowd distress, or chemical/impact deployment. These volunteers must remain calm, mobile, and trained. Equipment should be organized in marked bags or packs, easily accessible in chaotic conditions.
Carry first aid kits with trauma pads, saline flush, gloves, and antiseptics
Identify medics visually (e.g., colored tape or marked vests) but avoid excessive attention
Triage in place when possible; move only if absolutely necessary
Volunteers should know how to treat blunt trauma, burns, sprains, and lacerations
Carry emergency contact forms for unconscious individuals (if pre-registered)
Affordable EM devices include Portable Blood Pressure Monitor Cuffs and Blood Glucose Monitoring Kits
Do not administer medication unless someone is a trained EMT or in a related field
Distribute water regularly, especially in high-heat or long-march conditions
Keep backup water for emergency use (decontamination, eye flushes)
Tactical Response: Smoke, Gas, Impact
Carry water buckets or wide-mouth bottles to neutralize smoke canisters (if safe to do so)
Use thick gloves or tongs if attempting removal
Umbrellas can block gas and redirect airflow briefly; also break up visibility for snipers or drones; they can also bounce thrown smoke grenades or flashbangs, although those are usually ground-tossed
Protective eyewear, cloth masks, or soaked bandanas help but are not full protection against tear gas
Use saline or water+antacid (e.g., Maalox) 50/50 mix to flush eyes exposed to pepper spray
Never use oil-based lotions or creams pre-protest (they trap chemicals)
De-escalation & Crowd Calm
Trained volunteers move to calm panicked or agitated groups
Help direct people toward exits or safe zones without creating additional chaos
Watch for false alarms, planted agents, or compromised individuals
Quiet body language and clear, short commands work best ("Walk. Breathe. This way.")
Never escalate physical confrontation unless to prevent serious injury
Carry duplicates of essential tools in case of loss or theft
Avoid overpacking or overidentification with red/medical markings (can become targets)
Plan rendezvous points for regrouping post-escalation
Ensure units understand hand signals or light-code cues if verbal communication is compromised
Do not bring items that can harm both authorities and civilians (laser pointers, weapons, dangerous chemicals, etc) and do not bring items you are unsure of that would give authorities an excuse to attack (multitools, large flashlights that can be mistaken for a weapon, large bike-locks that could used a weapon, etc)
The Response Unit is not just reactive — it stabilizes the group, maintains morale, and ensures that no one is left behind when systems break down.
Avoid bringing phones with biometrics or open apps if attending in person; use mesh networks or QR-based Signal groups if possible
Avoid bring phones at all if possible
All volunteers should know jail support procedures and have legal aid numbers memorized or written down
This model is not about optics. It’s about minimizing risk and maximizing accountability. Share, adapt, or operationalize as needed.
