I attended a conference on activism this week (with a specific group, but I figure it's better to keep it vague when posting online). The organizing board led a structured Q&A session where one of them (an elderly black lady) happened to mention she'd been arrested during a protest before. When they opened the floor to questions from the audience, I got the first question, and I asked "So what's it like to be arrested?"
I was genuinely curious. I haven't found myself in that position through my activism yet, but I figure I might in the future.
She said, "Oh it's all planned" and then went on to detail how she and many other members had been through a specific training on being arrested during activism, that they each left for every protest with $50 and the business card of the organization's lawyer, and that they predetermine who is going to be arrested before they go out.
Another member then explained that when they protest in D.C. at the Capitol, the Capitol police are very used to this, so there's basically this theatrical performance that takes place where they protest; the Capitol police show up and warn them that if they continue, they will be arrested; the people who are not predetermined to be arrested leave; and the remaining people wait for the police to come back, handcuff them, and lead them out of the building. It makes the headlines, they go to jail, and then they get let right back out same day.
This is something that I knew happens, but I left with the impression that a large percentage of the people you see getting arrested in activism went out with the intent to have that happen. Additionally, the board members are all volunteers, so some have day jobs. They predetermine who is going to be arrested basically based on whose life will and won't be wrecked by it. The board members with serious jobs that would fire them if they found out they were arrested at a protest are never in the arrest pool. The elderly black lady who was speaking is retired, so an arrest record can't really do anything to her, therefore she's always in the arrest pool.
Side note: They also told us about a member in a powered wheelchair who tries to get herself arrested at every event just because the police don't know what to do. When last did you see a cop car that could take a person in an electric wheelchair? I find that hilarious.
Long story short, some people you see at protests really are risking it all, but there's also a significant portion of people who are literally trained in being arrested at a protest, so if you've ever felt bad for fearing what a police record could do to your life, just know that that's a legitimate concern that large organizations take into account when deciding who to place in conflict with police. Also know that you don't have to completely wing being arrested at a protest if that's something you're willing to do; you can seek out an organization that will offer you training and backing in exchange for your willingness to be arrested for publicity.
