Thread by @ChiknSamich

With the #TbilisiProtests happening, I feel obligated to compile a list of helpful tips and ideas to help the protesters deal with and survive the riot police, based on past mass protests I watched unfold. I welcome any and all additions bc I am no expert. 🧵

Personal Prep & Safety: Charge your phone & an extra battery bank if you have it. Tell someone where you are going. Do not go anywhere alone. If you are being arrested, shout out your name so others know who you are. 🧵

Write down important phone numbers on your arm with a permanent marker incase you lose your phone or it is taken. As far as phones go, turn off location services if you can. In 🇭🇰 the police would track the protesters via location services. 🧵

If you are going to document, record anything you can. Live stream it, and coordinate with someone to save those streams. Take pictures and send them immediately to someone away from the protest that can save them. Same with videos. 🧵

Evidence of the event and any police brutality will not see the light of day if your phone or camera gets destroyed. Dress in layers that can be stripped off if contaminated with pepper spray or other irritants. Cover as much skin as possible. 🧵

Swimming goggles & respirator masks for painting were very successful for 🇭🇰 and many protesters in the USA. Swim goggles will protect your eyes from gas, pepper spray & those water hoses. Whatever you can get, make it shatter proof. Avoid wearing contact lenses. if possible. 🧵

First aid items are small. Band-aids in a variety of sizes, first aid tape & antiseptic take up little room in a bag. Consider ace bandage in case of more serious wounds. If you can, look into purchasing a pepper spray antidote, such as the BioShield Decontamination Spray. 🧵

Another option is to make your own:
1. Milk, honey, a mild detergent and a pinch of baking soda
2. Cornmeal, milk and honey
3. Half water, half liquid antacid
4. Canola oil (for the skin, not the eyes)
5. Alcohol (for rinsing… although drinking it might ease the pain more) 🧵

Pepper spray is not water-soluble, so rinsing with any of these solutions might bring temporary relief, but the pain will probably last about half an hour. If you rinse with water, make it as cold as possible. Warm water will open your pores and let more burn in. 🧵

Rags, a roll of medical tape, work/gardening/heat resistant gloves, small bottle of aspirin, vinyl gloves to protect your hands and prevent spreading pepper spray if you are hit. 🧵

Try not to get separated from the group. Too many videos from Maidan, to Hong Kong, to LA show what happens when a protester is isolated.
Be aware of where police might herd you. Being crushed or trampled is a real danger. 🧵

Be aware of Kettling (also known as containment or corralling). It is a police tactic for controlling large crowds during demonstrations or protests. It involves the formation of large cordons of police officers who then move to contain a crowd within a limited area.🧵

Protesters either leave through an exit controlled by the police, leave through an uncontrolled gap in the cordons, or are contained, prevented from leaving, and arrested. 🧵

The tactic has proved controversial, in part because it has resulted in the detention of ordinary bystanders as well as protesters. In March 2012 kettling was ruled lawful by the European Court of Human Rights following a legal challenge. 🧵

Here is a PDF about seven tactics that worked for the 🇭🇰 protesters: static1.squarespace.com/static/58727b5…

🇭🇰 had DIY hand signs to cut down on the confusion in the middle of the chaos. 🧵

They had their shit together. Take anything useful from them that you can. 🧵

You already know provocateurs may show up to cause trouble for the protesters, dressed to blend in like in Maidan, Hong Kong, and the US. Capturing their faces on camera and making sure it gets spread to the public can help you identify them and their cohorts. 🧵

This is by no means everything. Anyone with more knowledge and experience than me, please feel free to correct or add to any of this. 🧵

The Georgian Legion and Georgian people have stood by Ukraine in their hour of need. I could not sleep at night if I did not do the same for them. This isn't much, but if it helps, good. Stay strong Georgia. Protect each other. Godspeed. 🫶🇬🇪 #GeorgiaIsEurope