Public Witnessing: March/Protest Etiquette - Dos and Don’ts Safety Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Jesus’ actions of creative nonviolence listed in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 are specific to the 1st century – the society in which Jesus lived and ministered. The actions of turning cheeks, going the second mile, and laying down cloaks were rooted in Jesus’ gospel ethic of love and justice. This gospel ethic upholds the humanity of the oppressed and the oppressor while speaking to the conscience of the oppressor saying “We need you to do better for the sake of all God’s creation.”

To safely public witnessing events, please observe the guidelines below. We also recommend following instructions and guidance provided by the organizers at: https://faithful-resistance.squarespace.com/#information

Individual and Communal Participation

**At marches and protests, it is wise to enable Airplane Mode on smart phones. Airplane mode ensures that your device will not be transmitting for the duration of your time at this event and prevents your location from being tracked. If you have a smartwatch or other IoT devices, disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Please also be mindful when considering sharing or posting photos or videos of the procession to social media and ensure you have expressed consent of anyone whose face is fully visible.

CLOSING WORDS

Any public witness is a time to demonstrate the spiritual discipline nonviolent resistance with our faith. This time also includes the safety of every participant. Please follow and stay within the route markers. If you see any suspicious behavior, please quickly report to the nearest trained de-escalator and authority. Let us be rooted in justice, mercy, and love for our neighbor. Remember that we are demonstrating a love that is far greater than hate - a light that outshines darkness!