Read on Twitter
I’m seeing a few tweets about leaving your kids at home during protests and, while that’s ideal, some people WILL bring their kids to protest and you can (and should) prepare yourself! A thread:
My state’s protest went south at the state house. heard what I can only assume were flashbangs being deployed along with tear gas. I didnt see the group I came with so I took off on my own, along with some other protestors, past the state house through the shrubs.
I stopped at an intersection 1 block from the state house to call my siblings and try to find them. While waiting for their location, I found a (black) mother and her younger daughter standing there with several police cars on the road next to us.
The cops had blocked off roads around the statehouse for the protest and were sitting there. One cop called her over and told her to take her daughter and leave because this will scare her. Mother continued talking to him. The daughter started crying.
I went over. Mom was waiting for the rest of her family. The daughter was probably about 8. I briefly looked at the mom for confirmation that it was okay to touch her daughter and went in for a hug. Mom went to talk to the cop in the road while I comforted.
She said she was scared and wanted to go home. Several more flash bangs went off, causing her to cry harder (if you’ve ever heard these, they’re like canon booms.) I explained they were just things meant to be loud and couldn’t actually hurt her and she was safe.
When I looked up, I saw piles of police officers down the block, forming a line in front of the state house. I turned her so our backs were facing them. She yelled at her mom that she was scared and cried into my chest. I shushed her and kept her from looking up.
Mom came back and we turned to see that someone about her age was rushing down the street with little boys — elementary aged. I can only assume this was the rest of her family. Finally reunited, the group took off.
When you protest, please remember that it’s very possible for kids to be present. And what is scary to you — because tear gas and rubber bullets and flash bangs and running and screaming are insanely scary — is 20x more scary for them.
Police may not be deterred from force even WITH kids present. If they aren’t, look for children. When things get bad, the first instinct is to run, of course, but LOOK OUT FOR KIDS who may get caught in a stampede. PROTECT them and make sure they don’t lose their parents.
If you see a child at a protest, put your body in between the child and the noise — for their safety, as well as to prevent them from seeing what’s happening. Encourage them to cover their ears from loud noises, doing so yourself as a model if need be.
When comforting a kid, remember not all kids like being touched, especially if overwhelmed with the commotion and you’re a stranger. Try putting one hand on their shoulder and see how they react — they usually will make it clear if they don’t like it.
In summary, assure them they are safe. If you know me, you know I’m naturally protective, having worked with elementary/middle-school aged kids regularly for about 4 years. But the more of us can be there to watch our for our young ones, the better!
You may feel the urge to just say “but WHY bring a child to protest?” this protest started very peaceful. And anyway, who am I to tell this black family not to bring their children to a protest about THEM? Let people bring kids if they feel led, and help protect them!
