1 of 60

2 of 60

3 of 60

Election Reporting in hostile environments��Jeff Belzil, SMV��

4 of 60

5 of 60

6 of 60

Police intimidation & violence

Unlawful detention by the police

Intimidation & harassment toward the media

Shooting �(active shooter)

Identity-based risks

Physical doxing & online doxing

7 of 60

8 of 60

9 of 60

10 of 60

11 of 60

Your profile

11

Your phone number
Your vehicle (color, car model, plate number)
Your social media
Your identity (Race, gender, religion etc.)

12 of 60

Situational Awareness

Situational Visualization is the skill of visualizing possible scenarios in your mind.

Minimize distractions.

Always have two escape routes.

Sleeping less tan 6 hours a night affects your cognitive impairment and reaction time.

13 of 60

Awareness

13

Situational awareness (SA) allows you to focus on what is happening all around you. It's the ability to understand what happening in your environment and surrounding.

Personal Awareness (PA) is the image (type of clothing, accessories etc.) and demeanor (behavior toward others) that you project to the public.

Third party Awareness (3PA) is how people perceive you and your actions. Do you blend into your environment? (A person who doesn’t stand out is called ”grey man.”)

14 of 60

Cover stops

14

Consider any restaurant or shop with multiple exits
What restaurants and shops are near your office or home?
Which ones would you pick if you were concerned for your safety?

MALLS

COFFEE SHOPS

RESTAURANTS

15 of 60

Wear a belt
Wear shoes with good ankle support
Avoid wearing all black (you might be targeted as a member of antifa)
If you have long hair, wear it up (no long ponytail)
Avoid wearing a lanyard

Press ID on your waist (tied around your belt loop) and in your pocket to minimize your profile

Avoid wearing nylon, polyester, acrylic (synthetic fabrics). In contact with fire, these materials melt and cause severe burns.

What to wear

16 of 60

BEFORE: Planning

Try to arrive early: The earlier you arrive, the safer you are!
Working after dark is considerably more dangerous.

DURING: Read the crowd

Stay away from anyone with a loudspeaker.
If individuals are staring or yelling at you, stop photographing and get some distance from them.

Know your limits and when to get out.

More tips

17 of 60

Possible protest spots

Capitol
Downtown
University campus

In every location, you should identify

Reunion points in case you are separated
Security points
Indoor vantage points
Bathroom
Save haven
Two evacuation routes

Mapping

18 of 60

Identity

Your identity can increase your risk profile and make you a target by a far-right crowd or the police (e.g. as a journalist of color). The main goal is to find a strategy that will help you mitigate this added risk. �
Pay special attention to your positioning and distance from the crowd. �
Maintaining situational awareness and working with a partner who can be your ally could help reduce your risk.

19 of 60

Covering protest

Work as a team when shooting pictures (buddy system)

20 of 60

Working by yourself or having a back watcher

21 of 60

Central Vision

22 of 60

Covering protest

Try to film from high ground, above the crowd

23 of 60

Security point

Set an alarm on your phone for every 30 minutes to go back to your admin point

24 of 60

😞

😤

😐

😡

😐

😡

😐

25 of 60

😞

😤

😐

😡

😐

😡

😐

Evacuations routes=

Reunion points=

Security points=

26 of 60

27 of 60

😐

Evacuations routes=

Reunion points=

Security points=

28 of 60

Evacuations routes=

Reunion points=

Security points=

😐

29 of 60

How do I move in a hostile crowd?

30 of 60

The Flower Method

😞

31 of 60

32 of 60

33 of 60

Containment

Base line and barriers
Local Police/special police units
National Guards

Dispersal

Use of tear gas/pepper spray
Flash bang and rubber balls/sting balls
Bicycles brigades
Vehicles

Arrest and detention

Snatching team
Confiscation of equipment
Detention

Security force tactics

34 of 60

Nonlethal weapons and less lethal projectiles

Riot-Control Chemical Agents

Tear gas (CS gas)
Pepper spray (OC spray)

Disorientation devices ( Sound and light)

Flash bang/stun grenade

Kinetic impact projectile

Less lethal foam projectile (rubber bullet)
Pepper balls (paintball with OC)
Sting balls grenade (100 rubber balls)

Security force tactics

35 of 60

Divide and Conquer: Riot-control tactics are designed to disperse by charging the crowd. The police will open one or two escape routes, so the crowd divides.

“Kettling”is a riot-control technique used by the police, also know as “trap and detain.” It is used to corral and arrest protesters, leaving them with no escape.

Riot Police Tactics

36 of 60

Officers will put on their gas masks and put their visors down
They will raise their shields in a defense position
Look for pepper spray, tear gas, and less lethal weapons

Before charging the crowd:

37 of 60

Light, sounds, pepper spray, rubber bullets
Effective Range: 75 ft
Radius: 60 ft
Releases 100 rubber balls

Speed: 25 ft per second

Releases OC gas (pepper spray gas)

Rubber ball OC grenade �Also called ”sting ball”

38 of 60

Flash bang grenade

When government forces throw this grenade, you don't have much time to react. The point is to turn around, turn your back to the direction of the grenade and cover your ears with your hands.�The time before exploding ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 seconds depending on the model.

39 of 60

Pepper spray OC range: 9-15 ft

What is the difference between pepper spray and tear gas?

40 of 60

41 of 60

42 of 60

40 mm less lethal foam projectile
Effective range: 90-120 ft
Really dangerous within 6 ft; could cause serious injuries or possible death
Less lethal than rubber bullet
Sponge rounds, foam rubber baton

Foam projectile vs. rubber bullet

43 of 60

Effective Range: 75 ft

44 of 60

Pepper balls OC

Impact + gas (pepper spray)

Usually using paintball or modified paintball gun

Range: up to 100-150 feet

45 of 60

46 of 60

Most common anti-riot techniques in the US

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

47 of 60

48 of 60

49 of 60

50 of 60

51 of 60

52 of 60

If exposed to tear gas:

Do not wear contact lenses
Cosmetics can become irritants
If exposed and you do not have PPE, try to get to high ground. Tear gas particles are heavier than air.
Once home, clean clothes and body with cold water: DO NOT use hot water. Hot water will open your pores and irritate your skin

53 of 60

To neutralize chemical agents

DO NOT USE MILK OR VINEGAR

Use three teaspoons of baking soda mixed with 8 ounces (250ml) of water. It will work against pepper spray or tear gas. However health professionals warn that it could damage your eyes because baking soda is an irritant.
50% Malox or Mylanta with 50% water. Mix and apply on face

Using milk can be very dangerous, as it can cause infection due to the possibility of bacteria in the milk. There is no scientific proof that it neutralizes chemical agents.

54 of 60

Half-mask and full-mask respirators

Any air-purifying half-mask respirator with an organic vapor (OV) cartridge in combination with an N95, R95, P95, N99, R99, P99, N100, R100 or P100 filter.

55 of 60

Eye Protection:

What to look for:

Impact-resistant rating: Civilian standard ANSI

ANSI Z87+ High-velocity impact rating
ANSI Z87.1+ High-velocity impact rating

Sealed

Rubber coating is best. Do not use open foam coating as gas will go through.
Sealed “non-vented” googles are rare but best against fogging.
Indirectly vented is also an option

Anti Fog

Easily Adjustable fit

Swimming, construction, ski or wildfire goggles are NOT recommended.

56 of 60

Head Protection:

What you could use:

BMX helmet
Skateboard Helmet
Climbing helmets
Multi-Sport Helmet

What to look for:

Ventilation: holes are better
Lightweight
ASTM & CPSC Certified

Bike Helmets or construction hard hats are NOT recommended.

57 of 60

N95 or approved Kn95 masks without valves

These provide some protection against tear gas:

58 of 60

Active shooter in a crowd

Active shooters target areas where large crowds gather.
Avoid the middle of a crowd. It makes it difficult to flee or find cover. The best spot in a crowd is by the outskirts.
If a shooting occurs and you cannot move, lay down on the ground or get as low as possible until you can seek cover.
Don’t stay in the “kill zone.”
Move as soon as possible back to cover
Only stand up when you run to another place for cover

58

59 of 60

When moving, try to stay along the edge of the crowd (for example, on the sidewalk). If a shooting occurs, this will be the safest place.

When moving, always look for safe routes and possible cover.

60 of 60

Avoid the “cone of fire”