Category Archives: Democracy

Navigating Civil Disobedience

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Rights, Risks, and Responsibilities in Activism

  • rights are enforceable in court, not on the street—reserve rights-claims for legal proceedings
  • disciplined nonviolence demands no defiance, no evasion, and acceptance of penalties
  • organized, pre-notified actions are safer and more effective than spur-of-the-moment protests
  • calm, respectful interaction with police reduces force and aids later defense
  • thorough preparation—medical waivers, property checklists, legal contacts—minimizes harm and maximizes impact

DETAILS: Navigating Civil Disobedience

Navigating Civil Disobedience

Rights, Risks, and Responsibilities in Activism


A veteran civil rights attorney outlines key legal and practical guidance for protesters. He emphasizes understanding definitions—civil disobedience, “actions,” illegal conduct—and organizing ahead of time rather than relying on spontaneous events. Rights aren’t enforceable on the street; they take effect in court. Drawing on Martin Luther King Jr.’s advice, he urges nonviolent protesters not to defy orders, not to evade arrest, and to accept penalties. He covers interactions with police—knowing when you’re free to go, invoking counsel, and staying calm—and shares jail survival tips: remove jewelry, manage medications, track your property, and communicate respectfully. The talk concludes that preparation, clear objectives, and disciplined nonviolence are essential for safe, effective protest.

Definitions and Early Planning

  • Clarify key terms: civil disobedience, “action,” illegal conduct.
  • Network organizations to share materials.
  • Aim for an organized, well-notified approach: alert police liaisons, medical teams, legal observers.
  • Recognize the historical role of spontaneous uprisings—but weigh risks, as poor planning drains resources.

Rights on the Street vs. Rights in Court

  • No immediate enforcement of rights if you’re grabbed or arrested on the street.
  • Save claims like “You’re violating my rights” for court proceedings.
  • Police aren’t required to read Miranda warnings at arrest; they only enable evidence suppression later.
  • Key question to police: “Am I free to go?”—a refusal indicates you remain detained.

Interacting with Police

  • Stay calm and speak politely, as if de-escalating a toddler’s tantrum.
  • Avoid defiance or evasive actions—running or physical resistance allows officers to use force.
  • If ordered to disperse and exits are blocked, do not resist arrest; comply now, fight charges later.
  • To invoke rights: “I’d like to speak with my lawyer first.” Blame the lawyer for non-cooperation.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nonviolent Guidelines

  • Three core rules for civil disobedience:
    – don’t defy orders
    – don’t evade arrest
    – accept the penalty
  • Accepting a penalty means willingly serving fines or jail time to highlight injustice.
  • Recognize the changing severity of penalties today compared to the 1960s.

Organizing vs. Spontaneity

  • Organized protests involve advance notice, safer conditions, and better liaison with authorities.
  • Spontaneous protests carry higher risks: no legal observers, unclear leadership, potential for overreach.
  • Historical successes of spontaneous events exist, but luck and context matter heavily.

Phones, Filming, and Evidence

  • Authorities gather massive video footage from drones, cameras, phone uploads.
  • If filming, stay at a safe distance; zoom in rather than approaching officers.
  • Bring a secondary “burner” phone if needed; leave personal device home to protect data.
  • Trackers or seized devices may not always be returned intact.

Arrest and Jail Procedures

  • Removal of jewelry, watches, piercings; personal items go into a facility basket.
  • Inspect returned property immediately—mistakes and losses are common.
  • Book-and-release process can take 8+ hours; timing varies by weekdays and holidays.
  • Fridays or holiday eves may extend your detention.

Medical and Dietary Concerns in Custody

  • Sign the medical information waiver to ensure continuation of vital meds (e.g., blood thinners, insulin).
  • Bring prescriptions in original bottles when possible.
  • Contracted medical staff in jails may be inexperienced; assert your condition clearly.
  • Jail food is bland, nutrient-deficient “cardboard” fare—plan accordingly.

Legal Representation and Post-Arrest Steps

  • At booking, public defenders know all immediate procedures—use them for guidance.
  • Lawyers can’t intervene until hours after arrest; front-line advice comes from public defender or legal observers.
  • Prepare a support team: driver, bail fund, emergency contacts.
  • Avoid mixing attorney privilege and witness status—if you witness violence, testify rather than represent.

De-Escalation and Community Support

  • Identify trained de-escalators to accompany groups at protests.
  • Speak softly, offer factual witnessing: “Sir, you’re hurting that person.”
  • Verbal witness can help reduce provocation without risking obstruction charges.
  • Use clear messaging on objectives—publicity, legal precedent, policy change—to guide actions.

OPEN LETTER TO OUR SPOKANE COMMUNITY

With millions of people marching in the streets across the United States and 10,000 – 20,000 marching here in Spokane this would make a good topic for our local newspapers, comma and social media. It would also be an opportunity to disseminate strategic conversations across the nation.

Ann Marie Danimus engages with a man about abortion prior to U>S> Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s speedh at a Kootenai County GOP dinner in downtown Coeur d’Alene. 2022

The marchers are asking a fundamental question: How do we preserve democracy when so many of our neighbors seem willing to trade it for the promise of security?

It appears that there is a great deal of fear dividing our country in two. Why these fears, what needs to be done, and how can we do it? What do our readers think? What does our community think? What do others think?  

This is a three part series.  The first part describes the fears and what needs to be done to address them. The second part addresses why Black people should resist the loss of democracy, the third part deals with what needs to be done. Later articles can follow the progress of the Spokane fight for democracy.

The articles discuss various evidence-based approaches to enhance democratic resilience and social cohesion at government, institutional, and individual levels. They highlight the importance of economic interventions, leadership strategies, educational reforms, media responsibility, and personal engagement. The text outlines measures for specific demographic concerns while emphasizing the need for systemic changes and the importance of measuring success. Key factors for success include authenticity, inclusivity, patience, consistency, local focus, and bipartisan support.

Feedback from social media posts and interactions can be used to invite them to remove the fear, save democracy and participate in building a better community they want to live in.

Why Are People So Afraid That They Choose Tyranny Over Democracy

Robert “Bob” Lloyd info@4comculture.com 4comculture.com

Fighting Fear Articles

1. Why Are People So Afraid That They Choose Tyranny Over Democracy

2. Why Blacks Will Resist the Loss of Democracy

3. What Needs To Be Done to Relieve Fear?

This page provides examples of how you can be empowered. Feel free to look around 4comculture.com. Please also do research outside of the site.

Join Fighting Fear

Why Blacks Should Resist Tyranny, the Loss of Democracy

Historical Context and Deep-Rooted Resistance

African Americans whose families have been in America since the 1400s and experienced slavery until the 1860s carry a unique and profound understanding of what happens when democratic institutions fail and authoritarian power goes unchecked. This lived experience across generations creates distinct motivations for resisting authoritarianism that differ significantly from more recent immigrant communities.

Generational Memory of Systemic Oppression

For African American communities with deep ancestral roots in America, the fight against Project 2025 and strongman leadership is informed by centuries of experiencing what happens when one group holds unchecked power. Their ancestors lived through:

  • Slavery as a legal institution supported by government structures
  • Jim Crow laws that used legal frameworks to enforce racial hierarchy
  • Systematic exclusion from democratic participation despite constitutional promises
  • State-sanctioned violence when they challenged existing power structures

This historical memory creates an acute awareness that democratic institutions, when weakened, can quickly become tools of oppression rather than protection.

Recent Immigrant Communities

The resistance motivations differ significantly from those of recent immigrants because:

For Long-Standing African American Communities:

  • They cannot “go back” – America is their only home, making the stakes existential
  • They’ve seen this playbook before – recognizing patterns of authoritarian consolidation
  • They understand that “rocking the boat” is necessary – their ancestors’ progress came through resistance, not compliance
  • They know that initial promises of stability often precede greater oppression

For Recent Immigrant Communities:

  • May prioritize economic stability and fear jeopardizing newfound opportunities
  • Might have different reference points for what constitutes dangerous authoritarianism
  • Could be more willing to “wait and see” rather than immediately resist
  • May fear that activism could threaten their status in ways that don’t apply to established communities

Understanding Project 2025’s Specific Threats

Project 2025 represents a particular threat to Black communities because it “includes a long list of extreme policy recommendations touching on nearly every aspect of American life, from immigration and abortion rights, to free speech and racial justice” [1]. The plan “would severely harm Black communities across the country” through its “radical proposals to restructure the federal government and increase the president’s authority” [2].

For communities with generational experience of oppression, these proposals echo historical patterns where concentrated executive power was used to maintain racial hierarchies and suppress civil rights progress.

The Stakes of Democratic Backsliding

African American communities with deep American roots understand that when presidents position themselves “as kings or strongman leaders,” the communities that suffer first and most severely are those who have historically been marginalized. Their resistance isn’t just political preference—it’s survival instinct informed by historical experience.

This creates a unique perspective where challenging authority isn’t “rocking the boat”—it’s preventing the boat from capsizing entirely. Their ancestors learned that waiting for gradual change or hoping that authoritarian leaders will self-limit often leads to deeper oppression, not eventual liberation.

The fight against authoritarianism, for these communities, represents a continuation of a centuries-long struggle for true democratic participation and protection under law.

What needs to be done?

What can be done to relieve these fears and concerns – by government, by leadership, by institutions, by individuals? What Needs To Be Done To Relieve Fear

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Fighting Fear Articles

1. Why Are People So Afraid That They Choose Tyranny Over Democracy

2. Why Blacks Will Resist the Loss of Democracy

3. What Needs To Be Done to Relieve Fear?

4. Join Fighting Fear and Volunteer

This page provides examples of how you can be empowered. Feel free to look around 4comculture.com. Please also do research outside of the site.