Preparing for and responding to mass demonstrations involve navigating the complexities of prioritizing the protection of First Amendment rights while balancing the safety of demonstration participants, the community, and officers.

Mass demonstration protocols often include de-escalation techniques, effective communication strategies, and collaborative efforts with community leaders and organizations.

Mass demonstration response considers public management and risk management, while continuously adapting strategies and tactics based on assessments of the physical space, particular community, and crowd dynamics.

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Resources Related to Mass Demonstration Response

Visit the Knowledge Lab’s full resource index here.

  • Reset

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Tactical Response and Operations Standard for Law Enforcement Agencies

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations

Guidebook/Tool, Webpage | 2023

Justice Department Fact Sheet on Implementing Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing, and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests
  • Use of Force
  • Officer Safety and Wellness
  • Public Transparency

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

NTOA Public Order Response and Operations Standards

  • Response to Mass Demonstrations

Article | 2022

The Conundrum of Domestic Violent Extremism

  • Response to Mass Demonstrations

After Action Report | 2022

An After-Action Review of City Agencies’ Responses to Activities Directly Following George Floyd’s Death on May 25, 2020

  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Use of Force

Case Study, Report | 2022

Comprehensive Assessment of the Seattle Police Department

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests
  • Use of Force

Guidebook/Tool | 2022

POST Guidelines: Crowd Management, Interventionand Control.

  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Responding to Mass Critical Incidents

Report, Research Brief | 2022

Rethinking the Police Responseto Mass Demonstrations:9 Recommendations

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations

The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various sources, including legal reviews, research, and practitioner and department-developed resources. These webpage modules are intended to be a guide for departments to use to improve their policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. This resource is intended to be dynamic, and the Knowledge Lab will continue to update and add to these modules to provide additional and current guidance for departments.

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