11. Cumulative checklist

A simplified checklist, based on the individual checklists within each chapter, may be helpful for those overseeing the planning. Each number corresponds to a chapter of this guide.

1.   Organize a Planning Process

• • Adopt principles to shape the organizing effort.

• Set overall goals.
• Develop a planning checklist.
• Attempt to frame the effort.
• Assess what might occur if no planning takes place.
• Evaluate the community’s ability to strengthen its resiliency.
• Determine whether community leaders from multiple sectors have adequate communication channels.
• Make initial determinations regarding categories of planning participants.

• Develop broad and broadly representative advisory groups.
• Create and publicize ways by which individual citizens can contact and alert community leaders of issues.
• Use social media.
• Use surveys, deliberative polling, or other information-gathering methods.
• Monitor warning signs.
• Utilize scanning systems from noted organizations.
• Staff the infrastructure for listening and dealing with concerns.

7.   Communicate About an Incident or Issues of Deep Concern to Community Residents

• Regarding the substance of the communications:
  • What has happened.
  • What has been done to ensure the public’s safety.
  • What has been done to support those most directly affected.
  • Explanations of how some people have been affected.
  • What decisions have been made and who is accountable for implementing them.
  • Who will be consulted and what values will be applied in making future decisions.
  • Frames the issues in reference to community values.
  • Affirms freedom of expression while underscoring expectations.
  • Counters exaggerated or untrue narratives.
  • What residents might do related to their concerns in a way that has impact and is in a safe environment.
• Regarding potential messenger/s for each message:
  • Who is trusted and influential with each group?
  • Who will convey the importance of the matter?
  • Will these persons join together or speak in a series to convey a positive community-wide attitude?
  • Are there trusted experts who might help explain?
• Regarding the manner for conveying the message:
  • Consider a method other than a press conference-type statement.
  • Consider using various social media and other sources of news used by residents.
  • Identify and use a website.
  • Repeat messages.

8.  Plan with Law Enforcement and Community Leaders for Potential Unrest Scenarios

A.   How will each of the following actions be conducted and who has responsibility for them?

• Release communications that set a positive tone for any demonstrations and explain what is permitted and prohibited in this context.
• Contact representatives of the groups likely to engage in a protest.
• Augment advisors, mediators, law enforcement/dialogue team, and communications assistance.
• Contact the media with suggestions for safe sites for their work.
• Organize alternative ways for those seeking a safer way to express views.
• Jointly discuss what more can be done to reduce the chances of violence.
• Jointly draft “incident action plans” regarding the criteria and goals for arrests.
• Determine the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) participants.
• Assign responsibilities for:
  • Communications,
  • Watching for known antagonists and others bent on violence or destruction and developing a strategy to respond to them while protecting the safety of those demonstrating peacefully,
  • Assessing the goals and intensity of emotions of each part of the crowd, especially watching for counter protesters and developing plans to separate them,
  • Observing the routes people are taking coming to and, especially, leaving the event to help assure safely,
  • Directing passing motorists and pedestrians to keep them safe and keep demonstrators safe from them, and
  • Providing medical, sanitation, and counseling resources.
• Train EOC participants and practice plans with a tabletop simulation.
• Brief officers who will be working at the demonstration site and municipal department leaders.
• Consider committing to contract for an after-action report.

B. How will the following potential tasks be allocated and accomplished in the Emergency Operations Center?

• Communicate frequently and through a variety of messengers/media.
• Attempt to stay in touch with those leading or influential with parts of the crowd.
• Stay in touch with any community members acting as parade marshals in the crowd.
• Tell nearby residents or pedestrians how to avoid unsafe situations.
• Consider whether law enforcement should be in view of demonstrators and, if in view, presented in non-threatening ways.
• Prepare designated protest or event space to make it safer.
• Separate demonstrators from counter demonstrators.
• Consider the rules of engagement.
• Monitor stress levels of officers and offer replacements and peer support.
• Watch for a need to position firefighting and medical emergency resources at particular locations.
• Provide guarded paths for demonstrators returning to their cars.
• Observe various parts of the crowd and individuals within the crowd to determine if any members threaten the safety of others or are moving to destroy property and advise others.

C. If there is more time, scenario-specific planning ahead can build on the foundation of the organizational planning and decide who will handle each of the following matters in each potential scenario.

9.  Plan for hate incidents

How will each of these matters be conducted and who has responsibility for them?

• Address safety and anxiety immediately and frequently.
• Humanize members of a targeted group, helping other residents care about them and understand their suffering and fear.
• Reinforce community values and aspirations.
• Touch base with influential community influencers who are willing to speak out against threats, harassment, and violence.
• Provide multiple ways to report hate incidents.
• Offer residents ways to help.

Anticipate and plan together for future hate incidents:

• Counter exaggerated or untrue attributions of blame, and targeted misinformation.
• Analyze hate incidents occurring elsewhere, offer support to residents for whom hate incidents elsewhere might elevate anxiety, and prepare ahead for similar occurrences in your community.
• Pre-Bunk: Anticipate that some will level blame against particular groups when something bad happens and warn residents ahead of that occurring.
• Decide who should receive training.

10. Review After Community Conflict

• Prepare a statement that provides clear information about what occurred.
• Support employees.
• Check in with community leaders.
• Schedule a meeting to discuss next steps focused upon the interests underlying issues raised during the unrest.
• Consider arranging for an after-action report.
• Convene planning for the future.