On the day

How to ensure your action runs smoothly, achieves the planned outcomes and you cope with the unexpected.

On-the-ground coordination

On-the-ground coordinators

Ideally you will have assigned someone to this role during the planning stage. They coordinate activities and make decisions during the action in liaison with other roles. They make sure things go to plan or decide when the plan needs to change and what contingencies (plan B, C, D) you are switching to. They should be prepared for logistical issues on the day and be ready to adapt plans as needed.

Exit Strategy

Plan an exit strategy before the action starts to ensure a decisive and controlled conclusion. This may need to be decided by those taking the most risk or who are putting themselves in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances.

You may also do this with advice from your Protest Liaison if there is any negotiation with the Police, security or authorities.

Avoid a gradual decline in momentum by leaving on your own terms.

Dealing with police and security

The Protest Liaison and De-escalation roles helps keep police and other authority or security figures calm, remind them of our nonviolence, and helps keep them occupied rather than information gathering on all the activists or organisers present.

Civil-disobedience does not include:

All these behaviours encourage police aggression and can create a tense atmosphere.

Sharing news as it happens

Hopefully much of your planning will kick in. Those with roles to coordinate the media, photographers, livestreamers & spokespeople will know what they're doing and your action will be perfectly captured and the news of it spread everywhere.

Here are some more pointers for the day of the action...

Photography

If the media attend your actions they won't rely on you to get images. In case they don't, make sure to provide them with a few great shots. You'll also want to capture images for use on social media. More guidance here.

Liaise with media on the ground during actions

If you see journalists and camera crews walking around, go over and say hello!

Introduce yourself, tell them who you are, ask if they need help with anything. Take their card and ask for their contact details to add to a journalist WhatsApp chat (if you have one). Or save them to your phone. It’s really important that we help media get to our trained spokespeople at every opportunity. Obviously, this isn’t always possible, but we should aim to have well prepared people in front of camera as much as we can. Keep an eye out!

For more guidance see Press and Spokesperson Guidance.

Livestreaming

See guidance here on Livestreaming

Share photos and videos

Encourage rebels to share live photos and videos to the XRUK Live Action Content Telegram channel. This is especially important if XRUK are promoting your action on UK-wide channels, because this is where they will look for content. But even if not, it's a great way to share your action with the movement.

For professional photograhers and 'competent amateurs', you can upload your photos directly to the XR Media Library.