Safety, safety, safety
With the temperature of the times, when we are gathering together, we MUST always have the safety of the community at the top most priority. This is NOT and easy task, there are many steps - site inspection, overall plan, size of the crowd, getting volunteers, training the volunteers, safety equipment and more. BUT wait… one of the most important thing is YOU. It is the cooperation of the participants - being a part of the plan and then following the guidelines set forth by the event planner and the safety team.
Sadly, after the event ended at the downtown square yesterday, one of the participants was injured - they are okay! - and the person that did the harm was arrested. It’s a reminder though of the importance of how steadfast we need to be not only during an event but until everyone is back in their vehicles safe and sound!
On April 5th, in the rain and freezing cold, I was one of 20 volunteers that wore one of those yellow safety vests. I didn’t carry a sign, I didn’t join the chants - my head was on a swivel and my finger was on the button for the walkie talkie headset I was wearing. I stepped up to that volunteer position willingly and with every intention of stepping in to protect the participants at the event at all cost. Our event in Springfield that day did have a couple small safety concerns but were taken care of quickly by the safety team. But the next day I saw the news that frightened me.
In Lafayette, Indiana on April 5th there was an incident between a protester and a man in a vehicle. At the end of the day, the protester was the one that got arrested because he didn’t not heed the warning of the Safety Volunteers that were actively trying to de-escalate the situation. If you would like to see the story please go to my facebook feed, but the IMPORTANT part about this is HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL.
So here is the call to action… we need volunteers NOW as we prepare for the next mass mobilization that will be nationwide. Are you willing to step up to help keep our community safe?! If you are then please email to communitytogether417@gmail.com and I will pass your information onto the wonderful team here in Springfield taking on this important part of this fight for our democracy.