Safety Parameters for Public Rallies

At its heart, the government’s main job is to look out for its people, ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being, and creating a society where people can live, work, and dream without fear. This responsibility is particularly evident when considering the need to establish parameters for rallies, a topic gaining urgency in light of recent events where demonstrations have escalated into violence. Such measures are crucial not just internationally, but also within the United States, as they reflect the government’s role in safeguarding its citizens during times of public expression and unrest.

‘I’LL PUT YOU SIX FEET DEEP’: Chaos ensues during anti-Zara rally at Eaton Centre
Source Toronto sun

For instance, a pro-Palestinian rally in New York coinciding with the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center escalated when demonstrators breached barricades and clashed with the police. A fight over a swastika sign carried by one of the protesters turned violent, leading to a situation where the police had to make multiple arrests as the crowd broke through and began marching through the streets [oai_citation:1,Police Responding to Pro-Palestinian March Surrounded, Prevented from Leaving](https://www.westernjournal.com/police-responding-pro-palestinian-march-surrounded-prevented-leaving/). This incident reflects the potential for protests to rapidly become disorderly and underscores the importance of clear parameters to ensure public safety without impinging on the right to free speech.

In Brooklyn, a pro-Palestinian march planned near Jewish community areas, such as schools, has caused concern among residents and community leaders. The New York Police Department increased its presence in response to fears of potential turmoil and to maintain order. The rally, organized by Within Our Lifetimes, was scheduled in close proximity to Jewish businesses, schools, and synagogues, which elicited strong reactions from community figures who condemned the insensitivity of protesting on the Sabbath and the potential for hate-fueled disruptions. Despite these tensions, the NYPD and city officials reiterated their commitment to protecting the right to peaceful protest while ensuring the safety and rights of all community members .

This situation illustrates the delicate balance between the right to demonstrate and the need for respect and security in community spaces. It is a clear example of why establishing parameters for rallies, as discussed earlier, is essential to prevent escalations into violence and to respect the rights and safety of all individuals involved.

These examples highlight the fine balance that must be struck between the right to assembly and the need for public order. Parameters such as requiring permits, setting location restrictions, imposing time limits, controlling crowd sizes, ensuring proper security measures, facilitating communication between organizers and authorities, and enforcing laws against civil disobedience are all measures that can help manage this balance. These measures should be flexible and adaptable to the context of each demonstration, aiming to maintain civil obedience and public safety.
The idea is to establish parameters for rallies to prevent them from escalating into violence. As we’ve seen both globally and sadly, in our own country, it only takes a few hotheads to incite chaos.
I understand that setting parameters requires a delicate balance between upholding the right to free speech and ensuring public safety. I’m not suggesting a ban on rallies or the prohibition of specific groups from gathering, as some European countries have recently done. Instead, the goal is to establish boundaries that safeguard civil obedience.

Here are some ideas to consider, keeping in mind that these measures can be specific to the current situation and adjusted as circumstances change:

1. No permit, no rally: Implement a permitting system that requires rally organizers to obtain permission from local authorities. This allows officials to evaluate the rally’s size, location, and timing, and impose conditions to ensure civil obedience. This needs to be enforced very strongly no permit no gathering. Think of it as an RSVP to the city – without confirmation, the party can’t start. It’s about ensuring the host (the city) is prepared for the number of guests (protesters) and the nature of the event (the rally)

2. Location Restrictions: Designate specific areas for rallies and protests to minimize disruptions to residential and commercial areas, avoiding proximity to homes and high pedestrian traffic businesses. Similar to not having a rock concert in a library, rallies should be in places where they cause minimal disruption to daily life.

3a. Time Limits: Set time limits for rallies to prevent them from extending late into the night, which can increase the likelihood of bad behavior evening hours tend to bring out the naughty behavior of most.

3b. In addition, limiting rallies to three hours is more than sufficient to accommodate speeches and discussions. Beyond this, people tend to become rowdy as speakers incite the crowd, leading to a potentially toxic atmosphere. By capping the length of rallies, we avoid the “after-party” effect where things can get out of hand, ensuring that the message, not mayhem, remains the focus.

4. Crowd Size Limits: Establish maximum attendance limits to ensure that the crowd size remains manageable. Consider the number of available law enforcement personnel when setting this limit to maintain peace effectively. Like a lifeboat, there’s only so much room before things become unsafe. Limiting crowd sizes ensures that everyone can protest without capsizing the ship.

5. Security Measures: Require rally organizers to provide medical support and clean-up plans to maintain order and address emergencies, aligning with the broken windows theory, which suggests that civil disorder can lead to further crime and disorder. Preparing for emergencies at a rally should be like bringing an umbrella when there’s a forecast of rain – it’s better to have it and not need it than the opposite.

6. Communication with Organizers: Establish clear lines of communication between rally organizers and local authorities to address concerns or changes to rally plans in real-time. This allows for prompt action if issues arise and the need to shut down or curtail events. Keeping an open line with organizers is like having a backstage pass; it allows for quick changes to the setlist if the concert (rally) needs tweaking.

7. Anonymity in protests can embolden individuals to aggressive behavior, as they feel less accountable for their actions. Social psychology research highlights social contagion and deindividuation in this context. Social contagion makes violent acts seem more acceptable in a crowd, especially when individuals are anonymous. Deindividuation, where people act aggressively while masked, reduces personal responsibility, making transgressions easier. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where mandatory masks inadvertently increased anonymity in protests. These insights support anti-mask laws in rallies to enhance public safety and accountability . The emotional state of the crowd also plays a significant role. When people are in highly emotional states, as often seen in protests, their decision-making can be significantly different from when they are calm and alone. Thus, the combination of high emotions, social contagion, and anonymity can create a volatile environment where peaceful protests may turn violent [oai_citation:1,5 Reasons Why Large Crowds Turn Violent | Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-minds/202006/5-reasons-why-large-crowds-turn-violent).

8. Civil Disobedience Laws: Enforce laws that prohibit civil disobedience, vandalism, or violence during rallies and protests. It’s a reminder that crossing the street on red is not only against the rules but can lead to unnecessary accidents, keeping protests lawful keeps everyone on the green light.

9. Preemptive Court Orders: Seek court orders to restrict specific individuals or groups known to incite violence from participating in rallies. The goal is to prevent violence while upholding individuals’ constitutional rights. This is like having a bouncer with a guest list – if you’re known for starting trouble, you’re not getting into the club.

Enforcing these ideas is like a maestro conducting an orchestra – it’s not about stifling the music but about harmonizing the instruments to create a symphony, not a cacophony. To contact key officials in New York City regarding the implementation of safety measures for public rallies, you have several options:

1. **Mayor’s Office**: Mayor Eric Adams can be contacted for matters related to city policy and public safety. You can reach out to the Mayor’s Office by calling 311 within New York City or 212-NEW-YORK from outside the city. Additionally, there is an option to send an online message to the Mayor’s Office through their [webform](https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/contact-the-mayor.page).

2. **New York City Council**: The City Council plays a crucial role in enacting local ordinances and laws. Each of the 51 council districts in New York City is represented by an elected Council Member. You can find the contact information for individual Council Members, including phone numbers and office addresses, on the [New York City Council website](https://council.nyc.gov/districts/).

Engaging with these officials is a vital step in advocating for the implementation of safety measures at public rallies. By contacting them, you can express your support for the proposed measures and discuss their potential impact on public safety and order in New York City.