arcane1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Oct-07-11 11:35 AM
Original message
So, I work for a bank. Today they sent us this "Protest Safety Handbook"
Edited on Fri Oct-07-11 11:46 AM by arcane1
I'll quote it here in its entirety, but I will omit the bank's name, and perhaps emphasize certain passages:
Recently all across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East the World has witnessed a surge in
protest marches and civil disobedience actions. The most prominent group to date in the United States
is the “Occupy Wall Street†movement. The “occupation†movement is a semi organized effort of
anonymous groups of “Anti Bank†protesters who are marching and picketing in many major U.S., cities; New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Okay, I'm calling bullshit! Why would a bank go into any kind of political discourse when all they wanted to do was provide safety tips for their employees. And why would the say stuff about "this happening all around the world". That's simply not germane to the people working in banks near the protest area! They would simply provide the safety tips on a photocopied sheet of paper. They wouldn't write a dissertation.
In New York City, they have specifically targeted the financial district and Wall Street. The “Occupy Wall Street†movement’s groups are marching in response to their perception of corporate and banking
greed that followed the U.S. Government assisted “Big†bank bail outs. Their mantra is “We are the 99%
that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.â€
No freaking way! They aren't going to use words like "targeted", capitalize words like "Big", talk about mantras (they probably wouldn't pay enough attention to know what they were). As they neither know nor care about the political affiliation of their employees politically charged rhetoric would NOT be part of a safety handout.
The movement in New York has begun to publish a four page news paper titled “The Occupied Wall
Street Journal.†The current edition of the published document loosely outlines the group’s manifesto
and intentions. The group has indicated that they have been inspired by the results from similar groups involved in the “Arab Spring†in the Middle East. The group’s publication cites an intention to first to protest and then to march, escalating to civil disobedience when necessary.
So the bank is going to be sure to do enough research to talk about the "current edition" of some 4 page publication. What the hell would they do this for? Makes absolutely NO sense. They wouldn't waste their time. Well, unless they thought some of their employees would be interested in reading it.
These types of groups are reaching out to the disengaged and disenfranchised population of the United States for members, often encouraging the unemployed and homeless to join the movement. Often these marches and protests are unplanned and result from instant notification on “Social Networks†that produce “Flash Protest Mobs†in a matter of minutes. While this group has not yet resorted to violence the possibility exists that they can.
Riiiiiight...they're going to go into all this crap about the "disengaged and disenfranchised". Nor would someone in corporate have such pathetic writing skills that they'd write a sentence like the first one. And why the heck would they mention "flash mobs" when the group, supposedly, hasn't been violent?
*redacted* Bank Corporate Security has worked to develop the following safety tips and suggestions for our employees should they encounter the type of activities described above.
At no time should a *redacted* Bank Employee attempt to engage or confront a protest group or stop a march. Instead, *redacted* Bank Employees encountering any such activity should immediately contact the Police.
Wouldn't the bank just list "try not to engage" without the hyperbole? Are their employees stupid enough to "confront" one of them, not to mention put themselves in the middle of such filth. And should you actually "engage" and you have a conversation or even a short shouting match why the heck would you call the police?
Oh, and I love the "safety tips"
Safety Tips
When encountering a protest group or march every effort should be made to avoid the group. Consider
using an alternate exit or route.
Won't it be too late to take an alternate route once I encounter them? Are we talking every protest group or just this one? Taking an alternate route is practical but mostly because it's hard to get through a bunch of people to get to and from work on time.
• Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you at all times.
• If you feel uncomfortable, immediately move or leave the area.
Good advice in any situation.
• If surrounded in a protest march or mob don’t panic move to the outside of the crowd as safely as possible.
• Seek refuge in an unaffected business or restaurant until police arrive.
Why would I panic for Heaven's sake. And doesn't the first "tip" negate the next one? If you're already in the "mob" and safely move out why would you need to go to a safe place? And why would the police arrive if nothing really happened?
• Plan before you go. Choose the safest route.
• Avoid poorly lit areas and isolated locations that may make you vulnerable to an attack.
Good advice most women have heard more than once. They generally appear in some women's magazine about 2 or 3 times a year. Of course I've never heard them in relation to protesters.
• Keep the cars doors locked while driving in the area of a mob or protest march.
Why? This is what my mom told me to do when I drove into a bad part of town. Back when door locks were little knobs were pushed down to lock the doors.
• Project an image of confidence and strength. Walk with a purpose and avoid hesitation, keep your head up, shoulders back and make eye contact with people you pass.
• Avoid confrontation and unnecessary contact with protesters.
• Avoid walking or driving alone. There is safety in numbers.
How do I walk with confidence and look ahead while avoiding confrontation, backing out of the crowd and ducking into a restaurant where, somehow, the police are going to come rescue me from a crime that didn't happen, while choosing an alternate route and walking with other people?
• Carry purses close to the body.
• Wallets and cash are best kept in a front pocket.
Good advice if you want to avoid getting mugged.
• Avoid wearing Bank ID or logo items outside the bank if possible.
Again, why?
• Keep your cell phone charged and close at hand.
• Have emergency contact information pre-programmed into your phone.
• Have your keys out and ready before you need them.
• If you feel that you’re in danger or if you observe suspicious or illegal activities, call the police or dial 911.
Okay, I'm not sure I should follow advice by a corporate security person who doesn't know how to spell "programed". But wouldn't it be better to not have so much personal info on my phone? What if one of those cretins takes my phone? Okay the keys thing is good advice. So is looking underneath your car before you start to get in. Neither are specific to some protest because I wouldn't park my car where hundreds of people are blocking the parking spaces.
• If confronted or attacked, try to remain calm and cooperate by following the attacker’s instructions.
• Do not attempt to reason or argue with the protesters.
• Cooperate and do not risk your personal safety.
• Be a good witness and try to remember as many details of what occurred as you can.
Again with the "don't confront them". I'm thinking a corporate anything wouldn't repeat the same tip over and over again. Who am I supposed to cooperate with? The protesters? The people I'm supposed to be walking with? What am I cooperating about? Why do I have to be a "good witness" if I'm practicing all these lovely safety tips? I'm very confused about this whole thing!
Cindie
