POLICE TACTICS & HOW TO DEFEAT PROVOCATION IN PEACEFUL PROTEST

Last night we saw it again. A peaceful protest met with tactics designed to provoke, scare, and break us. Government has unlimited resources to control crowds. But we are not in a war. We are citizens exercising our constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

We don’t fight police with violence. We defeat provocation with discipline, unity, and knowledge.

Know these:

1. UNDERSTAND THE TACTICS USED

Police around the world use similar methods, and we saw some of them several times and last night too:

1. Riot Gear: Full body armor, helmets, shields, batons. They look intimidating to break morale.

2. Line Formation: Officers stand shoulder to shoulder to block roads. This is copied from ancient warfare.

3. Chemical Agents: Tear gas and pepper spray used to scatter crowds and create panic.

4. Radio Coordination: They communicate to move as one unit and cut off escape routes.

Their goal is often to provoke a reaction so they can justify force.

2. HOW TO DEFEAT PROVOCATION AND STAY PEACEFUL

The way to beat these tactics is NOT with spears or stones. It’s with strategy:

I. Don’t Break Formation: Police lines only work if we panic and scatter. Stay calm, stay together, stay peaceful. When we remain disciplined, their line has no reason to advance.

Ii. Avoid Narrow Traps: Don’t let yourselves be boxed into small alleys or sidewalks like those in Markets. Choose wide, open areas where you can see and move.

III. Protect Against Gas: If tear gas or pepper spray is used:

-Cover mouth/nose with a clean cloth soaked in water or vinegar

-Carry water to wash eyes and skin immediately

-Move upwind and away calmly. Don’t run and don’t throw anything back.

IV. Don’t Take the Bait: If police advance slowly, it’s to test us. If they pursue people running, it’s to create chaos. The strongest response is to sit down, chant peacefully, and record. A peaceful crowd cannot be called a “riot”.

V. Split Responsibly: In the past, police leave regular officers to guard less important areas. Do NOT attack them. Instead, use numbers to show strength peacefully in one location. Violence only gives them excuse.

3. ON BARRICADES AND PROPERTY

We are not here to destroy The Gambia. Burning tyres, blocking roads with cars, or tearing up streets only hurts us, our businesses, and our communities.

Barricades escalate things. The moment property is destroyed, the focus shifts from our message to the damage. Let’s not give them that excuse.

4. A WARNING AND A REQUEST TO THE POLICE

The Gambia Police Force, your job is to protect and guide, not to provoke peaceful citizens.

The Constitution guarantees us the right to protest peacefully.

You can provide traffic direction, ensure safety, and protect both protesters and property. But the moment you interfere with a peaceful protest or use force to provoke, you betray public trust. And we will react accordingly!

Let this serve as notice: Citizens will provide all necessary support to peaceful protesters. We will document, we will stand together, and we will hold the line peacefully.

FINAL WORD TO PROTESTERS

Last night showed us the plan: provoke us into reacting.

Next time, let’s be smarter. Come with water, ID, and a charged phone. Come with discipline. Come with peace.

When we stay peaceful, we win. When we stay united, we cannot be broken.

The power is in the people. Not in the baton.

For the Gambia, Our Homeland.