2 Hours A Week

Civil disobedience is a time-honored, effective method of bringing fierce nonviolent pressure to bear on an unjust system. This training covers to the philosophy and techniques of nonviolence and direct action; planning effective civil disobedience; how affinity groups and consensus-based decision-making works; arrest, support and day-of protest tips.

Alexis Danzig, Jamie Bauer, and BC Craig are experienced activist-trainers who met during the 1980s in ACT UP and who since that time have been working together to build community resistance and effective responses to injustice.

Here's what we say about Marshal training -

Q. Hey! What's marshaling?
A. Marshaling is a form of resistance.

Marshals help build community by supporting organized actions.

As marshals, we know the scenario for an action because we've been involved in the action's planning, and we work together to support protesters do what they need to do while keeping the action as safe as possible.

We don't ask for permission to demonstrate, we don't ask for the NYPD to "help" us demonstrate. We protect our First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of assembly by using these rights.

We set up our own pickets, we decide whether or not we want to go into a "pen", we ourselves stop traffic for our marches. We communicate with demonstrators, and we provide a buffer between our group and the NYPD or hecklers. We de-escalate conflicts between protestors, counter-protestors, and the NYPD.

If you're an experienced demonstrator or new to protesting, we encourage you to come and get trained. Marshaling is a great skill to have and a most excellent way to participate in actions.

205 Hudson Street
2nd floor - HAAG Room