
As canvassing season heats up again, I’ve been thinking about how to keep canvassers safe.
From traffic.
From the heat.
From dogs.
Also from residents and police officers who haven’t read the memo that canvassing is first Amendment protected free speech. Especially if those canvassers are people of color.
Safety for canvassers means more than working in pairs and using crosswalks.
It also means protecting canvassers of color from harassment by residents and the cops.
If you are also thinking about ways to protect canvassers from this particular appearance of white supremacy culture, here are a few tips. They can help prepare your team for safe canvassing and deal with incidents if they happen anyway.
1. Talk to the cops before the first knock.
Shout-out here to Izzy Goodman who writes more about this step in this LinkedIn post.
2. Struggle with assignments.
On one hand, sending canvassers of color to all-white neighborhoods could be problematic for the canvassers. On the other hand, denying canvassers of color the opportunity to build their skills with these difficult voter conversations is pretty paternalistic.
Also, team leads and full-time organizers have to come from somewhere. Great leads and organizers grow their skills with difficult canvassing conversations.
If you’re the person who makes the turf assignments, it’s your job to struggle with the balance between protecting these canvassers’ safety and providing opportunities for growth.
3. When someone calls the cops anyway, listen to the canvasser.
Remember, it’s about the canvasser not you. Performative anger at the resident who dialed 911 or the cop who answered won’t make the canvasser feel any better.
4. Talk to the cops. Again.
Call the local precinct to report the incident. Spoiler alert: they will get defensive. However, it’s important to talk to them about it anyway. The cops have to know you’re watching. (Bonus tip: don’t identify the canvasser to the cops. Don’t make it worse.)
5. Report Back to Canvassers.
Relate the conversation with the cops and go back to step # 2.
With these steps – and probably others – you can keep your campaign on track and support the canvassers