CNY Solidarity Coalition hosts de-escalation training for activists
As of Mar. 19, President Trump has signed more than 90 executive orders, including measures to tighten immigration restrictions. Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer
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Around 50 community members attended a workshop hosted by the CNY Solidarity Coalition Wednesday evening aiming to teach attendees how to advocate peacefully and effectively in protest settings.
With the event titled, “De-escalation Training for Activists,” Andy Mager, coordinator and social movements liaison for the Syracuse Peace Council, said the coalition’s increasing focus on demonstration tactics is in response to “authoritarian moves” under President Donald Trump’s administration. Mager said the president’s efforts to consolidate power and encourage violence has introduced a newfound need for peaceful protest.
“More and more people are coming to protests, and that’s a great thing,” Mager said. “We want those people to feel confident exercising their democratic rights and to be able to do so safely.”
Since his return to office, Trump has signed 89 executive orders tightening immigration restrictions and limiting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in government. He also introduced the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, imposing limitations on federal agencies’ hiring practices and enacting cost-cutting policies.
Last Friday, the coalition organized a “Tesla Takedown” protest, drawing over 350 attendees to the Central New York Tesla service center to protest Musk’s unchecked power as the leader of DOGE. The large turnout demonstrated the growth in interest in fighting back and protesting the Trump administration’s actions, Mager said.
“Musk has been allowed to do what he’s doing in the federal government,” Peggy Cohee, a workshop attendee, said. “It’s scary, and I think we have to call him out.”
Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer
Last Friday, the coalition organized a “Tesla Takedown” protest, drawing over 350 attendees to the Central New York Tesla service center to protest Musk’s unchecked power as the leader of DOGE.
The workshop emphasized that traditional marches and rallies might not suffice in protesting Trump’s actions. Mager said he wanted to help participants be ready for situations where actions like sit-ins and blockades could grow into larger protests, potentially garnering attention from counter-protesters.
Howard and Mager led attendees through several exercises, including “hassle lines,” where participants formed two rows: one roleplaying as protest disruptors and the other as protesters attempting to de-escalate. Facilitators encouraged open communication within the group to foster a collaborative learning environment, while Howard shared tactics including using direct eye contact, breathing slowly and assuming a physically neutral stance.
Mager stressed the importance of establishing clear agreements with counter-protestors during demonstrations to ensure a safe environment for all participants. He said the coalition has fundamental agreements, such as respecting all people involved, to guide its approach.
“Keeping your phrases, your words, as simple and as affirming as possible is generally the most effective way of talking to someone who’s escalating,” Howard said. “This is not the time to be giving someone your thesis on why fascism is wrong.”
While these tactics have yielded many effective protests, Mager acknowledged that demonstrations can easily escalate to dangerous levels.
In November 2024, a group gathered at the federal building to meet with Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to discuss the United States’ support for the Israel-Hamas War. During the protest, Ellen Grady, an activist with Ithaca Catholic Worker, was arrested for attempting to assert her right to enter the building and meet with the senators.
Mager highlighted the need to learn other peaceful strategies to help prevent others from ending up in similar situations.
“People need to prepare for (this) so that they’re making thoughtful decisions about how to do (demonstrate) effectively,” Mager said. “There’s a lot at stake.”
Sarah Howard, a workshop organizer and environmental justice organizer for the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs, said there isn’t a right way to escalate and de-escalate a protest, but encouraged attendees to practice self-awareness and reflect on their own personal identities and triggers when publicly demonstrating.
They urged participants to consider how power, privilege and identity can influence someone’s approach to nonviolent direct action and inform strategies for de-escalation.
Cohee said her primary motivation for attending the event stemmed from her deep concerns about civility in American political discussion. She emphasized the significant challenges immigrant populations face in Syracuse and the impact Trump’s anti-immigration laws will have on them.
The workshop taught her the importance of staying courageous in public demonstrations and standing up for her beliefs, Cohee said. As Trump continues to attack DEIA initiatives across the federal government, she plans to “stand on the ground” for the causes she cares about.
Mager agreed with Cohee, adding that the most impactful protests come from the grassroots level.
“We’re in this together. Solidarity means sort of working together for a common goal,” Mager said. “In this case, to defend democracy, to defend those in our community who are most threatened by these attacks on immigrants, on refugees, on trans people, on people of color.”
