Bystander Support Tactics

Bystander intervention can prevent escalation, reduce harm, and support community safety. This course teaches you how to safely recognize, assess, and respond to harassment, profiling, or threats—especially targeting immigrants, Black and Brown communities, and queer and trans folks.

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Understand the Context

Bystander intervention is grounded in mutual protection. Harm doesn't always look dramatic — it can be subtle, sustained, or systemic. Microaggressions, targeting, and intimidation thrive in silence.

People who are undocumented, non-English speaking, or part of historically criminalized groups are often less able to safely advocate for themselves. That’s where prepared bystanders come in.

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Normalize Barriers to Action

We all carry fears, trauma, responsibilities, or identities that may shape how we respond. That’s normal. That’s wise. And it doesn’t make you a bad ally.

What matters is knowing what’s realistic for you — and practicing how to act within that zone.

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Your Priorities as a Bystander

1. Center the needs and safety of the targeted person
2. Avoid escalating the situation
3. Use your presence to shift power
4. Document or delegate if direct action isn’t possible
5. Support after the incident, not just during

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The 5Ds Framework

These five approaches are your tactical toolkit. You don’t need to use all of them — pick what’s safest and most effective in the moment.

Tactic	Best For	Risk Level	Example
Direct	Clear, safe confrontations	High	"That’s racist. Stop."
Distract	Public places, de-escalation	Low	"Excuse me, is this your wallet?"
Document	Evidence gathering with consent	Medium	Record with narration and location
Delegate	Crowd support or staff escalation	Low	“Can you go check in on them?”
Delay	Post-incident solidarity	None	“That looked hard. Can I help you?”

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Direct

Calmly call out harmful behavior:

“That’s not okay.”
“Leave them alone.”

Only use this if:

• You feel safe
• You are not outnumbered
• The situation won’t escalate by your involvement

Use firm, short statements. Don’t insult or try to overpower the aggressor.

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Distract

Interrupt without confrontation:

• Ask for directions
• Drop something
• Say: “Hey, don’t I know you?”

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Document

Record the incident only if:

• You feel safe
• The targeted person consents
• You clearly show the scene and incident

Tips:

• Use landscape mode
• Narrate the time, place, and action:

  “ICE stop, outside McDonald’s, Portland OR, 3:15pm”

• Use secure apps like Signal for sharing

❓Not sure what to do with video?
This will be covered in more detail in the next unit.

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What to Do With Footage

• ✅ Upload photos to your local Dispatch report if you're responding
• 📹 Videos cannot be uploaded to Dispatch yet — instead:
  • Store videos in a secure, encrypted folder (e.g., Proton Drive, Tresorit)
  • Use Signal to send it to a trusted organizer, legal observer, or dispatch lead
  • Never keep sensitive footage on shared or cloud-synced devices without encryption

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Delegate

You don’t have to act alone. Involve others when it helps increase safety or visibility:

• “Can you go check in on them?”
• “Could you call someone while I stay here?”
• “Let’s make sure they’re not alone.”

Look for people who can help:

• Store employees
• Transit operators
• Legal observers or organizers

If someone is being detained or harmed, don’t wait for consent to report — it may not be safe or possible for them to ask for help.

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Delay

If you missed the moment to act, it’s still not too late.

Say:

“That looked really hard. Can I help?”
“Do you want someone to walk with you?”

Offer water, support, or a moment to breathe.

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Cultural Awareness & Trauma-Informed Practice

Different settings require different approaches:

• Direct action might escalate with police or ICE present
• Language barriers may require simpler phrases or nonverbal communication
• Be mindful of your tone, volume, and body language — calm energy lowers threat
• Sometimes, stepping back is the safest, kindest move

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What Not to Do

• Don’t film without purpose or consent
• Don’t speak for someone else
• Don’t argue just to win
• Don’t escalate if you can avoid it
• Don’t ignore your own limits

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Scripts for Action

Direct

• “Hey, stop. That’s not okay.”
• “That’s racist/sexist. Cut it out.”

Supportive

• “Are you okay?”
• “Do you want me to stay with you?”
• “You didn’t deserve that.”

Delegate

• “Can you go check on them while I stay here?”
• “Could you get staff while I keep watch?”

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Practice Scenarios

Think through these moments. What tactic would you choose?

• ICE agents talk to a farmworker in an unmarked SUV
• A Black teen is being followed by security
• A woman is being yelled at in Spanish on a bus
• A trans person is mocked in a courthouse hallway

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Final Notes

Bystander support isn’t just about stepping in. It’s about shifting culture, building safety, and refusing to look away. You don’t need to be perfect—just present, prepared, and willing to act.