In the coming weeks, we may each be called to step up to quell potential harm. Please take a moment to educate yourself on de-escalation and bystander intervention techniques. Here's a couple places to start:

This tutorial on bystander intervention by @modernistwitch is one of those articles I just share over and over again. It's helped me immensely and I can say from experience the advice in here is sound: https://watt.cashmusic.org/writing/deescalation

This short video provides some helpful tips on de-escalation, including the role of body language (non-verbal communication)

A few big takeaways for me, over the years (different things may speak to you from the article and video above):
- keep your focus on the person who is experiencing harm or may experience harm. Engage with THEM, do not give additional attention to the aggressor

- a conflict situation is a ticking time bomb, and should be met with as much calm as you can muster. Your goal is to diffuse the conflict without triggering the bomb. It might be tempting to take on the aggressor directly, but you wouldn't try to diffuse a bomb by punching it

- consent, consent, CONSENT. since your focus is on the person who is experiencing or may experience harm, try to tune in to what they need or want. Not everybody wants your in their business & you should be prepared to back off! Sometimes, just checking in with someone can help.

Intervention can feel scary but it doesn't have to be! I hate to give any attention to this stupid, misguided ad, BUT by way of illustration, please take a moment to watch Chicago badass @thefawz's intervention in action (this was filmed on hidden camera):

Super calm, focus on the person experiencing harm, uses her physical presence to literally stand by the person in need, little engagement with the aggressors. She literally just moved 5 feet closer and had a chill conversation. It's not always so simple, but it can be!

You can do this too. Learn the skills you need now, and if you know them already, maybe talk through some potential scenarios with someone you know. Make like an astronaut and practice the scary things until they're not so scary!