Ransom (and anyone who intends to go to Washington) make certain you read this post by LibWhacker (Thanks for posting!); It contains specific recommendations on what to wear or not wear and/or to take with you. (No,unfortunately I will not be attending.)
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3918018/posts
Michael Yon) Dispatch 53: Washington, D.C.: A few hints on combat safety in America
Michael Yon Online ^ | 12/14/2020 Washington, D.C.
Yon-Genre, unedited mind dump:
“This is intended for journalists — the few still on the field — and peaceful people.
Recall during my livestreams last year in Hong Kong that I often said to always wear boots. Wear boots anywhere you might get into stampede situation. (I will often wear boots on flights, but not always.)
How many times last year in Hong Kong did I point the camera down at the ground and show all the abandoned shoes, iPhones, glasses, backpacks, and more? Blood. Shredded feet.
I was present at one double-stabbing Saturday night. BLAMTIFA guy with a knife came into a group of Proud Boys. Fight followed. You may have seen videos and even me. Two Proud Boys stabbed. BLAMTIFA guy beaten.
The swarm of Proud Boys resulted in at least one losing a shoe. There was some eyewear on the ground. I made this photo. (My camera had an exposure problem due to a dial being bumped. Sorry!)
In big human swarms/compressions/stampedes, you might see hundreds of shoes on the ground, many glasses, tons of phones, wallets, cameras, masks. Name it.
If something will fall off of you, it will. Including backpacks with items like laptops. You will lose your entire backpack in a New York second. I bet you think you won’t. If you think that, you are wrong. Do NOT bring anything you cannot afford to lose. This is why Soldiers use dummy-cords for weapons. Soldiers lose entire rifles in the middle of firefights.
No matter if you are going to the most peaceful protest ever, remember that ANTIFA in particular will attack. It’s right there in their handbook. (Read the ANTIFA handbook. I did.)
Recall during my livestreams last year in Hong Kong that I often said to always wear boots. Wear boots anywhere you might get into stampede situation. (I will often wear boots on flights, but not always.” (...SNIP)
(My recommendation Do not take wasp or bear spray, possible legal issues. Consider “Skunk” if you can find it. )
I recommend viewing Eskrima videos.