A Force For Good: Activist Code of Conduct
A FORCE FOR GOOD
Activist Code of Conduct
at Counter-Presence events, Street Stalls,
and related Outdoor Activism
A Force For Good (AFFG) is a professional organisation which takes our social and legal responsibilities very seriously. We are proud to say that we have never had a problem (nor would we expect one) with any of the invited Activists who have stood on our Thin Red Line. We are taking this opportunity to make public our Code of Conduct, which was first published on 2 May 2018. It has been updated and published below on 6 June 2019.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR ACTIVISM
To give heart to the Unionists in Scotland, and the rest of the United Kingdom, who want to see people standing up for what we believe in; and to remind the Scottish Nationalists that they do not "own the streets" of Scotland!
OUR MARSHALS
AFFG Marshals are identifiable wearing a red AFFG Tabard and red AFFG Cap. Some will be wearing Action Cameras.
Our Marshals endeavour to keep trouble-making opposition at a distance, and to work to ensure best behaviour in our ranks; particularly from random passers-by who are standing beside us, and who have not read this Code of Conduct.
Please follow the instructions of any of our Marshals.
If a Police Officer asks you, "Who's in charge here?", please point them to our Chief Marshal who will be standing next to our Speaker. Please note that our Chief Marshal's decision on security is final.
DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THE SCOTTISH NATIONALISTS: OUR WATCHWORD IS DIGNITY
If there is anger or bad gestures directed towards our group, do not respond.
Please maintain best behaviour with absolutely no angry comments or gestures. Remain calm. Do not engage. Maintain dignity.
We aim to represent the Best of British!
We cannot emphasise the importance of this enough. One angry, or foolish, or nasty comment, or gesture, travelling through the internet, can reflect badly on our organisation, and hurt our relationship with the Police.
We should emphasise that we do not expect any of our invited Activists to behave poorly.
IMPORTANT: RANDOM "SUPPORTERS" WHO TURN UP ON THE DAY
However, sometimes people may turn up uninvited, because they happen to be passing, or they may have heard of us elsewhere, or they may be trying to "piggy back" on an event organised by someone else.
It is these random people who try to join our ranks – and who have not read this Code of Conduct – who are the ones who may present a problem. It is possible that these people do not even know who we are!
IF SOMEONE IS BEHAVING POORLY
Please play your part in ensuring the good behaviour of others, for the sake of us all!
If there is a person next to you behaving poorly, please do your best to ask him or her to either moderate their language, or to stop behaving in a manner which may reflect badly on the rest of us.
Please point out to them that they are being filmed. Point out to them that they "surely do not want to see themselves being made to look stupid on the internet."
If they do not listen to you, then please attract the attention of an AFFG Marshal. The Marshal will ask them to behave.
If the person does not desist, then he or she will be asked by the Marshal to leave.
If he or she does not leave, the Police will be requested to remove the person.
DEALING WITH THE POLICE
If a Police Officer, asks you to move, then comply immediately.
We intend to maintain a good relationship with the Police. Anyone who talks back to, or argues with, a Police Officer will not be invited back to any of our activism!
MAINTAIN A LOOK-OUT FOR OTHERS
As well as watching out for your own safety, keep an eye out for the safety of other members of our group. If you think someone is behaving suspiciously, please bring them to the attention of an AFFG Marshal or Police Officer.
BE AWARE that SCOTTISH NATIONALISTS WILL TRY TO FILM and PHOTOGRAPH YOU and you HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT
Please be aware that you will be getting filmed and photographed by the Marchers. They are within their rights to film and photograph you if they want.
However, they are not within their rights to intimidate you! And it is a fact that some of them may be deliberately trying to provoke you. The intention of some of them is to deliberately incite.
Our Marshals will try to keep such people away.
If such people are filming you at close-quarters, please do not respond to them, or to any such close-quarters provocation.
Do not deliberately photograph them back – that just escalates things!
Instead, move away from them, and if necessary draw their behaviour to the attention of an AFFG Marshal.
If there is a Police Officer nearby you may also want to tell the Police Officer that you are not comfortable with this person filming you; and that you believe he or she is trying to intimidate you and incite others.
We will also have our own people photographing the event and we will endeavour to ensure you know who they are.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE ON CAMERA
The best policy is to accept that everything you say, or anything you do, is likely to be filmed.
If you do not want to accept that likelihood, then please do not come along to any of our events.
SCOTTISH NATIONALISTS MAY TRY TO BLOCK OUR BANNERS, POSTERS AND FLAGS
It is possible that some of the marchers may choose to stand provocatively in front of our banners, or posters, waving their own flags, and shouting, and generally trying to obscure the vision of yourself or any media cameras. (Our experience, though, is that the Marshals of the nationalist march will usually stop them doing this and will move them on quickly.)
However, if they persist in doing this, then do not respond in the same way.
Instead, you can hold your banner higher up over their heads, or you can move to the side, as appropriate.
If they try to actually steal, or rip away, any of our material, then of course we are within our rights to take reasonable measures to retain it.
SPEAKING WITH THE MEDIA or MARCHERS
Please remember that you do not speak for AFFG.
If you are approached by the Media, or any Marcher, for a comment, please direct them to Alistair McConnachie. He is the only Spokesman for the event. He will speak to them after he has finished on the microphone.
Furthermore, do not get drawn into a futile conversation with Marchers who may be trying to divert you and waste your time. Instead, concentrate on flying the Flag and standing proud for the Union.
If someone asks you who is organising this, say "A Force For Good; a pro-UK campaigning group". If they want more info, direct them to our Website aForceForGood.UK or to Alistair.
Do not mention any other group which you might be involved in, political or otherwise, since these groups are not officially associated or affiliated with us, and would not necessarily want to be; nor do we necessarily want to be associated or affiliated with them!
DO NOT BRING ANY POLITICAL PARTY MATERIAL, OR OTHER CAMPAIGNING PARAPHERNALIA
AFFG does not support any political party. We have supporters of all political parties and none. Therefore, do not try to use our event to promote – even in a small way, with say a lapel badge – any political party or campaign group that you also support. If you bring such material, you will be asked to put it away.
DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN POSTERS OR BANNERS
Do not bring your own posters or banners. These will detract from our core Message, and might even conflict with it! If you bring your own material, we will ask you to cover it up.
DRESS CODE – SMART CASUAL
- Any Union Jack-branded clothing or items is always good and colourful.
- AFFG clothing from our Storefront here is always an appropriate choice!
- No football tops.
- No aggressive T-shirts.
<end of Code of Conduct. Revised 6-6-19.)
