Protest marshals were told to photograph anyone who “looked like trouble”

I volunteered as a marshal for a downtown protest. At the briefing, the lead organizer told us to photograph anyone who “looked like trouble” and upload the images to a shared folder. When someone asked what that meant, the answer was “You will know it when you see it.”

The march had received threats online, so I understand the fear behind the instruction. I also pictured twenty volunteers making private judgments about clothing, age, signs, or who seemed out of place. Photographing people for a suspicion file could escalate tensions and sweep in participants who had done nothing.

I asked for behavior-based guidance instead: what specific conduct should be reported, who receives a report, when emergency services are appropriate, and whether marshals should photograph at all. The organizer said there was no time to rewrite the plan.

I chose a route-support role and did not upload faces. During the march, I reported one blocked curb and helped reunite a teenager with her group. Those were tasks I understood. If the organization holds another event, I will volunteer only if the safety plan replaces “looks like trouble” with observable conduct and clear data handling.

The threat was real. That did not make a vague camera assignment safe.