WHAT ARE RIGHT TO BE'S 5DS? Stop Hate- AAJC Resources
THE 5DS OF BYSTANDER INTERVENTION
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RESPOND AS A BYSTANDER?
The concept of bystander intervention is really simple: it’s people helping people.
We have worked to translate some of our resources and make them more accessible. Read this guide in Arabic, Burmese, French, Spanish and Indonesian. *
If someone had a medical emergency, you’d know what to do. If someone dropped their hat on the street, you’d know what to do. But when people witness online harassment, they freeze. They don’t know what to do. And for good reason: the consequences of action (or inaction) online are unclear and unpredictable -- and worse, we’ve started seeing online abuse as normal. We told ourselves there is nothing we can do. But that simply isn’t true.
Bystander intervention online is simply overcoming that “freezing” instinct so we can get back to that very human desire to take care of one another. It’s not about being the hero. It’s not about strapping on superhero spandex and saving the day. And it certainly isn’t about sacrificing your own safety. Bystander intervention is an idea as old as time. It’s the idea that as an online community: we got us.
Bystander intervention has been popularized in public spaces, colleges, and workplace settings -- but bystander intervention online is still a relatively new concept with new opportunities and challenges. For example, when you experience harassment in person, there are not always other people around. But online, it’s easy to ping people and get them to show up in the blink of an eye to help. It can also be easier to check-in on the person being harassed without being detected by the folks doing the harassment.
The online setting also brings new challenges, however -- the most scary of which is how quickly and easily the harassment can turn on you if you intervene publicly. At Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), we partnered in 2020 with PEN America to launch a one-hour training on bystander intervention online using Right To Be’s 5D’s of bystander intervention: “Distract,” “Delegate,” “Document,” “Delay,” and “Direct.” Four out of the five forms of bystander intervention we’ll discuss are indirect, meaning that you won’t be detected by the people doing the harassing - but you’ll still be able to support the person being harassed online.
Before you get started, a couple rules:
Always prioritize your own safety. Seriously, your safety matters. You matter. Before you start intervening, take steps to tighten your own digital security (check out the resources section for more information on how to do this).
Check-in on the people targeted by abuse whenever possible. Online abuse is disempowering, but quick chats, DMS, and emails are easy. Give them their power back by simply asking what kind of support they would like.
Never abuse the abusers. It can be tempting, but it’s never a good idea. Bystander intervention is about prioritizing the person being harassed and breaking the cycle of violence.
Let’s look at all five approaches in-depth:
1. "Distract:" Creating a distraction to de-escalate the situation
The good news is, the internet is a very distracting place! We’ve got a lot to work with here.
One idea is to amplify the original post that caused the harassment to begin. You never want to amplify the abuse (don’t give them the pleasure!). But by amplifying the original voice you’re saying, “hey, we’re going to let this person have their voice. We’re going to like it, we’re going to upvote it, we’re going to retweet it, we're going to share it.” Online harassment, like all forms of harassment, is often intended to silence people. By lifting their voices, you’re not only reminding the person being harassed that their voice matters, you’re also showing the people who harass others that their attempts to silence this person have backfired.
The other strategy is drawing attention away from the abuse. It’s really hard to be hateful while staring at a flood of photos of cute baby animals, gifs of jumping goats, or elephants running through the wilderness with pink converse. This type of content is not only de-escalating, it’s funny. And the internet is fantastic at generating tons of it.
2. “Delegate:” Finding someone else to help
One person intervening is good, but more is better.
Consider reaching out to supportive communities -- like listservs, your BFFs text chain, your private Facebook community, etc, and sound the alarm. You can ask them to support by amplifying the voice of the person being harassed or by reporting the harassment to the platform where it happened. For example, amongst those of us who do this work professionally, it’s not uncommon to see notes like this sent out across listserves: “My friend is being impersonated online & she can’t get the @account removed. Can you join me in reporting it to Twitter?”
A word to the wise: the first thing a lot of people think about when they think about delegates is contacting the police. You want to check in with the person being harassed before contacting the police on their behalf (unless it’s a medical emergency) because many of the communities most targeted by harassment online -- including communities of color, trans* communities, etc, may not feel safer with police presence.
3. “Document:” Creating documentation of the incident and then giving it to the person who was harassed
It’s a best practice to have screenshots and hyperlinks of any harassment you experience online -- even if you don’t think it will escalate and don’t want to report it to law enforcement. The trouble is: capturing that information can deepen the trauma of people harassed online by increasing their exposure to the hate. That’s where you, the bystander, come in.
This is especially important because when harassment is reported to social media companies and removed, the evidence of harassment disappears. When offering to do this for someone, we recommend putting the screenshots and hyperlinks into a folder and emailing the entire folder to them with a message like, ““I want to ensure you have evidence of this abuse. Attached are screenshots to file away.” You want to hid the evidence under a layer of protection (and not cut and paste them directly into an email) so that the person being harassed has some control over when they see the evidence (if they choose to see it at all).
Another option if you’re being harassed is to go to HeartMob (iheartmob.org) where you can leverage a vetted community of bystanders to screenshot the harassment on your behalf, and it will be saved on the backend of the system when (and if) you want to review it. Tactics like “blocking” or “muting” while tempting, can mask the presence of deeper, more serious threats. As a bystander, offer to monitor mentions and document harassment -- and encourage the person being harassed to take a break from the internet to take care of themselves and connect with those they love.
4. “Delay:” Checking in on the person who experienced harassment
When it comes to in-person harassment, we know from research with Cornell University that as little as a knowing glance can reduce the trauma related to harassment. It’s not much different online -- if you replace a knowing glance with a direct message or text.
Delay is simply that check-in. It’s about affirming to the person who was harassed that it’s not their fault, and they are not alone. It’s about asking if they want to talk or if they need help reporting the harassment or locking down their digital security. While this may seem so simple it’s obvious -- too often we see this as a missed step in the process.
Most people who experience harassment understand that not everyone in the world is going to be kind, or agree with them. But what they have a harder time stomaching is that they can be publicly humiliated, with everyone watching and no one saying anything. What we see time and time again is that the trauma of one doing or saying anything if oftentimes worse than the trauma of the original incident. So take action, text them if you know them, and send them gifs and gifts to support their healing process.
5. “Direct:” Setting a boundary with the person doing the harassing, and then turning your attention to the person being harassed
The last form of intervention is Direct. What distinguishes “Direct” from the other forms is that you’re publicly allying with the person being harassed, in a way that can be easily detected by the person doing the harassment. It’s the one we all think of when we think about intervening, but it’s also the one with the most safety risks because the harassment may turn towards you. Before choosing this option, you’re going to want to do a deeper assessment of your safety:
What are your identities? Could they put you at increased risk? For example, if you’re a woman witnessing sexist behavior, you might choose to pick a less direct action.
Are your own biases affecting how you perceive the situation or how you intervene? For example, do you assume that Black and Latino men are more likely to escalate to violence than white men?
Are you triggered or are your own experiences keeping you from seeing a way through? If when you look at the harassment you feel your body transported back to moments of trauma in your own life, you should know this is a normal response. Trying breath regulating excercising like box breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4, repeat) or grounding exercises like putting your feet on the floor, back on your chair, and naming three things you see, two things you can touch, and one thing you can hear. If you’re not able to get yourself back into the present moment, you may want to pick a less direct form of intervention.
Is the person targeted by abuse somebody you know? If so, text, call, or direct message them to check in and can offer support. They may not know what they need, so offer to go on a walk with them, buy them a coffee and listen, or help them lock down their digital security.
Is the abuser somebody you know? Do you have a good relationship? If so, you may be well positioned to directly intervene by pulling them aside and asking them about their behavior. Questions like, “what makes you feel that way?” Or reflections like, “this just doesn’t sound like you.” can be helpful conversation starters.
Does the abuser have a history of escalation? This can be hard to know, but a quick search through their online presence can be helpful, especially if the abuser is well-known.
Do you have friends who are aware of your plan and can have your back if needed? Consider letting some friends know what you’re up to, so that you know they are there if you need to call on them for support later on.
https://stories.righttobe.org/pages/bystander-intervention-online
https://righttobe.org/guides/bystander-intervention-training/
AAJC Resources:
AAJC: https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/
Stand Up Against Hatred: https://www.standagainsthatred.org/
Tell your story. Help us track HATE. https://www.standagainsthatred.org/report
Expertise: https://advancingjustice-aajc.org/expertise
Contact us https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/contact-us
Ways to Give: https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/index.php/ways-give
History of Chinese Exclusion Act: https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/chinese-exclusion-act-1882
PBS Asian Americans: https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/
NAAPIMHA (mental health) https://www.naapimha.org/resources
Stop AAPI Hate: https://stopaapihate.org/
National Police Accountability Project: https://www.nlg-npap.org/
Opwal: Elevating the voices, visibility, and leadership of Ohio AAPI women and nonbinary people https://www.opawl.org/
Community Statement: A Community-Centered Response to Violence Against Asian American Communities — Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta
Resources for the Asian American Community on Anti-Blackness: https://advancingjustice-aajc.org/publication/resources-asian-american-community-anti-blackness
Yellow Whistle Campaign https://www.theyellowwhistle.org/
Resource Links:
About Right To Be: https://righttobe.org/who-we-are/
Share your Story:https://stories.righttobe.org/stories/new
Get Trained/Future Training: https://righttobe.org/our-training/
Resources: https://righttobe.org/resources/
Research: https://righttobe.org/research/
Contact us: https://righttobe.org/get-in-touch/
Bystander Resources:
The 5 D’s of Bystander Intervention: https://righttobe.org/guides/bystander-intervention-training/
Self Care for Bystanders: https://iheartmob.org/pages/self-care-for-bystanders
Online Harassment Manual: https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/
RTB Conflict De-escalation Guide: https://righttobe.org/guides/our-guide-to-conflict-de-escalation/
Domestic Violence: https://www.thehotline.org/
NYC WELL (counseling): https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. 1-800-273-8255
Privilege test: https://www.quizexpo.com/privilege-test/
Project Implicit Test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE RESOURCES: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/
Learn About Your Implicit Biases: https://www.impactree.com/random-action/?campaignId=randomAction&actionIds=Een1ej9Qk4uOxhtd50e0&gclid=CjwKCAjwgISIBhBfEiwALE19STthP_c5hJhdamJVMdDWNNSJz6npb9WQGJ6u_wyWDvoMpy-kulldOhoCWJAQAvD_BwE
4 Tools to Mitigate Implicit Bias Worksheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15bux62ykkbwDB1Q4S8IO-R5QHX-uSZ1-/view
What Is Cultural Appropriation? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cultural-appropriation-5070458
Microaggressions Are A Big Deal: How To Talk Them Out And When To Walk Away https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/872371063/microaggressions-are-a-big-deal-how-to-talk-them-out-and-when-to-walk-away
How to Respond to Microaggressions
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/03/smarter-living/how-to-respond-to-microaggressions.html
How to Write a Letter or Email to Your Elected Official https://www.actforamerica.org/writingelectedofficials
Police/ Rights
Recording Laws by State: https://recordinglaw.com/united-states-recording-laws/
This is a handy guideline for knowing whether the recording laws in each state are one-party or two-party consent. Make sure to find each state's laws as they might vary.
WITNESS helps people use video and technology to protect and defend human rights.: https://www.witness.org/
Don't Call The Police - Community-based alternatives to police in your city: https://dontcallthepolice.com/.
American Civil Liberties Union: https://www.aclu.org/
Know your Rights as a Protester https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-want-to-take-pictures-or-shoot-video-at-a-protest
How to Flex Your Rights: https://www.flexyourrights.org/
National Police Account https://www.nlg-npap.org/ability Project
Showing Up For Racial Justice in New York City and Beyond: https://surjnyc.com/
How about legal liability for intervention? Could one get into legal trouble trying to help? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue
Report Hate Crimes:
United States Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/get-help-now
Stop AAPI Hate: https://stopaapihate.org/
Stand Against Hatred: https://www.standagainsthatred.org/
Anti-Defamation League - Report Hate Crime https://www.adl.org/
Report Hate Crimes to the FBI https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/report-hate-crimes-to-the-fbi/view
Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/ To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Media members can reach our press office at (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.
Thecenterforpublicintegrity.org: https://publicintegrity.org/politics/rising-hate-drives-latinos-and-immigrants-into-silence/
Hate Crime Statistics: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/hate-crime.
Discussing Anti-Racism for Kids
How can we show our kids why racism hurts everyone in our community?
Right to Be has just released a series of videos for kids ages 3-10 to educate them about the importance of being an ally when witnessing bullying or racism. These videos cover the 5Ds methodology in a way that’s appropriate and engaging for children; please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/c/iHollaback or https://www.youtube.com/c/righttobe
Anti-Racism for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide to Fighting Hate
Talking to your kids about racism https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-to-your-kids-about-racism
How to Talk Honestly With Children About Racism https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-honestly-with-children-about-racism
Want To Have Better Conversations About Racism With Your Parents? Here's How
Videos Shared/Mentioned:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/chinese-exclusion-act/ -
Social Platforms:
AAJC
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/advancingjustice_aajc/?hl=en
Twitter https://twitter.com/AAAJ_AAJC
RIGHT TO BE!
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/righttobe_org/
Twitter https://twitter.com/righttobeorg
Self Care
Impact Boston http://impactboston.org/
12 Steps To Self-Care:
27 Resilience Activities and Worksheets for Students and Adults (+PDFs) https://positivepsychology.com/resilience-activities-worksheets/
23 Resilience Building Tools and Exercises (+ Mental Toughness Test) https://positivepsychology.com/resilience-activities-exercises/
5 Easy Resilience Activities for the Workplace https://marieskelton.com/resilience-activities-for-the-workplace/
Build skills to endure hardship https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20046311
Poem http://adriennemareebrown.net/2018/02/20/radical-gratitude-spell/comment-page-1/
JOIN OUR CORPORATE ACCOMPLICES PROGRAM https://righttobe.org/corporate-accomplice/
Interested in bringing training to your organization or team, contact:
We have customized training for a younger audience ages 13+. Please email hello@righttobe.org
We are currently working on additional training aimed at a younger age group. Please follow our social platforms for those updates https://righttobe.org/.
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