Crowd control measures during EDSA celebration

Malacañang has announced that the nation will commemorate the 20th anniversary of EDSA 1. We just hope that the nation has learned a lesson concerning the great need for crowd control measures after the Ultra stampede experience. Already a group of retired military officials are reportedly planning a coup d’etat against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration to coincide with the celebration. The worst part is what they are planning may just be to cause another stampede. So we hope that the authorities do everything possible to prevent the crowd from degenerating into a mob.

EDSA I is our prime example of how disciplined Filipinos can be during demonstrations. There was absolutely no untoward incidents in EDSA I and II. It will be a black eye to the nation if in the coming celebration, some people got out of their way to cause a repeat of the Ultra stampede.

Here are some information that we have gathered on the difference between a crowd and a mob:

"The crowd is the most common form of collective behavior. A crowd is defined as a large number of persons temporarily congregated. Just as in all other forms of collective behavior, a crowd is more than just a collection of individuals. Simply being a part of a crowd affects an individual in some degree, causing him or her to act differently than when alone. For example, a very mild and submissive person may find courage within a crow to commit acts that the person would be hesitant to attempt alone. There are almost as many types of crowds as there are reasons for persons to assemble. The audience that assembles for a football game or gathers at an accident is a casual crowd. Individuals within this crowd probably have no common bonds other than the enjoyment or curiosity that the game or incident stimulates. There is also a planned crowd, one that assembles at the call of leaders to accomplish a purpose in which all members have an interest and purpose. Numbers enhance the probability of success. Under normal circumstance when a crowd is orderly, is not violating any laws, and is not causing danger to life or property, it does not present a problem to authorities. But crowd violence usually results when people have grievances, either real or imagined. The crowd is led to believe that violence will achieve redress.

"The extreme of crowd behavior is called a mob. A mob is a crowd whose members lose their concern for laws and authority and follow their leaders into unlawful and disruptive acts. Mob behavior is highly emotional, often unreasonable, and prone to violence. A mob can be developed from almost any crowd if proper conditions are present. The planned crowd lends itself to influence by its leadership, peaceful or otherwise. In fact, skillful agitators in today’s society, through use of television, radio, and other communications media, can reach large portions of the population. The agitators incite individuals to unlawful acts without the need for a pre-formed crowd or direct personal contact with the crowd.

EDSA I was the model of crowd discipline. That was because no one there wanted to disrupt the demonstration. We cannot say that there will be no saboteurs in its 20th anniversary commemoration.