Peacekeepers, Cred, and the Street: Police, Protesters, and Contradictions in Peacework

Drawing upon qualitative data gathered during protests at the 2008 Republican
National Convention, secondary sources of Black Lives Matter, and Trump and anti-
Trump rallies, I examine the collective interests, ideology, and role performances of
a seldom studied group involved in demonstrations—“peacekeepers.” My findings
suggest that as members of this group attempt to create a peaceful order between
police and protesters on the street, their activities are marked by a unique set of
contradictions. These contradictions emerge as a result of two primary roles—
those of crisis workers and “human involvement shields”—performed by peacekeepers,
as they attempt to build and leverage credibility with both protesters and
police. I theorize this process by outlining phases of interaction—milling, miming, and
crossing—between peacekeepers and these groups once peacekeepers are out on
the street.