Protesters in the portland area, there are reports and supporting videos that the police may be ultilizing an LRAD sonic weapon today (6/3/20). Please wear ear protection and anticipate noise of ~160db.
Hi, update (6/4/20, 2:30 am): Various warning tweets have since gained more traction on twitter and some have tweeted their sightings of the LRAD cannon today.
There have also been tweets that protesters today were handing out ear plugs to eachother en masse, but I haven’t seen any reports of LRAD being used to harm civilians yet, thankfully! But this could change.
As always, please continue to exercise caution at protests and bring hearing protection if you are able. While we must take rumors with a grain of salt we must also remember that police WILL NOT HESITATE to harm you unprovoked if they desire. Stay safe!
Earplugs apparently don’t help! If you see LRADS you should be ready to take off. here’s a thread about what LRADs do twitter.com/Sphynxian/status/1268387869690757122
Thank you so much for adding this info!
Please read the links you’re going to fucking share, people.
The article @mdwolf links SPECIFICALLY says EARPLUGS ARE EFFECTIVE.
Earplugs can mitigate it a little. So, they’re not very effective but you should still wear them if that’s the best option you have.
As someone with hyperacusis for other reasons, I want to encourage protestors who are at risk of an LRAD attack to double up the way I need to when I am in what most people consider a moderately loud environment.
Get -30db in-ear earplugs and wear them for the whole protest. Protests are loud anyway, and you should be protecting your hearing the same way you would at a concert. If you are concerned about acoustic quality, invest in musician’s earplugs which run about $18 per pair, but the foam ones where you can get 50 for $10 at CVS are sufficient. Your brain will adapt pretty quick.
Also get over-the-head earmuffs at the highest decibel protection you can afford. Think shooting range earmuffs. Keep them around your neck. If you see an LRAD, put them on immediately.
It is important to keep the ear plugs in at all times and put the ear muffs on the moment you see there is an LRAD present. You do not have a second to waste. Do not wait for them to fire it, because ear pain from sound is completely disorienting and you will not be able to walk straight or possibly even stand up. This will damage more than just your hearing.
This will not protect you 100% - and please remember that decibel protection does not stack. It sort of averages.
What this will do is minimize the damage the LRAD does to you, and give you a better opportunity to get out before you literally hit the floor from sonic damage and can’t get up, exposing you to a prolonged attack and completely obliterating your hearing and sense of balance.
gummycore