Text that reads 'BETTER BE COUNTED' with a background of a map showing various states in the United States.

Together, we are recording our dissent.

This is a simple primer on counting crowds based on the Jacob’s Method.

For No Kings Day, we are attempting to release an estimate by that evening. You can help by submitting your counts by 5:00 PM PST on June 14.

SUBMIT A COUNT

SEE THE COUNT

Illustration of the number 500 with a map of the United States inside the numbers.

For crowds under 500, do a manual count.
Recruit a friend to double check or help count.

Text image reading 'Standing Crowds' with a background map and dotted circles.

Before you begin, divide the area into blocks by similar crowd density. You will repeat these steps for each block. Usually, the crowd nearest the stage/steps is more dense. It then fans out into a looser density the further the crowd is from the stage/steps.

Again, repeat this process for each block that shares a crowd density.

ONE - FIND THE AREA

Length x Width = Area
NOTE: Only measure the space occupied by protestors.

METHODS FOR MEASURING

TAPE MEASURE OR PACE IT OFF

2. ON YOUR COMPUTER
Several map softwares allow you to measure the area.

CALC MAPS

3. USE AN APP
Find My Distance (measures length and area)
GPS Fields Area Measure (measures area)

GPS FIELD AREA

FIND MY DISTANCE

Map of JFK Plaza in Philadelphia with a highlighted enclosed area on the southern side of the park, bordered by N 17th Street, N 16th Street, Arch Street, and John F Kennedy Boulevard.

A map showing a distance measurement of 382 feet between two points on a property or location.

A digital map showing a path with a distance of 202 feet marked, nearby streets, and a building outline.

Here are two examples:

In the first, the app calculated the area.
In the second, you would multiply length x width.

382 ft x 202 ft = 77,162

TWO - DECIDE THE CROWD DENSITY

SPEAD OUT
People are roughly an arms length away from the body of the next person side-to-side with room in front and behind them. Imagine a 5ft by 4 ft box around them.
= 20 sq ft per person

LOOSE
People are roughly an arms length from the body of the next person. Imagine a 5ft by 2ft box around the person
= 10 sq ft per person

MEDIUM
If you drew a box around them, it would be about 2x2 ft
= 4.5 ft per person

DENSE
People are shoulder to shoulder with little room in front and behind
= 2.5 ft per person

MIXED
Remember, crowds are rarely a uniform density. Repeat this process for each block that shares a similar density.

THREE - DIVIDE 1 by 2

AREA ÷ CROWD density square footage
= CROWD COUNT

77,162 ÷ 10 = 7716

Crowds will not be one density
Let’s imagine half of the area being medium density and half being loose.

38,582 ÷ 10 = 3858

38,582 ÷ 4.5 = 8573

ADD them together 3858 + 8573 = 12,431

Let’s say THE AREA IS AN ODD SHAPE
To measure this, you break the area into squares or rectangles. A T-shaped area could be broken into the horizontal and vertical line.

Unless you did a manual count, enter 20% under your count as the low estimate and 20% over as the high estimate.

ENTER THE COUNT

EXAMPLE

From this Facebook post from April 5, we can estimate the crowd size.

Aerial view of a large protest outside a government capitol building with lined sections labeled 1 to 4, showing crowds gathered on the lawn and sidewalks, with signs and banners among people.

FIRST, I divided the space into blocks with a similar crowd density.

SECOND, using Cal Map, I determined the area for each block

10,516 sq ft
10,774 sq ft
10,182 sq ft
51,343 sq ft

THIRD, determine the crowd density for each section. Section one is medium. Two and three are loose. Four is spread out. The stragglers would fill in the gaps. Obviously, on the ground, we could get a better estimate.

FOUTH, divide the square footage by the density.