Forgive us if this is a well-known and often-deployed tactic when it comes to demonstrations. Rapper Tef Poe made the suggestion back in September in Ferguson.

White allies should take the front line — Tef Poe/FootKlan (@TefPoe) September 29, 2014

Great night of protesting when the white allies came in large numbers, I yelled "IF YOU ARE WHITE!! GET TO THE FRONT! THIS IS YOUR PART" — ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) October 31, 2014

Has it since become a “Boston” thing? The request seems to have been unfamiliar to a few “white allies” protesting in Boston Friday night and over the course of the last few weeks, but they played along anyway.

Like everyone else, I confirm that I heard @BLM_Boston organizers ask white allies to the front last night. Many times. Over a megaphone. — lirael (@lirael_abhorsen) November 26, 2014

Boston Globe reporting those arrested were mostly not from Boston and were college students. Yes. — Helen of Troy (@YoNoMePeino) November 26, 2014

because we asked the white allies to stand on the front line, as protection for the rest of the March and to push the police back. — Helen of Troy (@YoNoMePeino) November 26, 2014

in Boston, those white folks are college students, who don't live here. don't try and make it seem like the community wasn't present. — Helen of Troy (@YoNoMePeino) November 26, 2014

1/3: When @BLM_Boston called white allies to the front at #IndictBoston, I saw some confused (white) faces…but also many of us step forward. — Aarón Martel (@aaronmartel) December 2, 2014

2/3: Why was @BLM_Boston’s call to white allies important? How does this (pre)figure our roles & responsibilities in this mass movement? — Aarón Martel (@aaronmartel) December 2, 2014

3/3…tracing mov’t history, @prisonculture calls for white mass arrest+jailing. Again, the call is clear. I’m ready. http://t.co/onMx6n4aI7 — Aarón Martel (@aaronmartel) December 2, 2014

Golf clap.

Call for white allies to the front, we r at entrance to 93 south #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/TVRLPzByiT — Michelle Weiser (@riotcurrrl) December 5, 2014

"white allies, bring your bodies to the front!" a pause, & then…we do. #boston #ShutItDown — whitney erin boesel (@weboesel) December 6, 2014

'White allies, to the front! White allies, put your bodies on the line!'- black student organiser. They did what she said. #BlackLivesMatter — Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) December 6, 2014

.@EricEthington @BostInno It's not Black vs White, Left vs Right, etc..It is always, and has always been, the State vs You.#ReadRothbard — TJ (@TheLiberTweets) December 6, 2014

@TheLiberTweets @EricEthington @BostInno But the state has convinced many people that it is black vs white etc. we have to undo that message — Geri Brady (@yomoi2001) December 6, 2014