How to Protest Safely and Legally

Walking the streets to have your voice heard is a fundamental right in the United States and part of the lifeblood of our country. Whether you are going to support or disagree, you need to know what you are getting yourself into before you leave. Even if you think the event is purely peaceful, someone else, another protest group, or the police might have different ideas. Here are some tips to get your voice heard before you go out.

Before we go too far, it’s important to note that these tips will help you feel comfortable and prepared for something bad to happen. They are not a substitute for following the police’s instructions using common sense and leaving the area on orders or in the event of danger. Since history has shown us that even the most peaceful protests can become dangerous and that people on any side can be injured, it is important to be prepared for whatever happens before you leave home.

This article was originally published in 2011 and has been updated.

Know your rights

The most important thing you can do before leaving home is doing your research. If you are planning to go to a march or protest, it is important to know what rights you have and what you don’t. For example, many people misinterpret their right to assemble, as amended in their first amendment, as allowing them to gather anywhere, but in fact it limits the government and other members of the state from interfering with peaceful assembly in public places. Unfortunately, it is very easy to accidentally move from a public place to a private one, or assume that private property is public, and run into trouble with the police.

Do your homework and find out if the organization organizing the protest has a history of nonviolent protests, and find out if they plan to gather in a public safe place. Our help cards on how to deal with the police can help you deal with authorities on the scene in a professional and non-confrontational manner, and this search and seizure oriented cheat sheet from EFF can also help. Many organizations will offer advice on their websites or hand out protest brochures outlining what to expect.

Finally, even if you may be within your rights, remember that claiming that you have the right to stand on one side of the street when half a dozen cops want you to go to the other side is probably a losing – and pointless – combative. If arrest is your goal, choose your words carefully and fight. You may be better off obeying police orders first and then claiming your rights later. You are useless for your cause if you are injured or worse and cannot continue to protest.

How to dress for protest

I’ve seen indiscriminate protests on everything from war or foreign aid to seemingly harmless topics like art and music in schools. Before going to a protest, think about what kind of event it will be, whether there will be a counter-protest and whether there will be a large number of police present. Dress appropriately.

• Wear comfortable shoes . You will be on your feet for a long time, sometimes for long hours, and you may be marching. Wear shoes that are comfortable for you to stand, walk, or run.
• Wear multiple layers that cover your skin . Wearing layers will provide comfort at any temperature. Wearing clothing that covers your skin will reduce your exposure to the sun, wind and, yes, gas or pepper spray if things get out of hand. Dressing in thick layers will also help soften the impact of burlap shells and rubber bullets. However, don’t do this thinking that you can fight face to face with the police. At its best, it won’t hurt as long as you have time to get out of the area without being incapacitated in pain.
• Wear safety glasses or shatterproof goggles if you plan to be in front . If you plan to be on the front lines in front of a counter-protest or the police, you need something to protect your eyes in case something becomes ugly, preferably something with a seal around the eyes. Sure, you don’t want the pepper spray to get in your eyes, but you also don’t want anyone screaming in your eyes.
• Wear a zipped backpack . Do not keep personal items in your wallet. Any large crowd of people is great for pickpockets, even for protests. Store your belongings in a zip-up backpack that you carry in a square back.
• Put the second backpack on your stomach . Fill this second backpack with towels or a second set of clothing in an airtight plastic bag. A padding on the front will give you a little protection if the police hit you with a truncheon (and give you the ability to obey and retreat without falling in pain), and gives you another place to store items you want to quickly access, such as an ID card, a permit collection or anything else that you may need to present to the police when asked to do so.

Hopefully you won’t need them, but the point is, you’ll be happy to have them if something goes wrong in a hurry. Also, when donning items such as glasses or a gas mask, remember that you are walking the line between preparing for what might happen and telling others who see you that you are in for trouble. You can be targeted by the police or anger other protesters who just want to gather peacefully without any problem. Remember this when packing.

How to get together to protest

Apart from ID and any clearances you may need, it is important to pack properly for the protest. If you are not a journalist or photographer, leave your fragile and fragile equipment at home. Bring only the bare minimum you need to verify your identity, buy food, or make a phone call if needed, and take care of yourself or your friends whenever you need them. Here’s what should be in your backpack.

• First aid kit . Bandages, antibacterial ointment, nylon bandage, and some basic wound care products will do wonders for you. Even if everything is calm, a bandage will come in handy if you twist your ankle, and a few plasters will come in handy if someone falls on the sidewalk. Your medicine cabinet should also contain simple pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
• An inhaler, epipen, any necessary medications that you cannot do without, and personal hygiene accessories . All this is prevention. If you plan to be on the march for a long time, you may need them, but if you have problems with the police or are being held in an isolated place away from others, you need to make sure that you have the basics, such as an inhaler or epipen on you. if you need it. The same goes for hygiene products – you may not be allowed to leave before you need them, and the police are more likely to bring you an inhaler from your bag than just dismiss you because you have breathing problems.
• Cover your hair with a dry bandana and another soaked in vinegar or apple cider vinegar . Store the soaked bandana in an airtight plastic bag until needed. If your group is exposed to tear gas, a soaked bandana can provide some relief until you can leave the area safely and calmly without being pressured. In most cases, tear gas is not actually a “gas” but a chemical suspended in a fine smoke, so you don’t need to show up with a full gas mask, but if you can get it from a surplus store, it might help hidden in your backpack. Instructables also has several ways to create it.
• Baby wipes and eye drops . Ideal for general cleaning, and for wiping your skin or clothing if you have been exposed to gas, pepper spray or other protesters. Be warned, though: Oil-based moisturizers and cleansers can actually turn chemicals into tear gas or pepper spray on your skin. Make sure you have water-based or washable wipes, or make your own with paper towels and a solution of baking soda and water. Store wipes and eye drops in closed containers.
• Pen, paper and marker . Just in case, you need to document something like names, promotions organizations, badge numbers, and so on.

If you go missing for a while, bring snacks and water with you. Make sure you are fed and watered before leaving. In addition, try to be alone with yourself as little as possible. If you are detained or need to leave your belongings, you will not want to take anything with you that you would really miss.

Be smart, know when to stay, and know when to leave

I used to live in the capital of the country. There is rarely a day when there are no protests, marches or other gatherings in my city for whatever reason. Often times, people who are for and against the same reasons, legislation, political parties, or even global events gather in one place to be heard, and controversy often arises. Usually they are a few angry people who simply cannot resist taunting the other side or inciting the police, but as soon as a fight breaks out, the police immediately intervene and completely disperse the crowd, make arrests, or at least separate people. I’ve seen this happen in a variety of gatherings, from anti-war protests to street parties.

It is important to know if you are going to exercise your right to assemble, engage in any kind of civil disobedience, or simply have your voice heard – be smart, prepare properly, and when the time is right, leave or obey police orders. what are you doing like that. If things get out of hand, get out of the way and away from the front lines as quickly as possible. If you can, go to an enclosed area where you can get better, change clothes, or use whatever items you have packed if you need to. Do not clash with the police, do not create hostility to them, and do not quarrel with the opposing protesters, you will simply create problems for everyone.

At the end of the day, your goal should be to peacefully protest, protect yourself, and be prepared for whatever happens, even if things go wrong. Hopefully it doesn’t, but if it does, you will have what it takes to stay safe, not get hurt, and stay as long as possible for your message to be heard.

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