Americans are taking to the streets and showing up in US cities by the thousands to protest a plethora of President Donald Trump’s second-term policies, and to challenge the power that Trump has bestowed upon Elon Musk to disrupt the federal government. Public outcry and acts of civil disobedience have become more commonplace over the past several years, as citizens have challenged Trump’s threats to women’ s rights, travel bans from foreign nations and deportation policies, police brutality against Black Americans, and the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Now the protests, which include the Tesla Takedown movement and a nationwide mass-action called Hands Off, are targeting a hostile takeover of the government and broader threats to American freedom. (Trump has also seriously threatened longstanding free-trade agreements and single handedly taken down the US stock market in the process.)
This WIRED guide to safe protesting was originally written in 2020 during the nationwide outcry over police brutality, which overwhelmingly targets Black people like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. We’ve now updated this guide to include advice specific to mass action, your rights and protections as a US citizen, protesting in or around government property, and laws around defacing property (like, say, a Tesla).
If you’re thinking about joining a protest near you, there are some crucial factors to consider: The US government is now allowing federal immigration agents to conduct sweeping raids, and ICE is reportedly detaining and deporting people in the US who are here on legal visas, including many students. And, while police brutality is an abstract concept for some, it’s a stark reality for others. There are other ways you can contribute if you don’t feel safe protesting or are otherwise unable to physically do so. You can also donate time to community groups, drop off supplies for protests, or contact local legislators. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to put pressure on our legislators.
That being said, protesting is a right of all Americans under the First Amendment (more on that below). Before you head out, you should know that police across the country have acted with unnecessary force, including driving vehicles through crowds, partially blinding a photojournalist, and macing children. The list goes on and on.
If you still want to join in, we’ve gathered some advice, as well as a list of items you may want to bring with you. Be careful, and stay safe.
Table of Contents
What to Bring (and Not Bring) to a Protest
It’s smart to have supplies on hand for a day of protesting. We recommend the following. You probably have everything you need around the house, and if not, these items will likely be accessible at your local stores. We’ve included some links to online retailers for your reference.
- A bag and/or backpack: You’ll need something small and durable. I, Louryn, use a cheap daypack from Walgreens for most supplies, and I also strap on a belt bag, which I use to hold the essential items I’d need if I were to lose my backpack. Use whatever you own that lets you keep your hands free. If you don’t have anything, we have a list of our favorite fanny packs. And while your bag should be big enough to hold all the supplies you need, be sure to avoid anything too bulky.
- Water: There’s a good chance that your protest will include a march, so you need to pay attention to proper hydration. Carry drinking water. Bring the biggest bottle that you can fit in your bag. Water can also be used to clean wounds and flush the eyes of anyone who’s been hit with chemical gas or pepper spray.
- A face mask or bandana: When we first wrote this guide in 2020, we advised wearing masks because of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s less of a concern for many people now, but you still may want to take precautions and cover your face with a mask or bandana. Face coverings also have the benefit of shielding your identity from cameras and police surveillance. (We have a separate guide about digital privacy during protests.). Bring an extra mask if you have one.
- A hat and/or sunglasses: Aside from shielding you from the sun during a long day of marching, hats and sunglasses can obscure your face from surveillance and protect your privacy. If you wear a hat, and you’re interested in further protecting your identity, keep the brim low.
- Snacks: You are likely in for a long day. Pack lightweight, nutritious, protein-rich snacks. Jerky, energy bars, and nuts are all good picks.
- Protest signs: If you want to carry a sign, there are some things to consider. Ensure that your slogan is in big, bold letters that can be easily read from far away. Short and punchy sayings are arguably better than a block of script. Poster board is flexible, but stiffer foam-core board is more durable. You can affix paint-stir sticks or other flat, wooden sticks to the sign using strong tape to create a handle. You might want to make extras to hand out to fellow protesters. Don’t litter—when you’re done with your sign, dispose of it properly, or donate it to another protester.
- Suitable clothing: It’s a good idea to wear all black, both because that’s what the organizers of most solidarity protests suggest and because it helps you blend in with a crowd. Privacy experts also recommend that you cover any tattoos, if you can, and that you hide your hair if it’s dyed a distinctive color.
- A change of clothes: If you’re protesting on a particularly hot day, you may want to have extra clothes. These can also come in handy if you’re exposed to substances that can hurt your skin or if you’re splashed with paint, gross road water, or other people’s sweat. I usually carry a pair of shorts, a tank top, and an extra pair of socks in my backpack.
- Hand sanitizer: You might find yourself holding hands with a stranger, grabbing onto gunky street signs, or tripping and falling into a puddle. All these scenarios coupled with Covid-19 make hand sanitizer an essential thing to carry.
- Good walking shoes: This is nonnegotiable. Wear closed-toe shoes that are broken in and good for walking long distances.
- Your ID (maybe): If you’re detained, not having your ID on you might keep you stuck for longer. However, in some states, you might not have to show the police your ID if they ask for one. Use your best judgment, and consider looking up the laws for your state for more specific guidance.
- Your phone (maybe): To protect your privacy and prevent surveillance, the best thing you can do is leave your phone at home. Consider using a secondary or burner phone instead. If you want to bring your phone, avoid using traditional phone calls and texts if at all possible. Signal is a secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging app that offers the option to delete messages after they’re sent. You should also disable biometric unlocking, like FaceID or fingerprint features, and use a six-digit passcode instead. If you do need to carry your primary phone, keep it turned off until you absolutely need to use it. This will make it harder for law enforcement to track your movements, since law enforcement officials can collect or purchase data that can tell them which devices were at a protest they’re monitoring, and who those devices belong to.
- Cash: Just like your phone can leave digital breadcrumbs indicating your whereabouts, using your debit or credit card will make it easier for the authorities to track your movements. Instead, bring cash. Separate your bills; stash some in your bag, and keep some on your person, either in your shoe, your bra, your pants pockets, or somewhere else secure.
- A power bank: If you or members of your group will have a phone, you need to make sure that you have a way to charge devices. Other protesters may need to charge their gear as well. If you don’t have one already, I really like this option from Anker. The company also makes another good power bank that’s a bit smaller.
- Other things you may want: A cooling towel. Duct tape or gaffer’s tape. A flashlight or a headlamp. Ibuprofen. Goggles. Blister-prevention patches. Extra hair ties. A pen and paper. A Sharpie. A laser pointer. Bandages or other first aid supplies. Ear plugs. Saline solution. Extra face masks. A copy of emergency phone numbers and a card declaring necessary medical information that someone may need to know if you’re unable to tell them yourself (for example, if you have asthma or if you’re hard of hearing). Medications that need to be taken on a schedule (in a labeled prescription bottle if possible) with the understanding that you may be away from home much longer than anticipated.
Before You Leave
We asked some organizers and civil action experts about key things to understand about protesting. Here’s their advice.
Educate Yourself
Do not go to a protest without knowing what it is you’re fighting for. Don’t show up and ask someone there to educate you. If you’re an ally, do the work yourself and study as much as possible—not only about the actions you’re protesting but the context around them. You might know that reproductive rights are threatened, but do you know about the historical fight for access to abortion in America? There are several books you can read right now to gain more knowledge about this topic. If you’re pissed at Elon Musk, it helps to have a good grasp of all the ways the administration is dismantling federal agencies in this country.
Get in the Right Mindset
Mental preparation is important. Protesting can be physically grueling and emotional taxing. You may experience sheer joy. You might cry. You might get angry. You might get scared. Most likely, you’ll experience all of the above. Take the time to prepare yourself before heading out. Make sure to drink some water, apply sunscreen, and eat a meal.
Realize It’s Not About You
One of the primary reasons to attend a protest is not just to stick it to the man and to take a selfie while doing it, but to be present for others. Show up ready to listen. Be prepared to amplify what people are saying. If you aren’t comfortable with potentially physically intervening, shielding vulnerable protesters from police violence, and listening more than you speak, your efforts to be an ally are likely better spent elsewhere.
Tony Williams, a member of MPD150, a Minneapolis-based coalition that has studied the history of police activity and seeks police-free alternatives to community safety, shared crucial advice for anyone who is not personally impacted by current events, but who wants to attend a protest. (Of course, the dismantling of democracy in the US is something that affects all of us.)
“The most important thing to realize,” Williams says, “is that you’re showing up in solidarity with other people. It’s not your job to decide how things should go. It’s your job to show up and listen and be in support. Deprioritizing yourself is an incredibly important part of the experience.”
Know Your Rights
In the US, it’s entirely within your rights to peacefully demonstrate in public. The basic act of assembling and protesting the government’s actions is unquestionably protected, according to the First Amendment Coalition, a California nonprofit that’s committed to protecting freedom of speech. Also, as a general matter, “people have the right to film or otherwise document things that are happening in the public space,” says David Snyder, director of the FAC. “If police demand that you turn over your notes, I would say that you can assume they don’t have the right to seize that.”
That said, if it comes down to a matter of force and you are physically outmatched, you may have to weigh the risks to your immediate personal safety, potentially have your notes or phone stripped from you, and pursue legal action later on. Also, Snyder notes, the First Amendment to the Constitution does not protect protesters who engage in unlawful activity, which includes destroying property or assaulting other people.
Read the full article here