Protest Safety

Trump could position the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security to conduct joint operations for immigration enforcement. The forthcoming April 20, 2025, report from both departments about invoking the Insurrection Act may provide a framework for this and other purposes, such as quelling protests.

- Amanda Carpenter, If you Can Keep It

Physical Safety

• Stay hydrated and dress for the expected weather.
• Bring any needed supplies including water, meds, and cash.
• Fully charge your cell phone and bring a battery extender if possible.
• Take supplies to protect from and safely remove chemical irritants (face covering, milk of magnesia, towelettes).
• Keep your vehicle fueled/charged

The Buddy System

• Let at least one emergency contact know your plan and make arrangements to keep them posted on your status during and after the event.
• Where will you be?
• How will you get there?
• Where do you intend to go in an emergency?
• What time do you intend to get back?
• Have an offline map of the venue and surrounding areas available as cell service may be limited in some cases.
• Plan multiple routes into and out of the protest area.
• Set a rally point with others for where you will meet in the event of an emergency.

Environmental Safety

• Maintain “360 situational awareness” – know what is going on all around you at all times.
• The “OODA Loop” (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a useful framework to stay calm and make decisions during high-stress situations:
  • Observe: Identify the source of danger and your surroundings
  • Orient: Determine where you are and where you need to go
  • Decide: Choose a course of action that minimizes risk
  • Act: Implement your decision and stay aware of changes in the environment
• Be alert to anything that seems suspicious, this could be a person’s behavior, unclaimed packages, unusual activity, and vehicles.
• Stay Informed
  • Avoid traffic choke points.
    • Monitor local and government sources for updates
    • Sign up for your local government alerts.
    • Federal Emergency Alerts: Link to FEMA Alerts.
  • Monitor alerts from HRC and media sources.

De-Escalation

When in doubt: take initiative to attempt de-escalation. But if you feel it is too risky always listen to your voice of reason. Look for a protest marshal to help.

BREATHE Method

1. Breathe: Ground. Notice your sources of support.
2. Remember: The Humanity of All
3. Empathy: Before Education
4. Ask First: Is the other person ready to hear your perspective? A is also for Authentic expression
5. BreaTHE: Debrief with Support

One-on-One Encounters

• Connect to the human response in tense situations.
• Someone who has the experience of being heard is more likely to calm down and listen to you.
• Be curious and open to feedback. There’s always something to learn from people’s anger and frustration. It’s impossible to be curious and afraid at the same time.
• Stay calm and keep your voice steady.
• Avoid provocative behavior.
• If necessary, walk away and remove yourself from the situation.

Large Crowds

• When tension is building, start up a calming song, and invite others to join in. Teach and then sing it slowly and calmly.
• Establish silence can help calm crowds and prepare for the next move.
  • One person falls quiet and raises their hand, whilst inviting the people around them to do the same. This works well if enough people are practiced.
  • Project without shouting and say ‘Clap once if you can hear me’ and then clap once. Say ‘Clap twice if you can hear me’ and then clap twice. Say ‘Clap three times if you can hear me’ and then clap 3 times. Each time, more people around you should be joining in, until everyone has clapped 3 times and then fallen silent, waiting for what’s coming next.

Dealing with Police

• Stay calm. Make sure to keep your hands visible. Don't argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you believe they are violating your rights. Point out that you are not disrupting anyone else's activity and that the First Amendment protects your actions. Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly walk away.
• If you are under arrest, you have a right to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't say anything or sign anything without a lawyer.
• You have the right to make a local phone call, and if you're calling your lawyer, police are not allowed to listen.
• You never have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings. If you do explicitly consent, it can affect you later in court.
• Police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon and may search you after an arrest.
• Police officers may not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they delete data under any circumstances. However, they may order citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations.

What happens if the police issues an order to disperse the protest?

• Shutting down a protest through a dispersal order must be law enforcement’s last resort. Police may not break up a gathering unless there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safety.
• If officers issue a dispersal order, they must provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, including sufficient time and a clear, unobstructed exit path.
• Individuals must receive clear and detailed notice of a dispersal order, including how much time they have to disperse, the consequences of failing to disperse, and what clear exit route they can follow, before they may be arrested or charged with any crime.