Cries of, “No justice, no peace,” ring out across the country and show no signs of stopping.
Since the killing of George Floyd, who died after an officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25 as Floyd said he couldn't breathe, we’ve seen protests happening across the globe, with participation in all 50 states and overseas. Demonstrators are calling for an end to police brutality, systemic racism, and justice for Black people killed by police, including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others.
In Floyd's case, there were four officers on the scene who have all now been fired and charged — with Derek Chauvin, the one who knelt on Floyd’s neck being charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Still, according to Mapping Police Violence, 99 percent of killings by police between 2013 and 2019 have not resulted in any criminal charges against officers. Floyd’s death was a tipping point in a country that was already hurting from centuries of mistreatment and oppression toward Black people. People are pissed and demanding real, lasting change.
“I think protest is an opportunity in which I can be in solidarity around my righteous anger or even my pain, but also to make sure that the lives who are being lost at the hands of police have a visible presence,” says Carmen Perez, president and CEO of The Gathering For Justice, an organization focused on eliminating racial inequalities in the justice system that hosted the March for Stolen Lives and Looted Dreams in New York. “Although we're not in Minneapolis, we could certainly show solidarity in mass mobilizations and mass numbers.”
Protests are still going strong, and though most start out peaceful, there have been several instances of police escalating violence by using tear gas, pepper spray, or batons often without provocation or ample warning. As Perez says, people going to a protest won't necessarily know the environment or what's going to happen, so "knowing that they actually can choose not to participate or to participate in something that may result in arrest is really important." You can’t go into a protest blindly.
Here's everything you need to consider before, during, and after a protest, so you can ensure your experience is safe and comfortable.
What to know before going to a protest
First and foremost you need to know where you’re going and who’s organizing. Before you head out your door, you need to also know what rights you have while protesting. The ACLU has a comprehensive guide for people organizing and attending protests as well as those who get stopped by police while protesting.
Some takeaways are:
Your rights are strongest on the streets, sidewalks, and in parks — basically anywhere considered a “traditional public forum.”
If you're out in a public space, you have the right to take photos of anything in plain sight, including police officers.
You don’t need a permit if you're just marching on streets or sidewalks as long as you don't obstruct traffic.
If you get stopped by police, keep your hands visible and don’t argue or resist, even if you believe the cops are violating your rights. Calmly point out that you are exercising your First Amendment right.
You do not have to give consent for your belongings to be searched and cops can't take or view photos or videos without a warrant.
Perez says that it’s equally important to know your personal rights, like the ones mentioned above, and the purpose and demands of the protest. Sophie Ming, founder of NYC Youth Collective, an organization with the goal of defunding the NYPD and redistributing funds into public service initiatives, shows up to protests ready to speak, listen, or both and channel her anger and frustration with the U.S. justice system and law enforcement into activism.
You should also be knowledgeable about what to do in the event of an arrest before you join a protest as there’s always a chance you could be arrested or detained. Before you leave the house, find a legal defense organization that can help walk you through necessary steps if you get arrested. Write their phone number down on your skin in permanent ink so you have access to it in jail, where you won't have access to your cellphone. Good Call is a great resource for those in New York, and there are other organizations across the country.
Make plans with someone to pick you up once you’re released and write their phone number on your arm as well — and have them bring food because you’ll likely be hungry depending on how long you were held. An attorney, from a legal defense organization or your own personal lawyer, will be able to help you with the bail process on how to pay it or get a reduction. Depending on where you get arrested, you can pay bail in cash, check, money order, or credit card, and if you aren’t able to afford bail, seek out bail relief funds in your area.
Aside from knowing your rights and how to navigate the legal side of a protest, you need to be prepped for some logistics of actually being out and marching. If you can, map out the area the protest will be covering in case your phone dies and you aren’t able to use GPS apps. Using location services on your phone can also be risky during a protest because authorities can use cell towers to track your phone. Take steps to prep your phone before you leave the house.
Though location services might have some risks, Ming says that it's important to let trusted friends and family know your location in case anything happens to you. She also advises not to go to a protest alone.
"Protests are inherently dangerous because we're dealing with police that have tear gas and guns," Ming says. "Safety is the most important thing."
Remember that there are no bathrooms available along the route, though if your state is starting to open back up you might be able to pop into a restaurant to use the restroom. Some businesses are actually opening their lobbies and bathrooms specifically for protesters. But if you're not in an area where a public restroom is accessible and you have to pee, you’ve got to either hold it or get creative. Twitter user Rachel Handler put together a useful thread for when you’ve got to go.
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Best practices for attending a protest during a pandemic
On top of everything, we are still battling a pandemic, so if you feel sick at all or you live with someone who is immunocompromised, stay home. You can still be proactive from your house by donating, signing petitions, and sharing educational resources.
If you feel OK and decide to go to a protest, Dr. Ian Wittman, chief of service for the Emergency Department at NYU Langone Hospital — Brooklyn, advocates for wearing a mask and doing so at all times. You’re going to be surrounded by hundreds or thousands of people and social distancing will likely be difficult. Bring hand sanitizer or wipes and use them when you come in contact with surfaces. You might even run into people handing out extra supplies.
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When you get home, immediately wash your hands and/or shower. If you’re going out to protest during the pandemic, consider buying a face mask from a Black-owned business. Here are a few to shop:
KayKastle | Royal Earth Collection | Afronautic | Cloth & Cord | Printed Pattern People | The Marathon Clothing | Shami Oshun | Kahindo
What to wear to a protest
What you wear to a protest can affect your safety in multiple ways. Going to a protest doesn’t guarantee you’ll get pepper sprayed or hit with tear gas, but every time you attend a march or a rally there is a chance these so-called "less lethal weapons" could be used against you. These "criminal agents" as Dr. Wittman calls them cause tearing, a lot of discomfort in the eyes, irritation of the airway passages, and discomfort on the skin. Tear gas canisters themselves are also a risk because they are fired out at a high speed and can hit people, causing injuries.
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If you regularly wear contacts, leave them at home and wear your glasses while you’re protesting. Tear gas particles can embed in your contact lenses and feel way more painful compared to your bare eye. Dr. Wittman advises not wearing contacts if you know you're going to a protest, but if you do get sprayed with something, he says to remove your contacts immediately and flush your eyes.
Tear gas can also make your skin feel like it’s on fire and can even result in physical burns and blisters. It’s banned from war via the Geneva Protocol, but U.S. police are using it, so make sure you’re taking precautions in case they use it against you. Dr. Wittman suggests wearing clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. So, long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes.
If you’re protesting in an area where you know police have been firing tear gas canisters, both Wittman and Ming suggest wearing protective goggles. In extreme cases, a gas mask and heat-resistant gloves might be appropriate if you need to get close to a fired canister to pick it up and put it out or move it away from you.
You can grab some of these things from your local hardware store and you can search Support Black Owned to find Black-owned hardware or convenience stores near you.
At a protest you should wear layered, nondescript clothing to maintain a low profile and protect your identity. It’s hot in many parts of the country, so you’ll likely want the option to wear fewer clothes, but layers allow for you to remove clothing affected by pepper spray or tear gas, Dr. Wittman says — plus, long sleeves and pants can help cover any identifying tattoos or features that could make you recognizable by police.
You’re going to be standing or walking for a while, so make sure you have comfortable shoes. Grab a new pair of sneakers from the following Black-owned retailers:
Sole Classics | Fabrice Tardieu | soleRebels | ROCKDEEP |
What to bring to a protest
Like in so many other aspects of life, water is extremely valuable in a protest setting. You’re outside and often in the heat, so you need to stay hydrated. Beyond that, water is good for flushing your eyes if you get sprayed with pepper spray or tear gas. Bottles with a squirt top work best because they're able to output a forceful stream to push the contaminants out of your eyes, compared to a bottle that you would just pour into your eyes. In addition to water, Dr. Wittman says it's a good idea to bring a washcloth or small towel to wipe your eyes as well.
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You'll also, of course, want to bring a sign if you’re attending a protest. No need to get fancy with this — just grab a piece of cardboard and a marker. Perez says signs are a great way to show support and solidarity if you’re an ally or show people why you’re protesting and marching if you’re someone who’s personally impacted. If you don't know what to write on your sign, you can keep it simple with a message like “Black Lives Matter” or get more specific with a call to action. Just make sure the messaging is appropriate for the protest you’re attending.
While some might tell you not to bring your phone to a protest for cybersecurity reasons, Ming is more focused on personal safety and says not to listen to people who tell you to leave your phone at home.
"That’s unsafe," she says. "You may not need to have it turned on, but you need to have a communication device on your person."
Some other important things to bring that you might not necessarily think of are snacks, earplugs, an umbrella, and a few days’ supply of any daily medication you take. There will likely be people walking around handing out snacks and water as well as street medics providing first aid, but this depends on the protest you attend and is not guaranteed, so provide for yourself if you can.
Earplugs might seem like a strange thing to bring at first, but some cities have permitted the police to use Long Range Acoustic Devices or LRADs, which are essentially sound cannons used to communicate messages at a loud volume or generate loud, high-frequency sounds to disperse crowds. They produce an ear-splitting noise that can cause lasting damage. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association encourages people to bring sound-reducing earplugs or earmuffs with the highest decibel reduction rating they can find.
Umbrellas have a double use at a protest. Obviously, they keep you dry if it happens to rain while you’re out, but Dr. Wittman says they also might protect you from getting hit by rubber bullets and tear gas canisters by acting as a shield. "As to blocking the spread of the gas itself," Dr. Wittman says, "the gas can easily permeate around the umbrella so it's likely of little utility."
And again, you never know if you might get arrested, so if you take daily medication, bring enough for a couple days in your labeled prescription bottle to have on hand at the police station.
As you head out to protest, remember your rights, remember what you’re there for, and be prepared for anything to happen.
