Protesting

Basics (taken from multiple sources around the internet but mostly from The Hong Kong’s Protester Kit and Stand up for Science)

• Bring
  • Your cell phone
  • Food and water (drink the water! do not get dehydrated)
  • 3 days of needed medicine
  • First aid basics.
  • An Umbrella – They can be used as partial shields against tear gas, mace, or even rubber bullets; to hide people’s identities and block security cameras; used as clubs or pokers for protection.

• Do
  • Write down phone numbers in case your phone dies (you can even write it on your arm in marker). Also bring a portable charger.
  • Wear comfortable, nondescript, dark clothing.
  • Wear your hair up (if it’s long)
  • Wear a mask – hides your identity and protects you from diseases (covid, measles) and pepper spray (but check if your city or state has banned masks).
    • You can also paint your face to reduce the accuracy of facial recognition.
  • Disable biometric authentication on your phone – like face or fingerprint ID.
  • Put your phone on airplane mode AND manually turn off location data.
    • Airplane mode prevents detection from Stingrays
    • Turning off location data turns off GPS tracking

• Do Not
  • Do not wear contacts, tear gas and mace can get trapped underneath them and damage your eyes.
  • Do not bring signs on sticks. Some cities prohibiting stick-signs, so just stick to the paper or cardboard.
  • Do not engage with agitators
  • Do not get kettled. Kettling is a controversial crowd control technique, most often used during marches, where protestors are herded into a single location, surrounded by police, and not allowed to leave.

• Know exactly what to say to police:  If a police officer asks you questions or you find your movement restricted, respond only with one or more of the following, depending on the circumstances:
  • “Am I free to leave?”
  • “Am I under arrest? For what crime?”
  • “Can I have your name and badge number?”
  • “I’m invoking my right to remain silent and would like to speak to a lawyer.”
  • “I do not consent to this search.”
  • Remember, police are allowed to lie to you.

The Hong Kong Protestor’s Kit

This is a very straightforward guide to the basics of protesting (more in depth than above, please check it out).

Stand Up For Science

This is another very straightforward guide to the basics of protesting (more in depth than above, with some different information and angles, please check it out as well, it will only take a few minutes).

ACLU’s Know Your Rights

Everyone has basic rights under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. Learn more here about what your rights are, how to exercise them, and what to do when your rights are violated.

It’s a lot to read, but don’t be intimidated. Take it one at a time. Start here, with protesters’ rights

National Lawyer’s Guild’s Know Your Risks

In reality, KYR guides and trainings should help individuals know and measure risks so they can make informed choices on their conduct, based on controlling law. Having only knowledge of legal rights is not enough, since the rights are rarely guaranteed in protests and political actions. Because of this, these legal guides and related trainings are referred to as “Know Your Risks.”

Other Sources

Physicians for Human Rights: Preparing for, Protecting Against, and Treating Tear Gas and Other Chemical Irritant Exposure: A Protestor’s Guide

Surveillance Self-Defense: Find out how to protect yourself from surveillance.

10 page guide on safely protesting

Technology

Read about how the police can see your texts, who you are calling, and a lot more using stingrays here.

Advance Blur

Turns faces into JD Vance’s meme face. Allows for safe posting of photos of protesting: https://huggingface.co/spaces/model2/advanceblur

Block Posters

A website that allows users to create large posters from smaller pieces of paper for free.

Rally

Find or start a bus rideshare to an event.

Chants and Messaging

Chant “Protect the Constitution”
The right loves to discuss the constitution when defending their entitlement to their guns. Turn it against them without being decisive.

See here for plenty more ideas.

From Reddit User MGSFFVII’s Amazing Document (seriously check it out)

Tips on making your own signs.

• Large bold lettering
• Clear lettering
• Readable from a distance
• Use catchy phrases
• Use humor
• Use pop culture
• Consider “Would this sign be blurred out on the news?”
• Use bright colors.
• Use a 2 or 3 color palette
• Pictures should match the message.
• Use symbols that associate with your movement or goals
• Make multiple signs, and give them to signless people
• Use both the front and back of your sign / poster.

See here and here for plenty of ideas of what to put on your sign.

50501

50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.

The 50501 movement shows the world that the American working class will not sit idly by as plutocrats rip apart their democratic institutions and civil liberties while undermining the rule of law.

Linktree

Join the national Hands Off rally on April 5th!

With hundreds of events across the nation and even in other countries, march to show Trump and Musk that they CANNOT continue their backslide of democracy.

Join this call on April 1 to learn more or this call on April 2nd for de-escalation training.

Big List Of Protests

Exactly what it sounds like, a big list of protests. Filter by state and date. Add your own.

Indivisible

Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism. We will stand together and we’ll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities, and our values. Join us.

Find protests and rallies near you. See their homepage for resources and more ways to make a difference

No Voice Unheard

NoVoiceUnheard aims to empower all those whom the current U.S. administration and its operatives seek to silence. And in 2025, if you object to policies, fall outside of certain demographics, are not a member of the 1% who hold 30% of this country’s wealth, voted blue—or simply voted at all—that’s you.

Find protests and rallies near you and list your own.

Tesla Take Down

Sell Your Teslas. Dump Your Stock. Stop Musk Now. Join Us

Find Tesla Take Down protests near you. See their homepage for more information on divesting from Tesla, protest flyers, and deaths caused by Tesla’s.

Join the national Mayday Movement on May 1st in Washington DC

The Mayday Movement is a true grassroots organization. Started by concerned citizens connecting over Reddit and other communities, we coalesced quickly as the Trump administration demonstrated a complete disregard for the constitutional system that holds out the hope of “liberty and justice for all.” This movement is not a knee-jerk reaction to the new administration: it is a measured response.

Check Our Local Site

Check out What You Can Do Now’s local site and add your own protests. Find places to shop locally. Also a place to archive photos and other information from previous events.

Activist Handbook

We write guides for activists. Learn how to become an activist, plan a political campaign strategy, and start a grassroots movement – all while not burning out.