"Riots are the language of the unheard," doctor Martin Luther King Jr. said. If you are planning to join a protest, rally or riot, here are some directions to staying safe and protecting yourself. 

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YOUR BODY 

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• Wear long, solid-colored, layered and nondescript clothing. Make sure it covers any noticeable tattoos or other identifying marks. 

• Wear goggles and a mask. 

• Have heat resistant gloves. 

• Wear comfortable and protective shoes that you can run in. 

• If you can, wear or keep a bandana soaked in water, lemon juice or vinegar. It can aid breathing in the instance of chemical exposure. 

• Write important contacts on your body with Sharpie. Spray with hairspray to prevent them from rubbing off. 

• If you can, keep a hat with you as it can be used to shield you from the sun and block chemicals from getting into your face. MAKE SURE THE HAT IS NONDESCRIPT. Do not wear a hat that has anything on it that could possibly reveal your identity. 

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WHAT TO BRING/WHAT NOT TO BRING 

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• Bring lots and lots of water, preferably in squirt bottles. Water can help you get tear gas out of your eyes and is safer to use than milk because milk can bring infection. If you need to use it, go from the nose to the ears. 

• A way to neutralize tear gas: bring a solution of baking soda and water. Three tablespoons of baking soda should be used per liter of water. We have heard that this solution can also help when you are affected by pepper spray. 

• Bring a gas mask if you have one.

• Bring money for a payphone, transportation and food. 

• Bring your phone, but be VERY CAREFUL with it. Turn off any location tracking services. Try to keep it on airplane mode. Turn off Face/Touch Identification. Disable your data if you can. These are all measures to keep anyone from identifying you if they find your phone and are trying to turn you in. 

• Bring energy snacks that will keep you going.

• Bring as many first-aid supplies that you can. If you have the time, try to learn some practices for treating bullet wounds. Reminder: rubber bullets are just bullets covered with a thin layer of rubber. They are NOT made of rubber. 

• Bring some protest signs if you can. 

• Bring a washcloth if you have one. 

• DON'T BRING anything you would not want to be arrested with. 

• DON'T BRING too many forms of identification. Try to keep it to a minimum and keep any official form of identification SAFE.

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WHAT TO DO/WHAT NOT TO DO 

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• Plan ahead for your essential needs. Know what to expect. Research about everything that has happened in past protests so you know what could happen. 

• Try to plan a few forms of contact between you and whoever you are going with. 

• BE FOCUSED AND ALERT. React to signs of danger sooner rather than later. If you see cops, alert everyone around you. 

• Watch for signs of physical and mental harm to anyone around you. If there is anyone becoming emotionally overwhelmed, try to create a safe space for them. 

• Try to document, but do so CAREFULLY. If you are using your phone, try to utilize the safety measures we described already before using it to photograph. If you are not using your phone, which is the safer route but may result in you not being able to photograph, write down details of the protest. DON'T write down any identifying information.

• We know it's hard, but please try to keep some space between yourself and others during the protest. Please wear a mask to keep yourself from getting sick. 

• DON'T post photos of the protest while it is happening. People could identify you or other protesters from the photo and try to turn you in. When you post photos after the protest has finished, please be careful with which ones you post. Try to keep identifiable faces out of the photos as to prevent others from still trying to turn you in.

• DON'T put Vaseline, mineral oils and/or oil-based sunscreens & moisturizers on your skin These can trap chemicals. 

• DON'T wear anything that could easily be grabbed. 

• DON'T wear contact lenses. These can trap chemicals. 

• DON'T go alone if you can help it. 

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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• FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY: Everyone has the right to voice their opinions on the streets. 

• PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY: Law enforcement must facilitate and NOT restrict peaceful public assembly. 

• FREEDOM FROM EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE: Police must avoid the use of force in the policing of non-violent protests. 

• RIGHT TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: When injured, you have the right to medical assistance without any delay. 

• FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY ARREST AND DETENTION: You have the right to be told of the reason for your arrest if you are arrested. You have the right to access to a lawyer and your family if you are arrested. 

• RIGHT TO COMPLAIN: If your rights are being violated, you have the riot to file a complaint and be provided information on how to do so. 

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OTHER INFORMATION 

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• There have been several instances of cops coming to protests and posing as protesters doing violent acts to give real cops a reason to start using violence. THESE COPS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED USING ARM BANDS AS FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION. The colors have been changing often, so try to search up what colors the cops are wearing that day in your area on social media. 

• There have been instances of people calling ICE to turn in undocumented immigrants attending protests, so if you are an undocumented immigrant, BE CAREFUL. 

• There have been instances of the KKK coming to protests. Protect yourself. 

• There have been instances of white supremacist organizations arranging "protests" to further their nationalist agendas. If you are attending a protest, please ensure beforehand that it is a real one. 

• There have been instances of kidnappers and sex traffickers taking advantage of the protests. Women have been abducted at some protests. PLEASE BE VIGILANT in who you communicate with at these protests. GO IN A GROUP. 

• COVID-19 is still happening. Wear a mask and protect yourself as you see fit. If you are at risk or may put someone at risk at home, DON'T attend protests. There are other ways to protest from home! If you attend a protest, contract COVID-19 and have to go to the doctor, please tell your doctor that you might have contracted the virus at a protest. Doctors are legally required to keep your health information private, so they will not tell other people. Doctors have to keep reporting accurate numbers of cases. 

• There have been instances of cops using taxi cars (specifically in New York City) to trick protesters. Be careful of which car you choose to get into! 

• Cops have been caught completely ignoring the disabilities of some protesters and refusing to accommodate for them. Please be careful! 

• This Google Doc compiles bail funds and other donation links from around the country. 

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