Our Protest Safety Guide
At Across Frontlines, physical, emotional and mental safety is our top priority. We have created the following resources to help you get prepared before, during and after a protest.
Please stay safe out there on the frontlines!
#WeKeepUsSafe
HOW TO PREPARE BEFORE AN ACTION OR PROTEST
Here are some things you can do in advance to prepare for a protest or action, to ensure you and your community will be safe. Check out our tips!
Threat Assessment
Identify likely threats, risks, vulnerabilities and capacities.
Holistic Check In
Check in with yourself and your team – mentally, physically, emotionally
Buddy System
Plan to bring a buddy, or have a buddy you can check in with periodically (who is not at the protest)
Meeting Place
Make a plan with you buddy in case you get separated
Digital Security
De-activate your phone’s facial recognition or fingerprint unlocking feature
Activist Self-Care
Caring for yourself is caring for your team. Take care of your essential needs to have a clear mind, strong body and engaged spirit
What to Wear
Face mask
Comfortable shoes
Weather appropriate clothing (covering all your skin)
Bandana
A hat to protect you from the sun
Water-Based Sunscreen
Glasses (not contact lenses)
What to Bring
Small Backpack
Shatter resistant goggles
Water in a plastic bottle with squirt top
Small spray bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol
Ear plugs
Non-perishable snacks
ID (if you have one)
Emergency contact info (not in your phone)
Some cash
Paper & Pen
Several days worth of medication
Menstrual pads. (not tampons)
Basic First Aid Kit
Wet Wipes and tissues
Fully charged phone & portable charger
Extra clothing in plastic bag
HOW TO STAY SAFE DURING A PROTEST OR ACTION
Things happen fast at a protest or action – it’s important to be ready on the ground for what might come up.
Situational Awareness
Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act to come up with a plan of action to keep yourself and others safe.
Exit Strategy
Always be aware and keep an eye out for exits in case you need to leave a dangerous situation.
Senses Open
Keep an eye and ear on the cops & other white supremacists to create a plan in real time in case there is violence.
Regular Check Ins
Regularly check in with yourself and your buddy/team to support one another in the heat of the action.
De-Escalation
De-escalate yourself and your people in order to stay safe and grounded.
COVID Safety
Practice social distancing, wear a mask and sanitize your hands to keep your community safe.
Proof and Evidence
Document Everything! Film, photograph, or write down police/white supremacist actions, brutality, and injuries
Community Care
Care for those around you, whether you know them or not. Care is an act of resistance.
WAYS TO PROVIDE CARE AFTER A PROTEST OR ACTION
An action is NOT over until everyone is home safe and healthy. In order to ensure everyone’s holistic safety and security here are some suggested guidelines.
Holistic Check-In
Check in with yourself and your team – mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Team Debrief
What went well, what can you improve on and what were the challenges?
Support When Decompressing
If you don’t have a team ask a friend to hold space for you as you share your experience with them.
Personal Grounding Toolkit
Incorporate practices to get you back to a state of regulation where you are calm, cool, collected and connected.
Healthy activist, healthy movement
Drink water, eat nourishing food, do what you need to feel comforted and cared for.
KNOW YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS AT A PROTEST OR ACTION
It’s important to know your rights, especially since we know that law enforcement often does not honor those rights.
Protection of the Right to Freedom of Assembly
Law enforcement must facilitate and not restrict a peaceful public assembly
Freedom from excessive use of force
In the policing of non-violent protests, police must avoid the use of force.
Right to Medical Assistance
If you are injured you have a right to medical assistance without delay.
Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Detention
If you are arrested you have a right to be told of the reason for your arrest, you also have the right promptly after your arrest to have access to a lawyer and to your family.
Right to Complain
If your rights have been violated you have a right to file a complaint and to be provided information on how to do so.
If you feel your rights are being violated
Make sure to state “I do not consent…”
Document everything! Film, photograph, or write down in as much detail as you can.
Call the National Lawyers Guild Legal Support Hotline. Look up the phone number for your location here: nlg.org/massdefenseprogram/
DEALING WITH TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY
Teargas and/or Pepper Spray are sometimes used as tactics against protestors by law enforcement. Here are some tips in the unfortunate event you get tear gassed and/or pepper sprayed.
Tear gas is considered a chemical agent under the Geneva Convention and is banned in warfare.
Do Not Rub It In
Decontaminate your hands before you touch any part of your body.
Protect Yourself
Gas masks provide the best facial protection, if properly fitted and sealed. Alternatively, goggles, respirators, or a wet bandana over the nose & mouth will help.
Stay Calm
Panicking increases the irritation. Breathe slowly to ground yourself and remember it is only temporary.
Clear Out, Clean Out
Blow your nose, rinse your mouth, cough & spit. Try to get as far away from the source as possible and keep your distance from others.
Remove your Contact Lenses
Remove the lenses or get someone to remove them for you, with CLEAN, uncontaminated fingers. Destroy the lenses after exposure.
Flush your Eyes
Use an eye flush made with saline solution to clean out your eyes, nose and mouth. If you do not have saline solution use clean, cool water.