Protesting is a constitutional right — but it is becoming increasingly dangerous. The U.S. government is using digital tracking to identify student protesters. Even more disturbing, the US Attorney General is threatening to charge Tesla vandals with “domestic terrorism”, and in another case, a permanent resident is facing deportation after participating in a Pro-Palestinian Protest.
Governments around the world have long used brutal tactics to silence dissent. The U.S. is showing signs of doing the same. If you plan to protest, you need to protect yourself—both physically and digitally.
Here are some steps.
First, understand how governments silence protesters:
- Military force – China and the Soviet Union used tanks and troops to crush uprisings.
- Police violence – The U.S. unleashed attack dogs and fire hoses during the Civil Rights Movement. The Gestapo in Nazi Germany tortured and executed dissidents.
- Kidnapping & disappearances – In Chile, Belarus, and China, protesters have been kidnapped, tortured, and “disappeared” — erased from records and out of their loved one’s lives.
- Arrests & criminal charges – Many countries, including Russia and China, jail protesters, sometimes indefinitely.
- High-tech surveillance – Iran, China, Russia, the UK, and the U.S. track activists using facial recognition and phone data.
Steps to Protect Yourself:
Before the Protest
- Turn off Face ID, fingerprint, and other phone biometrics – This will potentially prevent police from forcing you to unlock your phone, depending on your jurisdiction. Keep your phone passcode-protected.
- Take a pair of shatter-proof goggles or anti-ballistic eye-wear – This offers some protection against tear-gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and debris.
- Consider hearing-protection – May help in the event of shooting, explosions, or acoustic-weapons.
- Use encrypted apps like Signal to coordinate – Avoid unencrypted texts and communication on social media
- Write important phone numbers on your body in Sharpie – Consider the phone number of a lawyer and an emergency contact
- Cover up – consider face masks, caps, and sunglasses (or tinted anti-ballistic eye-wear) to avoid being identified. Make sure you cover up tattoos.
- Leave your car at home – License plates can be tracked. Use a bicycle or mass transit.
- Keep off social media – Don’t post your plans online.
- Beware of contact lenses – they can trap tear gas powder underneath – Consider wearing goggles, and bring an extra pair of contact lenses or glasses.
- Prepare for arrest – If you have a medical condition, take several days’ worth of medication. Wear a medical bracelet with your condition on it.
- Plan for a safe meet-up point – If you go with a group, plan a meet-up point ahead of time in the event of an emergency.
- Plan for police brutality – Wear shoes you can run in, and this cannot be overstated — consider anti-ballistic eye-wear and hearing protection.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged – Consider a portable charger.
- Disable location services on your phone – Police will often look through this. For iPhone users, the ACLU recommends turning off “significant locations”. Police are known to look through them to find your home and work addresses.
During the Protest
- Know your exits – Try to place yourself in an area where you won’t get crushed in the event the crowd turns dangerous.
- Stay civil – Avoid arguments. Some people might try to provoke you and engage in violence.
If Things Escalate
- If arrested – Stay silent and ask for an attorney. This is why you should have a number written on your forearm.
- In the event of emergency – Take the evacuation route you hopefully planned when you arrived. Meet your people in the prearranged safe place, if it is still safe to do so.
- If tear gassed – while there are many home remedies, this Optometry source recommends the following steps:
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- “Remain calm, and move to a safe location.
- “Although the first instinct may be to rub the spray contents out of your eyes, wash your hands first. If your hands were exposed to the spray, wash them with soap and water before touching your eyes. Your tears will flow naturally during this time, giving you a moment to clean your hands. Blow your nose to remove as much spray content as you can.
- “If wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately after hand washing and discard the lenses—you will not be able to use them again.
- “If wearing glasses, remove them and do not put them back on until you wash them with water and soap.
- “Wipe your face with a wet cloth before thoroughly washing your face with soap/baby shampoo and water. Wipe away from the eyes, nose, and mouth. Avoid getting soap into your eyes.
- “Flush the eyes out by pouring water or saline solution directly into them for 10 to 20 minutes (poking a hole in the bottom of a water bottle is a good way to increase and direct the flow of water). Flush away from the eyes. Don’t pour down from your forehead or eyebrows, as you may be carrying more irritants into your eyes.
- “If irritation around the eyes continues after flushing the eyes, the skin surrounding the eyes can be washed with baby shampoo and water.”
Protesting is your right—just don’t forget to protect your privacy and your safety. Make your voice heard, but stay free to protest another day. Stay safe, stay private!
