Mirrored /r/50501 Popular Posts
Do not bring your phone, period. You can and will be tracked by it, your cell service provider will bend over backwards to give your data to cops.
You can bring a burner device to take pictures; do not connect it to wifi or cell service, do not enable biometrics. Biometrics are proof you own the phone. Just access the camera through the lockscreen
While this is good advice, it's not always very practical. OP indicated they are 17, meaning a minor. That may mean they need to be able to keep in contact with parents/guardians at home. I've also been to actions with groups of people where having contact is important for coordination.
If you need to bring a phone you can do so, but be mindful. Turn off any biometric features (fingerprint, face ID, etc). Police don't need a warrant to access your phone if you have biometrics. They can just put your phone in front of your face or put your finger on it to unlock. But if you have a passcode they cannot force you to unlock your phone without a warrant (and you can always just pretend you don't know the code).
I'd also suggest turning the phone off (or, at the very least, on airplane mode) except when you're actively using it. And minimize when you need it. I typically turn my phone off before arriving and wait until I'm gone from the location to turn it back on.
If you need to bring a phone, don't plan to do anything illegal. Large events like this will always have a significant segment of people who are not doing anything illegal at all. Stick with that group. Carry signs, chant, show your numbers, make contacts with other protesters in the crowd. But if/when you see people in black bloc, don't join them.
I agree with most of that. Id just as soon assume the worst and be pleasantly surprised; I don't expect the US to care much anymore about the distinction between legal and illegal actions when it comes to protest.
Regardless, physical safety comes first.
Completely agree. But I don't want to give people the impression that if they need to have a phone for whatever reason that they can't or shouldn't attend a protest, especially one like this where the point is to get as many people in the street as possible rather than achieving any specifically defined goal.
Leaving the phone at home is definitely the safer option, but I want people to know that they can still attend if they have to have a phone on them.
This is pretty dramatic advice, and probably important if you are going hard. But most protests (at least for now) are pretty tame - carrying signs, chanting slogans, not being arrested. For good or bad, most protests are pretty positive experiences and not scary. It's nice to be around people who think the same way, and to express yourself without having to edit yourself.
Bring water and know where the bathrooms are. Wear comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather.
Seems obvious, but if you are going to be standing around the same spot for a few hours this will help. Also it is easy to get bored out there (depending on what the organizers have prepared) so don't forget to mingle with the other protesters. You meet lots of interesting people at these events and you'll never run out of engaging conversations to have.
to effect a de-arrest, count how many cops are restraining your comrade, and bring at least as many punks into the fray. your friend doesn't count, since they need to escape, but the pigs will act like he is the target the whole time while you cut zip ties or break holds. with enough chaos, they won't even understand what is happening until you all disappear into the crowd.
oh, and wear black