"It's 2018, do you know where your protest is?"

[kore]

Excellent advice from watersword on how to prepare for a protest. I really like the idea to be sure to check that you know where your Rapid Response protest is, since MoveOn might crash (along with HALF THE INTERNET, no doubt).

ITA comfortable shoes and clothes are a must. Consider going with a prearranged group for safety in numbers. Maybe ask your local protest group to arrange for a legal observer. -- Any other suggestions?

Comments

[executrix]

I'm near New York City, where the police see their role as standing around and collecting overtime, and generally people get arrested only if they make a concerted effort to do so. So, I would suggest carrying small signs that you can print out on your home printer and attach to a piece of cardboard--your arms won't get tired the way they do with a big sign.

And I recommend bringing a Victorian novel. There's a lot of standing around, and you won't finish one of THOSE puppies in a hurry. And if you do get arrested, they work well for reading aloud in detention areas as a substitute for the cozy English fireside.

[kore]

And if you do get arrested, they work well for reading aloud in detention areas as a substitute for the cozy English fireside.

OMG, that's awesome. (Yeah, I would bring a paperback not an e-reader.)

[watersword]

It depends on the protest! The recent ones in NYC have been pretty chill, but Black Lives Matter protests had a more much aggressive police presence (in my experience).

Definitely look into your local laws about what's allowed for signs — generally, anything that is solid/heavy enough to use as a weapon is forbidden.

[executrix]

That's why I mentioned where I am--it is very much a local question. And sometimes even in NYC they'll say "no sticks for holding up signs, they could be weaponized" which is silly for cardboard tubes, but I don't think that's the battle to pick.