PROTESTING 101 - recommendations for protest safety compiled from multiple resources in gratitude and solidarity

PROTESTING

101

recommendations for protest safety
compiled from multiple resources
in gratitude and solidarity

This zine was made in 2020 for the
Justice for George Floyd protests and
is designed as a starting point.

Do your research before you go

out. Listen to what lead organizers
recommend. Put the Black community
of Minnesota first.

We are in an immense depth of
gratitude for our community organizers.
Thank you over and over. In love and
liberation.

Take good care, respect your
community, fuck 12.

CENTRAL RULES
1. LISTEN TO YOUR ORGANIZERS &
THE BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
THEY KNOW BEST.
2. DO NOT POLICE YOUR FELLOW
MEMBERS IF THEY ARE WORKING
IN CARE. DO NOT SNITCH TO MEDIA
OR POLICE. DO NOT ENDANGER
OTHERS.

CURFEW
Mpls and St. Paul are enforcing a
10pm-4am curfew. Check for updates
as this can change.Consequences of
breaking curfew:
- possible misdemeanor
- $1000 fine
- up to 90 days in jail
If you are not prepared to face those
consequences, do not break curfew.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
“again, listen to community leaders*

- DO NOT EVER GO ALONE. Stay in
a group. Make sure someone you trust
who isn’t at the protest knows where
you are.

- Turn off location services & facial/
fingerprint recognition on your phone.

- Use apps like Signal or WickrMe for
more secure communication.

- March with the flow of traffic unless
you need to lose vehicles or cops
tailing your group.

- Stay tight, stick together, & take up as
much space as possible.

- Regroup somewhere safe when
needed.

- Drag objects into the street behind
you to deter vehicles or cops.

- Move around intersections and
corners quickly.

- Know the following of all your crew:

Name, contact, birthdate, lawyer
if applicable, medical conditions/
prescriptions

- Protect & look out for each other.

- Be prepared to defend yourself.

- Have a plan for if you need to leave
quickly and get somewhere safe.

PHONE NUMBERS
WRITE IN SHARPIE
ON YOUR BODY
National Lawyers Guild:

612-444-2654 =
Transportation: 3
612-492-1507 <t
The number of someone +
N

so

you trust.
“Under IF ARRESTED,

this is your “trusted contact”

IF ARRESTED

- White folks may be asked to move to
the front and be arrested to protect
BIPOC. This is the right call.

- If someone is arrested, do not linger
long. Get their info (name, birthdate,
who to call) & get moving.

- If you’re arrested, you will get one
call: it is suggested to call the
National Lawyers Guild (see PHONE
NUMBERS). Give their jail support
team the number of your trusted
contact to coordinate for you (tell them
if you need meds/care too). You may
also choose to call a personal lawyer.

- Know that getting arrested can mean
same night bail or 1 or more overnights

- You have the right to ask for reason of
arrest.

- You do not have to answer any
questions or say anything without a
lawyer present.

- You can ask for your Miranda rights to

be read

- If you get arrested your prints will be
taken & your info will be public. Know
this & decide if you are willing to risk it.

GEAR

- Wear clothing with NO identifying
visuals such as labels or designs,
OR wear it inside out.

- Wear all black if possible, cover
anything that makes you easily
identifiable (e.g. tattoos, hair, etc.)

- Wear masks/bandanas/facial
coverings

- Protective eyewear (e.g. goggles)
for tear gas and smoke

- DO NOT WEAR CONTACTS in
case of tear gas (unfold zine to
learn more about tear gas)

- Wear layers: hoodies, beanies, etc.

- Comfortable running shoes

- Have a backpack if you can and
fill it with ------ >

emergen-c/electrolyte mix

sunscreen (not oil based)
nonperishable food/snacks
first aid (unfold zine for info)

portable charger
towels
sharpies
your prescription meds
change of clothes
garbage bags
extra supplies to give out

ONLY TAKE WHAT YOU CAN
CARRY/RUN WITH.

Unfold zine for more.

FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF

YOURSELF AND OTHERS:

ce.

REMINDERS

- DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OR VIDEOS WITH IDENTIFYING
INFO. NO FACES, NO IDENTIFIABLE CLOTHING, ETC.

- If recording, stay back from the crowd and do not say
names of anyone

- Stay out of view of cameras as best you can

- PROTECT AND CENTER YOUR BLACK COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FIRST AND FOREMOST

- REST IF YOU NEED TO. Keeping movement sustainable is
priority. Do not burn yourself out. Take shifts, create
networks with your neighbors, know what your capabilities
are.

COVID-19

- As much as possible, maintain at least 6 feet of distance
between yourself and those you haven’t been isolating with

- Wear a mask or face covering to keep yourself and others
safe (and to hide your face)

- COVID-19 ATTACKS AND DAMAGES YOUR UPPER
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. Being around burning cars/
buildings/tear gas can be hazardous in many ways. Be
aware, be safe.

FIRST AID
NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A RESPIRATORY CONDITION/
ASTHMA, TEAR GAS CAN BE FATAL. Know your risk level.

Protest First Aid Kit
- Medical/Duct Tape (latter typically contains latex, check
allergies before using)
- Several pairs of gloves
- Gauze (or clean socks/fabric/unscented menstrual pads)
- Burn Dressings (non-stick gauze pads/burn bandages/gel)
- Water (sports-top/squirt-top bottles for tear gas)
- Liquid Antacid (Milk of Magnesia/Maalox)
Can mix a bottle beforehand of 50/50 antacid/water.
- Saline Solution/Wound Wash
- Alcohol/wet wipes
- Band-Aids, ace bandages, a& wound-closure strips
- Antibiotic ointment
- Instant Cold Packs (good for injuries and heat exhaustion)
- Ibuprofen for swelling/pain (use with CAUTION)
Extras if needed: Epi-pen, Inhaler, Trauma Shears/Scissors,
candy for hypoglycemia

Treating Common Protest Injuries

Tear Gas & Pepper Spray

1. STAY CALM.

2. With head tilted back and starting at the bridge of the nose
on either side, squirt water or 50/50 liquid antacid/water
from clean water bottle into open eyes/on face and blink
rapidly.

- You may need to do this multiple times. It is worth it!

. Without contact(it’s important to keep particles off the
bottle and other people), squirt water into mouth and
swish and spit out (away from other people because of
COVID), do NOT swallow.

. Remove contaminated clothing (this is where layers &/or
an extra set of clothes comes in handy) and either safely
dispose of them or carry in a garbage bag.

- If you plan to wash and reuse the clothing, do so
immediately and do not let it touch any surfaces. Use
high heat and run an empty cycle after to clear chemicals
from the machine.

4. Do NOT touch face/eyes until fully showered (cold water
is best)

5. Drink lots of water and rest.

Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion

1. Get out of sun/away from heat

2. Rest and drink water (can add packet of electrolyte mix)
or a 50/50 mix of water and sport drink/fruit juice plus a
small pinch of salt

Basic Bandaging

1. If the victim can move, get somewhere safe. If they cannot
move and the area is unsafe, get help moving them.

2. Clean the wound
- If not bleeding: spray saline solution to flush the wound
- If bleeding: apply pressure with gauze until it stops, then

spray w/ saline solution
3. Cover wound with gauze or a clean substitute (see kit)
4. Secure gauze with tape

Head Injuries

. Do not move the victim unless the area is unsafe

. Treat visible wounds and check for alertness/orientation
(what year is it? where are we? can you follow my finger?)

. Appoint someone nearby to get medics for transpot to a
hospital.

. If the victim is UNCONSCIOUS, check level of
consciousness. Do they respond to verbal stimuli? Do they
respond to you pinching them? If not, they are fully
unresponsive.

. For a fully unresponsive victim, check that their airway is
clear and they have a pulse. Appoint a bystander to get
medics.

Broken Bone/Sprain

1. Stabilize the area with a bandana as a makeshift sling or
ace bandages (not too tight to cut off circulation) apply a
cold pack if you have one or give the victim ibuprofen to
help with pain/swelling if it’s safe for them. Seek medical
attention.