How To Protest Safely

With everything going on in the United States, there are plenty of reasons to protest. From illegal detainment and removal to intimidation tactics and mass layoffs of federal workers, there is no shortage of complaints that should justly be aired. To that end, two major protests are planned. The first takes place this Friday, March 29. The second is scheduled to occur a week later, April 5. Both protests are well-planned and are likely to involve a large number of people.

The March 29 protest is formally known as the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action. This is primarily a protest against Tesla CEO Leroy Muskrat and his unprecedented and likely illegal actions taken through the still-not-legal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At this date (March 24), there are over 500 protest locations registered around the world. While the US Department of Justice is watching domestic protests, those elsewhere in the world have already shown a tendency toward large degrees of violence and vandalism, such as the burning of over 80 vehicles at a Toronto Tesla dealership last week.

The April 5 protest goes by Hands Off! National Day of Action. This protest has multiple locations planned in all 50 states. Both Muskrat and President Felonious Punk are the targets, along with the billionaire class of Cabinet members that support the unprecedented power grab. With two weeks to go until this protest takes place, there could still be dozens more actions from the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court that would fuel a reason to attend this protest. Some people attending this protest are likely to be former government employees, which could make the protest all the more interesting.

Protests are good for the country. In between elections, they are one of the most powerful ways of expressing disagreement with government actions. They are protected by the Constitution as long as they stay peaceful. Both organizations have statements on their website saying that they are committed to de-escalation and maintaining peaceful protests everywhere. However, we know from previous experience that sometimes violence comes to you and there’s nothing you can do about it.

On Saturday, a man drove into a group of protesters outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, FL. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The driver was charged with assault. The protest continued.

Across the country in Berkley, CA, a Punk supporter was arrested for allegedly trying to fire a stun gun into a group of protesters outside a Tesla dealership. A reporter who was present witnessed electrical sparks coming from the stun gun a number of times, but no one was hit. Video of the event shows an older woman grabbing the man and shoving his head into a car window before police arrived.

With both of the upcoming protests expected to be large, and having been well publicized across social media, it would be naive for anyone attending either set of events to not expect a police presence. As we saw with the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, just the presence of law enforcement is sometimes enough to cause altercations that turn violent.

It would also be naive to think that the Department of Justice, through various law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security, are not already conducting surveillance on people they think are likely to participate in protest events, including event organizers. Law enforcement surveillance, which can include wireless interception of text messages and more, and tracking tools like license plate scanners and facial recognition. During the 2020 protests, all of these tactics were put into use, allowing police to arrest people who were allegedly facilitating violent activity (most were released due to lack of evidence).

Any information on your cell phone, such as text messages asking a friend to meet you at a protest, can be grounds for arrest. Police do not need a warrant in order to search a person’s cell phone once a protest event has been declared ‘unruly,’ a tactic state and local officials used liberally in 2020 to justify breaking up otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

Now, add ICE and other immigration enforcement officials to the mix. Can you prove your citizenship? Some attorneys have begun recommending that people should not only carry a valid state ID but also their passport. Why? Because the passport is the one document that proves a person is a citizen of the United States, not just someone living in a given state. The passport also carries certain guarantees not covered by a state ID.

Law enforcement has already shown their hand as to how they intend to handle demonstrations. They’ll be lined up and ready, itching for anything that has the appearance of the beginning of violence. Remember, nothing has to actually happen. A verbal altercation is sufficient to set off police action against protesters. They’ve done it before and they will do it again.

Harlo Holmes, director of newsroom security at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, has previously suggested that protesters who want anonymity leave their primary phone at home altogether. If you do need a phone for coordination or as a way to call friends or a lawyer in case of an emergency, keep it off as much as possible to reduce the chances that it connects to a rogue cell tower or Wi-Fi hotspot being used by law enforcement for surveillance. Sort out logistics with friends in advance so you only need to turn your phone on if something goes awry. Or to be even more certain that your phone won’t be tracked, keep it in a Faraday bag that blocks all of its radio communications. Using a burner phone purchased on your way to the protest can be a good move as well, but, too, should be used as little as possible.

One also needs to consider what clothes they’re going to wear. These protests are not just another stroll through town. Bright clothes and obvious brand logos make it easier for someone to be noticed and picked out by police. Veteran protesters recommend wearing darker clothes that cover tattoos or any other distinguishing marks that could be used to identify you. Wearing face masks (which Punk hates) and sunglasses makes it difficult for facial recognition programs to identify anyone. Leave your ‘bling’ at home for the same reason. You don’t want to wear anything that causes you to stand out from the crowd.

“I’m really concerned about the potential use of social media surveillance to track down protesters or disrupt peaceful protests before they begin,” says Allie Funk, a research analyst at the pro-democracy group Freedom House. “So people should be very cautious when they’re sharing certain information online like videos and pictures of fellow protesters. We know many police departments and other federal agencies have been monitoring platforms.”

There is also the chance that law enforcement could use newer means of digital surveillance that have not been seen in previous mass protest events. Such techniques might not only cause one to be picked out of a crowd but could potentially be used to prosecute protest attendees after the event.

The right to protest government is a sacred provision enshrined by the Constitution. We have not only the right but the responsibility to use it in response to a White House that has gone rogue and threatens the continued existence of the country. By all means, please protest. At the same time, be intelligent and take precautions against potential police actions. Don’t drive, take a ride share or public transportation. Don’t consume alcohol; you need to be sharp and aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t initiate violence.

Protests can do amazing things. Make it work for all of us.