As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered U.S. cities over the last year, they’ve been met with peaceful protestors, activists, observers, and organizers defending their communities against indiscriminate arrests and deportations.
Sometimes those efforts come in the form of blowing whistles to warn people of ICE agents in the area or documenting raids, other times it looks like protestors taking to the streets.
After the deaths of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 7th and Alex Pretti weeks later in the same metro area, the call to peacefully protest the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security and the deployment of ICE agents across the country has become increasingly louder.
And people are listening: On January 26th, days after the death of Alex Pretti, the No Kings Coalition, made up of advocacy groups, legal organizations, labor unions, and protest groups hosted an online training “designed to equip Americans with tools to exercise their rights and safely monitor federal enforcement actions,” according to a press release from the organization. At least 200,000 people attended that virtual training, they add. Thousands more have watched since. (The next one is on February 5th, by the way.)
“Protesting does work,” says Nekima Levy Armstrong, lawyer, activist, founder of the Racial Justice Network, and a former president of the Minneapolis branch of the N.A.A.C.P. “Protesting is our opportunity to present active resistance to actions that we oppose,” Levy Armstrong explains. Without that show of peaceful force, it can indicate that we’re unbothered. “But when you see 25, 1,000, or 50,000 people out, it signals that the people are not complacent, we’re not complicit with what is happening. They’re showing up to show that they care.”
As activists continue to organize nationwide events, like the ICE Out of Everywhere Blackout on January 30th, a National Day of Action on January 31st, and the third No Kings march planned for March 28th, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Whether you’re prepping to exercise your First Amendment rights for the first time or not, here’s what you need to know.
Be aware of what can go wrong
While it’s within your rights to protest peacefully, and it shouldn’t be dangerous to do so, sometimes it is. And the recent events highlighted above underscore that fact. Levy Armstrong says that when she volunteered as a legal observer in Ferguson, Missouri, during the protests that arose after the killing of Michael Brown by police officers, “We got lime green hats that said legal observer to try to protect ourselves, but it didn’t work." Law enforcement or federal agents aren’t always deterred from attacking, no matter who is there, she adds.
Even in peaceful protests, law enforcement may use tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, or other non-lethal munitions to disperse crowds. Unfortunately, non-lethal weapons can still cause serious injuries, says Rebecca Winter, a national spokesperson for 50501 and executive director of the Massachusetts 50501 Movement.
It’s also possible that you could become a target of ICE, whether you're a citizen or not, says Winter. She says she’s aware of activists who have been identified and followed by ICE agents.
Assess your personal risk
With all that in mind, it’s ultimately up to you to decide whether attending a protest or march makes sense for your circumstances. Folks of color, undocumented community members, naturalized citizens, immigrants, or even people who speak English as a second language, could be more at risk of being detained by ICE agents, says Winter.
You also have to consider your overall health. “If you have underlying health challenges, think twice,” says Levy Armstrong. “When tear gas is unleashed, you cannot breathe, even if you don’t have a respiratory challenge.”
If you want to participate anyway, you may be able to mitigate the risk of being hurt or getting caught up with federal agents by placing yourself toward the back of the group, adds Levy Armstrong. That way, you can see what’s going on in front of you and head to safety more quickly if something happens.
You can also reduce your risk of harm by deciding ahead of time how you’ll respond to law enforcement demands. Even if it’s within your rights to record video or remain on public property (we’ll get into more on that in just a sec), you can reduce your risk of detainment, arrest, or physical harm by complying with officers' unlawful requests, Maribel Hernández Rivera, the national director of immigrant community strategies at the ACLU, explained in the No Kings Coalition’s training on Monday January 26th.
If you’ve decided that this isn’t the right move for you, head further down in this story to the "Show Your Support in Other Effective Ways" area for more ways to protest.
Gear up
Be sure to gather supplies ahead of time. For at least half the country, it’s really damn cold out. If that’s true in your city, keep your head and hands covered, invest in warm boots, put on extra layers of socks, bring handwarmers for yourself and to share, or invest in heated gear, says Winter, who has been out protesting in -17 degree weather. She also suggests doubling up on pants and tops. “You can always take a layer off, but you’ll miss it if you don’t have that extra layer to start with.” Check the weather for precipitation and bring whatever you need to stay dry.
Other helpful supplies to bring with you, according to the No Kings Coalition:
- Water bottle and snacks
- Medications you might need in the next 24 to 48 hours
- Portable phone charger
- Your emergency contacts’ phone numbers (written on paper or memorized)
- If you are an immigrant with lawful status, bring a copy of that documentation with you (give a copy of the document itself to someone you trust)
The Human Rights Coalition (HRC) also recommends packing:
- Protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (to protect against tear gas or irritants)
- Supplies to protect from and safely remove chemical irritants, like face coverings, milk of magnesia, and towelettes
- Prescription eyeglasses (contacts can trap tear gas)
A pen and paper can also come in handy if an officer takes your phone. If that happens, take a detailed record of what happened, write the officer's badge number, patrol car, license plate, and collect contact info of anyone who is around you and witnessed it, Byul Yoon, a legal fellow with the ACLU’s project on speech, privacy, and technology, shared during the No Kings Coalition’s training.
Ramp up your digital security
While leaving your phone at home is the best way to keep your data safe, that might not be realistic for everyone, says Winter.
If you want to bring your phone for safety reasons or to record the actions of law enforcement and ICE agents, disable the biometrics settings on your phone, aka your Face ID and fingerprint unlock. While law enforcement cannot make you enter your password, they can hold your phone up to your face to unlock it, according to the ACLU. Here’s how to do that for Android and Apple devices, according to the guide from Surveillance Self-Defense.
You can also beef up the password on your phone, opting for a longer, stronger code than the standard four-digit option. Try to use a combo you won’t forget, but that would not be easy for anyone to guess. Enabling two-factor authentication on accounts, like your email, social media, and banking is also a good move, according to The Indivisible Project.
If you plan to message friends or a volunteer group about the protest, you can use Signal, an encrypted messenger app, to communicate via phone call or text. “Signal is unable to turn over meaningful call and text records to authorities, and disappearing messages cannot be recovered,” according to the American Friends and Service Committee (AFSC). They also have a disappearing messages feature, which can be useful.
The AFSC also recommends signing out of any social and email accounts before heading to the protest because, “if an unlocked mobile device is stolen or compromised at a protest, all the apps you're signed in to will be accessible and can reveal your location and connections.” So there’s that.
While you’re at the protest, keep your phone locked and on airplane mode while filming video to minimize the chances of being tracked or having your phone taken from you when it’s unlocked and real vulnerable, per the AFSC.
Review your rights
Knowing your rights to protest can tip you off to law enforcement overstepping, which is useful information for all of us, honestly. When you spot ICE agents or other law enforcement infringing on your rights, you can be ready to record and report it.
That said, it’s not always safe to stand up for your rights. Sometimes, the best way to keep things from going sideways is to comply with officers' requests, Hernández Rivera shared in the No Kings training.
Here’s what the Constitution allows you to do, per the ACLU:
- Peacefully protest on certain public property, subject to certain localized restrictions
- Peacefully protest on private property if you have the consent of the property owner
- Photograph anything in plain view while lawfully present in a public space
Here is what is not allowed:
- Law enforcement confiscating or demanding to view your pictures or video without a warrant
- Law enforcement deleting data
- Acts of protest that become violent or destroy property
- Law enforcement breaking up a gathering without a clear and present danger or threat to public safety
If your rights have been violated, write down everything you remember, including the officers' badge numbers, patrol car numbers, and the agency they work for. Then, get contact information for witnesses and take photographs of any injuries, if you can. Once you have all of this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board, according to the ACLU.
Don’t go alone
Bringing a buddy to the protest will keep the vibes high and keep you both safe. That person can be a witness if things go wrong, and they can alert your emergency contacts on your whereabouts if necessary. So make sure whoever you’re going with has the info for your 911 contacts, says Levy Armstrong.
Make a plan
Even with all of your preparation, it’s important to make a specific plan of how you’re getting to the protest, what you’ll do if you get separated or there’s an emergency, and where you’ll meet after the protest, says Winter. The HRC recommends having an offline map of the venue and surrounding areas and planning multiple routes to get in and out of the protest area. Make sure everyone in your group is aware of those facts before you head out.
Speaking of emergencies, take a look at or fully print out this in case of emergency plan from the Democracy Security Project (DSP).
Here’s the gist:
In case of an active shooter:
- Find an escape route and run to safety or seek cover, hide, or barricade yourself
- When law enforcement arrives, keep your hands visible and follow their instructions
In case of tear gas:
- Quickly walk out of the area as fast as possible without running, and aim for higher ground
- If your eyes are exposed, flush them with water, but do not touch them (or your nose or mouth)
- Rinse your body in cold water as soon as you can
When faced with agitators within the group of protestors, here’s how to de-escalate, according to DSP:
- Take a deep breath and stay calm, projecting confidence
- Maintain a safe distance, keep your hands visible, and keep your voice low and steady
- Keep eye contact and actively listen
- Acknowledge their emotions
- Set clear and respectful boundaries
- If you feel unsafe, and it’s possible, respectfully disengage
If you’re approached by law enforcement, here’s what to do, per The Indivisible Project:
- Stay calm
- Keep your hands visible
- Avoid arguing or resisting
- Ask if you’re free to leave (if so, walk away)
- If you believe your rights have been violated, take steps to record the incident and report it
Show your support in other effective ways
Again, you don’t need to march in -20 degree weather to make an impact. Both Winter and Armstrong Levy say that we need all kinds of activists in this moment.
Start by putting pressure on your elected officials every day or as much as possible, says Winter. Your phone call or letter might not be the one that changes lawmakers’ minds, but the more people calling and emailing them about the same issue, the more they will pay attention. (Exhibit A: Chuck Schumer and senate democrats refused to fund a spending bill that would continue to fund DHS less than a week after Alex Pretti’s death.)
Boycotts are also effective, she adds. Just look at how quickly Disney responded after Jimmy Kimmel was put on leave at ABC.
This is also the perfect time to engage with your neighbors and assess their needs and how you can be helpful.
Armstrong Levy recommends looking into immigrant rights groups and the legal offices that protect immigrants, too. They may need donations to keep serving those communities. She also suggests organizing gatherings within your community, delivering meals to people who need them, or just posting to Facebook to see if anyone nearby can use an assist. “We shouldn’t be stuck in one mode of protesting when there are lots of ways that we can make our voices heard,” she says.
You can find more ways to help people affected by the ongoing ICE raids here.
Ashley Oerman is a contributing writer at Cosmopolitan, covering fitness, health, food, cocktails, and home. You can follow her on Instagram @AshleyOerman. She is pro-carbs.
