What happens if things go wrong?
At most protests, the people are allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights without interference and there is little to no police interaction. But in some rare cases, where the police may perceive protests as escalating or protesters as dangerous (as was common during 2020 George Floyd protests), police may deploy less lethal weapons, such as tear gas and pepper spray.
Plan ahead - always tell a trusted person you will be going to a protest. Even if the protest has no indications of going sour, it can’t hurt to have someone ready to go if things go wrong. Just in case, we recommend that you avoid wearing contacts to protests, and remove face/fingerprint unlocks.
A little situational awareness goes a long way in determining whether police will deploy less lethal weapons. Is the size of the police force increasing? Are police in your area known for deploying less lethal weapons against protesters? Is there a way for you to leave? Are police wearing riot gear or gas masks? Are they organizing in formations? Are they starting to block exit routes? If you’re nervous, plan a way out ahead of time. Your comfort and safety are top priority.
Most of the time police will also give multiple dispersal orders before deploying less lethal weapons. If they give a dispersal order, they should also give you a way to leave. (With the caveat that, as with all policing policy, this doesn’t always happen.)
If you decide to stay after police make announcements to disperse the protest - or if you get kettled - you might come under fire from tear gas, pepper spray or other less-lethal weapons. This guide is from 2020 (hence the COVID-19 advice), but has guidance for what to do immediately if you’re tear gassed, and how to get rid of the irritant at home.
Protest legal hotlines
Many National Lawyers Guild chapters operate protest hotlines. If you’re concerned about being arrested, write the hotline number on your body to call from jail. Even if your local chapter doesn’t have a hotline, you can email your local chapter or massdef@nlg.org to get legal guidance and referrals to free and low cost lawyers.
If you’re organizing for Palestine and are facing disciplinary proceedings, dealing with doxxing, or getting retaliated against at work or school, Palestine Legal might be able to help. Here’s their intake form:
