Organizing protests

Note: We intend this hub to be useful to all people organizing for liberation. Some actions enjoy a high degree of constitutional protection, but other non-violent direct action tactics may not be protected because they take place on private property, shut down public spaces, or involve other illegal activity. The higher your risk, the more strongly we encourage you to invest in digital security (Syllabus 4). 

• Do I need a permit for my protest? Where do I have the strongest protections for protesting?

• You’ll find activists with varying philosophies surrounding acquiring permits for protests. Some activists view permits as a safety strategy, while others view them as a concession to the state. The section of this site for protest organizers gives pointers about where your First Amendment protections are strongest and which types of events require* a permit. *Many protests reject the permitting system! Your risks may be higher. 

• https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights#im-organizing-a-protest

• This guide was created for the state of Washington, but provides legal information about what stipulations the government is allowed to attach to the permitting process. 

• https://www.aclu-wa.org/docs/know-your-rights-guide-protests

• My organization is planning civil disobedience. What should we be thinking about? 

• If your organization is planning a civil disobedience (intentional arrest) action, you have a duty to secure the consent of your participants, provide appropriate training, and support dissenters throughout their interactions with the legal system. Here’s a guide to choosing strategic targets for civil disobedience and providing support to the activists participating. 

• https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act10/7471/2024/en/

• What if I’m planning non-violent direct action with a high risk of unplanned arrest?

• Here is a curriculum for trainers/action organizers that will help you gauge your participants’ tolerance for risk, create shared agreements, prepare for actions, map threats, and build situational awareness. 

  • English

  • Spanish  (En español):

• If you’re planning direct action, you’ll need to lock down your devices for the action (or leave them behind if possible!), learn to use digital privacy/anonymizing tools, and use good digital hygiene to protect yourself and your comrades. (And, on action day, consider leaving your phone at home or with an offsite member of your team!) Here’s a checklist to bring your digsec up to speed:

• https://activistchecklist.org/organizing

• Getting involved with a movement can take many forms. Planning a protest involving planned civil disobedience or the risk of unplanned arrest? Here are some roles to think about:

• https://ruckus.org/know-your-role/

• Want training for your org? 

• Ruckus Training intake form:

• https://ruckus.org/training-action-support/training-requests/

• Looking for guidance on how your team can keep each other safe without involving police? This handbook covers how to research and put together a security team for protests and other events. Here’s how to select your security team, vet prospects, create an event plan, and de-escalate conflict. Includes worksheets!

• https://visionchangewin.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/VCW-Safety-Toolkit-Final.pdf

• Common protest-related scenarios

• This training slide deck runs through common protest-related de-escalation scenarios, providing fodder for brainstorming and tactical planning. Whatever the situation, you always have options! 

• https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bBRRET991tZrPCEIhCBSKw9djdcocZxG47B-zyu7fQs/edit?usp=sharing

• Have you experienced political violence, doxxing, threats, or other safety concerns? Vision Change Win provides rapid response training and community safety solutions outside of the policing framework. Here’s their rapid response intake form:

• https://support.visionchangewin.org/