Because Community Safety Doesn’t Come From the State—It Comes From Us
Let’s get one thing straight: the cops are not here to keep you safe at a protest. They’re there to surveil, intimidate, escalate, and protect property (read: capitalism). So who is keeping us safe while we’re out there in the streets? We are.
Welcome to protest defense 101, where you don’t need a badge or a baton—just guts, prep, and a damn good crew.
Step 1: Learn the Roles
A safe, effective protest needs more than megaphones and signs.
- Marshals: Guide the crowd, communicate with organizers, and watch for agitators or pigs
- De-escalators: Calm tensions, manage internal drama, and keep peace without police
- Street medics: Treat pepper spray, injuries, heat stroke, and trauma
- Copwatchers: Film police and document abuses in real-time
- Legal observers: Wear green hats, take notes, and collect badge numbers
Get trained. Stay in your lane. Have each other’s backs.
Step 2: Pack Like a Prepper
Here’s what a protest defender carries:
- Goggles, mask, or respirator (tear gas protection)
- Water bottle + saline or Maalox mix (for eye flushing)
- First aid kit
- Bandana or scarf (for ID protection or communication)
- Sharpie with emergency contact written on your body
- Snacks, gloves, portable charger
- No ID, no drugs, no weapons—leave them home
Bonus: coordinate outfits with your crew so you can find each other without drawing attention.
Step 3: Know the Tactics
- Scan constantly. Watch the crowd, rooftops, and side streets
- Document everything—especially cops or agitators
- Intervene verbally if you see unsafe behavior
- Form human shields when needed (for medics, press, or vulnerable people)
- Never isolate yourself. Move as a pod. Trust your gut.
Step 4: Post-Protest Protocol
- Debrief with your crew. What went well? What didn’t?
- Archive footage securely (timestamp, location, encrypted backup)
- Check in on folks emotionally and physically
- Share legal support contacts for anyone arrested
- Be ready to testify or provide footage—only if it’s safe and consented to
Call to Action
Today’s assignment: build a protest defense squad.
- Grab a buddy and sign up for a street medic or de-escalation training
- Volunteer to marshal at your next local protest
- Offer to be a copwatcher or legal observer (contact your nearest NLG chapter)
- Print and carry copies of Know Your Rights flyers to share at the next rally
- Help build a post-protest support team for arrested or traumatized activists
We don’t need badges. We need each other. Resistance Kitty says: claws out, eyes open, and never walk into a protest alone again.