🛠️ Skill Level: Beginner
What It Is
This guide shows you how to create a small, organized team focused on keeping people safe and supported at protests while building mutual aid networks to sustain long-term resistance. Think of it as your portable safety net with a megaphone.
Why It Matters
Protests are flashpoints: they attract media, law enforcement, and sometimes agitators who want to escalate violence. A prepared safety and aid crew can prevent injuries, de-escalate chaos, and make sure people don’t just show up—they make it home. Beyond the march, mutual aid keeps communities alive when the system fails.
Real Example
During the 2020 George Floyd protests, mutual aid crews in Minneapolis and Portland distributed water, medical supplies, and provided safe rides when police kettled crowds. Their quick coordination prevented mass injuries and arrests. Some of those networks are still feeding families and bailing out protestors today.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Assemble Your Crew
- Gather 4–8 reliable people. Roles can include:
- Medics: First aid & trauma care
- Scouts: Watch for police movements & agitators
- Comms: Coordinate via secure apps (Signal, Briar)
- Supplies: Handle water, snacks, masks, and med kits
Step 2: Gear Up
- Essentials: water, saline, masks, gloves, basic med kits, power banks, ID-safe cards with legal aid numbers
- Have cash for emergency transport or supplies
- Wear neutral colors and avoid identifiable logos to reduce targeting
Step 3: Establish Safety Protocols
- Pick a rally point away from the main protest in case of dispersal
- Share emergency contact info and legal support hotlines
- Set a check-in schedule so no one disappears unnoticed
Step 4: Layer in Mutual Aid
- Build a shared fund to cover supplies and bail support
- Create a signal group for post-protest needs (housing, food, court support)
- Coordinate with existing local mutual aid groups to avoid duplication
Step 5: Document & Share Safely
- If recording police misconduct, back up files immediately to encrypted storage
- Never post faces or identifying details of fellow protesters without consent
- Debrief with your squad to improve tactics and replenish supplies
Final Thoughts from Kitty
The streets are where we show our claws, but safety and solidarity are what make the movement last. A well-prepared protest safety and mutual aid squad isn’t just backup—it’s the heartbeat of resistance.