🟢 Beginner-Friendly 🟡 Intermediate 🔴 Advanced

TL;DR

Showing up to a protest for the first time can be empowering—and a little intimidating. With the right prep, you can stay safe, contribute meaningfully, and support the movement in ways that go beyond the streets.

Why This Action Matters

Protest is one of the most visible forms of civic engagement. Done well, it shows strength, solidarity, and commitment to change. Preparation ensures you show up informed, responsible, and ready to amplify the message without putting yourself—or others—at unnecessary risk.

Quick Win: What You Can Do Right Now

• Tell someone where you're going and who you're with
  
  

• Charge your phone, write down emergency contacts, and pack light
  
  

• Read up on your rights—especially if you're attending in a state or city new to you

Do It Smarter: Protest Prep by Experience Level

🟢 Beginner Tip: Wear comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothes, and avoid anything with identifying logos. Bring water, snacks, a mask, and signs that clearly communicate your message. Know the meeting point and exit routes.

🟡 Intermediate Insight: Coordinate with a buddy. Use Signal or another encrypted app to communicate. Bring a basic first aid kit or hand sanitizer to help others. Learn chants in advance and know how to de-escalate if tensions rise.

🔴 Advanced Angle: If you're helping organize, plan for contingencies like counter-protests or heavy police presence. Distribute Know Your Rights flyers (like those from the ACLU), designate legal observers, and document events carefully. Consider training in crowd safety, first aid, or de-escalation tactics.

Real‑World Example

During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, volunteer medics, legal observers, and mutual aid groups helped protect and support protesters in dozens of cities. Groups like the National Lawyers Guild coordinated Legal Observer programs, while street medics passed out water, masks, and treatment for tear gas exposure often preventing hospital visits and arrests. This level of planning helped transform individual presence into sustained public pressure.

Connect It to Other Actions

• After the protest, log your attendance on LiveImpact.io and note what the event meant to you
  
  

• Share helpful resources for others preparing to attend
  
  

• Stay engaged with the cause—protests are often just the beginning

Show Your Impact

Showing up matters and so does helping others do the same. Recording your protest action on LiveImpact.io helps track how many people are mobilizing for change. When protests are seen as part of a sustained effort, not a one-off event, they gain power and legitimacy.

Want to Go Deeper?

• ACLU Know Your Rights Guide for Protesters: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

• National Lawyers Guild Legal Observer Program: https://www.nlg.org/legalobservers/

• Amnesty International – The Right to Peaceful Assembly
  A comprehensive PDF guide detailing your legal rights, how authorities should respond, and tips for staying safe during a protest
  https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IOR4000192019ENGLISH.pdf