I put a respirator mask on my hip (covered eyes, nose, and mouth) hanging off my belt just in case tear gas was going to be used. Carried cash in my sock, left my phone at home, and carried my keys on a carabiner. I had a water bottle and small waist bag with snacks and other essentials, including but not limited to N95 masks, medical gloves, bandaids, tourniquet, bandages, a paper map, and sun screen. I told my mom where I was going to be, what the route was, and my time frame of when I was going to be out and about. I wore good shoes and comfortable socks, ate before I left, and mapped out escape routes in case things went south. I did not pick up rocks, bricks, or sticks, and I stayed on the fringes but could disappear into the crowd in case someone tried to pull me out.
Every time I had my DSLR with a pretty big lens on with me. I noticed it kinda lets you pass through crowds faster and people are more forgiving if you jump on things. Police tends to ignore you or say hi to you because you look like you’re at work. This and a bottle of water in my backpack in case I get thirsty.
But also in my country protests are rather peaceful, it’s just walking and singing songs and waving signs, you walk towards a politicians house, government building of TV station building and then someone yells stuff through megaphone and either someone comes out of the building and talks to the crowd or not, then everyone is like “Ok guys thanks for coming to the protest!” and everyone goes home to watch TV and wait for politicians response.
No one is like burning shops or whatever. Someone very angry may throw an egg or do a grafitti but that’s about it really. Police doesn’t use tearing gas really, they just stand around and look, sometimes they wave to the protesters.
So yeah I just took my camera with me only to take nice pics, pass through crowds faster and get to whatever good spot I wanted, if I was hot I was able to hop onto some wall or somsthing and get fresh air.
Also I always packed some vinyl gloves and bandages into my backpack in case but it was never needed on a protest.
Water bottle with lemon juice and a scarf (as anything used to mask is forbidden during protests in my country, and even the lemon juice and scarf might be seen as a defensive weapon against tear gas, so never tell a cop you have lemon juice), number of a helpline for political prisoners (Rote Hilfe), and the most important thing: Being aware of my surroundings, monitoring if police is blocking sideroads with vehicles to move in soon, and so on.
Ensure not to have left anything in my pockets which shouldn’t be there – like even a swiss knife or pepper spray forgotten in your bag because you went alone to a hike before the protest might mean an arrest. So avoid anything that might lead to trouble.
Been on protests since being a teenager, only got in trouble once.
Comments
I put a respirator mask on my hip (covered eyes, nose, and mouth) hanging off my belt just in case tear gas was going to be used. Carried cash in my sock, left my phone at home, and carried my keys on a carabiner. I had a water bottle and small waist bag with snacks and other essentials, including but not limited to N95 masks, medical gloves, bandaids, tourniquet, bandages, a paper map, and sun screen. I told my mom where I was going to be, what the route was, and my time frame of when I was going to be out and about. I wore good shoes and comfortable socks, ate before I left, and mapped out escape routes in case things went south. I did not pick up rocks, bricks, or sticks, and I stayed on the fringes but could disappear into the crowd in case someone tried to pull me out.
Be smart, be careful, be peaceful. Protest well!
Every time I had my DSLR with a pretty big lens on with me. I noticed it kinda lets you pass through crowds faster and people are more forgiving if you jump on things. Police tends to ignore you or say hi to you because you look like you’re at work. This and a bottle of water in my backpack in case I get thirsty.
But also in my country protests are rather peaceful, it’s just walking and singing songs and waving signs, you walk towards a politicians house, government building of TV station building and then someone yells stuff through megaphone and either someone comes out of the building and talks to the crowd or not, then everyone is like “Ok guys thanks for coming to the protest!” and everyone goes home to watch TV and wait for politicians response.
No one is like burning shops or whatever. Someone very angry may throw an egg or do a grafitti but that’s about it really. Police doesn’t use tearing gas really, they just stand around and look, sometimes they wave to the protesters.
So yeah I just took my camera with me only to take nice pics, pass through crowds faster and get to whatever good spot I wanted, if I was hot I was able to hop onto some wall or somsthing and get fresh air.
Also I always packed some vinyl gloves and bandages into my backpack in case but it was never needed on a protest.
I didnt go in the first place, but thats just me. You have every right to be there.
r/coolguides had a post about this the other day.
Easy. Stood home/stay at work.
If the protest is something I agree with then I’m with you in spirit.
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British protests are very ‘we disagree with you, Sir. Know that.’ and then everyone goes home. So…I go, I disagree, I come home.
Saffa protests – you go with some pepper spray and an escape plan.
Currently don’t live in the place where major protest is happening but I’m very much doing it online as much as I can
Went all in
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Water bottle with lemon juice and a scarf (as anything used to mask is forbidden during protests in my country, and even the lemon juice and scarf might be seen as a defensive weapon against tear gas, so never tell a cop you have lemon juice), number of a helpline for political prisoners (Rote Hilfe), and the most important thing: Being aware of my surroundings, monitoring if police is blocking sideroads with vehicles to move in soon, and so on.
Ensure not to have left anything in my pockets which shouldn’t be there – like even a swiss knife or pepper spray forgotten in your bag because you went alone to a hike before the protest might mean an arrest. So avoid anything that might lead to trouble.
Been on protests since being a teenager, only got in trouble once.