Know Your Rights. Stay Safe. Document Everything.
Complete 2025 guide to protest safety, legal rights, and emergency protocols
Critical: Read this before your next protest
People get arrested. People get injured. People face serious legal consequences. This guide gives you the knowledge to protect yourself when things go wrong. No theory. Just practical, actionable information.
Your Rights Are Under Attack. Here's How to Protect Them
The Constitution guarantees your right to peaceful assembly. But those words on paper won't help you if you don't know how to exercise them safely. This guide could save you from arrest, injury, or legal trouble.
Your rights include:
- Right to peaceful assembly in public spaces
- Right to record police activity (in public spaces)
- Right to remain silent (you don't have to answer questions)
- Right to refuse searches (unless there's probable cause or a warrant)
- Right to legal representation (ask for a lawyer if arrested)
- Right to remain silent until your lawyer arrives
Important: These rights apply to peaceful protests on public property. Permits may be required for large gatherings or marches on public streets.
What to Bring to a Protest: Essential Safety Gear
Being prepared can make the difference between staying safe and facing serious consequences. Here's your essential protest safety checklist:
Essential Items:
- Water: Stay hydrated - bring multiple water bottles
- Identification: Driver's license or ID (but know your right to remain silent)
- Phone: Fully charged with emergency contacts programmed
- Emergency beacon app: One-tap alert that sends location to trusted contacts
- Comfortable shoes: Protect your feet - running shoes recommended
- Weather protection: Rain gear, sun protection as needed
- Cash: Small bills for food, transportation, legal aid
- Legal aid hotline: Local legal aid organization phone number
- First aid supplies: Bandages, antiseptic, pain relief
- Emergency contact info: Written down (phone may be confiscated)
Documentation Equipment:
- Mobile phone: Fully charged, backup battery if possible
- Cloud backup: Photos/videos auto-sync to cloud
- Notepad: Pen and paper for notes, badges, events
- Emergency documentation app: Instantly capture incidents with timestamp and location
What NOT to Bring:
- Weapons: Firearms, knives, or any weapons (illegal at most protests)
- Controlled substances: Drugs or alcohol
- Face masks (where illegal): Check local laws on mask mandates
- Anything that could be used as a weapon: Tools, bats, etc.
If You're Arrested: Know Your Rights
DO:
- Stay calm and don't resist physically
- State clearly: "I am exercising my First Amendment right to protest"
- Ask "Am I under arrest? Am I free to go?"
- If arrested, say "I want to speak to a lawyer"
- Stay silent except to state your rights - don't answer questions without your lawyer
- Remember: anything you say can and will be used against you
- Call a lawyer as soon as possible
- Document everything - police badge numbers, witnesses, incidents
DON'T:
- Run from police (evading arrest is a crime)
- Lie to police officers
- Consent to searches without a warrant (say "I do not consent to this search")
- Sign anything without consulting a lawyer
- Make statements without legal counsel present
- Plead guilty without discussing with your lawyer first
Emergency Protocol: One-Tap Alert System
In high-risk situations, you need an instant way to alert trusted contacts with your exact location. The LibertyGuard app's Emergency Beacon feature provides:
- One-tap activation: Press a button to instantly alert your emergency contacts
- GPS coordinates: Your exact location sent to trusted contacts
- Map links: Easy-to-follow directions to your location
- Custom messages: Add context about the emergency
- Multiple contacts: Send alerts to friends, family, and legal aid organizations simultaneously
Legal Documentation: Protecting Your Rights
Documentation is crucial for holding authorities accountable and protecting yourself legally. Here's what to document:
- Police interactions: Badge numbers, names, conduct
- Arrest procedures: What you said, what they said, time/date/location
- Witnesses: Names and contact information of witnesses to your arrest
- Injuries: Photos of any injuries, medical treatment received
- Property damage: Photos of damaged property or belongings
- Video evidence: Record police encounters (legal in public spaces in most states)
Legal Note: You have the right to record police activity in public spaces in most jurisdictions. However, laws vary by state. Check local laws before recording. If you're arrested, your phone may be confiscated, so cloud backup is essential.
Stay Safe: Protest Safety Protocols
These safety protocols can help you stay safe during protests:
- Buddy system: Never protest alone - stay with friends or group
- Check points: Designate check-in times with people outside the protest
- Exit strategy: Know multiple routes out of the area
- Stay alert: Monitor crowd dynamics and police movement
- Hydration: Stay hydrated, especially in hot weather or during long protests
- First aid: Know basic first aid for common protest injuries
- De-escalation: Avoid confrontational behavior that could escalate situations
Download LibertyGuard for Complete Protection
The LibertyGuard app provides real-time protection during protests and civil unrest:
- Emergency Beacon: One-tap alert sends location to emergency contacts instantly
- Legal Rights Guide: Know your constitutional rights at all times
- Documentation Tools: Capture incidents with timestamp and location
- Threat Intelligence: Real-time alerts about police activity and civil unrest
- Protest Coordination: Find and organize protests in your area
- Community Messaging: Connect with fellow activists safely
- 35+ Resistance Guides: Complete offline library of survival and legal protocols
DOWNLOAD LIBERTYGUARD FREE (7-Day Trial)Free version available • Pro: $4.99/month or $39.99/year
Emergency Contacts
Keep these numbers on hand (written down, not just in your phone):
- Legal Aid Organizations: Search "legal aid [your city]" - many offer 24/7 hotlines
- National Lawyers Guild: 1-888-NLG-EXAM (serves protesters nationwide)
- ACLU: 1-888-243-3044 (legal information, not emergency legal aid)
- National Bail Fund Network: Helps with bail if you're arrested