Just A Teen Helping Out

Made To Keep Fellow Protestors Safe

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Your voice can only be heard if you are healthy enough to speak out! Plan out your protest to increase your effectiveness out on the front lines! <3.

Made by A Black Teen Near You  on May 31

So you want to help speak out against the country-wide murder and mistreatment of our black citizens. This is wonderful news! I want you to stand your ground with confidence in your personal preparedness in the event of an emergency, and hopefully, this helps you do just that. This document is filled with the advice of medical professionals, protest pros from around the globe, and general civilian tips that have helped the injured. We fact-checked the best we could and hope you use this tool!

I ask you all to read this, through and through. These tips could save someone from unnecessary trauma and prolonged pain, so skimming will do yourself a great disservice!

Disclaimer

This tool was made not made by medical professionals, but people who have extensively combed through resources including Twitter, Green and Black Cross, Everyday Rebellion, etc. These were fact-checked, but email me if a medical professional says something different from what is being said in this document, we will immediately revise the document. Feel free to contact me with feedback at staystafewhileprotesting@gmail.com or dm our Instagram page, @staysafewhileprotesting! <3

Before You Leave

Research, Research, Research!

There are some rallies that are white supremacy and police traps, especially in the smaller towns. Make sure to be fully aware of where you’re going, who you’re going with, and when you will be going home.

You also need to be aware of what you will need to keep yourself going for the time you will be at the protest. Plan accordingly when it comes to what supplies you will need to bring. You do not want to be stuck in a protest without water to drink or medical supplies to help the injured. You should ideally pack to be able to help a few of your fellow protestors, as well as yourself.

Planning Checklist

*****This checklist is for heavily militarized protesting, so if you know the protest you are going to is small, remote, and entirely peaceful, take only what you feel is necessary.

• Body Gear

• Goggles (shatter-proof if possible, but the goggles must have a tight seal on them)
• N95 face mask(s)
• Gas mask
• Umbrella (gives protection from rain and pepper spray)
• Gloves (heat-resistant if possible)
• Unbranded, long-sleeved clothing
• Lycra skin covers (helps protect against tear gas effects, Cyran wrap can be used as an alternative, but if you use cling wrap, stay hydrated. It makes you more prone to heat exhaustion and heat stroke )
• Elbow/knee pads
• Wrist Watch (to document what is happening, even if your phone dies)
• Protective shoes that are easy to run in (skate sneakers like converse or vans are best)
• Money (change for payphones and jail phones, just in case)

• Backpack Items

• Documentation Supplies

• Phone: if you bring yours, it should ideally be on airplane mode or with location services and Wifi disabled for at least 15 minutes before you visit the location. Face ID and fingerprint unlocking should be disabled as well. This ensures that the police can not open your phone without your consent. Same goes with as you are leaving, wait at least 15 minutes after leaving before enabling anything. (you are trying to be electronically untraceable if at all possible) However, if you must contact someone, feel free to do so.
• Journal: bring a small notepad and a writing utensil, so you can document things in a more physical way for the future generations
• You want to document this situation, but you don’t want the situation to document you. Do NOT bring identification.

• Water Bottle with a squirt top (to help hydrate your body and flush your eyes)
• Essentials

• Energy: Granola, Trail Mix, Gatorade, Water bottles, protein bars, etc.
• First Aid: Pain Relievers, Anti-Inflammatory, Inhalers, Epipens, bandaids, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin, gloves, gauze, pepper spray neutralizer,  etc.
• Bring a face towel to help with sweat

• Electronics

• Chargers, portable charger batteries, speaker/megaphone, etc.

-Before You Leave-

What NOT to Bring/Wear/Do

• Putting your hair into a ponytail

This makes you an easier target for assault, as it makes a handle for people to snatch you from. If you’re able to, put your hair into a bun, or keep it covered.

• Wear jewelry, especially the dangling kind

This can lead to the jewelry getting snatched out of your ears. If it’s something you have previously worn and someone you knew noticed them, they could identify you at a protest with it as well, which could bring unnecessary danger into your life. Honestly, you have a large chance of losing it, so leaving the bling home would be best.

• Have identifying tattoos, piercings, or hair color showing

When these personal modifications are visible, it makes you more susceptible to being identified and harassed. Please, for your own safety, cover up everything.

• Have contacts in your eyes

PLEASE WEAR GLASSES! When you wear contacts, you trap many of the chemicals from tear gas and mace into your eyes. To protect your eyes from further damage, wear glasses. If you happen to wear contacts or some you are around is wearing contacts after being exposed to irritants, immediately take out the contacts with clean hands.              

• Wear sunscreen, heavy oils, oily makeup products, or lotions    

Be very careful when applying oils or lotions. These could trap chemicals into your skin, making the process of tear gas or pepper spray wearing off much longer.                                                                                

-Before You Leave-

Be Ready To Dial

In the event that you get arrested, you should always write down the numbers of people who can help you get the proper representation. Write these numbers on your body in permanent marker to ensure that sweat or water will not smudge it.

Numbers to Call

Keep in mind that these numbers are local, so please make sure to use the right numbers for your area.

If you Witness or are the Victim of an Unlawful Arrest, Call…

• Los Angeles, CA - (310) 313-3700
• San Antonio, TX - (210) 227-1515
• Richmond, VA - (804) 291-8520
• New York, NY - (783) 346-6322
• Minneapolis, MN - (612) 444-2654
• Atlanta, GA - (404) 689-1519
• Philadelphia, PA - (484) 758-0388
• Louisville, KY - (502) 705-0081

-Before You Leave-

Stay Connected

Connectivity to your loved ones is essential when going to a protest. If at all possible, stay physically connected with someone by going with someone. These are usually called “affinity groups.” In these groups, share your contact information, your families’ contact information, your birthdate, medical risks, and anything else, in case of an arrest.

Try to maintain a group of at least three people. If you are at a protest alone, it’s inherently more dangerous.  Regardless, when going out to protest, tell someone you trust, who is not going to the protest with you, your whereabouts, along with when you plan to come home. This ensures that someone will be looking out for you at the homefront in the event of an emergency. Prevention and connectivity are key.

Be Prepared

        When protesting, the police have a tendency to assault the masses. In case of anything, you want to be able to protect yourself

-Before You Leave-

In Case of Emergency

        At these protests, you usually wouldn’t be inclined to call the police for help, especially when the police are the issue. However, if something goes extremely wrong medically, it’s okay to call 911 to get help, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Your health is very important and it doesn’t undermine the cause to seek medical care.

        If you see an unlawful arrest, video record it immediately. If you post the footage, make sure you ask the arrested for their permission. IF they say yes, try to blur out the face of the arrested to preserve anonymity. If you blur things out, make sure to keep the raw footage for court.

Know Your Rights

        Here is a resource from the National Lawyers Guild. This was made to let you know your rights, especially if you are not a citizen. This is not specifically about protesting, but the information is still worth a read:

Here it is in English

And in Spanish

And in Arabic

And in Bengali

And in Urdu

-Before You Leave-

Medical Tips

• If you are teargassed...

1. To prevent as much tear gas exposure as possible, wear goggles and a lycra cover for your skin
2. If a tear gas bomb is thrown at you and you can see where it is, try to put a traffic cone over it and pour water over it to deactivate it
3. If the chemicals are in the air, you can use a leaf blower to blow it into the faces of the police officers. You can also use this just to blow it out of the way of the protestors
4. If you don’t have heavy machinery or traffic cones, that’s okay. Make sure you immediately hold your breath and close your eyes if possible. Make sure not to suck in a big breath of air first. Walk away from the teargas as fast as you can, safely.
5. Take off your glasses as fast as you can, if you are wearing them. They are most likely covered in these chemicals and it sits right on top of your nose. To be able to safely put them back on, wash them with soap and water thoroughly.
6. Try to get the particles off your clothes, walk in the direction of the wind, and pat your clothes. You want as little of this stuff on you. The

• If you are pepper-sprayed…

1. Wash the area you were sprayed in with soap and water if you can. This will remove all oils and dirt and it might trap the irritant.
2. Make sure to flush the exposed area with cold water for three to five minutes. A water bottle with a squirt top would be perfect for this.
3. Keep the cleaned or flushed areas in contact with fresh air to help the irritant evaporate.
4. If you inhaled pepper spray, some say sucking on a half lemon helps lessen the pain.
5. Remember to “spread the calm,” it hurts temporarily, but you are strong. Freaking out will make it scarier.
6. Call out for a medic, even if you can’t see one. Sometimes they are just unable to see you in distress
7. Blow your nose, rinse out your mouth, and flush your eyes with an antacid solution

1. Prior to the protest, prepare a bottle of solution with 50% liquid antacid and 50% water. This will help you neutralize the effects of the spray

• If you are hit with a rubber bullet...

1. If the injury is a minor contusion, treat like any other injury and use your first aid supplies while calling out to a medic (most cases this will not be sufficient.)
2. If the injury is severe, seek medical attention immediately. Rubber bullets can give you severe issues like internal bleeding especially at point-blank range, so be careful and respond quickly.

Go Be Heard

        So you have prepared yourself with the right supplies. You know how to react in case of a medical emergency. You have an affinity group and a loved one is alerted and aware of your plans.

        I made this tool so that in the event a protest went violent, you were armed with information. Not every small peaceful protest will end up like this, but in the event that it does, you’re ready. Do not let fear deter you from speaking your mind. You deserve to exercise your constitutional rights. Now go and speak your mind, I’m proud of you.

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE

Just A Teen Helping Out