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Protest Safety

See related webguide: Newark - Activism

Overview

 

Protest Preparation

• Familiarize yourself with the protest. Who are the organizers? What are the demands or goals of the protest? What is the route? Is there a permit for the march? Are there planned acts of civil disobedience? 

• Familiarize yourself with your legal rights as a protestor. See the "Legal Resources" section of this web guide.  

• Familiarize yourself with jails near the protest location where arrested protestors may be held.  

• Familiarize yourself with hospitals near the protest location where injured protestors may be sent. 

• If you are going with a group, make sure you have a plan for where to meet if you get split up. You should also know their legal names in case someone gets arrested. 

• If you have any important commitments (e.g. children who need to be picked up at a certain time, pets who need to be fed, work the next day) make sure you have arranged for those responsibilities to be taken care of by someone you trust in case you end up arrested or in the hospital. Arrange with someone that if they don't hear from you by a certain time, they should be ready to take on those roles. 

• Bring adequate PPE (personal protective equipment) including a mask, gloves, and hand sanitizer. See "COVID-19 Precautions" for more information. If you suspect you or anyone in your household may have COVID-19 or are elderly or immunocompromised, do not attend protests. There are plenty of ways to contribute to protests without being physically present. Get in touch with organizers and ask what they need help with before, during, and after the action.

• Wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes.  

• If you suspect weapons or physical force may be used against protestors, see "Common Weapons Used Against Protestors" and take into account recommended preparation to decide what supplies you may need to bring. 

• Write the number for the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program for NJ (833 336-5654) or another legal support number somewhere on your body in permanent marker where it will not rub off or be sweat off in the heat. 

• You may want to bring your ID and health insurance card, along with quarters for a payphone, somewhere on your person in case you are arrested or seriously injured to help processing go quicker. 

• If you need to take medication regularly, you should bring a couple days supply in its pharmacy-issued prescription bottle in case you are arrested and held in custody.  

• Pack adequate water, both to stay hydrated and to relieve potential chemical injury.  

• Enable full disk encryption on your phone or other device you plan on bringing to the protest. Remove fingerprint and facial recognition unlocks for your device and set up a secure password. Install the Signal App to communicate with your group. For more information, see "Surveillance" section.

• Dress in plain clothes and cover all identifying features if possible.  

• Eat a full meal before you leave. If you expect to be out for longer than a few hours, you may want to also bring some food with you. 

 

Injury

• If things escalate, follow the organizers' directions on how to behave as a group.  Listen to street marshals who will usually wear reflective vests and have the role of maintaining the organizers' intentions for protest conduct and safety. 

• If you or someone near you is injured during the protest, look for street medics. They will usually mark themselves with red tape in a cross shape and will have medical supplies and training. 

• See "Common Weapons Used Against Protestors" section for basics about how to respond to different types of common protest injuries. 

 

Arrests

• If someone you know is arrested, you should call your legal support number with the person's legal name, the protest location, and the time of arrest. Try to find out what jail or detention facility arrested protestors are being taken to, and communicate that information with your group.

• If you are arrested, say clearly "I am invoking my right to remain silent" and "I am invoking my right to an attorney." After this, do not say anything to law enforcement, as even innocuous information may be used against you or other protestors. See the National Lawyer's Guild "Know Your Rights" document for additional information. 

• See "What to Expect If You're Arrested" for details on being arrested.  

 

After the Protest

• Get a headcount. Make sure you know if everyone in your group got home safely.

• If anyone is in the hospital or being held at a jail, know their names and those locations. 

• Anyone who is able should pack food, water, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, phone chargers, basic entertainment (such as coloring books, decks of cards, etc.) and blankets and then travel to the hospital(s) or jail(s) by car. Stay in the waiting room until people are released, which may be late into the night or the next morning, and offer them food and a safe ride home. The protest isn't over until everyone is home safe. (You may wish to designate a group to not attend the protest who will specifically be tasked with "jail support" or "hospital support" so they are ready to respond immediately and are not already exhausted.) 

• The day after everyone is home safe, hold a debrief with your group. Allow everyone to share their experiences and express their emotions. Follow up with another debrief a week afterwards to check in on everyone.  

• If needed, be prepared to raise funds for legal and/or medical bills for protestors who have these expenses.

• Before posting or sharing any photos from the protest, scrub them of metadata and blur or edit out faces and other identifying information from any visible protestors. This will protect them from being targeted by law enforcement or independent supremacist groups. For more information see the "Surveillance" section. 

• If you find photos or videos of the protest in which you are identifiable, or are identified, you may wish to follow the steps listed in the web guide [Disappear Online - 24 Hour Doxx Response] to prevent or mitigate the damage of potential harassment campaigns. 

• At least 5 days after the protest, you may want to get tested for COVID-19. Consider self-quarantining for 14 days following protests.  

 

COVID-19 Precautions

 

Sanitization Protocol

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o1VSvdRvQYr-5puhJHfQx7vh3mza64P02Mbs1yE6oPQ/edit#heading=h.gu2nzabl2wr3

 

Health - Diseases Webguide: COVID-19

http://nplwebguides.pbworks.com/w/page/5673419/Health%20-%20Diseases#Coronavirus

 

Common Weapons Used Against Protestors

 

Tear Gas

The most commonly used tear gases are chloroacetophenone (CN), ethylbromoacetate, bromoacetone, bromomethylethylketone, and ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitril (CS). Tear gases can cause extreme irritation and swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes if discharged into the face and can even cause a temporary blindness. It is usually expelled as a vapor that condenses to liquid droplets that are intensely irritating.

 Mitchell, Deborah, and Carol Turkington. “Tear Gas.” The Encyclopedia of Poisons and Antidotes, Third Edition, Facts On File, 2009. Health Reference Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17226&itemid=WE48&articleId=104771. Accessed 29 May 2020.

 

Symptoms:

People exposed to riot control agents may experience some or all of the following symptoms immediately after exposure:

• Eyes: excessive tearing, burning, blurred vision, redness
• Nose: runny nose, burning, swelling
• Mouth: burning, irritation, difficulty swallowing, drooling
• Lungs: chest tightness, coughing, choking sensation, noisy breathing (wheezing), shortness of breath
• Skin: burns, rash
• Other: nausea and vomiting

Long-lasting exposure or exposure to a large dose of riot control agent, especially in a closed setting, may cause severe effects such as the following:

• Blindness
• Glaucoma (a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness)
• Immediate death due to severe chemical burns to the throat and lungs
• Respiratory failure possibly resulting in death

 

"Facts About Riot Control Agents Interim document" CDC Fact Sheet. CDC. (2018). https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/riotcontrol/factsheet.asp

 

 

Responding:

 

Remove victim to fresh air—separate from other sufferers—face into the wind with eyes open, and have them breathe deeply. Tear gas should be washed off the skin with soap and water; eyes should be washed with saline or water. Thoroughly decontaminate the victim, including clothing, by washing with soap and water.

 

 Mitchell, Deborah, and Carol Turkington. “Tear Gas.” The Encyclopedia of Poisons and Antidotes, Third Edition, Facts On File, 2009. Health Reference Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17226&itemid=WE48&articleId=104771. Accessed 29 May 2020.

 

Since inhalation is likely to be the primary route of exposure, leave the area where the riot control agents were released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing exposure to riot control agents.

 

If the riot control agents were released outdoors, move away from the area where the agents were released. Avoid dense, low-lying clouds of riot control agent vapor. Go to the highest ground possible, because riot control agents will form a dense vapor cloud that can travel close to the ground.If the release of riot control agents was indoors, get out of the building. If you are near a release of riot control agent, emergency coordinators may tell you to either evacuate the area or “shelter in place” inside a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see "Facts About Evacuation”. For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About Sheltering in Place”.

 

If you think you may have been exposed to riot control agent, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible. Quickly take off clothing that may have riot control agent on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.

 

As quickly as possible, wash any riot control agent from your skin with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.

 

If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts). If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them. If you are wearing jewelry that you can wash with soap and water, you can wash it and put it back on. If it cannot be washed, it should be put with the contaminated clothing.

 

After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can’t avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren’t sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves, turn the bag inside out and use it to pick up the clothes (inverting the bag over the clothes when you have all the clothes picked up), or put the clothes in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too. Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

 

When the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself.

 

"Facts About Riot Control Agents Interim document" CDC Fact Sheet. CDC. (2018). https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/riotcontrol/factsheet.asp

 

Recommended Preparation: Do not wear contact lenses. Cover as much of the body as possible to protect your skin. Apply sunscreen before the protest to prevent sunburn (which can make the effects of chemical weapons worse). Buy a pair of quality safety goggles, ideally that have an ANSI dust/splash rating of D5. You may choose to pack these rather than to wear them upon arrival because you may be targeted if you are suspected of inciting violence if police recognize you are prepared for weapons. In these cases, you can store them safely and put them on if tensions rise and you expect that chemical weapons may be used.  Bring a backup mask and/or bandana, back-up clothing, disposable gloves, bottles of water, soap, wipes, scissors, garbage bags, etc. in freezer zip-lock bags so that your supplies for responding to chemical weapons are not saturated with the chemical.

 

 

 

"Pepper Spray" (Also Known As "Agent OC", "OC Spray")

 

 

Disorientation Devices/Flash-Bangs/Stun Grenades

Disorientation devices are usually constructed like a conventional grenade, with explosive powder that ignites when struck by a fuse. The grenade is thrown and explodes after a roughly 1.5-second delay. The explosion of magnesium-based pyrotechnic chemicals causes a very bright flash and a loud sound (160−180 decibels), which can cause temporary blindness, temporary loss of hearing and loss of balance, as well as a sense of panic. Parts of the device can burst and travel as shrapnel. 

 

Symptoms: 

Pressure shock waves from the blast can cause internal injuries, especially of delicate membranes like the eardrum.  The explosion and fragmentation of objects can cause blunt and penetrating trauma. The displacement of air can push people into solid objects, causing blunt and penetrating trauma. Other parts of the explosion can cause miscellaneous injuries such as burns, respiratory injuries, crush injuries, and psychiatric trauma. In addition, crush injuries may result from the panic and chaos caused by large moving crowds that have suddenly become disoriented. In 2015, Propublica documented over 50 cases of severe injury and death from disorientation devices in recent years. 

 

Responding: See "Physical Assault."

 

American Civil Liberties Union. "Disorientation Devices Fact Sheet." ACLU.org. 2016. <https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/disorientation-devices-fact-sheet> 8 June 2020. 

 

Recommendation: Bring clean, dry cloth, gauze bandages, antibiotic cream, and medical tape in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Bring earplugs to shield from noise. Bring goggles to shield your eyes from shrapnel, ideally that are scratch/impact resistant. 

 

 

Sonic Weapons/LRAD/Long Range Acoustic Device

Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) use sound to inflict physical pain on large numbers of people simultaneously. The louder a sound is, the more it moves the structures in your ear. The higher its pitch, the faster it moves them. Loud or high-pitched noises can cross the threshold of pain, or the point at which a sound is painful.  The threshold of pain in most people is around 130 decibels (dB) and LRAD can sustain over 160 dB. The sound coming from the LRAD is also relatively directional. It doesn't disperse as much as sounds from typical speakers. People behind or next to the device still hear the sound, it isn't as loud. This is how police can use it to hurt protestors without hurting themselves simultaneously. 

 

Symptoms: According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for Noice Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) to happen. Because LRAD is well above this in order to cause pain, there is a highly likelihood of hearing loss. Loud noise exposure can also cause tinnitus—a ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears or head. Tinnitus may subside over time, but can sometimes continue constantly or occasionally throughout a person’s life. Hearing loss and tinnitus can occur in one or both ears. Sometimes continuous loud noise causes a temporary hearing loss that disappears 16 to 48 hours later. Recent research suggests, however, that although the loss of hearing seems to disappear, there may be residual long-term damage to your hearing. LRAD can rupture the eardrum or damage the bones in the middle ear. This kind of NIHL can be immediate and permanent.

 

Responding: Protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own. If you can't protect yourself from the sound, move away from it as quickly as possible. 

 

Tracy V. Wilson "How LRAD Works" 3 March 2006.
HowStuffWorks.com. <https://science.howstuffworks.com/lrad.htm> 8 June 2020

 

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" 31 May 2019. Midcd.nih.gov. <https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss> 8 June 2020

 

Preparation: Bring quality earplugs or sound-protective devices on your person. Learn at least some basic sign language so you can communicate with others in your group what you're doing when no one can hear. 

 

See Also: 

Newark Public Library ASL Classes

 

 

"Rubber" Bullets (A.K.A "Nonlive Rounds")  

‘Nonlive’ rounds have been and are used by police forces and armies in various countries round the world as a means to break up civil disturbances. Among these are a variety of very different projectiles described as ‘rubber’ or ‘plastic’ bullets. These terms can be misleading, as most consist of a metallic core surrounded by a coating of rubber or plastic. 

 

Symptoms: The type of injury caused by a projectile will depend on many factors, including its mass, size, shape and velocity on impact, as well as the nature of the tissues it hits. Round-ended bullets traveling at high velocity cause penetrating injuries. Flat-ended bullets are more likely to cause blunt injuries, especially if traveling slowly. However, if traveling fast enough, even flat-ended bullets will penetrate tissues including muscle and bone. According to one study on Ocular Rubber Bullet Injuries, "Nine out of 10 eyes hit by rubber bullets were left with no perception of light. The devastation caused to globes hit directly by bullets as compared to the other injuries seen suggests that there may be no ‘safe distance’ as far as the eye is concerned." 

 

Responding: See "Live Bullets."

 

Lavy, T., and S.Abu Asleh. “Ocular Rubber Bullet Injuries.” Eye, vol. 17, no. 7, Oct. 2003, p. 821. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6700447.

 

Recommended Preparation: Buy a pair of quality safety goggles, ideally that are scratch/impact resistant. You may choose to pack these rather than to wear them upon arrival because being prepared for weapons sometimes makes police suspect you of inciting violence. In these cases, you can store them safely and put them on if tensions rise and you expect that non-live rounds may be used. You might also bring a bike helmet to protect your head from some kinds of non-live bullets. Bring clean, dry cloth, gauze bandages, and medical tape in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Bring water to rinse the wounds if needed. 

 

 

Physical Assault (with Blunt Object or Bodily Force)

Blunt trauma describes an injury that results from a strong blow or force. The injury may not be initially obvious because there may be no outward signs such as lacerations or bruises.

 

Symptoms: Blunt trauma may cause internal bleeding or rupture of upper abdominal organs such as the spleen or pancreas. Blunt trauma to the head may cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). Blunt trauma to the chest may cause commotio cordis, a sudden disruption of the electrical rhythm of heart that quickly results in sudden cardiac arrest without rapid response.

 

Responding:

Responder personal protection measures: Latex or nitrile (synthetic latex) gloves, which the responder should put on before approaching the injured person, are essential for personal protection from the possibility of acquiring infection through contact with body fluids.

First response actions: There are few First Response measures for blunt trauma beyond keeping the injured person still and calm. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary if the person has no pulse. Shock may be the only indication of internal bleeding from blunt trauma, which can be serious enough to cause rapid death. Surgery is the only means to treat internal bleeding.

Follow-through: A healthcare provider should evaluate blunt trauma to determine the need for further treatment.

 

“Blunt Trauma.” The Facts On File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine, Second Edition, Facts On File, 2016. Health Reference Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17226&itemid=WE48&articleId=390236. Accessed 29 May 2020.

 

Recommendation: Bring latex or nitrile gloves in a ziplock bag. Know the location of the nearest hospital to the protest.

 

 

Dog Attacks

Some dogs are trained as weapons and may be used to attack protestors. In addition to causing pain, injury, or nerve damage, dog bites can become infected, putting the bite victim at risk for illness or in rare cases death.

 

Symptoms: 

In addition to causing injury, dog bites can spread germs from dogs to people. Up to 18% of dog bites become infected with bacteria. Over 60 different kinds of bacteria have been found in dog mouths, but only a handful of these germs can make you sick. Dog bites can cause the following diseases:

 

Rabies is one of the most serious diseases people can get from dog bites. Although getting rabies from a dog in the United States is rare, it is still a risk. Rabies is a virus that affects the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Rabies virus is most commonly spread through the bite and saliva of an infected animal. The disease can be prevented by vaccinating dogs. People who are bitten by a dog should speak with a healthcare provider to see if rabies vaccination is necessary.

 

Capnocytophaga bacteria live in the mouths of people, dogs, and cats. These bacteria do not make dogs or cats sick. Rarely, Capnocytophaga can spread to people through bites, scratches, or close contact from a dog or cat and cause illness. Most people who have contact with dogs or cats do not become sick, but people with a weakened immune system are at greater risk of becoming sick because it is harder for their bodies to fight infections.

 

Pasteurella is a type of bacteria seen in over half of infected dog bite wounds. Pasteurella commonly causes a painful, red infection at the site of the bite, but can cause a more serious disease in people with weakened immune systems. There may also be swollen glands, swelling in the joints, and difficulty moving. 

 

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of staph infection that is resistant to a certain group of antibiotics. Dogs and other animals can carry MRSA without showing any symptoms, but the bacteria can cause skin, lung, and urinary tract infections in people. In some people, MRSA can spread to the bloodstream or lungs and cause life-threatening infections.

 

Tetanus is a toxin produced by a type of bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This toxin causes rigid paralysis in people and could be a problem in deep bite wounds.

 

Responding:

When you get to a safe place, immediately wash wounds with soap and water. 

 

For minor wounds: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream. Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
See a healthcare provider if the wound becomes red, painful, warm, or swollen; if you develop a fever; or if the dog that bit you was acting strangely. 

 

 For deep wounds: Apply pressure with a clean, dry cloth to stop the bleeding. If you cannot stop the bleeding or you feel faint or weak, call your local emergency medical services immediately. See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if the wound is serious (uncontrolled bleeding, loss of function, extreme pain, muscle or bone exposure, etc.) or if the wound becomes red, painful, warm, or swollen, or if you develop a fever. 

 

“Preventing Dog Bites.” CDC Features Series. Health Reference Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17226&itemid=WE48&extarticleId=536306&sourceId=1. Accessed 4 June 2020.

 

Recommendation: Bring clean, dry cloth, gauze bandages, latex gloves, and medical tape in a ziplock bag or airtight container.  Know the location of the nearest hospital to the protest.

 

 

Live Bullets 

 

Symptoms: Gunshot wounds are often more serious than they appear, particularly when the bullet remains lodged in the body. A bullet enters the body with high velocity and follows a trajectory of least resistance. That trajectory may carry the bullet on a direct path through soft tissue or along the path of a bone. Bullets fired from a gun can be lethal.

 

Responding:

Site and situation assessment: Do not approach a person who has a gunshot wound or enter the site of a shooting if there is still gunfire or the whereabouts and status of the shooter are uncertain. Use extreme caution until the situation is known to be safe. The most essential determination is whether gunfire presents an ongoing risk for the injured person, other people, and responders.

 

Responder personal protection measures: Latex or nitrile (synthetic latex) gloves, which the responder should put on before approaching the injured person, are essential for personal protection from bloodborne pathogens as nearly always there is moderate to heavy bleeding from gunshot injuries.

 

First response actions: Try to locate the entrance and exit wounds. The entrance wound is often small and is easy to overlook, especially when the exit wound is large. bleeding control is critical; apply direct pressure to stop or slow bleeding. Do not move the injured person unless necessary for safety, as movement may cause further damage from a lodged bullet or damage to vital structures such as the spinal cord. shock is likely; help the injured person to remain calm, warm, and as comfortable as possible.

 

Follow-through: Gunshot wounds require urgent treatment at a hospital emergency department or trauma center.

 

“Gunshot Wounds.” The Facts On File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine, Second Edition, Facts On File, 2016. Health Reference Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17226&itemid=WE48&articleId=390237. Accessed 29 May 2020.

 

Recommendation: Bring clean, dry cloth, gauze bandages, latex gloves, and medical tape in a ziplock bag or airtight container.  Know the location of the nearest hospital to the protest. 

 

Formations

 

Source: "Safer in the Streets: Guide for Protestors" Zine by Current Affairs, Nib, and Jewish Current

 

See Also:
Street Medic Handbook 

Riot Medicine 
United Nations Security Officers' Emergency Trauma Bag/ Basic First Aid (ETB/BFA)  

 

 

See Related Webguides: 

[Health - First Aid]

[Soc Services - Health]

[Mental Health Services]

 

 

Surveillance

 

Surveillance Self-Defense

Attending A Protest: https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/attending-protest

Activist or Protestor: https://ssd.eff.org/en/playlist/activist-or-protester

 

Photography and Recordings

You are legally allowed to record or photograph police in NJ and capture officers' identifying information, including recording instances of police brutality.

 

See: "How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct" | Teen Vogue

 

You should not take photos or recordings which include any identifying characteristics of other protestors unless you have explicit consent from them. Do not share photos/video until you have removed metadata (information tied to recorded media including location, time, and date data which is automatically encoded in the file) from them and ensured it will not put your life or other protestors' lives at risk. CNN reports that many protestors around the world strive to evade facial recognition surveillance through using masks.

 

Recommended Preparation: Follow tips listed in the Surveillance Self Defense links above. Go into the privacy settings of your phone and turn off location data. Bring a portable charger and cord with you. If you are coordinating with others, bring earbuds so you can communicate with audio messages as well as written over encrypted channels. Electronics should be together in a water-proof container for easy access. Bring a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as to obscure identifying characteristics. Try not to stand out in the crowd with your clothing choices. Be aware of drones actively recording at protests.

 

See Related Webguides: 

[Digital Privacy]

[Disappear Online]

 

 

 

Legal Resources

 

National Lawyers Guild - NJ

https://www.nlg.org/

Mass Defense Program, NJ: (833) 336-5654 

New Jersey Chapter: newjersey@nlg.org

 

Our work is guided in all areas by the mission statement laid out in the Preamble of the NLG Constitution:  “To use law for the people, uniting lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers to function as an effective force in the service of the people by valuing human rights and ecosystems over property interests.” For over 80 years, the NLG has acted as the legal arm of social movements and the conscience of the legal profession.

 

The Guild is best known for our work defending the rights of protesters through our Mass Defense and Legal Observer Programs, which have been providing legal support for movements for social justice for 50 years. Guild lawyers, law students, and legal workers observe police actions during protests, provide Know Your Rights trainings, track arrestees through the legal system, and provide free attorneys for protest-related cases.

 

See:

NLG - Know Your Rights

Best Practices for Setting Up a Legal Defense Fund

 

 

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

http://www.njisj.org

Committed to "expanding access to economic opportunity for low-income and minority residents of Newark and other urban areas in the state," to "ensuring the civil rights and other basic entitlements," and to effective government and cooperative ventures--NJISJ addresses such problems as driver license restoration, predatory lending, fair housing, collateral consequences of criminal convictions, prisoner re-entry, and legal advocacy.

 

 

American Civil Liberties Union  (ACLU) - Newark

https://www.aclu-nj.org

973-642-2084

The ACLU of New Jersey is located in Newark. They implement legal, legislative, public education programs in conjunction with large numbers of volunteers to advance the ACLU's goals of liberty and justice for all.

 

See: Know Your Rights: Protestor's Rights

 

 

See Also:

 

If An Agent Knocks | Center for Constitutional Rights

https://ccrjustice.org/sites/default/files/assets/files/CCR_If_An_Agent_Knocks.pdf

 

What to Expect If You're Arrested | Legal Aid NYC
https://www.legalaidnyc.org/get-help/arrests-policing/what-to-expect-if-youre-arrested/

 

 

Recommended Preparation: Familiarize yourself with your legal rights as a protestor. Write the contact number of someone who can help you, should you get arrested, in sharpie on a body part where you will not sweat it off. This might be the Mass Defense support number for the National Lawyer's Guild, someone who you have previously contacted to represent you, or a friend or family member. Have any necessary medications, ID, health insurance cards, and a little money somewhere securely on your person (not in a bag). Bring quarters in case you need them to make a call from the jail on a payphone. If you are attending the protest with someone, you should know their legal name and birthday. If they are arrested, you should call your legal support number with this information, as well as the time and place of the protest. Try to find out where protesters are being taken so you can wait for them at the correct jail. 

 

 

See Related Webguides: 

[Soc Services - Legal Services]

[Soc Services - Prisoner Reentry Services]

 

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