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4 min read

Protesting Under Fascism

Planning to attend a protest but concerned about your security? We’ve rounded up a list of helpful resources below, from legal aid and doxxing support to our top security checklists, so you can take necessary steps to secure your devices and stay as safe as possible. 

By now you likely heard about Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who was abducted by ICE for exercising his protected right to free speech and protest on the Columbia University campus following an executive order from Trump. You might also be aware by now that Khalil isn’t the only activist or academic who has been kidnapped by ICE—nor the first to be detained illegally in horrendous conditions by them. 

As many have already highlighted, this is deeply concerning, because these tactics (along with others we’re seeing under the current administration) are standard in the fascist playbook. 

What you may not know is that, prior to his kidnapping, Zionist vigilante groups ran online content featuring Mahmoud Khalil’s speeches on Columbia’s campus and called on ICE to arrest him. What’s more, these politically motivated abductions have been made even more likely through mass surveillance and facial recognition tech that is deeply ingrained across our college campuses, cities, and even our homes. While Mahmoud and others’ kidnappings are disturbing, they’re not flukes. This is our surveillance and censorship systems functioning as designed. When we’re clear-eyed about what we’re facing, we’re more prepared to fight back.

Here are some tips from our favorite guides with easy steps you can take to stay safe: 

Threat Analysis: 

  • Black, brown and LGTBQ+ communities experience disproportionate criminalization, surveillance and violence from police, so it’s important to do your own risk assessment before attending protests or getting arrested. 
    • Questions to consider before engaging: 
      • How might identity factors like race + gender + ability influence the way police and others might interact with me?
      • Are there factors at play that increase my risk of accessing safety if I am arrested, tear gassed (think glasses/lenses), or documented by the media? 
      • How can I leverage my privilege in this moment to shield more vulnerable community members from being targeted? 
    • Protestor Guide w/ Risk Assessment- NY Anti-Violence Project
    • Legal Q’s for Civil Disobedience- Center for Constitutional Rights

For protests: 

  • Cover your (entire) face, hair, and identifying features. There’s a reason mask ban legislation is on the move:  to make identifying and intimidating protestors EASIER. Wear a well-fitting N95 mask to double your protection against surveillance, disease, chemical irritants, and more. Tattoos? Cover them. Favorite shirt with a logo on it? Cover it. Wear nondescript clothing, and change at a safe location after the action if you can.
  • Communications- phones can be accessed by police and anything in it can be used to incriminate you or others in the movement.
  • Recording video
    • Use the Signal Blurring Tool  if you’re recording at a protest. 
    • Avoid posting images of peoples faces at protests and only post screenshots to avoid exposing metadata to police. 
    • Best practice: just don’t record anything (except the cops).
  • Transportation
    • Don't run the risk of having your sensitive data accessed, like your home location via license plate readers or even pedestrians writing this information down and giving it to police. 
    • Best practice: Don’t bring your car + pay cash for transit whenever applicable 
  • Know Your Rights- Yes, the current administration is breaking all the rules, BUT knowing your rights is still important and can be a viable deterrent when under immediate threat of arrest or detention. 

For organizers:  

If you are being doxxed: Here is a list of resources to help mitigate harm.  

If you are arrested or suspect you’re under threat of arrest: This is a list of legal support + resources for anyone detained by ICE or police at or following a protest.  

We understand this can all feel a like A LOT, but taking small actions now can help keep you and your community safe. So be encouraged, do what you can, and stay tuned because we will be sharing more soon.

Published by:

Chy

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