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Antiracism Resources

Staying Safe While Protesting

Now more than ever, the fight for an anti-racist world comes with some risk. When protesting, there is no guarantee of safety. Fortunately, there is activist and medical knowledge that can help mitigate risk when taking to the streets. There are smart ways to protest, which include doing your research and evaluating new information carefully.

Protesting Safely During a Pandemic

Mitigating the risk of COVID 19 while protesting

The recommendations below come from the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County Protestor Safety Guide, along with additional recommendations from infectious disease experts at the University of Washington :

  • Although outdoor gatherings are lower risk than indoor gatherings, the larger the gatherings and the longer you are there, the higher the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. Furthermore, situations where people are shouting or singing can spread more of the virus into the air.
  • To limit your exposure wear a face mask, gloves, and even cover your hair. For further protection, cover as much visible skin as possible without hindering your vision.
  • Demonstrate consistently alongside close contacts and moving together as a group, rather than extensively intermingling with multiple groups.
  • Wash hands frequently
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Avoid touching objects and surfaces that others have touched.
  • Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially before or after touching anyone. Consider bringing enough to share with fellow protestors.
  • Stay at home when sick, and use other platforms to oppose racism for high-risk individuals, and those unable or uncomfortable to attend in person.

Free COVID-19 Test In Los Angeles

All residents in Los Angeles County can get a free Covid-test.

MayorOfLA on Twitter: "Free COVID-19 testing is available for L.A. County  residents. Whether or not you're experiencing symptoms, you can get a test.  Testing is vital to limiting the spread of the

Safety During Protest (Amnesty International)

Water  in  a  plastic  bottle  with  squirt  top,  to  drink  and  to  wash  off your skin or eyes+ Energy snacks+ Identification and/or emergency   contact information+  Enough  money  for  pay-phone,  food, transportation+ Watch, paper, pen for accurate documentation of events+  Inhaler,  epipen,  insulin  &  several  days of prescription medication+   Menstrual   pads.   Avoid   using   tampons - if you’re arrested you may not have a chance to change+ Basic First Aid Kit+ Wet Wipes and tissues,  Shatter  resistant  Swimming  Googles  and a N95 Facemask+  Comfortable,  protective  shoes  that  you can run in+  Clothing  covering  all  your  skin  to  protect  from  sun  and  pepper  spray  exposure+  Shatter-resistant  eye  protection  (i.e.  sunglasses, swim goggles, or gas mask)+  Bandana  to  cover  nose  and  mouth  soaked in water, lemon juice or vinegar, it  can  aid  in  breathing  during  chemical  exposure+  Fresh  clothes  in  plastic  bag  (in  case  yours  get  contaminated  by  chemical  weapons), A hat to protect you from the sun and from chemical weapons

Know Your Rights

Credits

This guide is adapted from the Seattle Central College Library's Safety While Protesting: Protesting & Supporting Protests Safely guide

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.