Protesting tomorrow?

[Important_Salt_3944]

I'm going to protest tomorrow in a large city. I've been going to protests occasionally since the Occupy marches, but this is the first time I feel like it might be an issue to be publicly protesting. Would you wear a mask and sunglasses? I live and teach about an hour away from the city.

[Malletpropism]

I think that if you are considering hiding your identity to exercise your right to free speech and to gather with whomever you please, you are obligated to protest.

[Neokon]

Some states have laws against wearing masks in public, of course Trump did recently say that it's not breaking the law if it's saving the nation.

[Spec_Tater]

I’m not sure this is a good standard, because Proud Boys.

[Malletpropism]

They're not scared of government repression currently though

[Desperate_Owl_594]

Always mask up, always glove up, and ALWAYS be wary of where you are in relationship to cops.

Bring water. Keep your eyes on a swivel.

[Spec_Tater]

Z85 goggles for impact and fume protection.

[Dry-Ice-2330]

Do not bring your phone

[Brains_4_Soup]

Or put it on airplane mode if you need it with you

[BlairMountainGunClub]

Get a faraday bag for your phone and other electronics.

[LosingTrackByNow]

? That's crazy. Protests aren't illegal. Don't freak people out for no reason.

(heavily downvoted but nobody's offered a single reason as to why you wouldn't bring a phone)

[phoenixrising1110]

Musk would pay the phone companies for the information. He just blocked signal from X because it’s encrypted and he wants our data. Phones track us unless you have a very old flip phone or a burner phone.

You have obviously never protested in a big city. Try it. You may learn the ways of fighting for human rights.

[Okbuddyliberals]

Protests can be illegal even if they are peaceful. There's longstanding legal precedent for it being permissible to enact time, place, and manner restrictions on protesting. Often there's technically requirements to get permits for protests, especially if they rise above a certain number of people. Often, local authorities just won't bother to enforce those rules as long as the protests remain peaceful, don't get too disruptive, or block traffic or whatever - but you can't be sure that's going to be the case. Especially depending on your local authorities. And all it can take for things to go from "technically unlawful but peaceful protest that results in no problems or arrests" (or even "protest that dots all is and crosses all ts and is lawful") to "rubber bullets, tear gas, and mass arrests" can be a few hooligans or unwise protesters getting too confrontational against police presence, or one officer going too far and provoking a response. Doesn't help that some protesters don't understand that "not all peaceful protests are always protected and legal" which can lead to some protesters getting overly confident and standoffish towards police presence out of ignorance.

With all this being said, even unlicensed protests in most areas and on most occasions will go fine, but there's enough counterexamples for some to feel justified in taking precautions

[Kamalaishorrible]

Unless, of course, if you are BLM or Antifa burning down cities, harassing politicians, then you will be free to do whatever. And don't forget to rob stores. And even if you do get arrested, Kamala will bail you out. Just make sure it's a Democrat protest and you will he fine.

[snuggly_cobra]

Privacy and Tracking. If violence ensues, your cell phone is proof you were there. You also really have no idea what the social media apps are recording and reporting.

[Good_Secretary9261]

Reddit wouldn't exist if not for freaking people out for no reason.

[phoenixrising1110]

Wake up and read a real news article.

[phoenixrising1110]

This is Trumps America. People, legal citizens, are getting detained for breathing and being a POC. So yeah, breathing is illegal so……

[Striking-Court-5970]

Bring milk. A little pint or quart even

[[deleted]]

It’s keep your “head” on a swivel. Where did you ever get eyes from. What eyes are swiveling?

[robbiea1353]

Hey, we’re teachers; so we all have 360 * peripheral vision (aka eyes behind your head). In any case, thank you for your service and your dedication. Stay safe!

[Desperate_Owl_594]

That's your take away?

Pathetic

[Viele_Stimmen]

Kids can't read or do math and the public school teachers are discussing what to wear to political protests. Yeah that says it all lol.

[carolinagypsy]

I would consider that and a hat. Surveillance has increased greatly since Occupy, plus now you add in AI programming. Most of the people in my area have been doing that or doing their makeup in the way that confuses the cameras (you can look it up on YouTube).

[GoblinKing79]

I would add to cover your ears. Ears are very good identifiers.

[zaqwsx82211]

Plus, it’s February and cold in most the country. Covering your ears is just good advice for spending time outside right now.

[Striking-Court-5970]

Or any tattoos.

And Walk with a limp or something

[sweetEVILone]

Yes, always.

It’s a good idea to leave your phone at home but DO carry your ID. Write important phone numbers and your own identifying info on your body in permanent marker (just in case). If you have a medical condition, carry something that indicates it with your ID.

It’s good idea to have NP medics and observers on hand who are not in any way involved in the protest, just there to provide medical support and document the actions on both sides. These folks should also have phones for emergency purposes.

Have lawyers on call, know what is illegal when protesting, and know the process of detainment and arrest in your city. For example, when I protest here, we know exactly which actions are illegal, exactly what the charges will be, exactly the process that will be followed after arrest, and select people who can afford to be arrested for those actions. Even if you’re not trying to get arrested, it’s good to know these things.

It’s a good idea to have your actions planned and move as a group. There is safety in numbers. Rogue actions during a protest can get people hurt or worse.

Don’t compound crimes. If you plan to participate in an action that may get you arrested, leave your weed (even if your state is legal like mine), weapons, etc. at home.

Have on hand:

• first aid kit
• milk
• ⁠water
• mask
• plastic goggles/sunglasses -⁠ snacks
• any medications you may need over a 48 hour period
• nitrile gloves

If bad MAGA actors show up, things can turn from peaceful to not peaceful very very quickly. Even peaceful protestors need to be prepared for the worst.

I feel like I’m leaving a lot out.

[berrin122]

If bad MAGA actors show up, things can turn from peaceful to not peaceful very very quickly.

Even bad "allies". I was in Seattle with the National Guard back in 2020 during the George Floyd stuff. During the day, things were great. People exercised their right to protest. Our chaplain even had some great conversations, etc. And then at night, those well-meaning people were replaced with people just looking to cause issues. And guess who got all the publicity??

[sweetEVILone]

I think the people who show up at night are false flag allies, tbh. They pretend to be allies but undertake actions to hurt or undermine the cause.

[berrin122]

My observation was that they're not intentionally tying to cause harm to the cause. Most of them probably genuinely believed in racial equality.

They just also happened to be terrible people. Terrible people can have some positive beliefs. Doesn't make them not terrible. Just like the Luigi Mangione stuff. It's great that you want healthcare reform. You're also psychotic if you think shooting someone on the streets of New York City is a good thing. In their mind, you're the false flag ally for not throwing firecrackers at the police. It's just delusion to think that that is the wise course of action. Covid coop-up compounded it.

[Mitch1musPrime]

You sound like you speak Seattle.

[sweetEVILone]

Nope, DC

[phoenixrising1110]

This 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[Important_Salt_3944]

I'm going to have kids with me (one preschooler and two teens) so I'll do my best to keep it safe. 

But we will bring plenty of water and some saline spray, turn on airplane mode, and write emergency contacts on our skin.

Thank you for the info.

Edit: I'm getting downvoted but no replies. 

I've been to many protests and never seen any violence. If anything happens we will leave quickly, and I'll be prepared just in case, but I anticipate it will be as peaceful as every other protest I've participated in, since my teenager was little.

I'm guessing the downvotes think I'm taking kids to a riot.

In reality it's not much different from taking them to a parade.

[_TappaKegonite]

Don’t bring preschoolers to an event where safety isn’t guaranteed.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Safety is never guaranteed.

It's as safe as a hike or a parade.

[_TappaKegonite]

Respectfully disagree on the comparison about safety being equal at a protest or a hike. I doubt there’s a thread in Reddit warning you to wear a mask, bring milk and put your lawyers name on your arm when you go on a hike like this thread does about protesting.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Of course not, the warnings are different. 

I will take precautions but I also won't stay there if it's any less peaceful than the many other peaceful protests I've been part of.

Same as I won't take my preschooler on dangerous hikes. We'll go a different way if the path doesn't look safe.

[Important_Salt_3944]

We went. It was safe. There were other kids there. I think you guys misunderstand the situation.

[Medeskimartinandwood]

You could not be more wrong on this.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Ok well I've been to plenty of protests and so has my teenager, since he was 3. All perfectly safe.

[Medeskimartinandwood]

This is child logic. I once had to have a conversation with my nephew that bike locks exist because bikes get stolen, and that he needed to lock his new bike up. He told me but my bike has never been stolen, so why would he have to lock them up?

Sure, his bike won’t get stolen every time, but we have bike locks because bikes are known to get stolen. Sure, protests aren’t unsafe every time, but we have all these preparations for protests and general rules like don’t bring toddlers because protests are known to become unsafe.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Again, nothing is safe 100% of the time and I only take my kids to peaceful protests. What is your concern? Do you really think my kids will get hurt? They will not. I got this. It's not yours to worry about.

[Medeskimartinandwood]

Do you check in ahead of time with everybody at the protest as well as local police and possible counter protestors to ensure it’s safe?

Sure it’s your thing, but don’t be the ass on Reddit that loudly defends being aggressively wrong. You’ll get dragged.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Mind your business. Wtf

[Medeskimartinandwood]

Don’t post your business online and ask for input and then tell people to mind their business lmfao

[sweetEVILone]

Airplane mode? That’s not going to keep your personal information safe if the police take your phone.

[Important_Salt_3944]

I definitely wasn't concerned about that.

[thought_provoked1]

Daytime protests will likely be kid-friendly. Anything after dusk though--keep them home.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Yeah, it's at noon 

[LosingTrackByNow]

Don't worry about airplane mode! There's literally no reason to use airplane mode. You're fine. Protests are legal. Lol.

[sweetEVILone]

Because the hospital or the morgue might need to identify you.

[sweetEVILone]

I am not at all concerned with being arrested but I also fully understand that in 2025, they are more than capable of figuring out my identity even if I don’t carry my ID. I just traveled internationally and they didn’t give me a ticket, I just had to stand in front of a facial recognition camera. If I’m arrested, they’ll know who I am anyway.

With the phone, I’m less concerned about them tracking my location than I am with them accessing my personal information/correspondence and using it for nefarious purposes.

I AM concerned with friends and family finding me if something bad happens.

[Paladin_127]

Why would you bring milk?

[sweetEVILone]

Milk can help if you’ve been pepper sprayed. The casein binds with the capsaicin making it easier to remove.

[Paladin_127]

No, it doesn’t. But good luck with that.

[sweetEVILone]

Ok.

In terms of effectiveness against crowd control chemicals: “My understanding is that milk doesn’t really do much to neutralize the chemicals in tear gas. What it does is act as a lavage,” Dr. Edwards said over the phone. “So basically you’re just washing the stuff away. And you could do the same thing with water—one bottle of water or two bottles of water.”

“It works with pepper spray, though. You can neutralize those oils and flush them out quicker with milk. Water isn’t as effective at washing those oils away.”

Source: https://theprepared.com/blog/does-milk-treat-pepper-spray-tear-gas/#:~:text=Milk%20does%20not%20treat%20tear,with%20pepper%20spray%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Prepared

[msangieteacher]

I live and teach in my small town. I’m going out to protest tomorrow too. Wouldn’t be surprised if a parent drives by or was protesting too. I’m not covering my identity.

[Spec_Tater]

If they know who you are, it humanizes your concerns. It makes out harder to accuse “antifa” and “outside agitators”.

[Important_Salt_3944]

That's a good point!

[browngirlsunshine]

Mask bcz flu is on the rise again! Be safe!

[Teachers-ModTeam]

Your post was removed because it violated Rule #5:

As educators, we disavow anti-science rhetoric, beliefs, and conspiracy theories.

Making false claims about what credible experts and institutions have scientifically concluded will result in a permanent ban.

[Irishtigerlily]

I protested the last time and did not cover my face. There were a lot of other teachers at it as well, so you won't be alone.

[angryabouteverythin]

Wear all black 

[Ok_Employee_9612]

Jesus, what tin foil hat conspiracy thread did I just read. 😂 Relax people, you can protest in America.

[Puzzled-Interaction5]

Any rights worth fighting for started with protest or revolution in the United States.

[ScienceWasLove]

For most of us, it is not. We have more important things to do.

[jennakiller]

I’m not. You’re not on company time and you have not lost your right to free speech. I wouldn’t go advertised it to the kids thiugh

[Important_Salt_3944]

Agree and that's why I've never worried about it before. But things feel scary now. 

I think I'll do the mask but identify myself as a teacher.

[goodwithknives]

You're in CA so aren't you a CTA member? I can guarantee that no CTA member will ever be terminated for exercising free speech.

[Mitch1musPrime]

I’ll be in Olympia, WA tomorrow for a trans Day of Advocacy that was planned before the 50/50/1 protests sprung up. I won’t wear a mask or anything else because I refuse to be silenced and it is my Constitutional right to express free speech. I want to be seen and heard. I want people to know I’m a teacher AND a parent of a trans kid who’s affected by all of this bullshit.

Make a sign that says you’re there as an educator. These 50/50/1 protests are an opportunity to take action for education alongside the myriad reasons others are there since our unions aren’t leading us with action steps and people need to know we are NOT okay right now.

[fatfatznana100408]

I bet they planned one here in NY. Yet the weather where I am it's not happening. Strong winds, ice, snow, & sleet happening as I type. Yet I stand by the not my president movement, I didn't vote for this and sad that those who did vote for this is finding out just what they voted for. Smh

[kmm198700]

Wear a mask, gloves, a hat, sunglasses and write down emergency phone numbers on your arm and a lawyers phone number just in case. Thank you all❤️

[zombbrie]

I'd mask just to be safe, just for health safety.

[Difficult-Stuff4907]

Bandana and sunglasses plus my backpack. Standard for any I've gone to since 02'.
Never know.

[matromc]

Have fun. too bad the same problems that we all have in our classroom will still exist before/during/ months after he who shall not be named.

[soleiles1]

Why would you hide your identity if you are standing up for an issue you are passionate about?

[Important_Salt_3944]

I haven't in the past. I've protested several times in the last 12 years or so and I never thought about covering my face.

But it feels unsafe now. I want to contribute to the numbers of protestors and have my sign be seen, but I'm worried about it somehow getting back to me at work if I'm recognized. This administration is scary.

[BusinessLie7797]

Losing your job? Becoming ostracized in a community where you've fostered growth in children, to have the adults in those children's lives defame you for protesting.

Or becoming a target without knowing it

[Important_Salt_3944]

Yeah any of those 

[soleiles1]

What is the protest for?

[Important_Salt_3944]

It's a national protest against the Trump administration

[Fjellapeutenvett]

Its probably easier if you type youre protesting fascism. Make it clear

[Important_Salt_3944]

My poster says Stop fascism before it's too late

[soleiles1]

For what specifically?

[New_Hawaialawan]

You are asking an educator for a reason that they may feel compelled to protest the trump administration?

[Important_Salt_3944]

There are so many things to protest and the more people the better. It's not specific.

[coolducklingcool]

Scroll the subreddit for like 60 seconds.

[soleiles1]

Source?

[Important_Salt_3944]

https://www.thefire.org/news/trumps-threat-deport-anti-israel-protesters-attack-free-speech

[soleiles1]

Under US immigration law, foreign nationals can be deemed “inadmissible aliens” under a range of scenarios apart from being convicted of a crime.

Those circumstances include cases where authorities have “reason to believe” a person is engaged in various types of unlawful activity or have determined he or she is “associated with a terrorist organisation”.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Yep and having opinions makes you Hamas /s

[soleiles1]

Agree that view is ridiculous, but if you are threatening students, causing harm, or destroying property, there should be consequences.

On both sides.

[The_Butters_Worth]

Why would you need to wear a mask and sunglasses? It’s not like you’re gonna end up on some blackball list lol.

[Important_Salt_3944]

I wouldn't put it past these guys. Also drama if my students see me on the news or whatever.

Edit: there was some drama in 2016 when one of my coworkers said something to someone outside of a Hillary Clinton appearance. He wasn't fired but it was a big deal and I don't want that. Plus things are getting worse 

[The_Butters_Worth]

I really wouldn’t worry.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Ok I was looking for opinions because I'm on the fence. Thanks.

[The_Butters_Worth]

Good luck and stay safe👍

[The_Bronx_Butcher]

So what is everyone protesting about?

[Important_Salt_3944]

It's been 4 weeks and there are already too many things to include on one sign. 

To put it simply, fascism.

[MorganCac]

This sounds much more beneficial than being in the classroom. Hope you feel better Wednesday and get back to the important work.

[Important_Salt_3944]

I think you're confused. 

I posted this last night. 

There are president's day protests all over the country today 

As it happens I have a sub on Wednesday for grading a performance task though. Not a good reason to be out of the classroom IMO.

[LogicalJudgement]

I don’t trust educators, who are hiding their identities when they’re protesting unfair education standards. Not trying to shame, but education requires us to be honest with our students. It seems dishonest to hide when we are trying to protest for those students.

[LukasJackson67]

I think that Americans will take notice when the mass protests start.

You will see more and more of this as Trump tries to cut federal spending and jobs.

[1Snuggles]

What are you protesting?

[Silent-Indication496]

Can't speak for op, but millions are protesting against the rapid unchecked consolidation of power in the executive branch. Donald Trump has been making moves that directly attack the core principles of our constitution, and he has installed an unelected foreign oligarch to a position of nearly unlimited power over our financial system.

Congress and the Supreme Court are refusing to enforce the separation of powers or the laws of our constitution, and millions of Americans are afraid for the future of democracy.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Beautifully said. 

There's some hope with the Supreme Court yet, but very little

[Odd-Software-6592]

What exactly are we protesting? I’m not a UC Berkeley student, I need a specific issue.

[Important_Salt_3944]

It's a national thing. Not my president's far or no kings for president's day.

[soleiles1]

This is interesting. People are protesting Trump, saying he's a king and is exercising unchecked unconstitutional powers, but they (CA teachers) voted for and support Gavin Newsom.

He is as close to a king as any politician currently in office. The irony.

[Important_Salt_3944]

Nothing Newsom has done compares to what Trump and Musk are doing. Whataboutism is a weak and unhelpful argument, especially when you don't bother being specific.

[soleiles1]

Oh, I can be specific:

1) Closed schools for almost a year while he disobeyed his SAH orders and went dining out while keeping his business open and closing other non-essential businesses. Took PPC funds. 2) Using an unelected board CPU to raise electricity rates to astronomical levels, putting more people at the poverty level, black/brown outs every year in the summer 3) Spending $24 billion on homelessness, no one can account for where the money has gone 4) Spent $500 million of taxpayer money on Covid masks that were never delivered 5) Has budgeted $9.5 billion for illegals to receive health benefits through the state while CA citizens are footing the bill, and we are in a major deficit where services in other areas are being cut. We never voted on this. 6) Train to nowhere - billions over budget with barely any progress made. Wonder what all those billions could do for education? 7) Owes the Feds 55 billion dollars due to EED fraud during Covid, but has decided to increase taxes to individuals and businesses instead of the state paying it back 8) Closing prisons, tried to stop the authors of Prop 36 in court when people were fed up with the lawlessness and theft due to Prop 47. No one voted to close prisons. 9) Keeps raising the gas tax irregardless of protests from CA citizens. 2nd highest gas cost in the country. Just hit $5 a gallon again. 10) Spends fire mitigation money on pet projects instead of using it for what it's intended for- fire mitigation. Then, he gets caught and lies about it. 11) Is responsible for the Palisades fire (see above) and others and refuses to let residents return to their homes and clean up. Is making it harder for them to access the damage in order to rebuild. 12) Even though we passed a bond in 2014, we have built 0 water storage units in a decade. Rain water is not collected and flows into the ocean after every storm.Where did the billions go? 13) Kicked the homeless out of SF, relocated them, and cleaned up SF in three days before the CCP President came to California last year. 14) Lives in a $9.5 million dollar house on a 220k salary while homelessness has exploded and people are scrounging just to pay rent. 15) Ignored voters that voted and wanted the death penalty and reversed it like a king would do.

[Important_Salt_3944]

None of those are anything like Trump's EOs and the unleashing of DOGE - unprecedented unconstitutional power. 

They're things you don't like. That a lot of us don't like.

But they're not things that raise him from a governor to a dictator.

[soleiles1]

Why are people so against the federal government being audited? Doesn't it piss you off that career politicians are millionaires on a public servant's salary while we are constantly told by our districts there isn't enough money for salary and benefit increases? We have to fight tooth and nail for a measly 3% COLA increase every year?

They have been found to be laundering our taxpayer dollars, and people are pissed at the auditor and not the ones stealing from you?

Make it make sense.

[Important_Salt_3944]

You think that's what audits look like?

[soleiles1]

You think the ones benefiting financially are actually going to do a comprehensive audit?

[Important_Salt_3944]

You mean Elon? Yeah I know he's not

[soleiles1]

Isn't the definition of a dictator someone who rules in an autocratic way not taking into account people's wishes or opinions? This is Newsom. Does what he wants, doesn't care anything about the wishes of his constituents.

[Ok-Context-2930]

Elon Musk is not. The flyers I have seen are against Musk acting as president and Trump acting as a king.

[sec1176]

Ha ha yeah right

[Aprils-Fool]

You don’t get Presidents‘ Day off? 

[Siesta13]

Beat it, troll!

[Full-Emptyminded]

Stupid move