Protests - Blog Posts

Sorry OP for butting in but: if you cannot go to the protest in person due to mobility/parental/safety reasons, one role you could play is home base. A home base is a person or multiple people in one space, ideally near to the police station where those who get arrested will get taken, with multiple phones for contacting people, or being the emergency contact for others, and food/water/clothes/meds/bail money for the protesters who get arrested. If they get a call, one person can go and give the arrested protesters whatever they need and bail them out. The space should also ideally act as a safe haven if needs be, for injured, overwhelmed or disabled protesters, and should have multiple rooms for rest and first aid. Anyway, sorry for the long block of text, I just think that this is important. I have acted as part of a home base for many protests, and a lot of people are grateful for the help.

ICE raids are happening.

Any immigrants, no matter how long you have been a citizen of the USA, is at risk of being deported either out of the country as a whole or into what are basically concentration camps. Raids starting in Chicago, Illinois. and spreading to other major cities with high POC and Hispanic populations. The US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have started raiding homes and families in California.

There are no "protected locations" as of January 21, 2025. Hospitals, schools, and churches are all at risk of being raided, where before these places were deemed safe and off limits to raids.

When it comes to spotting an ICE agent, look for these:

Weirdly neat/well kept hair (shaved heads, side parts, military burs for men; low buns, high ponytails, close cropped bobs for women)

Oversized jacket (long and bulky outerwear makes it easier to hide tools/equipment without being suspicious)

Both hands in pockets

Many undercover agents/cops buy cheap plain clothes off the racks so they aren’t seen in their own clothes. This can make their outfit seem awkward

Sweatshirts with the hood up

Sports apparel (warm up jacket, sweats, etc) with non-sports clothes (jeans, cargo shorts)

Cargo pants/shorts (usually full of items like their badge, flashlight, taser, pepper spray, backup handcuffs, zip ties)

Military or hiking style boots, sometimes chunky sneakers (extra points if none of it matches anything in their outfit)

Outline of a gun in their pants/shirt (easy to see when bending, leaning, or raising arms) (NO NOT SAY ANYTHING)

Overly friendly

Overly inquisitive

“How old are you” and “what do you know about this happening” are both red flags, along with generally odd and personal questions

Don’t fit in

Mismatched pairs in public spaces (usually cops do these things in pairs. They don’t talk to each other or acknowledge each other much, if at all)

DO NOT SAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU ARE 100% SURE

YOUR BEST BET IS NOT TO SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE SUSPECT STARTS ACTING OFF AND GETTING PUSHY

COPS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE UNDERCOVER

COPS CAN AND WILL LIE TO YOU

SCREAM “LA MIGRA” AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS

For protesting:

N95 masks

Respirator/gas mask if you have access to one

Water water water water water (I hate to say it, but disposable one use bottles are best here. If it comes to it, you need to be able to drop and run.) Use for flushing wounds, flushing eyes of tear gas, and of course drinking.

Snacks! You'll be doing a lot of walking and/or running and need to keep that energy up. Trail mix, dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, crackers, jerky/meat sticks, fruit snacks, candy, etc. Think of it like packing your lunchbox for a field trip.

Eyedrops (teargas is a bitch)

Goggles (I bring my old snowboarding goggles)

If you are wearing a t-shirt or have exposed skin, put on fake/temporary tattoos. If you are brought into something and they say you were there, showing a picture of you with the tattoos, show them where that tattoo would be and how there’s nothing there. How would you get rid of a giant flower on your forearm in 2 days anyways?

Wigs fall under the same category as tattoos. The person they're claiming to be you has a blonde bob and you have green hair past your shoulders.It also makes it possible to go with a completely different color without the use of hair dye. This means if they try to arrest you later and try to prove it was you by taking your hair and testing for dye, it won't come back the way they hope. (Thank you @violetrosepetals for this addition!)

Hide your hair. I tuck my hair into my beanie since it’s short. If you have longer hair, try to do the same or tuck it into your shirt. Balaclavas are also a good choice, as they cover both your face and hair.

Power bank

Chargers

Helmet. Any is fine, my personal choice is a skating helmet since they’re rounder and can take more damage, but tactical is also good

Hand sanitizer

Gloves with hard knuckles (tactical gloves). These pack a good punch even if you don't have the correct form. Don't have those? Wrist guards for roller skating/skateboarding work kinda like that too. More of a slapping motion, but still hurt like a bitch. Extra points if they're all scuffed up from use and falls.

Bandanas. Somebody might need one for their face or hair, maybe you need to get dirt off somebody’s face, maybe somebody got injured. They’re great for anything and everything.

Cash (try to stick to cash, your card can be tracked)

Medications if you take them. If you get arrested or happen to somehow be away for longer than expected after the protest, it’s always good to have emergency meds

FIRST AID ALL THE FIRST AID (Tourniquet, Quikclot, chest seal, trauma shears, gauze, bandages, duct tape, and all the usual stuff you’d have in there)

Good shoes. Boots and sneakers are your best choices. Not heels, not platforms, not sandals. Good boots or shoes that won't come off your feet too easily when you run. Steel toed shoes are a great option. Your toes won't be squashed, but also it'll hurt someone a lot more if you start kicking.

Spare socks. Trust me. You can use them to stop bleeding if it comes to it, but also you can put rocks in there and boom weapon. Also if the socks you're wearing get wet.

As much covering clothing as you can handle. Plain jeans, plain hoodie, plain t-shirt, keep yourself as anonymous as possible. Black and baggy is best.

Photocopy of your ID, not your real one.

Sunscreen!

Make sure your clothes have pockets, even if you have a bag. You want everything to be easily accessible.

Do not wear contact lenses. If tear gas is used, that will make everything so much worse. Wear your glasses or go blind. If you have overly unique or identifiable frames, goggles are your friend here. Get some goggles that will fit over your frames, preferably ones that are tinted.

If you use mobility aids, cover defining features. Logos, brand names, colors, stickers, all of it. Take some old plain t-shirt and tie it around your wheelchair’s backrest. Wrap your wheelchair frame in cling wrap, then duct tape, or plain black self adhering medical tape. Cover stickers on your cane or crutches the same way. Electric chair? You have a little more work, but you can do it. Wrap it up. Same idea. Walker? Same thing. Cover. It. All.

If you are bringing a bag, make sure that bag is as plain as possible. No pins. No patches. No keychains. Except maybe a pride flag so people know which team you're playing on.

Scarf or keffiyeh if you have one. They have many uses!

Write a reliable phone number (of someone who is not at the protest with you) on your body. On the off chance you get arrested, that is your emergency contact.

Pocket knife.

Pepper spray/mace/bear spray

if you get tear gassed, shake around first before using water. Most tear gas is more of a powder and water has a high likelihood of just spreading it around. (Thank you @actually-a-bread-loaf for this addition!)

Tennis rackets also work wonderfully for chucking tear gas canisters back at those throwing them. Anybody asks, you're going out to play tennis with friends later. Baseball bats also work! (Thank you @azul-nova-24 for this addition!)

Anything you can throw. Soup for my family.

IF YOU CAN, LEAVE YOUR PHONE AT HOME

IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH YOU, TURN OFF LOCATION SERVICES ON ALL APPS AND TURN OFF BIOMETRICS (FACE ID AND FINGERPRINT) SO YOU CAN ONLY UNLOCK YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR PASSWORD

COPS CAN FORCE YOU TO OPEN YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR FINGERPRINT OR FACE ID

MAKE SURE SOMEBODY KNOWS GENERALLY WHERE YOU ARE

If you see a potential or active raid, take pictures and note the time and location. Post online if you can, as well.

You have the right to remain silent. State that you wish to remain silent. Avoid giving information about anybody's immigration status. You have the right to refuse to sign anything before speaking to an attorney. You have the right to refuse searches of your car, your home, and yourself. Schools do not collect a child's immigration status.

I do not want to scare anybody, but this is what life is right now. That man does not care how long you have been a citizen of this country. If you are not a white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian male, you are seen as less than by men in power. You are not less than. You are a threat to them, and they are scared. Keep it that way.

Even if you're not currently protesting, it's good to know this just in case. Things are happening very quickly, and there is a very high chance of it changing very quickly within the next four years.

Here's the link to my post on what to bring in terms of first aid.

If you cannot attend protests, that’s fine. Do what’s best for you. Even just reposting information helps.

This is an updated version of this post,

Updated January 27, 2025.

The world stands with Ukraine

Tbilisi, Georgia

St. Petersburg, Russia

London, England

Paris, France

Thessaloniki, Greece

Rome, Italy

Berlin, Germany

Tokyo, Japan

Montenegro

Mumbai, India

Stokeley Carmichael knew/knows what’s up.

here’s a link to an organization shared by Bisan on instagram providing food and water to Palestinians in Gaza

I currently have 700+ followers. And I will urge all of you to read about what is happening in Bangladesh. What has happened in Bangladesh. I am adding irrelevant tags of the fandoms I follow to garner more attention. I apologize in advance.

The government of Bangladesh killed pressumably 950+ people, innocent people, students, all because they demanded a system that will give them government jobs based on merit rather than quota. To suppress the students Sheikh Hasina and its government imposed 5 days of total internet blackout. While imposing this blackout they killed off anyone of the streets. They killed people from helicopters by shooting and throwing grenades. Many kids died in their own homes as the bullet shot them through their window.

Sheikh Hasina and its police took away all the dead bodies and the death registries from the hospital. The official death toll is 200. But various journalistic and medical staff sources confirm the death toll is over 950 in Dhaka alone.

That monster of a PM didn't acknowledge the death of the students. Instead she is crying over the infrastructure vandalism. I request you,rise up and speak out about this. Educate yourself and let other people know. The internet blackout have suppressed the truth at large. The Bangladeshi people are in deep surveillance and the government have made 2000+ arrests on false charges just because they have shared the Information. There is mass fear mongering. I know most of you people are not Bangladeshis and that's why you need to help us and speak up about it. Join your local protests, share the news in your social media, twitter Instagram. I beg you, don't let my people's murderers get away with it. Don't let my people's death be forgotten.

I am attaching some links for you to understand the horror of it all.

This Facebook page Bringing justice to you has documented all the horrors and the massacres that happened on Bangladeshi people. TW : all kinds of blood, gore, death bodies, every single horrible things imaginable but shows what went down.

facebook.com

Bringing Justice to You

Bringing Justice to You. 224,782 likes · 479,391 talking about this. We speak for our people We fight for Justice

This ig page is also another page that brings you the horror stories.

https://www.instagram.com/thebangladeshivoice?igsh=YXBpdzQyem54cmZj

Al-Jazeera has been a very credible news source while the Bangladesh was under blackout. They have made several segments. I am attaching the latest one.

UN Human Rights have called out Bangladesh for explanation regarding the crackdown

Amnesty International's report of Bangladesh government using lethal weapon against its people and mass murder

Amnesty International

Unlawful use of lethal & less-lethal weapons against protesters in Bangladesh

Amnesty International urges the Government of Bangladesh and its agencies to respect the right to protest and end this violent crackdown.

There are many more contents, proof and videos to show you the horrors that was unfolded in the crackdown. Sheikh Hasina killed her people like insects and violated every single human rights imaginable. Please share these. Support us. Help us. I beg you all.

What the media won't show

Note to Society #35

The primary reason behind the common American backing Ukraine instead of Palestine is the United States government’s relationship with the offending nation.

If the US interacted with Israel the way it interacts with Russia, there would have been immediate calls to end this genocide as well as stronger humanitarian aid given to the people of Gaza.

Remember to be weary of propaganda when you’re consuming media related to this crisis. The people of Palestine have been calling for help for decades - Israel is committing genocide. And we are doing nothing.

Note To Society #31

If people are rioting because of police violence, the proper response is not to be more violent.

Note To Society #29

Taking part in protests, yet continuing to do/say racist things does not make you an activist, it makes you a douchebag who takes advantage of the horrible injustices faced by minorities in this country for popularity/respect.

Note To Society #26

If you are a person protesting quarantine, you are the reason that this is going to last another several months. Stop being selfish, and just stay home.

Hind Rajab was a 5 year old girl in Gaza who was killed while she hid alone in a car, along with the paramedics who tried to rescue her. Yesterday students at Columbia seized the administration building and renamed it in her honor.

Gadzooks Bazooka Instagram: gadzooks_bazooka

Remembering #HindRajab & children in #Gaza: This is what the mother of the child, Hind Rajab . https://tmblr.co/ZTeZMyfB_GHeeu00

UPDATE FROM

@sunnydice: (and please don't forget Layan Hamadeh , her 15 yr old cousin who was trapped with her or Yusuf Zino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun who bravely volunteered to try to save hind and were murdered by the IOF )

DrSonnet — هذا ما قالته والدة الطفلة هند رجب عندما سمعت بخبر... (tumblr.com)

🇬🇪 Georgians protesting after their pro-russian government put EU integration on hold.

More information on the foreign agent law.

Our (Georgian as in the country) government quietly made new additions to the foreign agent law today.

1. The foreign agent law will affect not only organizations, but individuals. Failure to comply with the law causes a 5000 lari fine.

2. The law will allow the government all of your personal information including your political stance and sexual relationships. It makes every organization forced to comply with handing over all of our information to the government. If you are queer, have differing political views, or are part of a non-governmental organization against domestic violence, your anonymity is no longer guaranteed.

3. Only thing this does not include is country's secrets, nothing else is off the table.

So if you go downthread on the linked tweet here, people are saying there were up to 300,000 people at one night of protests in Tbilisi:

That's wild. Rooting for them.

Information about ongoing nationwide protests in Georgia

bbc.com

Georgia foreign agents bill draws protesters on to the streets

Thousands of Georgians have been protesting against a new bill that they claim will crush dissent.

The Kyiv Independent

Explainer: What's behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

The protests, which grew out of opposition to the controversial foreign agents law, have begun to morph into a larger sign of discontent aga

bbc.com

Georgia protests: Riot police face off against foreign influence bill demonstrators

Thousands have gathered outside parliament in Tbilisi to protest the bill they say is Russian-inspired.

🇬🇪 Police brutality at protests in Georgia (Sakartvelo).

🇬🇪 The police are brutally cracking down protesters in Georgia (Sakartvelo). Georgians are protesting the draft of foreign agents bill (so called "russian law"), which would put their democracy at risk. In general, protests are also anti-government and against russian influence on their country. International news barely covers protests in Georgia, which allows police and government to act like this even more freely and without consequences.

When the anti "LGBT propaganda" law passed in Russia, all of you were going insane and cared. Give Georgia the same energy. If you can have sympathy for our oppressors on the basis of them being queer, you should keep the same energy for us, if not more.

If this law passes, every Georgian queer person I know is so severely fucked, myself included. If you make jokes about "being illegal in several countries" you better fucking care about the countries you're apparently illegal in, or going to be illegal in.

Make sure to spread this around. This is important.

How can I, someone outside of Georgia (the country), help fight the foreign agent bill?

Tumblr

Brands you can boycott to help Georgia (the country) fight against the foreign agent law +what you need to know about it:

[Image ID: Three logos of different international chains depicted on a white background. On top the bands presented are Wendy's and Subway.

For information about brands you can boycott and the summary of what the foreign agent law entails, click on the link above, which refers to my older post. The government's escalating use of force and intimidation techniques during and outside of protests, such as threat phone calls, jumping people in the street, paying sportsmen to physically assault people. The police force has been using methods such as physical violence, torture, tear gas, rubber bullets, and water streams. Along with boycotting, there is a big amount of Georgians emigrating from the country, and organizing protests in other countries. Think about the resources and skills you have that you can use to help demonstrations on the ground and spread awareness on the issue. This might include your graphic design or copywriting skills, a large social media following - aid the protesters by spreading the word. SHARE information that might be useful for protesters inside and outside of Georgia. And most importantly donate, speak to people around you, and attend protests closeby to where you live. Some details of protests outside of Georgia and donation links will be listed below: List of currently known international protests: 12/05 15:00 Venice Biennale Georgian Pavilion | Venice 12/05 15:00 Piazza Garibaldi | Naples 12/05 16:00 Placa de Catalunya | Barcelona 12/05 16:00 Consulado de Georgia | Madrid 13/05 18:00-20:00 Brighton 4th & broadwalk | New York 14/05 18:30-20:30 Place du Pantheon | Paris 17/05 17:30 EU Commission | Brussels 17/05 18:30 Embassy of Georgia | London (And keep an eye on gza.europe on Instagram, for any further news on protests in Europe) Donation links: Shame Movement - Provides gear for protests, organizing demonstrations. GYLA - Georgia's Young Lawyer Association, providing legal help to those detained at demonstrations. All we ask for, is to have you fight together with us.

Brands you can boycott to help Georgia (the country) fight against the foreign agent law +what you need to know about it:

[Image ID: Three logos of different international chains depicted on a white background. On top the bands presented are Wendy's and Subway. On the bottom, it's Dunkin' Donuts. End ID.]

The foreign agent law (also locally referred to as "the Russian law". On February 2023, the ruling majority of the parliament registered a draft law, addressing a completely made-up problem of transparency of non-governmental organizations. The law refers to non-governmental organizations that receive funding from abroad as "foreign agents." In Georgian, "foreign agent" carries the same meaning as "spy." Back in 2023, we managed to fight back against the law that would completely destroy student exchange programs, charity work, LGBT and disability organizations, etc. The law would also allow the government to persecute you for something inconsequential, such as an anti-government post on social media. If the law passes, it would cause most of Georgia to be locked out of international relations and would demolish most of our scarce support systems.

Those are not all of the brands that support the Russian law here, however they are the international ones that through their owners in Georgia support the passing of the law.

Additionally, the government has paid people outside the regions to protest in support of passing of the law, and has threatened them with losses of their jobs and the jobs of their family members.

The protests have been going for many days endlessly, and policemen have been getting more and more brutal. Utilizing things such as water jets, armor, shields, flashlights, smoke, gas, etc.

Please stay with Georgia and support it against the country that has endlessly colonized, genocided, and raped us.

Thank you, Sakartvelo. Keep fighting. We believe in you.

🇬🇪🫂🇺🇦

HELLO! MY COUNTRY IS DESCENDING INTO AUTHORITARIANISM! PLEASE READ!

I'm too angry to formulate how many lines the government has crossed and how dangerous the situation has gotten… please read, and know the truth.

We love you, Sakartvelo. Keep fighting. 🇺🇦🇬🇪

Unprecedented police brutality in Tbilisi today. The police are beating up teenagers, throwing rocks and bottles at peaceful protesters.

Protests in Georgia (Sakartvelo) against Russian-style "Foreign Agents Law". International media doesn't pay enough attention to these brave people.

📣 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MY FOLLOWERS📣 PLEASE READ!😥😞👇👇

I am so so sorry!!! I know I shouldn't put any thing political stuff about my country's current condition I couldn't bear with it but please take your time to read this carefully!!😞😥👇👇 my country 🇮🇩 is not doing so fine, and therefore I am not fine either 😥😥

Video credits goes to The Juice Media.

PLEASE SPREAD THIS!!! REBLOGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!! THANK YOU!!