Urgent Safety Info for April 5 Protests

Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Lisa Hayes for Confluence Daily

Confluence Daily is your daily news source for women in the know.

If you are considering attending the upcoming protests against Trump scheduled across the country on April 5, please take safety seriously.

I have personally witnessed peaceful protests rapidly escalate into dangerous situations, sometimes without warning or provocation. On four separate occasions, I have seen cars intentionally driven into crowds at marches—this danger is real and unpredictable, along with a hundred other ways a protest can turn dangerous on a dime that you can’t anticipate and might not see coming.

Do not go unprepared.

The following recommendations are drawn from my direct experience at protests, and also informed by recent and ongoing events nationwide:

Critical Precautions and Recommendations:

1. Assess Your Personal Risk:

• ICE & Immigration Enforcement Risks:

If you are undocumented, have uncertain immigration status, or could potentially become a target for immigration enforcement (which, under current political conditions, could apply to almost anyone regardless of your actual legal status), you should strongly consider NOT attending.

The increased surveillance and law enforcement presence at these protests significantly increases your risk of detention or arrest, potentially leading to devastating immigration consequences. Even if protest day goes smoothly, being recorded at a protest could be used against you in future immigration proceedings – and make no mistake, they will be recording and documenting as many people as possible on the 5th.

• Black, Indigenous, and Other Marginalized Communities:

Historically, Black and Indigenous protesters have been disproportionately targeted by police and federal agents with more aggression, violence, and arrests. The heightened tension surrounding these protests means this threat is amplified. Please carefully weigh whether attending is safe and necessary for you personally. Your safety matters deeply. Your activism can still be powerful without physically putting yourself at risk. I am just going to say without a doubt, if I were a person of color, I would sit it out at home.

 

2. Who Should NOT Attend:

• DO NOT BRING CHILDREN OR PETS. Under no circumstances should children or pets attend these protests – even if they are advertised as family-friendly. Organizers cannot control how things unfold on the ground in real-time. Conditions are far too volatile and unpredictable to ensure their safety. If detained or arrested, your child or pet could end up in an uncertain or dangerous situation.
• High-Risk Health Conditions: If you have respiratory conditions, heart problems, allergies, asthma, or other health issues that could worsen severely upon exposure to tear gas or pepper spray, do not attend.
• Legal or Financial Vulnerabilities: If being arrested or detained could threaten your employment, housing, or financial stability, please reconsider attending.

Potential Dangers and Threats to Anticipate:

1. Law Enforcement Encounters:

• Police and federal agents at these protests are often heavily armed, aggressive, and quick to use force—including tear gas, pepper spray, flashbang grenades, rubber bullets, and even physical violence.
• There is a documented history of protesters being targeted for detention or arrest not only during the event but afterward, especially when walking to or from the protest alone.
• DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS IF DETAINED. Clearly, request legal counsel immediately and remain silent otherwise.

2. Counter-Protest Threats:

• Violent counter-protesters, including militia groups, white supremacist organizations, and extremist factions, have publicly targeted anti-Trump protests. These groups can escalate violence rapidly. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and immediately remove yourself from situations that feel threatening or unsafe.
• Keep physical distance from counter-protesters. Do not engage verbally or physically, as this could quickly escalate.
• Report suspicious behavior or aggressive groups to protest organizers or designated safety monitors immediately.

3. Vehicles as Weapons:

• Cars driving into crowds with intent to harm have happened multiple times at anti-Trump and social justice demonstrations. Stay alert. Choose protest routes carefully, always staying aware of escape routes. Avoid standing or marching near moving traffic if possible, and position yourself behind sturdy barriers or obstacles whenever you can. Stay in the center of the crowd whenever possible.

Safety Tips and Essential Preparations:

• Always attend with at least one trusted companion. Do not walk alone to or from the protest. Plan a meeting point in case you become separated. Expect separation to occur due to chaos or police actions.
• Cover your face and identity. Consider wearing scarves or face coverings that obscure your identity, protecting you from identification by hostile law enforcement or extremist groups. Bring extra masks and scarves in case of contamination by tear gas or pepper spray.
• Consider Transportation Carefully: Law enforcement agencies have been seen recording protesters’ license plates. Using public transportation, ride-sharing services, or arranging safe rides is preferable if possible.
• Have Clear Check-In Plans: Someone you trust must know when you plan to return. If you do not check in within one hour past your agreed return time, your contact should immediately reach out to local law enforcement, hospitals, and detention centers.
• Emergency Contacts: Write the phone numbers of an attorney, bail contact, and emergency contact directly on your skin with permanent marker. Do not rely on your phone’s contacts—your phone may be confiscated if you’re detained.
• Phones and Privacy: Officers may confiscate phones indefinitely under various pretenses (such as COVID-related excuses). Consider leaving your primary phone at home and using a cheap, prepaid burner phone containing only essential emergency contacts. Turn off all location tracking services, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi features when attending the protest.
• Photography Risks: Avoid photographing fellow protesters or law enforcement officials. Photographing federal agents, in particular, has been known to provoke aggressive responses and violence from law enforcement. Protect your fellow protesters’ identities by refraining from taking any photos at the protest site.
• Clothing and Protective Gear:
  • Heavy-duty footwear (boots or sturdy shoes) to protect your feet from injury.
  • Helmets or hard hats to protect against flying projectiles or impact.
  • Ear protection (industrial earplugs or coverings) to guard against damage from flashbang grenades or sonic devices.
  • Protective eyewear (such as safety goggles), though caution is advised—certain eyewear could break under projectile impacts, potentially worsening injuries.
• Backpack Essentials:
  • Bottled water (multiple bottles)
  • Basic first aid kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze)
  • Eyewash solution: milk or antacid solutions for pepper spray exposure, sterile saline or bottled water for tear gas
  • Extra masks and scarves
  • High-energy snacks, in case you’re detained or separated for a long period
  • Emergency medication if needed
• DO NOT BRING WEAPONS: Absolutely no knives, pepper spray, mace, or items that could even remotely be perceived as weapons. Officers feeling threatened can interpret virtually anything as a weapon, increasing your risk of violence or arrest.

Legal Reminder:

If arrested or detained:

• Remain calm, stay quiet, and assert your right to legal representation immediately.
• Do not make statements or respond to questioning without an attorney present, even if police say you’re being detained temporarily.

Your safety is paramount. Protest responsibly, protect yourself and others, and never underestimate how quickly a peaceful protest can turn dangerous. Take these guidelines seriously, and stay vigilant.

Please feel free to share widely, add additional insights, or clarify anything I’ve missed.

Stay safe out there.

 

Lisa Hayes is a life coach, writer, and editor of Confluence Daily, specializing in social issues, political issues, and mental health. Her work has appeared in publications like Huffington Post and  Real Simple. She is also the Communications Director for a local fire department in Mexico and runs a life coach training program called The Coaching Guild.