1. Don’t bring your cellphone
You reach for it more often than you would have expected. To capture images of the signs full of puns and creative, insightful words. Your empty back pocket always gives you a jolt until you remember you left your phone at home.
2. Keep your hair pulled back
If (when) the cops come, you won’t provide them a handle. They’ll find a way to grab you anyway, but you don’t need to make easier for them.
3. Don’t show anything identifiable (especially tattoos)
You know people who’ve been picked up hours after a protest. Your friend from undergrad was arrested last time when she was getting off the train in her hometown – miles from the protest. Her neon striped pants giving her away. You imagine the cops took offense to her hand-drawn roast pig protest sign. She was an art major, after all.
4. Lock your arms together to use your body as leverage
They’ll try to drag you off one-by-one. You learned that a few months ago. It was your fourth misdemeanor. Go limp to resist. It’s against every instinct, but you’ve had practice now.
5. Wear good running shoes
You’d rather wear your black platform boots. The ones with the buckles up the sides. They’re more of the vibe you want to bring. But the route is long and you have to stay mobile. Don’t give yourself an impediment of your own design.
6. Stay hydrated
Early in the day it’s easy to feel like a celebration. You’ve been tempted by the celebratory jello shots before. But water is better. Doesn’t matter if it’s cold out.
7. Pack a mini first aid kit
Last year you only brought band-aids, thinking the worst would be blisters. Now you’re experienced. You’ve done the trainings, saved the emergency phone numbers, and packed your kit. Now your backpack has the official patch: the white cross on a red background. You’re the medic.
8. Stay with your partners
Getting separated is the quickest way to be picked off. A nature documentary involving gazelles and lions comes to mind. You’ve never rooted for the lions.
9. Do more than just walk
Change won’t come just from walking and yelling. You attend every meeting and call to action you can find. Allowing your work to slip because why does a career matter when society is collapsing around you? You’re more than just talk-
10. But still talk the talk
Everyone says it takes 3.5% of a population to adopt an idea to make real change. You’re not going to move the dial closer to that percent by only talking to people at marches. Time to put the active in activist.
Melissa Proulx | Author 