Protesting? Know your Rights!
Updated: Jul 22
Keeping our promise to share resources and legal advice about the current civil unrest, the Good Counsel Civil Rights team is sharing information and resources from well-established and well-respected civil rights organizations. Good Counsel Services is publishing this post to share and expand the informational reach of these guidelines.
Per the ACLU, as a protester, you have the right to:
Protest on public property (so long as you do not block access or interfere with other purposes of government property).
Hold signs and hand out flyers.
Photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police.
Police may not confiscate or demand to view photographs without a warrant.
March in the street (so long as you don’t obstruct car or pedestrian traffic).
If you are arrested, you have the right to:
Ask the officer what crime you are suspected of committing.
Remain silent. Anything you say to the police can be used against you.
Call a lawyer (consider writing a lawyer or legal aid organization’s number on your arm)
Important information to record for filing a complaint:
Officers’ badge and patrol car numbers
Contact information for witnesses
Photographs of any injuries
With regards to protecting your digital privacy, the Legal Aid Society advises the following:
Carry as few electronic devices as possible.
Disable face/fingerprint unlock on your phone. Use 6+ digit passcodes, preferably alphanumeric.
Don’t consent to a search of your devices. Do not unlock your device for police.
Use the Signal app to communicate with others. Enable the disappearing messages feature.
Turn off GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, and any location services.
Review your social media privacy settings to limit who can see your posts and accounts.
Avoid tagging or posting identifiable images of people without their permission. Doing so puts activists, organizers, and other individuals at risk for additional surveillance and retaliation. Use your best judgment.
Wearing sunglasses and a hat with your face mask will make it more difficult for facial recognition to be used against you.
Numbers to call:
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