Everything you need to know before you show up — from what to wear to what to do if things go sideways.
First: You Belong There
If you've never been to a protest and you're nervous about going, that's normal. The most common thing people say after their first march is some version of: "I wish I'd done this sooner." Protests are, mostly, just large groups of people walking and chanting together. They feel less intimidating in person than they look on the news, in part because the news tends to focus on conflict over the overwhelming majority of marches that are peaceful, boring, and meaningful.
You don't need to be an expert activist. You don't need to have the most radical politics in the room. You just need to show up.
Do Your Research
Before you go, know the basics:
Who's organizing it? Is this a march organized by a major coalition (Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, Indivisible), a local grassroots group, or something more informal? This affects logistics, likely crowd size, and political context.
What's the route? Organizers usually publish a route or at least a start and end point. Know where you're going and how long it's expected to take.
What are the goals? What is this march asking for? What change is it demanding? You don't have to agree with every position of every organizer, but you should understand what you're participating in.
What are the local laws? In most U.S. cities, peaceful marching on sidewalks or in permitted street closures is fully legal. Some cities require permits; most permitted marches have them. Unpermitted marches carry more risk. Know what you're walking into.
What to Wear and Bring
Wear layers. Weather changes. So does how you feel after four hours of walking.
Comfortable shoes. This is the single most important clothing choice. Protests often involve more standing and walking than you expect. Blisters are the enemy of solidarity.
Goggles or glasses if you have them, in case of crowd control spray. Not required, but useful.
Cash, not just a card. If you need to pay for water or food or transit, cash works when card readers don't.
Your ID — though you may not need it, it's wise to have it.
A fully charged phone and a portable battery if you have one. Write down (on paper, in pen, on your arm) the phone number of a lawyer or legal observer hotline for your city. In the event your phone is taken or dead, you'll need a number you can call from someone else's phone.
Water and a snack. March organizers don't usually have food. Take care of your body.
Your R&R shirt, obviously.
If You're Going With People
Establish a meeting point before you start marching — somewhere specific, not "near the fountain." Decide how you'll communicate if you get separated. Make sure everyone knows the phone number of the legal observer line.
If someone in your group is a minor, or has a medical condition that could be affected by heat, crowding, or exertion, have a plan for that.
Know Your Rights
In the United States, you have the right to protest in public spaces. Police cannot arrest you simply for being present at a protest. You cannot be arrested for refusing to give your name in most states (though in some states, if you're detained, you are required to identify yourself — know your state's rules).
If you're arrested or detained:
- Stay calm. Compliance with arrest is not admission of guilt.
- Say clearly: "I am invoking my right to remain silent" and "I want a lawyer."
- Do not answer questions until you have spoken with a lawyer.
- You can be held for up to 48 hours without being charged in most jurisdictions.
- The ACLU has know-your-rights resources specific to your state at aclu.org.
What to Do If Things Get Tense
The vast majority of protests are peaceful. But if the situation escalates:
Don't escalate. If someone is trying to provoke conflict, don't engage. Walk away.
Move to the edges. If a crowd gets compressed or panics, the middle is the most dangerous place. Move toward the sides and exits.
Stay with someone. Don't get separated from your group in a chaotic situation.
Know where the exits are. Before the march starts, orient yourself: where are the cross streets, the subway entrances, the open spaces?
After the March
Protests feel good. Then you go home and the world is still the same and you feel let down. That's normal. Single events rarely change things directly — they're part of a longer arc. What matters is what you do next.
Connect with the organizations that organized the march. Sign up for their list. Come to their next event. Bring a friend who didn't come this time. Make a recurring donation if you can afford it. Call your representatives. Vote.
The march is the beginning, not the finish line.