Whether youre headed out in support or dissent, you should know what youre getting into before you go.
Here are some tips to prepare before you go out to have your voice heard.
This article was originally published in 2011, and has been updated.
Unless your goal is to get arrested, pick your words and your battles carefully.
You may be better off complying with police direction first and arguing your rights later.
Youre no good to your cause if youre injured or worse and cant continue protesting.
Youll be on your feet for a long time, sometimes for long hours and you may be marching.
Wear shoes youre comfortable standing, walking, or running in.
Wear multiple layers that cover your skin.
Wearing layers will double-check youre comfortable in any temperature.
Dressing in thick layers will also help soften the impact from beanbag rounds and rubber bullets.
However, dont do this thinking youll be able to go toe to toe with police.
Wear goggles or shatter-resistant glasses if you plan to be up front.
Wear a zippered backpack.
Dont keep your personal belongings in a wallet.
Any large crowd of people is perfect for pickpockets, even protests.
Keep your belongings in a zippered backpack that you wear square on your back instead.
Wear a second backpack on your stomach.
Stuff this second backpack with towels or a second set of clothes in a sealed plastic bag.
Keep this in mind when packing.
Unless youre a journalist or photographer, leave the delicate and fragile equipment at home.
Heres what should go in your backpack.
Bandages, antibacterial ointment, a nylon wrap bandage, and some basic wound-care essentials will do you wonders.
Your first-aid kit should contain some simple analgesics as well, like aspirin or ibuprofen.
An inhaler, epipen, any essential medication you cant do without, and personal hygiene accessories.
This is all preventative.
A dry bandana over your hair and another soaked with vinegar or cider vinegar.
Keep the soaked bandana in a sealed plastic bag until its needed.
Instructables hasseveral methodsto make one as well.
Baby wipes and eye drops.
Keep the wipes and your eye drops in sealed containers.
Pen, paper, and a marker.
If youll be out for a while, pack some snacks and water.
verify youre fed and watered before you leave, too.
Aside from this, keep as little as possible on your person.
Ive seen this happen for all sorts of gatherings, from war protests to street celebrations.
Photos byDebra Sweet,Jeremy Noble,Alistair,David Shankbone, andRay Terrill.
