What do you take to a protest?

I keep reading the lists of what the insurrectionists brought to their attempted coup, or, as they say, "first amendment protest."

I've been to many protests and marches, so here's my equipment list:

Water bottle, breakfast bar or nuts or snack of some kind, antihistamine and epipen because I always carry those, hat, cash for parking garage, ID, cell phone, a sign maybe but they are sometimes banned. If I'm talking to an elected official or hearing a speaker I'm especially interested in I bring something to take notes with.

Due to white privilege I've never carried a toothbrush or lawyer contact info, but I probably will in the future. Milk might be a good idea too.

The police I've seen at protests tend to be polite and bored, not violent, so maybe I'm lucky. Protestors are usually a mix of races so that's not just white privilege.

Things I'd never bring include sledge hammers, weapons, bear mace...

Also, if I ever saw a fellow protestor break a window, trespass, start a fire, attack someone... I'd leave and call 911.

Anyone have a different list?

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15 replies	Author	Time	Post
What do you take to a protest? (Original post)	Laurelin	Jan 15	OP
Sounds pretty much like my list, although add that the bag or backpack is "see through"	woodsprite	Jan 15	#1
Why milk? nt	Rorey	Jan 15	#2
Pepper spray/tear gas antidote n/t	Bobstandard	Jan 15	#4
Good to know!	Rorey	Jan 15	#5
I've been demonstrating since 2003: NYC, at the UN, the Feb before the Iraq invasion	lindysalsagal	Jan 15	#3
I want to know where they got the lumber to build that gallows	Walleye	Jan 15	#6
Why is there no video of them building the gallows?	Nevilledog	Jan 15	#7
Excellent question. Would be helpful if we could hear what they were saying at the time	Walleye	Jan 15	#9
I wondered about that, too	Laurelin	Jan 15	#12
One excuse is that things 'got out of hand'.	keithbvadu2	Jan 15	#15
In my case I would want the cell phone to be a burner, just in case I had to break bad on a Nazi. ;	Chainfire	Jan 15	#8
Flex cuffs and baseball bats.	Cobalt Violet	Jan 15	#10
As recently as 2010, we protested Scott Wanker and we took CHILDREN.	LakeArenal	Jan 15	#11
Your list, plus cash or credit card to buy souvenir tee shirt.	sinkingfeeling	Jan 15	#13
Details of the buildings we intend to conquer?	keithbvadu2	Jan 15	#14

Response to Laurelin (Original post)

Fri Jan 15, 2021, 04:02 PM

woodsprite (10,615 posts)

1. Sounds pretty much like my list, although add that the bag or backpack is "see through"

so all contents are visible.

What do you take to a protest?

1. Sounds pretty much like my list, although add that the bag or backpack is "see through"

2. Why milk? nt

4. Pepper spray/tear gas antidote n/t

5. Good to know!

3. I've been demonstrating since 2003: NYC, at the UN, the Feb before the Iraq invasion

6. I want to know where they got the lumber to build that gallows

7. Why is there no video of them building the gallows?

9. Excellent question. Would be helpful if we could hear what they were saying at the time

12. I wondered about that, too

15. One excuse is that things 'got out of hand'.

8. In my case I would want the cell phone to be a burner, just in case I had to break bad on a Nazi. ;

10. Flex cuffs and baseball bats.

11. As recently as 2010, we protested Scott Wanker and we took CHILDREN.

13. Your list, plus cash or credit card to buy souvenir tee shirt.

14. Details of the buildings we intend to conquer?