An Updated Guide to Staying Safe at 14 June 'No Kings' Protests

Revised in response to federal military deployments and expanded surveillance powers.

Dear friends

I know this isn’t the post I said was coming next, and it’s not arriving at my usual time. But in light of the latest Executive Orders I wrote about last, and what’s currently unfolding on the ground in Los Angeles, the protest safety guides I shared back in April are out of date. They’ve been shared tens of thousands of times, but they no longer reflect the risks protestors now face, and I am concerned that leaving them as-is could leave people exposed.

So this guide comes first — because many of you are planning to show up this weekend, and I want you to stay safe.

Let’s get straight to it.

The Night Before

• Choose quiet, forgettable clothing.
  Dark or neutral colours, no logos, no slogans. Long sleeves and higher necklines reduce what’s visible if cameras or drones are scanning the crowd. Avoid distinctive shoes, accessories, or patterns.

• Set out closed-toe shoes made for walking and standing.
  You may need to move quickly or cover distance if streets are closed or transit shuts down.

• Pick low-profile headwear.
  A plain cap shields sun and cameras. Sunglasses are fine if simple. A strapped-on bike helmet is optional — useful if needed, but check local laws. Avoid wide brims.

• Leave all Bluetooth and wireless devices at home.
  That includes fitness trackers, smartwatches, wireless headphones, and tags. These devices constantly ping and can be tracked — even if your phone stays off.

• Pack light and only what matters:

  • Water (in a soft bottle or pouch)

  • A snack that won’t melt or crush

  • Saline or sealed eyewash

  • Essential medication

  • A few plasters or basic bandage

  • A paper map

  • Cash (small notes only)

  • A plain buff or face covering (optional)

  • A written copy of your legal support number

  • A basic phone if you’re not going without

  • Nothing else. No extras. No traceables.

• If using your own phone:

  • Back it up, then delete anything sensitive

  • Log out of all major accounts

  • Turn off location services, Bluetooth, and cloud sync

  • Disable face and fingerprint unlock

  • Set a long passcode

  • Power it off. Don’t turn it back on until you're far from the protest area

• If using a burner phone:

  • Make sure it’s charged and has minutes

  • Only store the legal number and one emergency contact

  • No name, no links, no history

• Contact someone outside the protest zone.
  Let them know what time you’re leaving, what you’ll be wearing, when to expect you back, and when to act if they don’t hear from you. This isn’t drama — it’s backup.

• Study the location.
  Map your route in and two ways out. Know where crowds could bottleneck or where surveillance will be heaviest. Don’t rely on phone navigation. Don’t assume trains or buses will be working or safe.

• Get your gear, clothes, and contacts ready — then switch off, power down, and get some rest.

Before You Leave

• Dress in what you laid out the night before.
  This isn’t the time for last-minute changes. Stick to what’s quiet, practical, and unremarkable. You want to be forgettable in a crowd, not memorable on a recording.

• Remove anything that can identify or track you.
  Leave behind ID, bank cards, house keys with fobs, jewellery, loyalty cards — anything that links to your name, habits, or location. If you must carry ID for legal reasons in your state, be aware it speeds up identification later.

• Double check that your bag only contains the essentials.
  Water. Snack. Saline. Medication. Map. Cash. Written legal number. One contact. Nothing more.

• Leave your phone powered off.
  If you’re taking it, it stays off until you’re far from the protest zone. If you’re using a burner, confirm it works and carry it switched off unless needed.

• Write on your arm with permanent marker:

  • Your first name

  • Emergency contact

  • Legal aid number

  • Any critical medical info (e.g. allergies, meds)

  • This isn’t about drama. If something happens, it helps medics or legal observers get you the right help fast.

• Check in with your outside contact.
  Confirm that you're heading out, what time you'll check in again, and when they should raise the alarm if they don’t hear from you. Keep it simple. No running commentary.

• Take a final full-body photo and leave it with your contact.
  That way, someone can describe you accurately if needed — clothes, hair, shoes, all of it.

• Ground yourself.
  Take three steady breaths. Set your intention. You’re not going out to be reckless — you’re going out to be present, peaceful, and prepared.

Then go. Quiet mind, eyes open, feet steady.

Getting There + Getting Home

• Avoid driving your own car.
  Number plates are tracked, and parking near protest zones may be restricted or logged. If you must drive, park well away from the site — far enough that it’s not part of the surveillance zone.

• Do not use rideshare apps near the protest.
  Uber, Lyft, and others track your identity, route, and pick-up location. If you take one at all, request and exit far from the area. Turn your phone off as soon as you get out.

• Be cautious with public transport.
  Transit cards, tap-ins, and CCTV can log your movements. Don’t enter or exit at stations nearest the protest — choose one that’s out of range and walk the rest. If you’re using a prepaid card, treat it as traceable. It usually is.

• Walk the last leg.
  This limits what systems can track and gives you more flexibility if streets are blocked or closed. Stick to main roads if unfamiliar with the area, but stay alert.

• Plan your route home before you go.
  That includes a primary and backup exit path. Save the map offline if needed. Don’t rely on live updates — networks may be down or deliberately jammed.

• Afterward, don’t go straight home.
  Take a roundabout path, use cash for any stops, and change your appearance if possible — even just a different jacket or hat. You’re not being paranoid. You’re being practical.

• If you're stopped on the way in or out:
  Stay calm. Give only the information you’re legally required to share in your state. Do not unlock your phone or volunteer details about why you're travelling. You have the right to remain silent.

Arrival + On the Ground

• Arrive early, leave early — and always before dark.
  Give yourself time to observe. Take in the layout, exits, police presence, and crowd mood. Make your presence felt — then quietly move on before tensions peak.

• Stay near the edge.
  Don’t get boxed in. Stay close to side streets, open spaces, or low-traffic zones where you can exit quickly if needed.

• Don’t rely on transit during or after.
  Stations near the event may be shut down or heavily monitored. If you must use public transport, travel on foot first and board from a distant location.

• Keep your eyes up and head moving.
  Watch body language. Scan the police lines, rooftops, and sky. Drones may be in use — you won’t always see what’s watching you. Pay attention to how the mood shifts minute by minute.

• Move regularly — don’t plant yourself.
  Standing still makes you easier to record and isolate. Shift positions often. If you pause, keep your back to a wall or structure, not the crowd.

• No live streaming. No facial photography.
  If you document anything, avoid people’s faces, tattoos, and clothing that could identify them. You’re not there to create evidence — you’re there to bear witness.

• Stay off your phone.
  Don’t check maps, text, or film. Every unlock signals your location and identity. If you must use it, step aside, lower the screen brightness, and keep your face out of the camera.

• Don’t call out other people’s names.
  Sound carries. Cameras record. Keep language general and focus on shared goals, not individual identities.

• Stay calm if tensions rise.
  Step back, slow your breath, and find your grounding. Anger and panic are both contagious — so is composure.

• If the police line shifts, go.
  Don’t wait. Don’t watch. Don’t film. Move quickly and with purpose to your nearest exit route.

• If someone is detained, do not intervene.
  Note what you can: clothing, location, time. Then leave and report it to legal support. Staying free yourself makes you more useful to them.

If Things Escalate + Getting Out

• Trust your gut.
  If the mood shifts, you feel eyes on you, or something just feels wrong — leave. You don’t need to justify it. You’re not abandoning the cause. You’re protecting your ability to show up again.

• Avoid bottlenecks.
  Don’t let yourself get funneled into narrow streets, alleyways, or blocked routes. Keep to open areas. Stay near the perimeter. And never let a crowd form between you and your way out.

• If the crowd surges, move at an angle — not straight back.
  Step sideways to escape the pressure. Don’t follow the stampede. Get to clear space, then regroup.

• Do not shelter underground.
  Subway stations, basements, tunnels — they can be traps. Once you’re in, there may be no way out. Keep to the open air until you're well away from the zone.

• Avoid medics surrounded by police.
  Medical tents are usually safe. But if you see police standing guard, don’t go in. Wait until you can access help without crossing a line.

• Do not rely on your phone.
  If you’re scared, your instinct may be to call someone or look for help online. Resist it until you’re clear. Every second your phone is on can pinpoint your location.

• Change direction if you’re followed.
  If you think you’re being watched or tracked, pause at a corner, double back, or enter a busy space. Do not go straight home. Circle wide first, and make sure you’re not being tailed.

• Discard anything that might connect you to the event.
  Leaflets, signs, masks, stickers — even clothing if needed. Change your jacket, remove your buff, wipe off marker ink when you're safe.

• Wait until you’re far from the site before turning your phone back on.
  At least several blocks away. Further, if possible. Then check in with your contact and get home.

After You’re Home

• Change your clothes as soon as you’re in the door.
  Put everything you wore in a sealed bag, especially if there was any crowd control agent in the air. Wash separately.

• Clean your skin if you were exposed to gas or spray.
  Use cool water, gentle soap, and no oils or creams right after. Don’t rub. Pat dry. Rinse eyes with saline only.

• Scrub your device.
  If you carried a phone or burner, clear all messages, photos, and maps from the day. Turn off location, wipe browsing history, disable backups, and consider resetting it if unsure.

• Debrief with your buddy or group.
  Check in. Make sure everyone’s home. Swap notes — what went well, what you’d do differently next time.

• Check in with your outside contact.
  Let them know you’re safe and home. Confirm no action is needed.

• Log anything unusual.
  If you were followed, photographed, or approached — write it down while it’s fresh. Note time, place, and details. You may not need it now, but it’s easier to record while clear.

• Tend to your body.
  Rehydrate. Eat something grounding. Stretch or rest as needed. Even peaceful protests can leave your nervous system charged.

• Give yourself quiet.
  Step away from the noise. No news scroll, no social deep-dive. You’ve just carried out a serious act of civic presence. Let your system settle.

• Expect emotional ripple effects.
  Fear, pride, grief, tension — they’re all normal. Talk to someone if you need. Don’t ignore what comes up. You don’t have to justify your feelings.

• Decide when to re-emerge.
  You don’t have to post right away. You don’t have to post at all. Wait until you’ve had space, and only share what you’re ready to own in public— safety first, story later.

Online Communication: Before + After

• Avoid posting plans in advance.
  Don’t share where you’re going, when, or with whom. Group chats, social media DMs, even private stories — all can be monitored or leaked. Organise in secure channels (like Signal) and keep group size small.

• Use disappearing messages.
  If you’re coordinating online, set chats to auto-delete after a few hours. Share only what’s needed, then clear the conversation.

• Don’t tag or name others.
  Even with consent, it creates an archive. If you’re messaging about the protest, speak in general terms — no specifics, no identities.

• After the protest, pause before you post.
  Give yourself time to reflect. Posting immediately can make you visible before you’ve had a chance to gauge fallout or notice if others are being targeted.

• If you do share images or video, edit with care.
  Blur faces. Crop out tattoos, unique clothing, or identifiers. Don’t post audio that names people. Don’t timestamp. And don’t say “we” unless the people you’re speaking about have asked you to include them. It’s safer to speak only for yourself.

• Watch what’s being said about the protest — and how.
  Authoritarian regimes rely on narrative control. Stay alert to misrepresentation. But don’t fight every fire — elevate trusted voices, correct gently, and protect your own energy.

• Assume nothing is private.
  If it’s online, it’s retrievable. That doesn’t mean staying silent — it means being strategic. Use your voice to uplift, to bear witness, and to call for care — not to create a trail that could hurt you or others.

That’s it — that’s what I’ve got.

Use what’s useful to you, share it widely, and please take care of each other out there. This moment asks a lot — but not more than we can carry together.

In solidarity, always

— Lori

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