showing up In solidarity

The killing of George Floyd, the militarization of police, their excessive use of force, and the government's authoritarian response has enraged us. We are joining the protests because we understand the systemic changes that are being called for are absolutely necessary. We've put together a list of useful resources that cover your legal rights and digital security. We've gathered a list of funds you can donate to, if you have the means. And we've also compiled a selected reading list on anti-racism. Now is the time to educate ourselves.

“If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” -Lilla Watson/Aboriginal Activitsts Group, Queensland

PRotest

Get out in the streets and join your local protest. You can use your body to put pressure on our leaders to address systemic racism in our society. See here for a list of protests being organized in the DMV.

Make sure you’re showing up in a good way. Wear a mask and try to keep your distance as much as possible. Don’t talk to cops. Don’t escalate situations or incite violence. Don’t bring weapons, controlled substances, or alcohol. If you’re not black, be ready to step back and let others take the lead.

Scroll down to read more about what your rights are & how to keep your information secure before going out.

Donate

Learn

If you are white and want to part of the Movement for Black Lives, then this is the perfect time to educate yourself and take action. We recommend How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, and Uprooting Racism by Paul Kivel, both of which include concrete tools for dismantling white supremacy and racism. We also recommend My Grandmothers Hand's by Resmaa Menakem which exams white body supremacy from the perspective of trauma and body-centered psychology. Organizing White Men for Collective Liberation is a national network mobilizing white men to learn, grow, and take action against white supremacy and patriarchy. White Accomplices has a thorough list of resources for white people to act for racial justice. Showing Up for Racial Justice is a chapter-based organization that works to move white people into accountable action. Also, here is a list of 75 things white people can do to support racial justice. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a wealth of resources for taking anti-racist action.

know your rights

Note: this is a general guide to your rights. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and procedures vary by city and state. Consult local activists and attorneys for more precise information relevant to your area.

Constitutional Rights

The First Amendment grants all Americans the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. In other words, you have a constitutional right to protest and criticize the government.

However, the Fist Amendment does have limits. Some things that are not protected include

  • Slander or defamation: Knowingly lie about someone and cause them economic harm

  • Obscenity

  • Incitement or advocating the use of force - you cannot express an immediate or imminent intent to do violence

  • True threats of violence toward a person or group - you cannot make remarks intended to place the target at risk of bodily harm or death

  • Fighting words - you cannot use speech that is likely to incite an immediate breach of the peace. Fighting words are a direct personal insult directed at the person who hears it

  • Dangerous speech - you cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theater

  • The First Amendment applies in traditional public forums (like sidewalks or parks), but is limited in quasi-public forums like college campuses and even more so on private property such as a mall.

The Fourth Amendment protects you from unwarranted search and seizure.

  • Law enforcement has to follow procedure to search or seize your belongings

  • Most common way: police get consent

    • Silence can be consent

    • Assert this right by saying: “I don’t consent to this search”

Note that you have these constitutional rights simply by being in the United States, regardless of citizenship status. However, arrest may negatively impact your immigration status; consider consulting with an attorney prior to engaging in civil disobedience if this is a concern.

The Fifth Amendment gives you a right to remain silent.

  • You should never answer questions from the police. Even if you are detained and arrested, you have the right not to answer questions. You do not have to answer questions unless you’re in a court situation and a judge compels you to do so.

  • Anything you say can and will be used against you and against other people.

  • In order to exercise this right, say: “I am going to remain silent. I would like to speak with a lawyer.”

  • If you start answering questions, you can stop at any point. If you find yourself talking, stop, and say “I am going to remain silent. I would like to speak with a lawyer.”

Interactions with police

Now that you know your basic rights, here are some tips for exercising them in your interactions with police.

General advice

  • Remain silent

  • Don’t lie to police

  • Assume you are being recorded

  • Keep your hands visible

  • DO NOT TOUCH police officers or equipment, accessories, dogs, vehicles, etc. Even the slightest physical contact can result in an “Assaulting a Police Officer” charge.

  • Stay around other people

  • After interaction: write down your own narrative of everything that happened. Include officer names and badge numbers if possible. Trial can happen over a year later. You don’t want to rely on the police officer’s version of events.

There are three levels of interactions with the police. Knowing which level you are at will help you to know how to react:

  • Casual conversation (basic level)

    • If officer starts asking you questions, say “Am I being detained?”

    • If officer says no, respond, “I don’t wish to speak with you,” and move away from the officer.

  • Detention (police want to ask you questions or restrict your movement)

    • To detain you, police need a reasonable, articulable suspicion that you have committed a crime or are about to commit a crime.

      • If you’re breaking the law, police will have a reasonable articulable suspicion.

    • If an officer says you’re being detained, ask them to tell you why.

      • If an officer says you’re being stopped for one thing, but they give a different reason later, this could be used in court.

    • If a cop is detaining you, pushing you around, or searching you, say “I don’t consent.”

    • If you are detained, police can prevent you from leaving the area but cannot take you elsewhere.

    • If you are detained, you can be required to give your name, address, and date of birth. You are not required to give other information such as your immigration status, country of origin, or social security number.

    • If you are detained, an officer can pat down outside of your body and your wingspan. This includes looking in bag/backpack if it’s within your reach.

      • You can request same-gender officer for pat-down search. This may or may not be honored.

      • Police may search people even though they don’t have the right to do it. Fight it later. Say: “I don’t consent to this search.” If possible, say it where a legal observer can hear you.

  • Arrest

    • Police can arrest you if they have probable cause that you have committed a crime (in protest situations, this might be easy for them).

    • If you’re arrested, police are allowed to search you and make you remove any valuables (e.g. jewelry, including piercings).

      • Search must be done by an officer of the same gender.

    • If you make it hard for them to arrest you, such by hiding your hands or by going limp, this could be the basis for a charge of resisting arrest. This depends on the jurisdiction; check local laws. DC cops have been known to add resisting arrest charges in the past.

 REBEL SECURITY GUIDE

Keeping your accounts, devices, and communication secure is about solidarity with your fellow activists. If your accounts are compromised, you may open up others to security vulnerabilities. Remember, as in all things, we are only as strong as our weakest member. 

Of course, there’s no guarantee that any method will keep your information secure, but these guidelines are designed to help you avoid the most common kinds of cyber threats. 

BASIC SECURITY

We strongly advise ALL rebels to follow a few basic rules to increase the security of your personal accounts and devices:

  1. Use a password manager to store passwords. 

  2. Always use strong, unique passwords.

  3. Secure your phone and laptop.

  4. Communicate using encrypted apps. Keybase and Signal are both encrypted organizing tools which is why we use them to communicate within Extinction Rebellion.

  5. Be on the lookout for suspicious emails.

  6. Enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts that support it.

  7. Be careful of public wifi. Avoid handling sensitive information while on public wifi or wifi without a password.

  8. Protect your data while browsing. Add Ublock and Privacy Badger plugins to your browser to block trackers and prevent cookies while you’re on the internet.

  9. Enable basic controls for public Zoom meetings.

  10. Avoid fraud calls, emails, and links.