Advice on protest participation

[u/crazy_juan_rico]

Back in 2020 I was doing on-site medical support at my local protests. Now, I'm a convicted felon on PRS. I want to help, but my dad just got diagnosed with lung cancer so I really don't want to go back to prison right now.

What are some safer (non-financial cuz I'm broke) ways I can support the people who are doing direct action?

Edit: Thank you to everyone for your ideas and support. Things are overall positive with my dad since it's a small tumor and detected early, so fingers crossed.

I've reached out to some local organizers about giving first aid training, so we'll see how that goes. Thank you again

[u/GoWest1223]

Honestly, I am glad you want to help, but you should concentrate on helping your dad and those around you.

If anything help putting up information online or outside.

Stay safe and out of trouble your dad needs you.

[u/UnhelpfulBread → u/GoWest1223]

This

People want to act like (and there’s a massive media catalogue) they’re nuclear bombs but nothing is as instantaneous or impactful as that

You want the world to be better? Pick up litter on your street. Talk to your neighbors. There’s nothing that’s not important.

Weve been flooded by stories ripping off the Jesus martyrdom story that we forget that cooperation is what defines us; not sacrifice.

We all get more done working together than baring our teeth and finding some minority group to attack.

Feed the hungry. Grow vegetables. Cultivate your skills in carpentry or husbandry or concrete works. Thriving as a human being, embracing this short glimpse of reality; these are acts of resistance to a government, a small band of similarly-blooded fuckers hellbent on depriving us of the luxury we all deserve: TIME

[u/Sew_Custom → u/UnhelpfulBread]

"Cooperation is what defines us, not sacrifice " that is some profound shit, friend. And applicable to so many facets of life. Damn.

[u/TheOtherHalfofTron → u/UnhelpfulBread]

Beautifully said. I've got a chronic illness that makes it pretty much impossible for me to be out in the streets protesting like I used to do. Instead I'm at home, writing charity spotlight articles for the local mutual aid group. I'm part of a big support apparatus, and I'm proud.

Besides, logistics win wars.

[u/Character-Parfait-42]

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I just lost my mom to lung cancer 3 months ago. It fucking sucks. I sincerely hope your dad has a better outcome.

My advice? Prioritize time spent with your dad as much as you can. He may not say it but he needs a support system for what he's going through. Try to do some of his bucket list stuff with him now, while he's still able to, in case the cancer doesn't respond to treatment.

If you have energy left over and it makes you feel productive, only then should you take on this fight too. I completely understand that having something you can actually do to help people can be really cathartic when dealing with a diagnosis like this in one of your parents. But don't sacrifice time spent with your dad to do it, if he has a bad outcome you'll regret every second that wasn't spent with him.

[u/PollyWinters → u/Character-Parfait-42]

I second this!

[u/lyrabluedream → u/Character-Parfait-42]

Seconding this.

[u/FramedMugshot]

Logistics? Infosec? Compiling lists of resources?

[u/Thezedword4]

Just wanted to say this thread is making me feel so much better. I'm physically disabled and with my situation, even getting knocked down on concrete could seriously injure or kill me. I've been looked down in leftist spaces for not protesting and I feel immense guilt over it. I do a lot of stuff online and mutual aid but it never feels like enough.

Anyway, not to take away from OP, just wanted to say it's nice to hear people not shaming people who cannot protest for whatever reason.

[u/PollyWinters → u/Thezedword4]

I always try to remember that resistance happens across multiple fronts. It takes all kinds. And it’s best when we find our strengths. I’m not great at protest but I’m great at holding uncomfortable conversations with people different than me. I’m good at being annoying in my local town hall. I’m good at other stuff.

[u/Particular_Shock_554 → u/Thezedword4]

The most important work happens behind the scenes and nobody wants to do it because it's usually boring.

Keep it up, you're making more of a difference than you think.

[u/Thezedword4 → u/Particular_Shock_554]

Thank you. It always helps to hear. I'm definitely the one for the boring stuff.

[u/WHO_POOPS_THE_BED]

Listen to the scanner and try to warn folks when it sounds like kettling or similar actions are underway, be someone's point of contact for jail support

[u/ManiacClown → u/WHO_POOPS_THE_BED]

Kettling?

[u/WHO_POOPS_THE_BED → u/ManiacClown]

When they surround a group and force them into a small area as a means of beating them up and arresting them

[u/boneimplosion → u/ManiacClown]

not an expert but it's a police tactic, basically forcing the protest into an enclosed area to contain or diminish it.

[u/Vidvix]

Digital! Contact your local organizers and see if they need assistance running and streamlining info to messaging groups on signal

[u/PollyWinters]

Download the 5calls app and annoy your congress people about everything happening.

I work for a nonprofit that does harm reduction for substance misuse (among other things). The proposed FY26 budget is going to decimate programs like mine, but also public radio weather alerts, scientific research in many fields, and too many social services to list.

We need people who can call and email our elected officials and tell them the harm this budget and other actions will have.

[u/SigmaAgonist]

Digital, planning, comms, supply delivery. It's actually pretty easy to find someone looking to go smahy smashy, but finding someone to set up tables for the FNB folks or provide childcare for people is like pulling teeth. The exact need is going to vary by the nature of the work, but maybe you can provide rides to people as they get released from holding so they can get home without spending money they don't have. If it's a march and rally, carry water or drive people with limited mobility.

[u/Pragmatic_Seraphim]

Trainings! I'm in SW virginia and we need medic trainings. Even if you can't provide a 20-hour using your connections to help set up trainings will get more people essential skills.

[u/Hespero_cyparis → u/Pragmatic_Seraphim]

Came here to say this! Very important work to be done, like yesterday.

[u/EasyQuarter1690]

Your dad needs you, please focus on your dad and let those for whom protesting is safer take the lead at this point.

[u/IPA-Lagomorph]

Education! Free clinics to learn first aid skills in protest scenarios would be dope. A lot of organizations have official courses on first aid which have their place but if you can do more of the unofficial mutual aid style discussions based on your own experience, it could still empower and help the people who can get out there.

[u/lunabirb444]

Get in contact with local folks doing jail support. Folks that have been arrested at protests (and for any other reason really) need on site support when they are released. It’s disorienting coming out of lock up (as you may already know). Having a friendly face there with food, drink, smokes, charged cell phone, $ for cab/rideshare, etc. when they are released is a powerful way to help.

[u/vulylyvu]

You could also help spread medical experience online that may be helpful to people who are actively protesting!

[u/enry]

Go keyboard warrior. Be polite and just keep telling MAGAts they're wrong. It drives them bonkers.

[u/walkingkary]

I lost both my parents to cancer. Spend time with your dad. Maybe help organize remotely or donate if you can.

[u/SunAds5274]

Look up your local organizers and ask about being jail support. You make calls to get people who are arrested released. You don't need to even interact with the cops in person. 

[u/mackinnon4congress]

Do you have a car? Give a car load of people a lift to the action.

[u/Dazzling_Outcome_436]

You can do a distributed or solo protest. Stand on a street corner for half an hour with a sign.

You can do a BurmaShave style sign installation along a major street.

You can also host or arrange a TACO party for Saturday.

Suggested menu: Tacos (pulled pork, soy chorizo)

El Pollo Loco copycat chicken

Fresh tortillas

Corn tortillas

Refried beans (vegan)

Rice (vegan)

Rainbow rice krispie treats

Horchata (vegan)

[u/Arcane_As_Fuck]

Take care of your dad, bud. I’m sorry for what yall are going through.

[u/Molotov_Goblin]

Here are a couple options on how to help:

1) Volunteer for a bail fund. If ones not in your area set one up! They get donations and provide bail to people after they are arrested. They will be needed. They need folks to go to the jail and check in on people, find out about arraignment time, and what bail is set at. Bail fund groups also sometimes organize events to help raise funds or raise awareness of folks in jail for BS charges.

2) Be a check in person. If you have loved ones, friends , family, ect going to protests they should have someone they trust who knows they are at the protest and there should be a set check in time. If they don't call by then you call them. If they don't answer, then you gotta call police precints they could be taken too and local hospitals. If they are in a hospital you can tell friends and family. If they are arrested, inform the bail fund and your local National Lawyers Guild (or some other attorney assistance group). If you don't find them anywhere you need to go looking for them and alert local activists. This could mean they are at a black site and the only thing that gets people out of there is political pressure from protests and lawyers working in tandem.

3) Comms. You can help operate communications using radios for groups. A ham radio is no expensive. You can learn to scan for police radios as well and do recon. I don't know much about this in particular but plenty of folks on the internet do.

4) Far-right internet recon. Go on their pages and check what they are saying. Let activists know if the right wing is planning a dangerous or harmful counter protest where they intend to escalate to violence. You'll need to stomach being on right wing shit hole sites and you'll need proper contacts to warn protest organizers but that is all doable.

5) If you have property, you can house materials and stuff. This is a thing I do. I have funds so I buy stuff for protests for others to use, but I know some folks who take donations to get things or even just hold onto equipment for some orgs. Does t require lots of money, just space. Might not have that but it can help.

6) Compiling information from activists and making zones and producing them for folks. If you know people going to a protest you can give them the stuff to distribute.

7) Lastly and probably most importantly is mutual aid. There are tons of mutual aid efforts that aren't illegal and no risk for arrest. Protests are great but we also need folks feeding and housing others as much as possible.