Direct Action Support & Safety Resources

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Adapted from The Ruckus Society’s “Action Safety and Community Care in Times of Rapid Response” Training Guide and the experience of BCAN members.

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There are many past movements of resistance we can learn from as we continue to fight for a better future! Many organizations have also created tools that we can use to center community safety and justice as we fight for what we believe in.

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Best Practices for Movement Safety

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• Use encrypted apps for communication, like Signal (texting, voice calls) and Zello (Walkie-Talkie).

• Set up disappearing messages on Signal.

• If you are meeting to talk about sensitive information, turn off all phones.

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Going to an Action?

 

• Make a plan with someone who is not present at the protest to be your contact in case you are arrested. Write their phone number in sharpie on a place of your body you can easily access (like your forearm). 

• Pack the following:

  • Water: To stay hydrated and to use as an eye flush.

  • Identification: “Not having legal identification at the time of arrest can complicate your booking process and ultimately make it take longer for your identity to be verified and for you to be released. There are many reasons for not carrying identification and this should be discussed with your group in advance of taking action.”

  • Money: It is a common practice for police to release arrested protestors in the middle of the night. Having money on you will allow you to get transportation back from jail, especially if your phone has died.

  • Medication: If you have a prescription medication that you might require over the next 24 hours, bring it in the original container with your name on it.

  • Snack

  • Sharpie

  • PPE Gear (Mask & Sanitizer)

  • Layers 

  • Wellness Kit (first aid, herbs for emotional support, spiritual items)

• ​Don’t talk to the police! The police have no legal obligation to tell you the truth or protect you. “If it feels like you are being detained, ask: Am I being detained? If they say no, carefully and slowly leave. If you are being detained, memorize these magic words and only use these ‘I am going to remain silent. I would like to see a lawyer.’” (The Ruckus Society)

• Protect each other!

  • Do not point out specific people to the police. If they ask, “Who is in charge?” or “Who is the police liaison?” you can point in a random direction and say, “They are over there.”

  • Be mindful of what you share on social media.​

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