So you’re going to protest. Maybe the risk of a collapse of the Republic and nuclear weapons in the hands of a narcissistic, rapey reality TV host have you itching to make your voice heard. Marching down the street, you’re waving a sign, chanting with the crowd, and taking selfies—and then you see a wall of cops.
Now what?
In our Panopticon security state, there are always going to be police around any large political gathering. There will be good cops and bad cops, happy cops and grumpy cops. There will be events that are chill, where the police let people move along rather than confronting them. There will also be events that are not chill.
When you protest, you need to decide what level of risk you’re willing to accept. Are you willing to get arrested? Detained? Are you willing to get a ticket? A criminal charge? What about getting tear-gassed, or hit with batons and shields? Think about these things ahead of time—before you storm the local bastille.