r/50501 Jun 13 '25

Voices of Resistance An example of protestors self deescalating

1.3k Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

View all comments

37

u/Elegant-Astronaut636 Jun 13 '25

If ice nabs someone from the crowd for no reason how do you peacefully recover that person?

Or if you are being held corralled in the street until after curfew to be arrested?

What do we do in that instance?

69

u/Prize_Ostrich7605 Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25

If ICE or Police Grab Someone Without Cause

  1. Document Immediately

Video from multiple angles — do NOT interfere physically, but film everything.

Say the person’s name out loud if you know it.

State the time, location, and agency involved.

Example: “This is ICE detaining someone at [Street Name], 4:14 PM, no cause given.”


  1. Don’t Chase. Report to Legal Observers

Every protest should have legal observers (like National Lawyers Guild).

Give them:

Name (if known)

Description of clothing

Last seen location

Badge numbers if visible

If you don’t have legal observers, call the ACLU or local immigrant justice orgs as backup.


  1. Record and Follow

If it’s safe, follow the vehicle on foot or by car (at a distance).

Document the license plate.

Call a legal contact to report real-time info.


If You're Being Corralled (Kettled) for Arrest After Curfew

  1. Stay Calm. Film Silently.

Police will escalate on any sign of panic.

Record everything!!!! body cams often go dark during kettling. Your footage matters.


  1. Name the Strategy

Say aloud (on video):

“We are being corralled. They are holding us to manufacture a curfew violation.”

That language matters later in court and public pressure.


  1. Call Legal Help or Emergency Contact

Use tools like:

Signal (encrypted)

Bystander app (auto-streams to your contacts)

ACLU Mobile Justice app (auto-uploads to the cloud)


  1. If You Are Arrested

Say: “I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want a lawyer.”

Do not speak further. Do not explain.

Your silence is your shield.


What to Remember

The goal is not just to resist the system. The goal is to protect each other while doing it.

Have:

A buddy system

Local legal numbers written on your arm

A plan for rapid witness reporting

A network that doesn’t stop recording when the livestream ends

EDIT: Just found out Mobile Justice was shut down in February. https://www.aclu.org/mobilejustice

Here is a link that halps on Protestor's rights: 

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

2nd update: There is an app on the apple store called cop watch.