Civil Unrest Protection

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS DURING A RIOT

Bare Minimum	Recommended	Resistance Gear
Face cover	Gas mask or respirator	Homemade riot shield
Safety glasses or sport sunglasses	Sealed ballistic goggles	Umbrella
Hearing protection	Knee pads	Traffic cone
Running shoes	Padded body armor	Bottled water
Dark colored pants	Plate carrier + plates	IFAK
Dark long sleeved tops	Head lamp	Water balloons + paint
Bike or mechanic gloves		Helium balloons or bubbles
Hard hat or helmet		Laser pointer
		Backpack to carry supplies

WHAT TO DO IF…

…You’re Exposed To Tear Gas

Self Care:

Tear gas is a thick, powdery fog that sticks to moisture like saliva, sweat, tears, and mucous membranes and causes an intense burning sensation. If gas is used, it’s important to stay calm, because panicking will worsen the effects. Follow airplane rules: Help yourself before helping others. If a tear gas canister is deployed, move away from the cloud, quickly and calmly. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR SKIN. Touching your skin will rub the powder in, enhancing the irritant. If you didn’t already have a gas or a respirator on, put it on immediately. Try to keep your breathing slow and even. Then, if you’re able, try to help those around you move away from the cloud. Tear gas is heavier than air and eventually falls, so move to higher ground if you’re able.

Blinking rapidly encourages natural tear production and can help flush the eyes. Do not use milk; it’s less effective, can spoil quickly, and can cause infections, especially in eyes. You should also blow your nose and spit—and avoid sniffing or swallowing, as this may worsen symptoms. Change your clothing as soon as possible. Take a shower as soon as possible too, but use cold water, as hot water can make the burning sensation worse.

Defense Tactics:

Traffic cone + water: Neutralize the tear gas. Put a traffic cone, or a similar item, over the canister. Pour water into the traffic cone.
Leaf blower: Turn it on and blow the gas away from yourself and others. Be aware of the wind direction and your surroundings so that it doesn’t blow right back at you or your comrades.
Umbrella: Open an umbrella and keep yourself behind it. This will help disperse the gas around you.
Grab and throw: While wearing gloves, grab the canister and throw it back.

…Rubber Bullets (Or Similar Munitions) Are Being Shot

Rubber bullets are a non-lethal tactic used against protestors. However, they’re only non-lethal if they’re being shot at the ground in front of the protestors. We’re already seeing that this de-escalation tactic is not being executed as it should be. If you are directly shot in the head with a rubber bullet, it can be lethal. Protect yourself.

Self protection such as helmets, ballistic goggles, long sleeved clothing, armor, and homemade shields are most effective. An umbrella could also help reduce the impact. At a minimum, you should have a helmet and goggles on. When it comes to armor, keep in mind that more weight on your body will slow you down. Find a balance between speed and protection based on your athletic ability.

Head down, shield up.

…Long Ranged Acoustic Devices (LRAD, “Sound Cannon”) Are Weaponized

This a sonic weapon in a tight beam. It can produce sounds up to 162 decibels and can cause permanent hearing loss. This is one of the reasons that proper hearing protection is key.

LRADs impact anything within its beam. This means that if you are standing behind where it’s being deployed, you won’t be impacted. If you’re in the beam, your only other protection is a shield. Objects in the path of the beam absorb the sound, so a shield would take the brunt of the impact.

If you don’t have a shield, and especially if you don’t have hearing protection, run and get behind the largest object you can find, such as a car or nearby building.

…Stun Grenades / Flashbangs Are Being Used

Flashbangs are designed to temporarily disorient you by producing a blinding flash of light and a loud ‘bang’ upon detonation. The sound level produced is similar to LRADS – between 160 and 180 decibels. Sometimes plastic fragments are hurled when these detonate and can cause serious injury. Your best protection against this device is to have on ballistic goggles and suburb hearing protection.

…The Aggressor Is Advancing With Riot Shields

This tactic is used to push people back or to hold them where they are in a specific formation. The aggressor is expecting you to push back against them. What they’re not really expecting is for you to pull them toward you.

If you need to get past them, give a little bit of push back against their shield until you feel them pushing back at you, then grab the sides of their shield, pull it towards you, and twist the shield.

…You See Someone Getting Arrested

FILM. THE. COPS. You have the right to record law enforcement. Help protect that person and do not let brutality go unseen. Tucson Police Department doesn’t have badge numbers so ask for the officer’s full name.

With a group of comrades, you can employ a swarming or de-arrest tactic. The goal is to free an individual who is being arrested by surrounding them and not allowing the aggressors past you or by physically intervening. Both are commonly done while chanting as a group. Be aware that this tactic can lead to criminal charges.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

First things first. If you encounter law enforcement, SHUT THE FUCK UP. In the state of Arizona, the ONLY question you are required to answer is, “What is your name?”. You do NOT have to provide your ID. The only exception to the ID is if you are driving a vehicle and are pulled over.

If questioned by law enforcement, ask, “Am I being detained?” If no, walk away immediately. If they do not allow you to leave, say the following:

“I wish to remain silent”
“I wish to speak to an attorney”
“I do not consent to a search”

Once you state that you want to speak to an attorney, they’re not supposed to ask you any further questions. They might continue to try and ask you questions anyways or say something to get an angry response from you. Stay calm and repeat the three statements as many times as you need to.

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES

Do not wear contacts. If chemical irritants get into your eyes, contact lenses will prolong the contaminant pressed against your eye and can cause permanent damage.

Use helium balloons or bubbles to know the wind direction. This will also help when tear gas is involved.

Leave your phone at home. If you absolutely need it, bring a burner phone that is turned off until you need to use it.

Have an emergency contact number and your SSN written on your body with a permanent marker.

Use laser pointers to take out surveillance equipment and to distract law enforcement.

Know who and where your street medics are. Carry your own IFAK in case medics are unavailable and it’s safe to provide aid.

Everything that you carry and wear adds weight to you. If you don’t have the endurance to run with extensive gear, make yourself as light as possible.

FURTHER READING

Gear Recommendations

Tactics

General