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Pre-protest checklist

Key points

  • Get everything ready the day before: on site, the network saturates or can be cut.
  • Phone charged, power bank, locked with a passcode, apps and offline map installed and tested.
  • Useful numbers on your skin (under clothing) and on paper, without names.
  • A buddy, a meeting point and two routes home.
  • Nothing in your bag that could pass for a weapon.

Tick these off at home, the day before or in the morning. On site, the mobile network often saturates or can be cut: what isn't ready beforehand won't be ready during.

Install this site offline

  • Open this site once with a connection, then choose "Add to Home Screen" (or "Install app") in your phone's browser. It then works without a network. The footer shows the offline status and lets you check for updates.

Phone

  • Charged to 100%, with a charged power bank and its cable.
  • Locked with a passcode (not fingerprint or face).1
  • Apps installed and tested: messaging (Signal), messaging without Internet (Briar), offline map. Add your Briar contacts now, together (see "Communicating at a protest").
  • Offline map of the city downloaded (see below).
  • Automatic backup of photos enabled on mobile data (see "Filming the police").

Offline map

Download the protest area and your way home. Test in airplane mode: the map and your position should show.

App Phone Official tutorial
Organic Maps (recommended: free software, no tracking) Android, iPhone Download maps
Google Maps Android, iPhone Download areas for offline use
Maps (Apple) iPhone Download offline maps

On paper and on you

  • Useful numbers written in permanent marker on your skin under clothing (upper arm, stomach — out of sight) and on paper: only the 10 digits, with no name (a close contact who is not protesting and answers hidden numbers, the legal team, a lawyer). In police custody, your phone and belongings are confiscated (see "Never stay alone").2
  • A trusted contact who holds your supporting documents (photos of your ID, proof of address, work contract or student certificate): in case of immediate trial (comparution immédiate), they hand them to the lawyer (proof of ties).
  • The printed pocket card.

With your group

  • A buddy and a meeting point away from the route, with a fallback time.
  • An Android comms lead if the group relies on Briar.
  • Two routes home (see "Getting there and back").

In the bag

Bringing a child or an animal

We found no legal rule specific to children at demonstrations. Only the rule on dogs is sourced; the rest is organising common sense, not law.

  • Category 1 and 2 dogs: on the public highway, they must be muzzled and held on a lead by an adult.3
  • Two adults, if possible: one looks after the child, the other the rest (bag, phone, scouting the exits).
  • A meeting point and an adult's number written on the child (arm or clothing), without a name, in case you get separated.
  • Leave at the first signs of tension rather than waiting: see dispersal and tear gas.
  • An animal is exposed to noise and gas and cannot flee: leaving it at home is simplest.
  • A minor taken into custody: see students.

In one of these situations? a beginner (it's my first protest) · a high-school student · the parent of a minor · without signal or Internet · new to politics, but I want to act

Sources

Each note links to the source of the information.

  1. EFF Surveillance Self-Defense — Attending a protest · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  2. Syndicat de la magistrature — Guide du manifestant arrêté · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  3. Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, article L211-16 (dangerous dogs on the public highway) · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

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