• Stay Indoors: If possible, stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
• Barricade your home and secure pets: Ensure windows and doors are locked and pets are indoors. Depending on the severity of the situation, consider boarding windows and other potential entry points.
• Monitor News: Keep abreast of the situation through reliable news sources.
• Communicate with Loved Ones: Contact family and friends to let them know you are      safe.
• Follow Official Instructions: Adhere to any instructions from local authorities.
• Prepare for Evacuation: If necessary, be prepared to evacuate your home according to your emergency plan.

• Travel in Groups: Whenever possible, travel with friends or family.
• Inform Others of Your Plans: Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return. 
• Avoid Crowds: Stay away from large gatherings of people.  
• Do Not Intervene: Do not attempt to intervene in any confrontations or protests. 
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Pay attention to what is happening around you and be prepared to react quickly if necessary. 
• Avoid traveling at night if possible: During daylight hours, you have better visibility to see potential threats and hazards. 
• Avoid Isolated Areas: Stick to well-lit areas and avoid shortcuts through deserted streets or parks. 

During civil unrest, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is whether to stay put or get out. Every situation is different, but understanding the risks on both sides helps you make the safest choice for your circumstances. 

Stay inside if:

• You’re already in a secure location, like your home, workplace, or a friend’s residence, and unrest is outside.
• The streets are unpredictable—crowds, roadblocks, or law enforcement presence may make travel more dangerous.
• There are curfews or travel restrictions in effect, and breaking them could escalate risk.
• You’re getting reports of vandalism, looting, or violence in nearby areas and moving could expose you to it 

If you shelter:

• Lock all doors and windows.
• Pull curtains or blinds to avoid visibility from the street.
• Turn off lights if necessary to avoid drawing attention.
• Stay off balconies or porches.
• Keep a low profile—this isn’t the time to argue online or livestream what’s happening. 

Stay informed using

• A hand-crank or battery-powered radio
• Phone alerts from city services, Twitter/X, or verified accounts
• Texts from trusted contacts

Situational awareness means knowing what’s going on around you—and using that information to make smarter, safer decisions. It doesn’t require special training, just conscious attention. 

Start with the Big Picture

• Scan your environment when you enter a space—note exits, potential barriers, and crowd behavior.
• Identify “zones of safety” like unlocked buildings, quiet side streets, or even parked cars you could use as cover in a pinch.
• Ask yourself: “If something happens right now, where do I go?”

Use All Your Senses

• Pay attention to tone and tempo: sudden silence in a crowd, shouting, breaking glass, or sirens often signal a shift.
• Watch for changes in body language—running, agitation, or clustering can mean tension is rising.
• Smell smoke? Hear chanting escalating? These subtle cues can give you an early warning before things turn.

Avoid Fixation

• Don’t get tunnel vision. Stay off your phone unless necessary—situational awareness drops dramatically when scrolling.
• Walk with purpose, not panic. Confidence makes you less of a target and helps you blend in.

Trust Your Gut

• If something feels “off,” it probably is. Even if you can’t explain it, move to a safer spot.
• Practice “mental scripting”: “If I see this, I’ll do that.” It helps override panic when split-second decisions matter.

Be Prepared to Pivot

• Know at least two routes out of any area.
• Stay flexible—blockades or police lines may force detours.
• Check the news or local feeds (Twitter/X, Citizen, city alert systems) before heading into urban centers or protest zones.

Protect Your Privacy 

• Avoid livestreaming your location in real time. It can make you easier to track and may unintentionally expose others to risk.
• Use encrypted apps like Signal or WhatsApp (with end-to-end encryption on) for sensitive or location-based communication.
• Disable location services on social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat before posting—geotags can give away your exact whereabouts.
• Turn off auto-sync on cloud services if you’re worried about data exposure during arrest or phone seizure.

Preserve Key Info

• Screenshot important alerts, protest updates, or road closures in case mobile networks go down or data access is blocked.
• Save phone numbers of family, emergency contacts, and legal aid in your phone AND on paper.
• Carry a backup battery or solar charger in case you’re out longer than expected.

Knowing your rights can make all the difference if you’re caught near a protest or are stopped by law enforcement. 

Basic Rights to Remember

• You have the right to film police and public officials in public spaces—as long as you don’t interfere with their duties.
• You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions beyond identifying yourself (depending on your state).
• You generally do not have to consent to a search unless officers have a warrant or probable cause.

If You Are Detained

• Clearly state, “I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.”
• Do not physically resist arrest, even if you believe it is unjust—this can escalate charges.
• Do not sign anything without a lawyer present.

Know Who to Call

• Keep the phone number of a local legal aid group, such as the National Lawyers Guild or ACLU, written down or memorized.
• Some organizations offer protest-specific legal observers and jail support teams—check if your area has one before attending a public event.