By: Jerry P. Abraham, MD MPH CMQ
When our community takes to the streets, we do so with the power of generations behind us. Our communities have always resisted colonization, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, deportation, and police violence. Protesting is not new to us. Sadly, it is time again for us to rally around one another, create community, and build our own underground railroad in order to protect our own.
Whether it’s a Pride march or a No Kings Day rally, we must show up for our people and be prepared to protect each other. This guide is for queer, trans, undocumented, and mixed-status people of all races who want to stay safe while caring for their community and helping keep the fight alive.
Before You Go: Prepare with Intention
Know Your Rights
As queer people of color, we are often doubly or triply marginalized, by our race, gender identity, sexuality, and immigration status. Knowing your rights is one of the most powerful tools we have.
• You have the right to protest peacefully – regardless of documentation status. The First Amendment protects your voice, it may not feel like that right is alive anymore, but it absolutely is. Use it for all it is worth.
• You have the right to remain silent. This is especially important if you’re undocumented.
• You do NOT have to share your immigration status with police or ICE.
• You do NOT have to consent to a search.
Print or write legal hotline numbers on your arm, such as local immigration or jail support. Organizations like the National Lawyers Guild, United We Dream, and Immigrant Defense Project have “Know Your Rights” red cards in both Spanish and English.
Choose What to Wear Carefully
What you wear is not about fashion, rather, every clothing choice should be made with the intention of keeping yourself anonymous and safe.
• Avoid distinctive logos or outfits that can be used to identify you later.
• Wear snug, non-flammable clothes, no loose synthetics that can melt from tear gas.
• Wear closed-toe shoes for comfort and running if needed.
•Bring a hoodie, bandana, hat, or sunglasses to protect your identity.
• Wear a mask, not just for COVID, but to reduce facial recognition and exposure to chemicals.
Pack a Protest Kit for Yourself and Your Team
Bring only what you need and leave anything that could be used against you at home.
• Water bottle for both hydration and eye rinsing.
• Snacks like granola bars or fruit.
• Mini first aid kit with band-aids, painkillers, antiseptic, and gloves.
• Goggles or shatterproof glasses.
• If you’re a citizen or permanent resident, bring your ID. If you’re undocumented, weigh the risk of carrying one.
• Phone with facial recognition disabled, location off, and encrypted texting apps installed.
• Cash for emergencies.
• Legal and emergency contact numbers written down on your arm.
Tell a trusted friend where you’ll be and when you plan to return. If possible, arrange a check-in system and, for the people coming with you, set up a meeting point in case you get separated.
In the Streets: Safety, Solidarity, and Power
Once you’re at the protest, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. You are showing up for your people and your people are showing up for you. If you need something, say something, do not try and brave a problem by yourself and risk becoming a danger to yourself and others.
Stick with a Crew
• Don’t go alone. Protest in groups of 2–5 if possible.
• Establish a buddy system. Assign one person to keep eyes on you at all times.
• Decide on a meet up location in case of separation.
• Use a group text or app like Signal to stay in contact and avoid posting location updates on public social media.
Watch Your Surroundings
• Know where the exits are. Stay near the edge of the crowd if you need to leave quickly.
• Keep an eye on the mood of the crowd and the behavior of police.
• If you see someone being harassed or targeted, step in only if it’s safe. Otherwise, film and report it. Do not risk escalating the issue further.
What to Do If Confronted by Police
• Stay calm. Breathe.
• Ask if you are free to go. If yes, walk away.
• Do not resist physically. Say clearly, “I do not consent to a search,” or “I’m going to remain silent.”
• If detained, ask for a lawyer. Don’t sign anything without one present.
• If ICE is involved, do not speak about your immigration status, and do not open any doors without a signed warrant.
Also, avoid saying where you were born or how you arrived in the U.S. These can be used against you, even if you think you’re just making small talk.
Dealing with Tear Gas, Pepper Spray, and Arrests
Tear Gas
• Do not rub your eyes or skin.
• Use saline or water to rinse eyes. Don’t use milk, it can cause infections.
• Get to higher ground or upwind if possible.
• Remove contaminated clothes as soon as you’re in a safe place.
Pepper Spray
• Use a LAW solution (liquid antacid + water) to relieve the burn.
• Blink rapidly to flush out the spray.
• Do not wear contacts to protests, they can trap chemicals in your eyes.
Taking Care of Each Other: Mutual Aid and Community Healing
Safety is not just about helmets and goggles. For our community, safety also means healing, joy, and collective care.
Build Mutual Aid Networks
• Share rides, skills, housing, and supplies however possible.
• Organize bail funds or contribute to existing ones in your area.
• Create protest prep kits for others who may not be able to afford gear.
• Offer childcare, transportation, or emergency housing for those affected by raids or arrests.
Mutual aid is about solidarity, not charity. We help each other because we know that systems will not.
Be Safe, Not Silent
If you witness misconduct, film it, if safe, and share with accountability organizations. Always back up videos.
• Use encrypted apps and password-protect your files.
• Blur faces or voices before sharing videos publicly, especially of undocumented folks, trans people, or minors.
After the Protest: Rest and Rebuild
• Check in on your friends. Offer emotional support and help people debrief.
• Make time for rest, grief, and joy. Dance. Cook. Make art. Do something to remind yourself of the joy that can still be found in being who we are.
• Seek out LGBTQ+ Latin@ therapists, healing circles, or trauma support groups if needed.
Activism is a long game. No one can pour from an empty cup.
Everyday Resistance: Beyond the Streets
Not everyone can protest in person, and that’s okay. Resistance takes many forms.
You Can Still:
• Make art, flyers, or zines.
• Translate protest materials into Spanish.
• Cook meals for protestors or create healing spaces afterward.
• Educate others about queer, trans, and immigrant rights.
• Write to detained immigrants or incarcerated folks.
• Volunteer for hotline support or legal observer roles.
Remember: Protesting is not the only way to fight injustice. Your role, whatever it is, is valid and essential.
Final Word: We Are the Fire
Our ancestors resisted genocide, assimilation, and criminalization. We are the continuation of that struggle, queer, trans, Brown, Black, and bold. To protest is to say we exist, and we matter. To protect each other is to say we are not disposable. And to care for our community is to say we are everything we need.
So prepare. Show up. Speak out. Take care. And above all remember this pride month that pride began as a protest, and that all the joy and love we have to share each June comes from the deep appreciation for the people who fought for our rights before us. It is our time now to fight for the people who will thank us one day. Together, we build our tomorrow.
¡En la lucha, juntos, siempre!
Dr. Abraham
RESOURCES
• United We Dream: https://unitedwedream.org
• TransLatin@ Coalition: https://translatinacoalition.org
• ACLU Know Your Rights (English/Spanish): https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
• National Immigration Law Center: https://nilc.org
• National Bail Fund Network: https://bailfunds.github.io
• Mijente (Organizing for Latinx and Chicanx communities): https://mijente.net
Remember, you can visit Dr. Jerry P. Abraham and the whole JWCH-Wesley HIV Street Medicine Team at Tempo Nightclub every Sunday night. Come get HIV-tested, PrEP’d, and your LGBTQ+ health questions answered. STAY SAFE & HEALTHY!
This article is for informational purposes. To protest or attend a rally or not is your own decision. Adelante Magazine does not make any recommendations about any such events as it is a decision left up to your individual situation and comfort levels.