At any action, it is important to remember why you are there. If the goal of an action is to support and protect a specific community, all actions at the event should be taken with that in mind. Listen to those you are there to support, and avoid centering yourself – the struggle against the far right is bigger than any one of us or any social media influencer.

Do not escalate a situation without considering whether it is appropriate to do so. Remember, when you escalate a situation, that can affect the people around you as well as yourself. De-escalation is often the best choice when dealing with police or the far right. However, de-escalation does not always work on an aggressor determined to cause harm, so be prepared for the possibility that fascists may choose to be violent no matter what you do. If possible, the safest choice is often just to walk away from a situation that is getting too hot.

When we are on the ground, we are not there to create content for social media or to make ourselves into victims or martyrs. Act accordingly. Community over content, and comrades over clout.

At any action, there are multiple roles that people can take and multiple ways to contribute to the success of an action. These can include holding flags and banners on the front lines, physically occupying space in the rear while you have fun dancing along to music, documenting any instances of far-right or police aggression, handing out leaflets and supplies, and many more depending on the nature of the action. Try to go where you are most needed.

If you see people on the front lines getting physically or emotionally exhausted, offer to switch off with them in order to keep everyone fresh. Additionally, the more that people switch off on flags, banners, signs, etc., the harder it is for the far right or the police to identify and target any one person.

Not everyone can take on every role, and that’s okay! There are often plenty of roles for everyone. Contribute where you can according to your abilities, risk tolerance, and comfort level. Even if you don’t feel comfortable in high-risk situations, there are generally ways to show up and support an action that are relatively safe.

Masks are great not just for COVID, but also to protect your identity at events where you are likely to be targeted by the far right. Hats and hoodies can be effective at hiding your hair. Wear long sleeves, etc., to cover up any tattoos.

Avoid wearing distinctive clothing and bags that can be used to identify you, especially anything with easily identifiable logos. Be aware that shoes and glasses can be used to identify people as they are not as easily changed out. Also, avoid talking about personal details where others can overhear – especially livestreamers, police, or the far right.

Signs, umbrellas, flags, and banners can be used to block the view of livestreamers and photographers with ill intent.

Disable the fingerprint or face recognition unlock features and use a full password to lock the phone instead. Set your screen lock timeout to less than one minute. Turn off notification display on your lock screen. Enable full phone encryption using this guide.

Consider leaving the phone at home or turning it off and using a burner phone if you are concerned with surveillance. While focused on the Ontario Provincial Police and Hamilton Police Services, this resource has more information about common police surveillance techniques.

If you are bringing a phone, it is a good idea to make sure it is fully charged before you leave - knowing your phone has plenty of battery life means one less thing to worry about at the event.

One way that protest participants and those who speak up against the far right can be identified is through social media. Many people who have spoken out publicly against the far right have received violent threats and harassment through social media, work contact information, etc. Once far right networks have your information, it may not be possible to get it all taken down.

Take actions to protect your privacy online. Review your privacy settings and remove any information that you do not want falling into the hands of someone with ill intent, such as work information. Consider changing your name on social media. Leave your work information off your Facebook profile, and consider going private on LinkedIn if there is any risk that someone may harass you through work. Do not overshare, especially about families, pets, or photos and videos that bad actors can use to determine where you live and work.

Also, it is a good idea in general to practice some basic online safety precautions – even if only to protect yourself from having accounts hacked by mundane scammers. Use a VPN such as PIA , do not use the same password for multiple websites, use a password manager such as BitWarden, and reset your passwords if you hear about a data breach on a website that you have an account. Have I Been Pwned is good resource to quickly and easily check if you have been impacted by a data breach.

If you have been doxxed, threatened, or harassed online, consider these suggestions:

Digital Defense

I’ve been doxed: What to do in the first 24 hours I’ve been doxed: What to do in the first 24 hours

Crash Override Network Resource Centre

If you have been threatened or harassed online, it is generally a good idea not to share those threats or harassment publicly – it often only invites more threats and harassment. Balance the importance of speaking out versus the danger of drawing more threats and harassment.

Cameras can be a weapon. People can be identified by the authorities and by the far right based on footage that is posted to social media. Keep your cameras focused on the other side and not on fellow protesters. If you are taking photographs or video of our side, ask permission first and try to avoid identifying any individual protesters. If you need a photo for a media project, instead of faces, you can get photos of signs and banners or wide crowd shots that do not identify anyone. However, be mindful that clothing can be just as identifiable as faces.

Do not film children, families, or uninvolved bystanders and passers-by.

If you must share photos or video to promote the event, review the photos and videos before posting and ensure that they do not identify anyone who does not wish to be identified. Avoid livestreaming, as that gives you no opportunity to review footage before posting. If you are livestreaming and something you don't want to share online happens, it is often too late to delete the footage. Remember, Pat King was caught potentially violating his bail conditions on a livestream at the convoy anniversary, and that footage was shared online before it could be deleted.

Especially do not tag fellow protesters in pictures or videos on social media!

Many far-right instigators and “independent journalists” like to create situations where they can instigate conflict and then pretend to be the victim. By having footage from other angles, it is possible to prevent them from being able to construct this narrative.

Sometimes police will escalate even when protesters are nonviolent. They may fabricate false pretexts to arrest protesters.

Even having cameras on the far right or the police can discourage them from creating a situation that puts us at risk. Documenting any instances of aggression can be useful later for when the far right or the police attempt to justify their actions or lay criminal charges.

Footage you recorded can be useful. Don't hand it over to law enforcement; if necessary, share relevant footage with trusted comrades and the event organizers. Do not post it online without taking steps to protect the privacy of and seek permission from those on our side who may be in the footage.

If someone approaches you for an interview, ask what media outlet they are from. If they are from an established outlet such as CBC or a local newspaper, direct them towards an organizer or someone who can answer their questions. If you do agree to speak to the media, think about your safety before you agree to be quoted by name and do not provide any additional information that can be used to identify you such as place of work. If they are from Rebel News, True North (TNC), or a similar outlet, or if they identify themselves as an “independent journalist,” do not talk to them.

Even reputable outlets can act unethically, especially when it comes to reporting on marginalized people. Remember it is much more difficult to get information corrected or removed once it's already out there.

Often, we will see “reporters” from far right “media” outlets such as Rebel News or TNC at events. Others call themselves “independent journalists” but are simply far right instigators with a camera phone cosplaying as journalists. Outlets like these are not media; they are propagandists who attempt to provoke a reaction in order to get footage for far-right ragebaiting.

Be on the lookout for fake journalists and far-right livestreamers and ice them out.

Often, far-right individuals will approach people asking to debate or discuss the issues. These individuals are almost always engaging in bad faith. If the far right could be defeated through debate, we wouldn’t be in this situation — their core beliefs are so absurd and horrendous that they fail to stand up to the slightest scrutiny. Fascists win through violence and intimidation, and they lose when we refuse to be intimidated.

Also, be aware of your surroundings. If you are engaging a fascist in debate or conversation, it can be more difficult for others to get them away from people on our side and it can distract you from what's going on and where you are most needed.

If they are filming or livestreaming, just like with fake journalists, do not talk to them. They don’t want debate; they just want footage so they can doxx, harass, and make fun of “libs,” and it doesn’t matter how much you “own” them in debate.

“Never believe that anti-Semites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The anti-Semites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.”

― Jean-Paul Sartre

If you see someone else on our side absorbed in a "debate," consider checking in or starting a conversation with them. Sometimes people can get unintentionally drawn into extended, unwanted interactions because of the far right's upsetting talking points.

Even if they are friendly, remember that the police are not on our side. Best practice is to avoid speaking with police and have all communications with the police go through a police liaison.

"Don't talk to the police" includes small talk. It also includes trying to get them to arrest fascists. The police can and will use anything you say against you or your allies, even if you don't think you're sharing anything incriminating. As we saw during the convoy occupation, even if far-right individuals are openly committing crimes, the police will often choose to go after progressive protesters instead.

If you have a legal support number, write it on your body in permanent marker in case you are arrested. While people usually put it on their arms, having it in a visible place can occasionally make it more likely that police will single you out.

If police approach you, ask if you’re being detained or arrested. If the answer is no, you are free to go. Even if you are detained, you aren't legally obligated to say anything to them. You don’t have to identify yourself to them, and you can and probably should remain silent.

If police detain or arrest you, they have to tell you why and inform you of your rights. If you are arrested, you do have to give them your name, address, and date of birth, but nothing else.

Following the law does not guarantee that you won't be arrested. Having rights on paper doesn't always mean the police will listen. A lot of protest-related charges get dropped without ever having to go to court. Many others get diverted. However, they can still disrupt our movements by tying people up with release conditions and legal fees.

If held in detention, be wary of signing onto release conditions. This is an extremely personal decision, but conditions are often used to keep people from participating in protests or even talking to co-arrestee friends. It is harder to get conditions varied once you've agreed to them. If you can make it until a bail hearing, the conditions attached will likely be less severe than those that the police offer you.

Cash bail is uncommon in Canada outside of the immigration detention system. In most circumstances, you don't need to worry about "bail funds." You may need a surety, which is a person who promises to report you if you break your release conditions. If they don't, they may be financially liable.

Keep a look out for possible threats. These can include far-right agitators, police movements, or just anything that doesn’t look right. Also, keep an eye out on the crowd on your side so you don’t get separated. Communicate any potential threats to others so they are aware as well.

There is safety in numbers; by using a buddy system we can keep each other safe. Agree on a safe meeting place if you get separated and have a contact number for your buddy. Go over the plans for the day with your buddy just to ensure you are on the same page.

If you don’t have a buddy, at least try and leave with as many people as possible until you get a safe distance away from the area.

If you have other responsibilities after the action – feeding pets, childcare, etc. – make arrangements with a friend who can assist with these tasks if things go south and you are either arrested or held up. For example, you can agree to check in at a certain time. If they don't hear from you by then, they'll know that something came up and that they should follow up with those tasks for you.

After the event, it is a good idea to check in, either with the buddies you have attended with or with any trusted individuals. A debrief can help you ground yourself and be better prepared for next time. Make sure to take care of your body (eat well, drink plenty of water, etc.), especially if the action was an emotional experience. If you have a legal support number, keep it for a few days just in case.

If you have additional supplies to share, bring them along! Useful supplies include flags and signs, extra masks, a first aid kit, food and water, handwarmers and footwarmers (in winter), umbrellas, and any other protest supplies that can be used to set a tone or support a crowd. A portable power bank can be useful for recharging your or your friends’ phones, especially if you are out for longer than you expect. Don’t overburden yourself though, especially if you may need to make a quick getaway!

Avoid bringing anything you don't want to risk having confiscated by police, or which may cause you more legal trouble if police find it on you. For example, if you usually have drugs or a Swiss Army knife or multi-tool on you, you might want to leave that at home.

Actions and protests may last longer than you are planning. Make sure you’re dressed for the weather to avoid heat stroke, sunburn, frostbite, etc. If you are planning to attend an event to counter the far right, it is often a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the location first, get a feel for the location, and go over the plan with allies.

If you are driving, park at least a couple blocks away from the event so that it is more difficult to identify your vehicle, and so you can easily get away in case roads at the protest site are blocked. Avoid coming too close to a protest site in your car if you can. Drivers are legally required to identify themselves to the police under the Highway Traffic Act, and this can be used to identify protesters.

Movement Defence Committee Toronto

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