i've been at multiple protests where police in full riot gear have charged at unarmed protesters i can guarantee you the uk police are not better or less racist

if you're going to a BLM protest in the coming weeks PLEASE wear a mask, plain black clothes, download y-stop (linked) and turn off your phone. link up with fellow protesters/friends on signal, an end-to-end encrypted text app https://y-stop.org/ 

read netpol's guide on your rights with the police and what to do if you're arrested (linked), bring multiple bottles of water, know whether you're able/willing to be arrested and act appropriately https://netpol.org/know-your-rights/

if you're in london write the bindmans telephone number on your arm in thick black ink that wont rub off, if you are arrested they will represent you https://www.bindmans.com/ 

don't film or photograph your fellow protesters' faces or anything identifiable, cover your tattoos, don't talk to people you don't know about plans when you're at the protest, if you are white put your body between people of colour and the police

this list isnt all-encompassing and it comes from my personal experiences attending protests - if your experience of protests is going to big mainstream ones like the anti-brexit marches pls know police response to other kinds of protest is very very different

i've made a lot of mistakes at protests over the years and am still learning, especially in regards to 'spikier' protests, but these are things ive learned that may be useful

oh and wear sun cream!!!!