New York is one of the cities that is facing nationwide protests due to the murder of George Floyd. However, America’s leadership cannot be trusted, and therefore, you need to be careful when joining the protests.

Here are five things you should know when you go out on the streets to participate in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Source: Time Out

Go with a Group

Try to gather your friends and go with a small group. Stick close to each other at all times and fix a spot for an eventual meetup in case, things go south.

Protect Your Body

Protests are important but so is protecting yourself against the pandemic. Be smart and wear a mask or cover your face with a scarf. Ensure some distance between you and the protestors and if you have any special medical condition, get tested after the protest.

Protect Your Privacy

Public demonstrations often mean that you end up on television or magazines so try to stay away from cameras because you might be at risk. Police have installed multiple cell towers to track your phones so make sure your personal information is password protected.

Know Your Rights

If you are arrested without a reason, then it is your right to question the law. You also have the right to remain silent so try to file a complaint with 311 as soon as possible. The state also gives you the right to record a police officer in a public space so if you are threatened, do not be afraid to pull out the camera.

Source: Twitter

Keep the Legal Aid Society Number in Case You Get Arrested

Some numbers that you should always have on yourself are 1-833-346-6322 or 212-577-3300. These are important numbers in case you get arrested so you can get legal support from these organizations.

So please wear comfortable clothes and shoes and remain safe. Most importantly,  protect each other against police brutality.