6.13.25
Tips for No Kings Protesters
Tomorrow is No Kings. Over 2000 peaceful protest events are planned across the country, and over 150 international events are planned.
If you plan to attend, I hope you have had a chance to attend the ACLU’s Know Your Rights training, which is available online here.
For those attending events in Florida, I did some research on state specific laws regarding the wearing of masks and recording police activity by protesters.
No masks for Floridians at protests. Since Florida has always been ahead of the curve on the rise of fascism, protesters are NOT allowed to wear hoods, masks, or face coverings at protests on public property. If on private property, you must have the property owner’s written permission to do so.
Use caution if you video record activity in plain sight at protests. Since police have no reasonable expectation of privacy at a public event like a protest, it is within your rights to film or record activity in plain view as a bystander. However, care should be taken to stay back at least 25 feet and not to do anything that could be possibly construed as interfering with law enforcement activities in any way, as that could give rise to separate legal issues such as obstruction or violation of the new anti-protest laws enacted by Florida republican lawmakers fascists that went into effect on January 1, 2025. Florida Statute Section 843.31 prohibits “approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning” and requires protesters to maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from law enforcement. It also prevents any activity that could be construed as “harassment” of law enforcement whatever that means. If you feel it is necessary to record police activity, it is best to maintain a distance of at least 25 feet, follow all verbal instructions from officers, and not to otherwise impede law enforcement activities in any conceivable way.
Be safe. Don’t be intimidated by Ron Desantis telling Florida drivers it’s ok to run over protesters “in self defense.” (He just wants to out fascist the fascist in chief). Use your head. Be aware of what is happening around you. Don’t block streets or sidewalks. Last, but not least, enjoy exercising your constitutional right to peacefully assemble in protest to tyranny.
*The above information is not meant to be legal advice or to create an attorney client relationship between the author and readers. If you have legal questions, please consult your personal attorney. I encourage all Americans to contact their elected officials every day until our democracy and republic are restored. Apps like 5calls make calling your federal electeds incredibly easy with scripts and easy access to contact information. Please feel free to copy and paste any of my letters to congress in your own emails to your electeds, as well. Find your federal elected officials’ contact information here. Also, please plan to attend the No Kings Protest on June 14, 2025.
Sources:
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-says-floridians-have-right-hit-protesters-cars-2084418