North Four Corners News ♦ February 2026

13 Rules to Protect Yourself While Protesting

By Qasim Rashid, Esq.

[Excerpted with permission from the “Let’s Address This” column by Qasim Rashid, Esq., 13 January 2026.]

Peaceful protest is enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Americans have exercised this right throughout our nation’s history to protest government overreach, tyranny, and injustice. ...Preparation matters.

If you are undocumented or your immigration status is in processing, it is highly advisable you avoid these protests altogether.
1. This is not a judgment on courage or commitment. It is a safety assessment in a moment of heightened enforcement.
2. If you still insist on protesting, follow the below rules and additionally have your A number memorized.
Ensure your loved ones know where you are and what time you will meet them at a predetermined location. Do not leave your location to chance; ensure your loved ones are in the know.
Have the phone numbers of your (A) lawyer and (B) loved ones memorized in case you need to call them from memory. [Editor: You can also write them on your arm in ink or Sharpie before you leave.]
If stopped by law enforcement for any reason, ask simply if you are free to go. If they answer yes, then walk away and do not double back.
If the answer is no, do not voluntarily talk to police, the National Guard, ICE, or any member of law enforcement. Do not volunteer any information about yourself. Do not initiate conversation. You always have the right to remain silent.
Do not lie to law enforcement. Law enforcement can lie to you to get what they want. You cannot lie to law enforcement. Under no circumstances should you lie to law enforcement. The best way to not lie is to not speak. Simply remain silent.
Ask for a lawyer immediately if you are in fact detained or arrested. Do not sign anything, do not admit to anything, and do not confess anything. Simply ask to speak to your lawyer. Repeatedly ask in the clearest terms possible that you would like to speak with your lawyer. Period.
You can lawfully ask any law enforcement officer or military person to share their name and badge number with you, and what department they represent. You should do this if your rights are violated. But do not volunteer any information about yourself. Some states require you to disclose your name. [Editor’s Note: According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, D.C. has no such statute; Maryland Criminal Law Code §4-206, allowing “limited search, seizure, and arrest” only triggers when the officer reasonably believes the person is “wearing, carrying or transporting” a handgun; Virginia has no state statute, but some localities may require individuals to identify themselves.]
You can lawfully record in any public space, anything that is in plain view. ICE fascists might threaten to arrest you for recording. These are threats, and may be real threats because ICE does not follow the law, but they are not legal threats.
You can march in the streets or on any public space and the police cannot arrest or detain you. However, if you are deliberately obstructing public throughways, you can be detained.
Be especially cautious in states where MAGA-controlled governments have expanded legal protections for drivers who harm protesters or openly encourage violent responses to demonstrations. Several states use vague standards such as a driver “feeling threatened” to justify driving into crowds — language that is deliberately ambiguous and dangerous. Know your state’s laws, stay situationally aware, and prioritize your safety, especially where officials have signaled hostility toward protestors.
Generally speaking, law enforcement can ask you to unlock your phone by Face ID or finger print, but not by entering your passcode. Set your phone security to require your passcode to unlock it. Do not voluntarily unlock your phone for law enforcement for any reason.
Be fearless and speak truth even if your voice shakes. Know that you are standing on the right side of history, of protecting our Republic from fascists. ■

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