Notes From Clara: Protest Edition

Written By Colleen Conklin

By Clara Ndiraya, LMSW

Hi friends, 

In light of upcoming demonstrations in Nashville including No Kings Day on October 18, I want to share some resources for those who will be protesting. These gatherings are often moments of collective courage and truth-telling, where communities come together to demand justice, accountability, and care for one another.

That said, we also know that protesting is not everyone’s path and that’s okay. For many, especially Black, Brown, queer, disabled, undocumented, or otherwise marginalized people, public protest can carry unique risks and retraumatization. Showing up for justice looks many different ways: supporting from home, providing legal aid, bringing food and water, donating to bail funds, spreading awareness, or simply resting so you can keep going.

Our intention here is only to make sure that if you choose to participate, you do so boldly and with care. Below you’ll find links to trusted guides on protest safety, legal rights, and ways to plug into local support networks in Nashville and Davidson County.

May this help you move with clarity, community, and courage, wherever you stand.

1. Why Now

  • Across Tennessee and the U.S., there are increasing calls for protest action around issues from racial justice, trans and queer rights, reproductive freedom, to climate justice.

  • Tennessee has recently enacted laws that criminalize acts like camping on state property, with penalties including felony charges and potential disenfranchisement. (ACLU Tennessee)

  • The state continues to shift the terrain for protest: broad “time, place, and manner” rules, buffer zones, and permit restrictions are being used in ways that chill dissent. (Tennessean)

  • For organizers and participants, this means that showing up now is riskier and more consequential than ever. But that also makes it more urgent that we strategize, protect ourselves, and move with intention.

2. Your Rights as a Protester (Tennessee Context + U.S. Baseline)

Here’s what people in Tennessee- including Nashville and surrounding counties- should know, pulled from ACLU, state resources, and legal analyses. (This is not official legal advice. Consult a rights org or attorney for your area.)

Tips to stay informed in your county or city:

  • Reach out to local ACLU-Tennessee, Southern Poverty Law Center, or your city’s civil liberties groups.

  • Monitor city council or county commission calendars; sometimes new permit rules or protest restrictions are introduced quietly.

  • Always check in with legal aid or protest support organizations in your area for the most up-to-date guidance.

3. Preparatory & Safety Considerations (Informed by HRC & Protest Safety Best Practices)

Drawing from HRC’s Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety and other community safety guidelines, here’s a checklist you can adapt to your needs. (HRC)

Before You Go

  1. Know the route & terrain.
     Scout or map the route. Identify safe exits, nearby hospitals, restrooms, and meeting points in case folks get separated.

  2. Form a “buddy system.”
     Stick with one or more trusted people. Agree on check-in times. Make sure someone not at the protest knows your plan (when you leave, where, who you’re with). (NRDC)

  3. Pack essentials thoughtfully.

    • Water, snacks, any needed medications

    • First aid kit and basic supplies

    • Phone (with power bank), but also consider offline backups

    • A small amount of cash

    • Mask, goggles, bandana, or cloth for tear gas

    • Identification (or at least essential info)

    • Printed contacts for legal support

  4. Digital hygiene.

    • Use encrypted messaging (e.g. Signal) for coordination. (The Emancipator)

    • Turn off face recognition, passcodes, or biometric locks if safe to do so.

    • Avoid posting your route or your presence live on social media. (The Emancipator)

  5. Dress for protection.

    • Wear neutral clothing (avoid logos, bright colors).

    • Cover tattoos, jewelry, anything identifying.

    • Use sturdy shoes.

    • Carry minimal personal items.

    • Be aware: in some places, masks or “face covering” are regulated. Be sure you understand local statutes. 

During the Protest

  • Keep your hands visible, avoid sudden movements. (Indivisible)

  • Record interactions (badge numbers, vehicle numbers, audio/video) but maintain safe distance. (ACLU Tennessee)

  • Use de-escalation: speak calmly, slow your pace, assert rights without aggression.

  • Watch for medical/mental health distress in yourself or others; rotate out if needed.

If You Are Detained or Arrested

  • Calmly ask: “Am I free to go?” If yes, leave.

  • If arrested, you have the option to invoke your right to remain silent: “I would like to speak to a lawyer.” That way, you only answer questions with counsel. (American Civil Liberties Union)

  • You have the right to wait for legal advice before signing any documents.

  • You have a right to a local call (for legal assistance).

  • Law enforcement is not permitted to delete or alter photos/videos on your device. (ACLU Tennessee)

4. Strategies for Impact and Self Care

Showing up is sometimes convoluted, risky, and emotional. Here are ways to participate meaningfully while caring for yourself and your community:

  • Decide your lane. You might be someone who leads chants, someone who documents, someone who offers water or medical aid, someone who supports from behind the scenes. You don’t have to do all roles or be “on frontlines” to matter.

  • Set intentions. Before you go, name why you’re there (e.g. solidarity, witness, disruption, healing). Revisit that if your confidence wavers.

  • Rest & recharge. Spiritual and emotional resilience matter. Take shifts, step back, meditate, journal, breathe.

  • Embed accountability. Stay in dialog: offer checkpoints among your group for safety, emotional alerts, or extraction plans.

  • Be strategic about elevation. Help amplify lesser-heard voices (local organizers, marginalized folks). Media is often drawn to the loudest—help redirect toward sustainability and grounded purpose.

  • Learn from after. Hold a debrief after the event: what worked, what hurt, what we’ll do differently next time.

5. What Upcoming Protests & Movements You Should Be Watching

To have a responsive, up-to-date “map” you can lean on, use the following strategies:

  1. Follow local organizing accounts & hubs

    • X / Twitter accounts like NashvilleResist X (formerly Twitter)

    • Indivisible TN and Resist Nashville’s social media page

    • Stand Up Nashville announcements

  2. Watch event platforms & aggregators

    • Meetup (for Resist, local chapters)

    • Mobilize (often used by protest groups for signups / calls to action)

    • Facebook groups (e.g. “Upcoming events and protests in Tennessee”) Facebook

    • Local newsletters, mailing lists

  3. Track Metro / Government Calendars

    • The City / Metro Nashville events calendar (for public hearings, budget sessions, council meetings) Nashville.gov

    • Metro Council or Board meetings where protest-related ordinances or policing bills might be introduced

  4. Reach out to local legal / rapid response networks

    • Ask ACLU Tennessee if they have a local protest alerts list

    • Ask local NLG (National Lawyers Guild) chapters if they maintain a protest legal observer / rapid response email list

    • Connect with Defend Nashville and the Metro Public Defender’s outreach for court watch / hotline info

  5. Set keyword alerts

    • Use Google Alerts or Twitter/X saved searches with terms like “Nashville protest”, “Davidson County rally”, “Nashville march”, “No Kings Nashville”, etc.

    • Monitor local news outlets (WSMV, WPLN, NewsChannel5, The Tennessean) for protest announcements

6. Resources and Allies to Bookmark

We do not glamorize protest- we carry its weight.

But we believe that justice requires presence, witness, and collective courage.

When we show up intentionally, prepared, and tethered to community, we transform danger into possibility.

May we move together with clarity, protect one another, and hold fast to hope.

With radical care & reach,

Clara Ndiraya

Colleen Conklin
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