The Office of the Public Advocate stands in solidarity with all New Yorkers who exercise their first amendment rights. No one should experience fear, harassment, or danger simply for speaking up for what they believe is right. Here is a non-exhaustive list of resources to help you protect your privacy and personal safety while making sure your voice is heard.
This blog post does not constitute legal advice, but is educational in nature.
In-Person Protests
A compilation of guides on what to do before, during, and after a protest.
- Protect your protest by Right to Protest
- How to Protest Safely by NRDC
- Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety by Human Rights Campaign
- How to De-Escalate by Digital Library of Nonviolent Resistance
- How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid in Wired
Legal Resources
Be knowledgeable about local legislation regarding protesting and learn about legal resources to enforce your first amendment rights.
- US Protest Law Tracker
- Your Rights to Protesting in New York by by the NYCLU
- Know Your Rights by Extinction Rebellion NYC
- What You Need to Know About Your Rights as a Protester by Legal Aid Society
- Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Participation in Protests by National Immigration Law Center
- Protesting as a Non-Citizen by CUNY CLEAR
- Know Your Rights: Student Protests by National Center for Youth Law
- Know Your Rights for Campus Protests by National Lawyers Guild
- Facing On-Campus Surveillance in College by National Lawyers Guild
- Protest Planner by the Center for Constitutional Rights
Anti-Doxxing Resources
The ACLU defines doxxing as the “gathering and publication of personal information such as addresses and phone numbers by hostile parties to try to intimidate and direct violence at someone.” It’s been one of the most common tactics used to attempt to silence protesters in recent years. Doxxing may not be 100% preventable, but there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of being a victim of this harmful practice.
- Doxxing: How to Stay Safe and Protect Yourself by the NYCLU
- Some Steps to Defend Against Online Doxxing and Harassment by the ACLU
- A guide to finding and removing your personal information from the internet by The New York Times
- Anti-Doxxing Guide for Activists Facing Attacks by Equality Labs
Online Organizing
Use the resources below to safeguard your privacy online, but please consider how fast our digital landscape can change. We encourage you to follow Civic Tech and civil rights organizations and thought leaders for updates and developments.
- Protect your digital security and know your rights by Mozilla
- Digital security for activists by Activist Handbook
- Digital Security Tips for Protesters by Electronic Frontier Foundation
While our team cannot provide legal advice, we are ready to provide resources if you believe your first amendment rights have been violated. Contact the Office of the Public Advocate via our website, by email at gethelp@advocate.nyc.gov, or by phone at (212) 669-7250.
Photo Credit: Caroll Andrewsk for the Office of the New York City Public Advocate, AAUP Right to Learn Rally, April 2025
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