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Boston Common, March 4, 2025. Photo by Glenn Ruga.
Dear Sisters and Friends,
Our members across the US are continuing the WILPF tradition of speaking truth to power, demonstrating against unjust policies and gathering to confront elected leaders who have abdicated their responsibilities to defend the Constitution and fully represent the people in their districts.
In these times of National Guards and military in our cities, masked marauding ICE and Homeland Security agents, and unnamed paramilitary forces detaining black and brown people in our streets, we need to continue to speak out against injustice and defend our communities and neighbors. Doing so strategically and acting in solidarity with our sisters makes a lot of sense. We may need to think ahead to develop safeguards and a PLAN B strategy.
Being prepared for the chaotic and unknowable next stages of autocracy and oligarchy in the US should include ways we WILPF members protect ourselves and others. We’re not being alarmist; we’re suggesting that being prepared can protect you as you stand up for others.
Here are some ideas for how best to prepare, so we can continue to speak out and defend our rights. No one is free until all of us are free.
WHAT TO BRING TO A PROTEST in addition to your signs and posters:
- Ear plugs, in case sound weapons are used.
- A bottle of water and clean washcloth – dampen the washcloth and place it over your eyes, nose and mouth if pepper spray or teargas is used. You might want to bring an extra washcloth to offer others.
- Face masks to cover your nose and mouth in case of smoke or gas.
- Bring a written notice of an emergency contact if you are not conscious… and list your medications and any allergies or health challenges. Make someone nearby is aware that you have this document with you.
- Be aware of your surroundings and the people near you. Some folks might be provocateurs who resort to violence, vandalism or provoke a fight. Separate yourself from those people quickly. Have a plan for a rapid escape should you need to get away.
MEMBERS
- Be intentionally connecting in your communities with like-minded people and groups and know how to get hold of allies beyond email. Hold more social gatherings. Attend faith community events and get involved. Connect with allies and friends regularly.
- Return to the idea of hard copy address books with phone numbers and location addresses of your members and allies, people who are either at risk themselves, or who might be able to provide support.
- Develop and curate a list of organizations that support dissent and assist those who are arrested. Encourage them to form a practical alliance that can respond with financial, legal, or humane support to the families of those arrested.
- Identify legal resources in your community that you can call on if you or an ally are arrested or detained. Approach them in advance to secure their promise of representation.
- Investigate what the current (possibly rapidly changing) fees for bail in your jurisdiction are on average and try to keep that cash on hand.
- Connect with other individuals and organizations who might be willing to contribute to a ‘bail fund’ for protesters who are arrested.
- Proactively create a communication channel with police representatives to find out and update information about where arrested individuals are processed and detained. Whenever possible, communicate with the police through a group or community representative for more protection and credibility.
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Before attending a protest or demonstration, make sure someone knows where you will be and be sure to contact them afterwards to assure them you are okay. This may be the contact person you trust with your bail money, should you need it. Let them know who your legal representative is and how to contact them.
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Know your rights. What does your city say about public gathering on city, county, federal or private property? Where is it safe to stand?
BRANCHES
In an era where email may break down, how will you preserve communications between members to provide assurance, support, information about upcoming events or meetings, and bail support if necessary?
- Share hard copy member lists among your leadership team and other trusted members. Remind them NOT to share these lists and keep them safe. Include phone numbers and emails but not location addresses.
- Consider selecting one person who is usually at home to be the contact person in case a member is arrested and has only one phone call to make. Make sure your members’ family know to contact the branch if your member is arrested.
- Reinstate a phone tree where each member is tasked with sharing information as necessary with a few other members. Be vigilant to vet new members before sharing contact information.
- Decide in advance on a safe secondary meeting location in case your primary regular meeting location is shut down or unavailable. Make sure everyone knows where to meet if it’s not safe to go to the regular location. This may involve an agreement with a faith community committed to social justice that would provide meeting space in an emergency.
- Consider encouraging your members to discretely display a black and white image of the WILPF dove on a front window to let people in trouble know that they can seek safe temporary shelter. Have a back up plan for where to transport them.
VOTING RIGHTS
The far right is considering plans to require more proofs of identity in order to be able to vote in some districts/states. These are clear obstacles for voting rights and these challenges disadvantage women and people in poverty. Here are some ways to prepare.
- Check well in advance (and update regularly) what forms of ID will be required in your jurisdiction. Consider posting the information where people gather… including laundromats, community centers, barber shops, coffee shops, grocery stores with bulletin boards for announcements.
- Be ready to spread the word in your network about last minute changes to try to stymie voters.
- Have documents at hand. For women who have been married and changed their names, and women who have been divorced, you may be required to show your birth certificate, your marriage license, your divorce decree and your remarriage license. Having these documents ready and at hand in advance could help you be able to vote. These imposed obstacles are not right, but protecting your ability to vote matters.
If you have more suggestions for creating practical strategies to protect one another and our communities, please contact us at President@wilpfus.org. We’ll keep sharing ideas.
Solidarity and sisterhood have kept protest alive at WILPF for 110 years.
You’re still standing and we’re standing with you.
Martha Collins Shilpa Pandey
Co-President WILPF US Co-President WILPF US
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