Disinformation in Los Angeles and Activist Safety

Intentional Chaos

All eyes were on Los Angeles this week as the federal government sent ICE agents into the city to arrest immigrants and then the National Guard in response to the peaceful protest of the ICE raids.

disinformation:

False information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media.

But we know what we were really watching. An attempt to use chaos and disinformation to distract Americans from the bill working its way through the Senate that will cut programs and services that sustain this country.

Learn more in this week's episode of Hey, Black America.

Stay safe

Here are some tips to stay safe as you protest in your community.

Before the protest, rally, or march:

• Have an offline map of the venue and surrounding areas available as cell service may be limited in some cases.
• Plan multiple routes into and out of the protest area.
• Set a rally point with others for where you will meet in the event of an emergency.
• Install Signal for end-to-end encryption to protect text messages and voice calls.
• Dress for anonymity and safety.
• Remove fingerprint and face unlock on your phone.
• Use a strong passcode to get into your phone.
• Back up your data.

While at the protest:

• Avoid posting photos with other protesters' faces visible.
• Take photos and videos without unlocking your device.
• Scrub meta data on a photo before posting: Transfer photo to desktop, take a screenshot of it, send it to Signal, download from Signal, then post.

If you are approached by police:

• Ask for a lawyer immediately upon being arrested or being placed into custody.
• Stay calm and keep your emotions from getting the best of you
• Carry identification at all times
• Take photographs if you are injured and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you are arrested:

• CLEARLY state your refusal to speak to the police immediately and make a request for an attorney.
• If you are under 18 years old, ask for your parents to be contacted immediately.
• Know beforehand who you will call in a situation
• Do not make any statements other than giving your name and address.

Be vigilant and stay safe. Always keep a full view of your surroundings and stay mindful of what's happening in every direction. Trust your instincts and pay attention to anything out of the ordinary this includes odd behavior, unattended items, strange activity, or unfamiliar vehicles. Something doesn't feel right? Speak up and report it immediately.