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All Things Considered
Clay Masters and Gretchen Brown

How young people — and their parents — can stay safe at protests

MPLS families and educators hold a press conference
Minneapolis Public Schools families, educators and students hold signs during a press conference demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement be kept out of schools and Minnesota on Jan. 9, at Lake Hiawatha Park in Minneapolis. The gathering followed the killing of 37-year-old mother Renee Macklin Good by federal agents earlier this week, as community members said immigration enforcement activity near school grounds has spread fear and disrupted student safety.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

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With Minneapolis schools closed due to Border Patrol actions, a group of young people marched in the streets Thursday outside Kenny Community school in Minneapolis.

They held colorful signs: "Immigrants make America great”; “Love melts ICE.”

America has a long history of youth protests.

“The progressive movement has always been young people at the forefront,” Dominik Whitehead, NAACP Chief of Field told MPR News host Clay Masters.

But protests can quickly change from peaceful to tense.

“Ideally, [protests] stay peaceful and everyone stays safe. But sometimes things can get a little out of hand,” said Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

Knowing your First Amendment rights at a protest

Whitehead and Terr shared advice for young adults — and their parents — about getting involved and staying safe.

Make a plan

Protesters — and their parents — should know the intended protest route and follow it.

“Parents should automatically know who the organizers are, or at minimum, know how to reach those organizers, just in case anything were to go wrong,” Whitehead said.

Wear good walking shoes that allow you to move quickly in a pinch. Know exit routes so you can leave if things feel unsafe or out of control.

Avoid confrontations with law enforcement

Walk away from situations that appear agitated — and don’t threaten violence or destroy property. Listen to instructions from organizers.

“Don’t engage in confrontations with police or counter protesters, but you can robustly exercise your right to protest,” Terr said. “Which is at its height in areas like public sidewalks and parks where Americans have long gathered to speak out about the issues that they care about.”

Terr recommends complying with orders from law enforcement, even if you think they’re unlawful in the moment, in order to avoid arrest or further violence.

You do have a right to record law enforcement in public, and to seek legal help if you feel your rights have been violated.

Go with a buddy

Cell phone service can be spotty at busy protests. It’s always safest to go to the protest with a friend or family member, and to designate a meeting point if you get separated.

Bring water or snacks with you.

Whitehead encourages parents to attend protests alongside their young adults. Protesters should understand why they’re there and what they’re protesting.

“A parent should talk with their child and really be very clear about what protesting is and the meaning behind protesting in this country,” he said.

Get involved

Whitehead recommends seeking out local organizations, such as a local NAACP chapter, to get involved with real policy change at the local, state and federal level.

“We have an election coming up November 2026,” he said. “We need folks to use that energy into November.”