If Someone Talked You Out of Protesting, Read This.

You don’t have to be the loudest.
You don’t have to carry a sign.
Just show up.
Because staying quiet only protects the people doing the harm.

Here are some things that could help:

 ✨ Find a smaller protest that feels manageable. https://www.nokings.org is a good place to start.

 🧠 Decentralized protests are actually safer—harder to kettle, harder to target.
 
👀 Stick to the sides if you’re nervous. You can observe and still be present.

 💬 Tell someone you’re new or anxious. Seriously—someone will look out for you. You may just meet your new best friend. Protesters take care of each other.

 💗 And if you can’t get yourself out there today, don’t beat yourself up. You fought your own battle. You’re still here. That counts. Be kind to yourself. Rest is resistance, too.

🛑 You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be present.

👥 There is safety in numbers. Most protests are made up of parents, teachers, students, and neighbors—not chaos.

🧭 Protests don’t fix everything. But they change the weather of public pressure. That’s powerful.

📸 Showing up puts your body where your values are. That kind of witness matters, even if you never say a word.

🔄 Decisions change when movements build. Politicians absolutely pay attention to visible unrest—especially in election years.

🔊 Protests don’t work overnight. They work by making it impossible to ignore what people in power want us to forget.

💌 Bring a buddy. It’s easier (and more fun) to show up when you’re not alone.

🚗 Have an exit plan. Know how to get home, where to meet your group, and who to text. That helps calm your nervous system.

📱 You can take breaks. Step to the side. Hydrate. Breathe. It’s a protest, not a prison.

💖 Your fear is not a flaw. It means you’re awake. Stay awake. Come anyway.

And if you’re wondering how to stay engaged without falling apart, I wrote something for that.
📘 The Resistance Manual: How to Stand Up Without Burning Out https://payhip.com/b/n67Ks