Overview

This playbook walks through the complete process of planning, promoting, and safely executing a peaceful public demonstration, march, or rally — from initial planning through post-event follow-up.

Key Principle: Nonviolent discipline is both morally imperative and strategically superior. Nonviolent movements succeed twice as often as violent ones (Chenoweth, 2011).

Emergency Reference (Print Before Your Event)

Legal support hotline: Write on your arm: NLG number for your city (find at nlg.org/chapters) Dispersal order: If police give a dispersal order, note the exact wording and leave via the stated route unless you are choosing civil disobedience with full awareness of the consequences. If arrested: Do not resist. Say: “I am invoking my right to remain silent. I want a lawyer.” If you witness force: Record from a safe distance. Note badge numbers. Do not intervene physically.

Phase 1: Planning (2–4 Weeks Before)

Define Your Purpose and Demand

Before logistics, answer:

1. What is the specific issue or demand?
2. Who is the target decision-maker?
3. What outcome would constitute success?
4. What audience beyond the target needs to see this?

Read: Comprehensive Toolkit for Opposing Autocracy and Authoritarianism (Section 4: Messaging — Persuasion and Narrative Strategy)

Know Your Legal Rights

Read: First Amendment Violations — Trump Administration (2025–2026) for the current doctrine on speech, assembly and press, and Constitutional Rights Regardless of Immigration Status for what applies at an encounter regardless of status.

Key rules:

• You can protest on public sidewalks, parks, and plazas without a permit in most cases
• Large marches on streets typically require permits
• Amplified sound typically requires a permit
• Content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions are lawful; content-based restrictions are not

Permits

Research your city’s permit requirements:

• Contact your city’s parks department or special events office
• Apply at least 2 weeks in advance for large events
• If denied, you may have grounds for a legal challenge (content-based denials are unconstitutional)
• Spontaneous protests in response to sudden events do not require permits in most jurisdictions

Location Selection

Choose a location that:

• Is publicly visible to your target audience
• Has natural gathering space
• Has accessible entry and exit routes
• Is accessible to people with disabilities
• Allows media to cover the event

Phase 2: Organizing (1–2 Weeks Before)

Build Your Team

Assign roles before the event:

• Marshals/peacekeepers: Trained volunteers who maintain nonviolent discipline, assist participants, and communicate with police
• Legal support: Pre-designated attorney or NLG contact
• Media liaison: Handles press inquiries and coordinates with friendly press
• Accessibility coordinator: Ensures event is accessible to participants with disabilities
• Medical support: First aid volunteers if large event

Train Marshals on De-Escalation

Read: Protest De-Escalation Primer: Best Practices for Political Protesters

All marshals should understand:

• De-escalation techniques for crowd interactions
• How to handle provocateurs
• Police interaction protocols
• What to do if dispersal is ordered

Coordinate with Legal Support

• Register with your local NLG chapter before the event
• Ensure legal observers (Green Hats) know about your event
• Distribute the NLG hotline to all participants in promotional materials
• Designate a “jail support” contact who will not be at the demonstration

Safety Planning

Read: CONTEXT: Law Enforcement and Government Agency Personas for Civil Resistance

Understanding how law enforcement is likely to respond based on agency type and context. Prepare for different scenarios:

• Peaceful, no police interaction
• Police presence but no enforcement action
• Dispersal order
• Mass arrest scenario

Communicate the Plan to Participants

In your promotional materials, include:

• NLG hotline number prominently
• Reminder to turn off biometric unlock on phones
• Link to know-your-rights information
• What to expect: route, timeline, rules of engagement
• What to bring and not bring

Phase 3: Event Day

Marshal Briefing (1 Hour Before)

Gather all marshals for:

• Route walk-through
• Communication plan (radio channels if using them)
• De-escalation refresher
• What to do if police arrive
• Emergency contacts

Nonviolent Discipline

Read: Comprehensive Toolkit for Opposing Autocracy and Authoritarianism (Section 1: Best Practices for Nonviolent Resistance)

Maintain:

• No property destruction
• No physical confrontation with counter-protesters or police
• No response to provocateurs
• “Love your enemies” communications stance toward police and counter-protesters

If Police Issue a Dispersal Order

1. Stop the march or rally
2. Marshals announce the dispersal order loudly
3. Provide participants the stated dispersal route
4. Those choosing civil disobedience understand the consequences
5. Those leaving move via the stated route calmly

If Arrests Occur

• Note which participants were arrested
• Call jail support contact
• Call NLG hotline
• Do not attempt to physically interfere with arrests

Phase 4: Post-Event

Debrief Within 48 Hours

• What worked and what did not?
• Were there any rights violations? Document and report.
• How many participants? How was media coverage?
• What is the follow-up action?

Document Any Rights Violations

If police used excessive force, made unlawful arrests, or violated rights: Read: What to Do When You Witness a Constitutional Rights Violation

• Collect video evidence from participants
• File police complaint reports
• Contact ACLU if there is a pattern of conduct

Key Reference Documents

Related Role-Based Playbooks

• Citizen Activist Playbook
• Political Activist Playbook
• Civil Rights Activist Playbook

Related Use-Case Playbooks

• If You Are Arrested or Detained
• Witnessing Constitutional Rights Violations
• Organizing a Resistance Group