The Democracy Fund presents the "dos and dont's" of peaceful protesting.
DO
- Do ask police “Am I under detention or arrest?” if you are unsure about leaving a police encounter. You can walk away from police whenever you are not under arrest or detention.
- Do keep the protest peaceful. You have rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, but those rights do not protect people engaged in violence.
- Do keep the protest public. You can protest on streets, parks and in most other public places. You do not have the right to protest on private property.
DON’T
- Do not speak to police if you’re arrested or detained until you speak with a lawyer. Police must tell you why you are being arrested and let you speak to a lawyer. You have the right to speak to a free Legal Aid Lawyer.
- Do not refuse to give police your name and contact information if you are arrested. Refusal will result in another criminal charge. Never give police a fake name or address. Police must let you speak to a lawyer.
- Do not resist arrest. Doing so can get you hurt and charged with more offences. You can always speak to a lawyer later about suing the police for wrongful arrest.
- Do not agree to be searched by police. Unless police have a search warrant, the search is presumed to be unlawful.
