How to share effectively:

• Start with Stand Against Lethal Tactics to find documented incidents
• Personal message beats social post — they'll actually read it
• Send the documentation, not the headline
• One person at a time works

Language matters:

• Instead of "officer-involved shooting" → "police officer killed"
• Instead of "altercation" → specific description of what happened
• Instead of "unarmed" (implies it matters) → just describe the person
• Instead of "incident" → what actually occurred

Read the Language Wall →

Know before you're stopped:

• You have the right to remain silent
• You can refuse a search of your person (in most states)
• Keep your hands visible
• Say "I do not consent to a search"

ACLU Know Your Rights Resources →

Step-by-step documentation:

• Record: Badge numbers, names called out, timestamps
• Note: Location, date, time, weather conditions
• Witnesses: Ask for names and contact info if safe to do so
• Backup: Upload to cloud immediately (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Submit: Add to The Record at standagainstlethalttactics.com

How to dig:

• FOIA requests: Ask your state for contracts your city police signed
• City budget: Check your municipality's public budget documents online
• Campaign finance: Track who funds local politicians via ballotpedia.org
• Contractors: Search vendor databases your city publishes
• Share findings: Post on social media, send to local journalists

Making your voice heard:

• Find it: Your city website lists meeting schedules (usually under "City Clerk" or "Government")
• Prepare: Write down what you want to say (usually 2–3 minutes per person)
• Sign up: Most public comment periods require you to sign in first
• Speak clearly: State your name, what you're speaking about, what change you want
• Being on record: Everything is documented. That matters.

What legal observers do:

• Document police conduct during protests and encounters
• Wear visible badges so police know they're being watched
• Provide testimony that stands up in court
• Create records that protect the community

National Lawyers Guild Legal Observer Training →

Look for local chapters in your area through the NLG.

What mutual aid means:

• Food: Community fridges, meal programs, produce sharing
• Legal: Know-your-rights workshops, bail funds, legal resources
• Housing: Emergency shelter networks, prevent evictions
• Information: Community networks that get information to neighbors

Mutual Aid Resource Network →

Where power actually lives:

• School boards: Control curriculum, police in schools, safety policies
• City councils: Control budgets, policing contracts, oversight
• Prosecutors: Decide which cases to prosecute, police accountability
• County supervisors: Control jails, county funding, policy

Run for Something →

Get connected to training, mentoring, and local organizing resources.