futurev1ctorian

[futurev1ctorian]

So I'm attending my first protest tomorrow and I know you tend to be a frequent flyer of them, Is there anything in particular I need to know before going to my first? Hope you're doing well!

first off, major apologies for not answering this in a more timely fashion! I hope you stayed safe out there, anon.

y’all know I’m terrible with asks but I’m genuinely not sure how I managed to miss this one. I’m gonna answer it even though some time has elapsed because lbr, this stuff isn’t going away anytime soon.

there are a lot of great resources out there with advice about the more dangerous (and topical) aspects of protesting, so instead of getting into that, I’m gonna link some here: 

Protesters’ Rights (ACLU)

Safety During Protests (Amnesty International)

Dealing with Tear Gas (Occupy Wall Street)

Useful Apps for Protesters (Allure)

Protesting During a Pandemic (LiveScience)

with that covered by the experts, I’m gonna focus on some of the more practical, basic stuff I’ve learned over the years.

G’s tips for attending protests

Use the buddy system. I can’t stress this enough. I strongly advise you not to go to any protest alone, especially if it’s on a larger scale or if you know there’s going to be police presence. Whether it’s a friend, a relative, or someone you trust whom you’ve met through activism, make sure there’s someone with you who knows you, including any medical conditions you have—you’re basically each other’s emergency contact for the day. Decide in advance on a rendezvous point in case you get separated from them. I’ve heard of instances where having a “protest buddy” and asking to stay with them was the difference between getting arrested and thrown in a van vs. being issued a citation and then left alone.

^that’s my sister’s hand holding the sign in the foreground. buddy system!

tons more under the cut!

Don’t rely on your phone. Depending on the size and density of your protest, service may be spotty or data may stop working entirely in some areas. Don’t expect to navigate with GPS, or be able to text/call your group if you get separated. Consider leaving your phone at home or in the car. There are reports of phones being tracked by police in some places, and it’s always possible it’ll get confiscated if you’re detained. If you do bring a phone, I suggest turning off location services.

ok so I don’t always take my own advice

Know the rules and goals for your particular protest. These can vary between locations and organizations, so don’t assume you already know. For example, at most DC protests, only clear backpacks are allowed, and signs may not have wooden sticks or anything that could be used as a weapon. Does everyone follow these rules? Nope—and I rarely see them enforced! But it’s a case of “better safe than sorry.” Don’t give the cops any excuse whatsoever to detain you.

this is a great sign, but I would never carry it using a plank like this

Knowing a protest’s goals and purpose is also important. I read an article last week about a DC BLM event where people were dancing in the street, essentially having a party. The article painted it as though these idiot protestors had shown up and then gotten distracted and stopped taking their movement seriously. But I remembered the same event differently (having both read about it in advance and passed by it on the day of.) What was actually happening was that it was one of several concurrent events—protests, marches, vigils—and this one’s specific goal was to create a safe and positive space for black people to celebrate their blackness. It was supposed to be a party, a form of self-care so that people who’d been suffering could decompress and uplift each other. No one there had lost sight of the movement.

Ideally, find the organizers and follow them on social media! Most organizers are great at breaking down the rules and expectations for a particular protest.

Know your limits—and those of the others in your group—and plan accordingly. Have realistic expectations for how far you’re going to be able to push yourself, physically and otherwise. Do you have chronic pain, or a bad foot? Find somewhere to park yourself early on in the day so you don’t end up walking miles and miles. Is someone in your group claustrophobic? Hang back at the edge of things, or find a high wall to sit on so they aren’t engulfed by crowds. It’s easy to think of protesting as some sort of grand sacrifice where you have to push yourself really hard to prove your commitment to the movement, but you’re not gonna help anyone by collapsing from heat exhaustion. Take breaks, and stay safe, fed, and hydrated. Practice self-care.

Pack light—or heavy, depending on your goals. Unless you’re going to be passing out supplies, I suggest packing light. Invest in a water bottle carrier with a strap, or a fanny pack, or a platypus. Wear something with big pockets, so you can avoid bringing a bag or backpack if possible. It’s especially useful to have your hands free if you’re planning to carry a sign!

my usual protest packing list:

phone (highly optional; see above)

cash (enough to buy a meal, take public transportation, etc)

keys (key singular, actually. I take the one I need off my keychain and leave the others behind.)

metro card

ID

water

energy bar

meds (in my case, a sudafed and an ibuprofen)

I can fit all of this into my pockets except a water bottle. I don’t even bring a wallet.

Conversely, you can take the opposite approach and pack heavy, in order to be super prepared or pass out supplies to others. One of my friends brings a backpack with a sign on it that reads “I HAVE: WATER, SNACKS, TYLENOL, TAMPONS, SUNSCREEN...ASK ME FOR WHAT YOU NEED!” At the most recent BLM protest I attended, there were people passing out everything from water bottles to pizza to masks to whiskey. But every protest is different! Don’t count on any supplies to be easily available. If you need it, bring it.

the empty pizza box on the right says “come make a sign here.”

Know your surroundings, and pay attention. This is a big one. I don’t mean that you should never attend a protest somewhere you’ve never been before, but I suggest doing some research if you do. Know where you’re going and when, know the street closures and the path of any marches, know the nearest metro/subway stops and whether they’re going to be open on the day of. Especially know if there’s anywhere you aren’t allowed to be. For example, when protesting at the NRA's headquarters, you can’t step off the sidewalk or you’ll be on their property, and then you can be arrested for trespassing.

Pay attention to signs, traffic patterns, and especially police presence. The other day I noticed that although the police and the National Guard were unarmed as the mayor had promised they would be, the DEA was also present, and they absolutely were armed.

Another part of knowing your surroundings is knowing where relief areas are. If it’s a big enough event, businesses, churches, and even places like theaters will open their doors to protestors to use their bathrooms, charge phones, and rest somewhere with AC. Social media usually has this information if you know where to look for it—check local activist blogs. For my DC folks, check Popville.

On a related note, know which businesses do and don’t support the movement! You don’t wanna wind up buying lunch at a place that gives free meals or discounts to police. Look for places that offer discounts or deals to protesters. For example, in 2018 both Cava and Shake Shack offered discounts for March for Our Lives protesters. Guess where I ate lunch and dinner that weekend? Chains like those ones usually make the news, and local businesses will often put up signs in support of movements to let protesters know they are welcome.

there’s lots more I could say, but the tl;dr version is

keep yourself and others safe.

feel free to chime in if you have something to add/if I missed anything!

[futurev1ctorian]

STOP USING BIOMETRICS TO UNLOCK YOUR TECH BEFORE GOING TO A PROTEST, RALLY, OR ACCESSING BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS

Encrypt your tech. If you are US based, or in a country that does not protect your rights when it comes to cops, please read these article. There are not currently laws stopping the police from using your thumb or face to unlock your phone without consent or a warrant. Especially if you are taking any part in any protests throughout America, or accessing birth control needs.

Or you're, you know, queer, disabled, a person of colour, a woman, or generally just know how horrible the cops and government can be. They can pull you over for no reason, unlock your phone, and look for something to charge you with later. They can and will and have.

Cops will do ANYTHING they want, and chances are, the courts will let them.

(this might be relevant for other countries, too-- the protest rights are completely fucked here in the UK, so please be careful out there!!)

Helpfully, there is also a cop-proof your phone article as well:

[futurev1ctorian]

Jonathan Sims Martin Blackwood

[futurev1ctorian]

SHIT

I’m not sure when during my first listen of TMA I started to headcanon Jon as having a lot of nervous ticks and bad habits similar to Danny— whether it be how they both obsess and throw themselves completely into things or how Tim describe’s Danny’s dramatic manner of speech. Regardless, I imagine Tim picking up on these similarities, giving him a sort of brotherly fondness for Jon at the start and making his anger towards him in the end only worse. Because why does it have to be Jon of all people that reminds him of Danny, even after everything he’s done?

With all that out of the way— here’s some incredibly angsty art :D

The first image I imagine takes place shortly before Jon becomes the head archivist at the magnus institute™️, the second showing Danny and early season 2 era Jon, and the last with season 3 era Jon and Tim

there’s a ton of tiny details and character design things I did specifically to make myself more sad so have fun looking for those <3

[futurev1ctorian]

Reblog if you think it’s okay to platonically say “I Love You” to your friends

[futurev1ctorian]

I just got described as an "ad hating commie" by someone because I said a minute of youtube ads is unpleasant. fully spent 5 minutes arguing and defending youtube ads. insane stuff

[futurev1ctorian]

Gorgeous

jmart inbetween work

[futurev1ctorian]

If by some miracle sweet potato Hitler doesn't win come the end of the week, this won't be necessary, but should he win here are some of the first things to be aware of or do.

If you know a trans person, no you don't. Respect them as best you can in private but you know nothing in public.

Be aware that TikTok will likely be banned, find new platforms to spread information. Fuck Twitter and what ever tiktok replacement he's working on.

Learn to Garden, even in winter so you can feed yourself should prices skyrocket

Get an air purifier. The Clean Air Act is likely to be stripped of its power with the EPA deregulated, air quality is going to suffer

Should you have kids, try to supplement history/social studies education. That's the first place they will attack, if you need help ask, history teacher will help

Try and do what you can to be aware of your health before January.

Help one another. That's the best way we can move forward and make change in the future.

[futurev1ctorian]

I FORGOT TO REUPLOAD THIS STUPID JOKE

I laughed WAY too hard while making this btw

[futurev1ctorian]

vampires always like “i could kill you if I wanted” like? yeah? so could another human being. so could a dog. so could a dedicated duck. you arent special

[futurev1ctorian]

i got these knockoff boots online and instead of the brand name on the tag they have the name of an apparently nonexistent martin scorsese movie??? what the fuck

[futurev1ctorian]

I love the idea of a timeloop but the whole story is told from the pov of the person not stuck in it. suddenly this random person they've never met before comes up to them and demands the craziest thing, seems to know them more intimately than anyone, appears to not have slept in months, and has the most peculiarly haunted look about them like they've faced death a hundred times over. bros go on an adventure. how does our protagonist respond to every sentence finished for them? to every wistful look their new companion casts their way? What about the mindless efficiency with which they avoid hidden dangers? Imagine the quiet atmosphere when the looper makes the protagonist's coffee exactly the way they like, without needing to be asked, and the protagonist finally gets it--"we've been here before, haven't we?" how often do they cry?

there's also huge comedic potential. oh? random guy you've never met runs up and kisses you on the mouth? the two of you embark on the weirdest conceivable journey to complete a litany of unthinkable tasks? you make it home in time for dinner and they somehow know your grandmother's secret meatloaf recipe by heart? you wake up the next morning to find the stranger (are they really a stranger anymore?) making you waffles in your kitchen?? the coffee is exactly how you like it????

[futurev1ctorian]

[futurev1ctorian]

new reason to stay alive: outlive the trump presidency. In fact, outlive Trump. He isn’t immortal. We can live to see the day he's guaranteed to never be in office ever again and we can make sure he knows that he'll never have enough power to kill you

stay strong, friends, this isn't your fault

[futurev1ctorian]

fuck y'all!!!!!

[futurev1ctorian]

😳

The Ceaseless Watcher

[futurev1ctorian]

Project 2025 ain't gonna roll out all at once. So what we're gonna wanna do is make passing each individual part of it as difficult as possible, so there's less to undo once we finally get this country back on the rails.