TOLEDO, Ohio — Black Lives Matter activist group, the Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo, wants you to know you have rights as a protester.
This is following Saturday's protest in downtown Toledo against the death of George Floyd, which resulted in police using tear gas and rubber bullets.
"When you're engaged in the act of protesting a lot of times you may have your rights infringed upon by the police. Either due to excessive police force or just in general unsafe practices," said Ruth Leonard, the administrative lead with CSRN.
Leonard says protecting your rights is on the top of her to-do list when it comes to a protest.
The activist, and CSRN are teaming up with with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, also known as ABLE.
"It's important for people to know that First Amendment, free speech, protected activity is something that they can engage in. It is protected by our Constitution," said Reem Subei, a staff attorney with ABLE.
Subei says people have the right to peacefully assemble and petition grievances.
For that reason CSRN and ABLE hosted an online "Know your rights: Protesters Edition" meeting earlier on Thursday.
"We first recognized the importance of it after Saturday's protest. We had a lot of people who we witnessed in real time or we saw on the news who were unfairly attacked by the police," said Leonard.
But what happens if you're detained at one of these rallies?
Attorneys say first of all, ask if you are being held.
If the answer is no, you can leave, but if it's yes, Subei has advice.
"People have the right to remain silent. They only have to identify themselves in certain circumstances and even in those circumstances, they would only need to identify their legal name, their date of birth and their address," said Subei.
Lawyers are adamant you should not say anything else after that, and just simply ask for an attorney.
Aisha Sleiman, another staff attorney with ABLE also says it's your right to take video while you're out in public.
"They could be asked to move if they are seen interfering with police activity but that's really the extent of that," said Sleiman.
Peaceful protest or not, CSRN and ABLE want to remind you they have legal observers keeping a watchful eye during their rallies.
"We don't want to create a space in which, when they come out to show support or solidarity that they find themselves in danger," said Leonard.
The Community Solidarity Response Network is hoping to post the full replay of the conference to their Facebook page later this week.