On August 12, violence erupted between rallying far-right white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, North Carolina; a white supremacist drove a car into a group of counter-protesters, killing one protester and injuring 19 other people. And while stories from the day are still surfacing, we know from eyewitnesses accounts that the hate-motivated violence was pervasive.
Unfortunately, white supremacists have been energized by the events in Charlottesville and will most likely be organizing more public events over the coming weeks. At a time like this, it is vital to have the voices and efforts of civilian journalists documenting and sharing the truth about the prevalent and violent nature of hate and systemic racism.
If you are planning to attend and document rallies, counter-protests or other similar events, WITNESS has the tips and resources to help you work safely and effectively:
- Preparing for and filming protests and police conduct
- Tips on safely and ethically documenting acts of hate
- When and how to livestream
- Concealing identities in sensitive situations
- Using apps to secure and verify footage
- Tools and tips for capturing high-quality footage with a mobile phone
- Download this full set of tip sheets here.
Watch the videos below for more tips and check out the full WITNESS library for additional resources.