The Violence In Oakland Will Never Be Forgiven

I am an ancient anti-Vietnam War protester. Most major protests are better left to the young. It's very unlikely, but possible that you will get broken bones at protests, and after about 45, the bones don't heal well. I would not just head off to some city to protest without doing a bit of research! Not much point in holding a "major" protest in some tiny village of 5,000. The police in some cities are much nastier than the cops in others. Generally, some cities are very corrupt, and others are super-very corrupt, and the super-very corrupt ones tend to have the nastiest cops. Sometimes the super-corruption goes away but the nasty cops remain, however. You can gauge the nastiness factor by talking to the poor and homeless — the "middle class" types are much less likely to be aware of this.

Be equipped with maps, train, and bus schedules, etc. Maybe bring a package of noodle soup, and certainly some water in a non-leaky container. Wear work or hiking boots so your toes don't get crushed. Learn a little about the "terrain." You will not want to be trapped on a bridge or a dead end street! (I think it's insane to march on a bridge, where you are easily trapped.) Be prepared! But don't bring anything too valuable, since it might be stolen or confiscated.

I suggest remaining in one big crowd, if possible. But get away from rioters. they are not "productive," and they will get you hurt. The effectiveness of a protest increases a lot when there are lots of protesters in one place. Some people with cameras should (discretely) photograph the crowd, since the officials and journalists will always "underestimate" the size of the event by about 90%. It would be most helpful if all of the protesters were prepared!