Personal Protective Equipment For ICE Protests

As the war on the American people expands into more communities, here’s the gear you need to stay safe

A report in Wired this morning reveals a plan by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand the war on the American people into communities nationwide. At the same time, those masked government thugs are escalating their use of force with new, more dangerous weapons. If you plan to help protect your community, you need to first plan to protect yourself.

What’s The Latest?

It’s been 17 days since masked government thugs executed Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis. And, if you judge by the volume of social media content, things have calmed down there. But, friends in that city tell me the reality is anything but. Even while protesters are hurling dildos at ICE agents, city residents have begun hiding likely targets in their own homes, Anne Frank-style. And while the masked government thugs have yet to commit any more public executions, they are still invading neighborhoods, and pointing guns at anyone they deem deserves it. I fear it’s only a matter of time until more civilians are killed.

What explains the relative quiet? Congress is currently negotiating a revised funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, working towards a deadline of February 13. The masked government thugs have likely been ordered to take a chill pill until that’s passed.

And it’s looking more an more likely that Minneapolis is merely a proof of concept as the war on the American people is expanded nationwide. According to Wired:

“FEDERAL RECORDS OBTAINED by WIRED show that over the past several months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have carried out a secret campaign to expand ICE’s physical presence across the US. Documents show that more than 150 leases and office expansions have or would place new facilities in nearly every state, many of them in or just outside of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. In many cases, these facilities, which are to be used by street-level agents and ICE attorneys, are located near elementary schools, medical offices, places of worship, and other sensitive locations.”

Remember, the purpose of ICE is to manufacture a violent insurgency, thereby justifying the declaration of martial law, and some sort of subsequent action to deny the American people free and fair elections this November. Immigration enforcement is merely a pretext for the propaganda.

Why You Need PPE

If you’re just marching in a mass protest, or standing outside your local courthouse with an “ICE Out” sign every Friday, you don’t currently need any of this stuff. The Trump regime has yet to deploy violence against mass protestors.

If you plan to track ICE agents as they violate your community’s constitutional rights, picket their hotels and offices, or otherwise peacefully interfere with their operations, then it is a good idea to take reasonable precautions against the less-lethal weapons ICE is firing at peaceful protestors.

Crisis Ready Media, a non-profit supporting journalists operating in war zones, reports:

“Law enforcement will deploy riot control agents. Smoke, as well as CS (tear gas), OC (pepper spray/capsaicin), and CN (an older tear agent historically associated with products like Mace™ and irritant projectile systems (pepper balls) that disperse capsaicin powders.”

The organization also cautions that ICE agents are employing less-lethal projectiles that travel at higher speeds than we’ve typically seen before in this country:

“Less lethal projectiles move 400-600 feet per second. Z87.1 glasses no longer provide the protection required.”

For comparison, the arrows fired by my 75-pound draw weight compound hunting bow travel at about 340fps. That’s enough power to break the shoulder of, or shoot clean through the torso of a 1,000-pound bull elk. Standard safety glasses and goggles no longer offer adequate protection.

PPE For ICE Protests

Let’s work through a basic list of PPE and related equipment that’s efficacious, good value, and easily available. This is the stuff my wife and I carry ourselves.

Respirator: 3M P100 / OV / AG Multi-Purpose Reusable Respirator ($35)

While full-face gas masks may offer superior protection for users who plan to continue to operate in areas experiencing gas deployment, they are also prohibitively expensive, difficult to carry, and may project an aggressive image inappropriate for peaceful protestors.

A half-face respirator like this one will prove adequate for users who plan to remain on the fringes of gas clouds, or who plan to avoid the most aggressive ICE actions.

Crisis Ready Media recommends respirators equipped with P100 filters for the irritants currently being employed by ICE.

The most important factor with respirators is fit. This 3M design comes in a variety of sizes designed for different face shapes. Men with facial hair may want to consider shaving in order to achieve a good seal.

Safety Goggles: 3M GoggleGear 500 Series ($20)

You need goggles that are comfortable to wear with your respirator, and which provide a reliable seal against your skin, while protecting against these new, faster projectiles. Crisis Ready Media recommends goggles that meet either the MIL-PRF-32432A or AS/NZS 1337 (V, B, A) standards.

This option from 3M is slim enough to easily fit above a respirator, has resisted any attempts at fogging during my testing, and is comfortable to wear.

Irritant Decontamination Wipes: Sudecon (price varies)

If you encounter an irritant gas or spray, it will cling to your skin and clothing. Use Sudecon wipes to clean off your face and hands. Note that it is not an eye wash, but can be used to wipe off closed eyes. You’ll want a number of these both for yourself and those around you.

First Aid Kit: North American Rescue Solo IFAK ($230)

Match your first aid supplies to your knowledge and training around using it. I carry the same kit I use for hunting or other activities where there is risk of experiencing a gunshot wound. That means a tourniquet, clotting gauze or agents, and a chest seal, in addition to items designed for both traumatic and minor injuries.

If that unit is too expensive, consider the $85 NAR Individual Bleeding Control Kit, and pair it with your own bandaids and Neosporin.

I will explore first aid kits and methods for ICE protests in depth for a future article.

Ear Plugs: Howard Leight Maximum Lite ($34/200 pair)

Whistles, shouting, and gunfire are all very loud. There’s also videos of ICE testing LRAD sound cannons on Minneapolis protestors. Those can rupture ear drums and cause permanent hearing loss. And while no ear plug will ever be effective enough to prevent LRAD damage, they can help as you treat their sound waves like a rip current, and run sideways to get out of them. I’ve been wearing these Howard Leights for decades, a recommendation from my dad who worked with explosives.

Additional ICE Protest Supplies

Beyond PPE, you’re going to want to equip yourself with the ability to handle the unexpected.

Whistle: Wind Storm All-Weather Safety Whistle ($12)

Twice as loud as a typical whistle, I carry one of these as a backup method for summoning help outdoors. At 123dB, loud enough to be heard over the noise of crowds, concerts, or even jet engines, this thing is total overkill for warning your neighbors they’re about to be kidnapped by masked government thugs. But that means I can expend less effort blowing it to achieve similar effects to standard whistles. It’s also designed to work even while submerged, so precipitation won’t impact it.

Flashlight: Olight ArkPro Ultra ($130)

Switch between spot and flood lights using a simple dial, with up to 1,700 lumens and a runtime of up to 14 days, all in a package that clips into a pocket as easily as a good knife.

Multitool: Leatherman Arc ($250)

I take the ability to effect minor repairs seriously, and that’s reflected in my choice of pocket tool. Tim Leatherman invented the modern multitool in the late 1970s, and his company continues to make the highest quality, most innovative designs in Portland, Oregon. The Arc is its flagship tool, featuring for the first time in a multitool a genuinely high-quality blade, plus the ability to deploy and retract each of its 20 tools with a single hand. I carry it alongside the included bit drivers to maximize the fasteners it’s compatible with. Versus a dedicated pocketknife, I figure this stands a lower chance of being considered a weapon should I be arrested.

Power Bank: Belkin 10,000mAh ($30)

Recording and uploading videos of ICE abuses is the most effective method of resisting the war on the American People. So you’ll want to keep your phone powered up. Any portable power bank will do, this is just one I found in our junk drawer while putting our kits together. 10,000mAh is enough juice to fully charge both of our phones.

Fanny Packs: Seldom Seen Fika ($175) and Fjallraven Abisko ($90)

The respirator, safety goggles and other gear just so happen to be about the right volume for a large fanny pack. And versus a backpack, one of these can be shifted around so you can keep it on as you get in and out of a vehicle.

My wife bought the Fika from our buddy Eli’s new company Seldom Seen. He makes everything by hand here in Bozeman. I had the Fjallraven laying around, and appreciate its extra organization and water bottle pockets.

A journalist with more than two decades of experience working around the world, Wes Siler is here to cut through the outrage and disinformation to bring you the factual, insightful, actionable reporting you need to understand what’s going on. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports this reporting, and buys personal access to Wes, who will help you save money on gear, and prepare for real life.

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