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High Priority Safety Guidance

June 18, 2026

Memorize This

“I do not consent to search.”

“I want to speak with a lawyer.”

“I do not want to answer questions.”

We’re organizing in GROWW for our freedom, for our safety, for our dignity, and for our voice shaping the decisions that impact us.

Building people power isn’t a risk-free mission. History shows that organized people and organized communities are often met with attempts to discourage, divide, or intimidate them.

In recent weeks, the FBI, DHS, and the Justice Department have targeted organizations like ours across the country. In Cleveland, Ohio federal agents searched the offices of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a grassroots organization that works on voter registration and community organizing. Simultaneously, over 120 federal agents followed and confronted current and former staff and volunteers across the state of Ohio, asking for access to homes, offices, documents, and electronic devices.

This pattern is expanding across the country. In most cases, the agents do not have warrants or subpoenas; instead, they count on pressure and intimidation being enough to gain access and information.

GROWW has not been specifically harassed in this way, but we won’t be caught of guard. We must be prepared to exercise the constitutional rights we all share.

Preparation is not about fear, it’s about confidence. Knowing our 4th and 5th Amendment rights and thoughtful preparation can help all of us remain calm, confident, safe, and legally protected during an encounter with law enforcement.

If Agents Approach You at Home or Business

  • Remain calm and polite, state clearly:
    • “I do not consent to search.”
    • “I want to speak with a lawyer.“
    • “I do not want to answer questions.”
    • Say nothing else
  • If they present a warrant:
    • Check that it is signed by a judge.
    • Verify that it lists the exact correct address and descrives the object of the search.
    • If anything appears incorrect, say so.
  • If they enter with a warrant or force entry:
    • Stand aside calmly and do not interfere.
    • Take notes or record their activity.
    • Call a lawyer.

If Agents Approach You Outdoors in Public

  • Ask “Am I free to go?”
    • If yes, walk away calmly
    • If no
      • “I do not consent to search.”
      • “I want to speak with a lawyer.”
      • “I do not want to answer questions.”
      • Say nothing else

Save the following phone numbers

  • Melissa Scholz, attorney for GROWW
    • 608-268-0076
  • Jenelle Ludwig Krause, co-Executive Director of GROWW
    • 715-410-1566
  • Abe Smith, Director of Data and Security
    • 262-443-4268

Our Constitutional freedoms depend on regular people like us insisting that these rights be respected.

By knowing our rights, supporting one another, and continuing to organize for the change we need, we can build a world where regular people like us can thrive.

How you can Prepare

  • Review the 4th Amendment docs GROWW has prepared.
  • Make sure that family, household members, and coworkers also understand these rights.
  • Confirm that you have strong passwords and 2-factor authentication on your devices and online accounts.
  • Be diligent regarding phishing attempts and unsolicited communication from unknown persons.
  • Take basic steps to vet or verify the identity of members of private chat groups.
  • Set up an app like ReadyNow! to prepare emergency contact lists and quickly send instructions to key people.
  • Prevent doxxing by reviewing privacy settings on social media, and lock and dormant accounts. (Including venmo, linkedin, pinterest, goodreads and others that you may not open often.)

What GROWW is doing to prepare

  • We are tracking the developing situations in detail. This includes weekly nationwide briefings from leaders and lawyers who represent the organizations that have been harassed.
  • We are maintaining strong collaborative relationships with outside resources and partner organizations, for situational awareness and legal support.
  • We are developing awareness and security training for our staff.
  • We are implementing data-security measures across our records, communications, and digital platforms.
  • We are building and analyzing a Risk Register to assess gaps in digital security and data protection.
  • We are drafting and reviewing Incident Response Plans that cover a variety of possible scenarios that could affect our staff and members.
  • We are preparing to launch an Election Protection campaign in July to train 100s of leaders in our community to build power for our freedom to vote and to have safe and trusted elections.

If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact us

Trusted References

Media Coverage