New York University’s Center on Race Inequality & the Law recently released a contentious set of protest guidelines, urging white individuals to step up as barriers between law enforcement and minority protesters. This advice, reported by Campus Reform on March 18, 2025, suggests that white students wield their “white privilege” to act as human shields during demonstrations, specifically to protect “Black and Brown people.”
According to the university’s “Protest Tips and Resources” page, which highlights the inherent dangers of protesting, particularly for minorities, white individuals are encouraged to interpose themselves as buffers between police and minority demonstrators.
One of the tips calls on readers to “[u]se white privilege to protect others” by interposing themselves between police officers and “Black and Brown people.”
Besides acting as shields, protesters are advised to stay vigilant for undercover officers, document any arrests, don masks, and frequently apply hand sanitizer.
The guidelines also caution demonstrators to presume they’ve been exposed to COVID-19, suggesting a self-isolation period of two weeks post-protest, alongside getting tested for the virus.
The underlying message is stark: white students should willingly face potential threats or repercussions, ostensibly to protect others who might be engaging in illegal activities, leveraging their racial privilege.
Efforts to obtain a statement from NYU are ongoing, and updates will be provided as new information emerges.
