Ensure that the
Rights of Every Citizen are Observed!
Welcome to Observed.org
Our mission is simple and urgent: to normalize the everyday exercise of essential legal rights — so that every citizen’s freedoms are recognized, respected, and upheld by law enforcement and society alike.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
— Benjamin Franklin
Your legal rights are yours — as real and personal as your home, your voice, and your body. Just as you naturally use your property, you should naturally assert your rights. It isn’t confrontational. It isn’t suspicious. It’s normal.
Only by using our rights can we ensure they are preserved. Only by invoking them calmly and consistently can we make their protection a cultural standard — not an exception.
Take the Pledge. Assert your rights with confidence. Protect the freedom we all depend on.
Exercising your rights is not just a privilege — it’s a responsibility. Every time you assert them, you do more than protect yourself; you reinforce the foundation of freedom for future generations. The men and women who came before us risked everything — their livelihoods, their safety, their lives — to win the rights we now hold. Letting them sit idle weakens their power and dishonors that sacrifice.
You don’t wait for a crisis to defend your rights. You use them consistently, clearly, and confidently, in everyday moments — because that’s how they stay alive. Normalize speaking up. Normalize refusing unlawful searches. Normalize recording police. Normalize silence when silence is your shield. Rights not exercised are rights easily taken. Make it understood by all: these freedoms are not for show. They are for use. And we will use them.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on.”
— Ronald Reagan
How Can You Help Protect Our Freedoms?
It is as simple as normalizing the free exercise of your rights.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
When stopped by any officer, use your right to remain silent.
- You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are headed or coming from, why you are traveling, or what you are doing. If you wish to exercise your right to remain silent, say so clearly. You may have to identify yourself if it is the law in that state. For more on this, visit the ACLU.
- After you say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent,” do not get drawn into a conversation. Do not answer any questions, even small questions that seem innocent. Doing this should be the normal response of every good citizen.
Always Verbally Refuse Any Search - Always - Every Time
- Do not consent to a search of yourself or your belongings. In some circumstances, police may pat down your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should quickly and clearly verbally refuse, but take no action to stop them. Making a timely objection before or during the search may help preserve your legal rights later. (More on this at the ACLU).
- Don’t be pressured or manipulated into agreeing to any search. Say no every time regardless of circumstance. Do it loudly and clearly. Remain calm and respectful.
If You Are Arrested - Request a Lawyer
If you are stopped by police, ask if you are free to leave, and then go if you can. If you are told you are not free to leave because you are being detained, you have no obligation to answer questions. If you are arrested, immediately ask for a lawyer. This should be the normal response of every good citizen.
Do Not Lie To Police
It is not a crime for the police to lie to you. Police can try to trick you or manipulate you. You cannot control that. You can only control yourself. Do not lie to police because lying is wrong and it can be used against you. Be ethical and calm, and always well mannered. You don’t need to tell the police the truth or a lie, because you should be maximizing your right to remain silent.
Take the Pledge To Exercise Your Right To Remain Silent...
Pledge to exercise your right not to answer questions by law enforcement. This should be absolutely normal, but because citizens neglect their rights, or fear law enforcement, they trade their liberty for the false-safety of cooperation. Remain silent. It’s your right, and it’s the right thing to do.
Support Law Enforcement...
Police have a difficult job. As good citizens, we should support them, care for them, and encourage them to perform their duties with excellence. Always be polite, even if your resistance to their questions is upsetting to them. Maybe even offer an encouraging word. The police are just people; many don’t have a good understanding of the law. Be respectful anyway.
Keep Your Eye On The Goal Here
By normalizing the free exercise of your rights when dealing with police, you help normalize their response to citizens exercising common rights, and you help demonstrate the importance of these rights to the good citizens of our great nation.
* We cannot preserve rights we don’t exercise! Do so respectfully and with an appreciation for law enforcement.