[JumpCrisscross]

Going into a protest with illegal communication devices is almost a direct sabotage of the protest's intent. It gives law enforcement a legitimate reason to act, even if almost certainly ex post facto. And it paints the protest as wilfully illegal--you went in intending to break the law.

[paulryanrogers]

If you're protesting an oppressive regime then it's likely most privacy respecting methods are illegal.

[XorNot]

If you're attending a protest with a phone, the cell tower ping will deanonymize you anyway.

[keybored]

The state has every reason (for itself) to demand perfect law-abiding behavior. The abstract Protest’s intent does not.