Trashcan Riot Shields

I noticed that early this morning of May 6, 2021 on X that R A W S A L E R T S posted video footage of some riots happening in Seattle, Washington. The protestors were using these plastic riot shields made from plastic trash bins. So I started digging into why this might be something they are doing.

I was just generally curious about this practice and observing how this tactic changes interactions with law enforcement and protestors.

My observations:

  1. These shields are not strong. They can be punctured, cut, and with enought blunt force the plastic will break.
If the goal isn't protecting from deadly force, maybe its got a different purpose.
  1. They seem to be a tool for dealing with the Police. They put a physical barrier in front of the interaction. They also protect their arms from being grabbed for an officer to attempt to grab them.
Plastic Riot Shields as a Police Interaction Tool

The real takeaway here might be that this could be a tool that could be repurposed for decentralized First Amendment Activism. It is effective at protecting the arms from being grabbed.

R A W S A L E R T S on ANTIFA Activists at U of Washington Campus

May 6, 2025

🚨#BREAKING: Antifa activist have started a riot igniting fires as they seize control of parts of the University of Washington campus⁰⁰📌#Seattle | #Washington

At this time, dozens of masked Antifa activists and black-clad protesters have launched a coordinated riot, taking… pic.twitter.com/HIeWjRaytT

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 6, 2025

Source: https://x.com/rawsalerts/status/1919635777694175473

How to Make: a Riot Shield

StrayHydraBlade
March 5, 2017

Info

Finally figured out if a trash can would make a good riot shield or not. So in this video we will learn how to make a riot shield out of a trash can. The trash can i'm using is made out of HDPE, the same plastic milk jugs are made from. Its very impact resistant but vulnerable to cuts. So the chicken wire helps stop slashes and stabs. The Trash Can Riot Shield weighs 7 lbs so it can be easily held and maneuvered. If you have any ideas of what I should have done differently on the Trash Can Riot Shield, let me know in the comments because I will take that free knowledge any day. :P

Source: https://youtu.be/oyRf0dFnr84

Trashcan Riot Shields

Chicks on the Right
May 3, 2024

Source: https://www.instagram.com/chicksonright/reel/C6g8jnavhqF/

Student Protestor attempts to charge into a police officer with a trash can riot shield.

Posted about 2024 on Reddit

Student Protestor attempts to charge into a police officer with a trash can riot shield.
byu/Dkandler inPublicFreakout

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/1cimvua/student_protestor_attempts_to_charge_into_a/

Sources