Whenever you decide to go, bring water, snacks, sunblock, hat, dress in layers and wear your comfy shoes. Take the metro or the bus. Be prepared to walk a lot, and remember that downtown is pretty much a dead zone on weekends so don’t expect a convenient bathroom. Protests are just the gathering of a few hundred like-minded people who all feel strongly about an issue. The best protests are like a big ole block party, and since you said you’re new here, familiarize yourself with go-go music: junkyard, backyard, and rare essence to start.