thread: many people are now out on the streets for the first time. as such, let's talk very basic, everyone should know this, 'this should be general and not sensitive knowledge' protest, action, and street tactics. let's get organized and be effective!
1. have a protest buddy. do not go to a protest without a buddy. preferably have a crew.
2. if you have a crew, it should still be split into buddies. crews should choose a spoke (spokesperson) who calls movements and communicates with people.
2. if you have a crew, it should still be split into buddies. crews should choose a spoke (spokesperson) who calls movements and communicates with people.
3. if you have a large crew, you should have a spoke + lieutenants/LTs/whatever you wanna call them. their job is disseminating calls but more importantly, to track the people grouped under them. when shit pops off, it's easy to lose people. LTs watch to see if anyone in their
3 (cont.) subgroup is missing, and spoke checks for the LTs. a system of accountability. STILL buddy up in subgroups.
4. if you've got a good bloc on the ground, you can call 'spokes' to get a spokes council together and make larger decisions about what to do.
4. if you've got a good bloc on the ground, you can call 'spokes' to get a spokes council together and make larger decisions about what to do.
5. your crew should have a basic, 1-syllable, generic word, that changes at every action, which you can call and each crew member replies with the word. feels dorky but worth it. arrange all this ahead of time. this allows you to quickly count your crew & check no one dropped.
6. you should have an offsite person, preferably two. included is a basic guide for doing offsite.
7. designate 1-2 comms people. they have phones and retrieve info on cop movements from offsite via signal. on a vpn, burner phone if you can.
mega.nz/file/OKIjRKTZ#…
7. designate 1-2 comms people. they have phones and retrieve info on cop movements from offsite via signal. on a vpn, burner phone if you can.
mega.nz/file/OKIjRKTZ#…
8. ideally no one besides comms should have a phone on them. easier to track. tradeoff: if you lose someone makes it harder to figure out what happened. consider battery-out phones for non-comms people.
9. write a number for legal support hotline in your area on body in sharpie
9. write a number for legal support hotline in your area on body in sharpie
10. before a protest, work out with your crew what your risk levels are. you can have different levels but try to avoid buddying across levels. will you brawl with fash? cops? risk arrest? loot? burn? graffiti? dont make those decisions in the moment.
11. i have no easy advice for what happens if you lose someone. have comms immediately report to off-site who can try to track them down. if you're large you can send an lt+subgroup to look, but they may have just gotten out and left. they could be arrested or with medics.
11 (cont.) off-site can start checking jails and hospitals for them. see off-site guide for what info you need for this and how to collect. if you have better advice for when people drop unexpectedly, put it in the replies.
12. never talk to cops never talk to cops never talk to cops never talk to cops. if you're arrested dont talk. if they approach you during dont talk. you can yell harassment but dont do it once you're arrested. you can sing if you want. group singing in jails keeps spirits up.
13. if you can, know your local PD. some departments publish whitepapers on their tactics. talk to local protest veterans in your area to learn about what your city's cops do. every area is difference and this can make the different between success or failure.
14. use all the gear you got. helmet, goggles, gloves, umbrella, etc. carry water if you can (ONLY ONLY WATER TO FLUSH EYES. ONLY.) you gotta stay hydrated too. generic clothes, packs, etc. if possible. more common the better.
14 (cont.) don't carry too heavy but it's really worth it. helmets feel ridiculous? you'll regret not taking it when you take a round to the head.
15. consider having handles for your crew. it's a lot better to yell someone's handle than their name when you need their attention.
15. consider having handles for your crew. it's a lot better to yell someone's handle than their name when you need their attention.
15 (cont.) handles should be short (1-2 syllables) and minimally linked to the person. practice using only a person's handle.
let's move on to broader thinking (might jump back if i think of stuff)
let's move on to broader thinking (might jump back if i think of stuff)
16. situational awareness. you can practice this all the time but it's v important during an action.
what are your exits? have they changed? what are your numbers vs. their's? what's their posture? what's behind, in front, sides? what gear to they have? re-evaluate constantly.
what are your exits? have they changed? what are your numbers vs. their's? what's their posture? what's behind, in front, sides? what gear to they have? re-evaluate constantly.
16 (cont.) i'm going to say it again. exits exits exits. where can your crew go if it gets too hot. if you dont have a clear exit try to move as soon as possible.
17. extending on that: police will often try to kettle, aka surround you and trap you in. keep the bloc moving to the
17. extending on that: police will often try to kettle, aka surround you and trap you in. keep the bloc moving to the
cops' weakest side to avoid a kettle. don't be afraid to tell people what to do. they'll thank you if you avoid a kettle. move without em if you have to but dont isolate your crew too much or you're easy to pick off and arrest.
also, be careful: cops may take advantage of
also, be careful: cops may take advantage of
this to get you to slowly push farther and farther from your objectives. sometimes you gotta stand your ground. know your numbers and know your strategy. sometimes it's time to stay. a spokes-council might be able to decide. talk about this ahead of time.
18. don't yell where the exit is with cops around, but do disseminate it in a crowd. your crew, minimum, must always know.
19. keep your crew looking in all directions and regularly switching. dont get snuck up on.
19. keep your crew looking in all directions and regularly switching. dont get snuck up on.
20. don't get picked off. cops will arrest 1 person quicker than 10, 50. non-covid times, the advice is to "tighten up!" the bloc, so they cant snatch and grab. YMMV during these times. evaluated based on the situation.
21. banners rule for this. theyre not just propaganda. if
21. banners rule for this. theyre not just propaganda. if
21 (cont.) you have a heavy banner (tarp, etc.) in the front, they can't as easily grab through and arrest. stay behind it if you can.
22. learn to communicate clearly and tersely under pressure. people underestimate this skill. you dont need 'please' or extra words.
22. learn to communicate clearly and tersely under pressure. people underestimate this skill. you dont need 'please' or extra words.
22 (cont.) don't chatter. learn to give a 'sitrep' (situational report) in which you report all the info from 16. spokes, ask you LTs for sitreps. give them when new folks arrive.
23. back to the individual: if you can't keep up, DON'T GO. hard lesson to learn. as a person with chronic digestive issues, i've fucked this up. if you're incapacitated you're a liability. consider learning to run offsite, or going to less intense actions. know what to expect
23 (cont.) based on recent police activity, level of risk planned for the action, the capabilities of your crew, etc. i know you might feel obligated to be in the streets but if your crew has to care or slow down for you instead of acting, that's hurting not helping. but try not
23 (cont.) to let this discourage you from trying if you can. unless you're sure with your health and/or fitness you can't, it is good to try. we need numbers. but dont push yourself when you cant. there's more to the work than the streets.
24. dont share unconfirmed info. dont repeat info from people you dont trust. ive seen so many actions where someone thinks they see a cop and then everyone is yelling "cop" and freaked out and scattering and theres no cop. be careful. misinfo is worse than no info.
25. some of this is gonna feel ridiculous and tryhard.
being good at this takes trying hard. be vulnerable and push your crew to do this. you'll be safer and more effective because you do.
being good at this takes trying hard. be vulnerable and push your crew to do this. you'll be safer and more effective because you do.
26. eat well, plenty of protein rich food the day before. hydrate well day of. physical condition matters for this.
27. sometimes you gotta pee. you can pee in an empty bottle, or you can pee on the ground. MANY people wear diapers. this isnt the time for shame. do what you need.
27. sometimes you gotta pee. you can pee in an empty bottle, or you can pee on the ground. MANY people wear diapers. this isnt the time for shame. do what you need.
28. when you gotta do something like pee, change, sometimes even drink, if you're in bloc, you gotta hide. get to the center of the bloc if you can. call 'cover me' or 'flag' (if the crowd has flags) and they'll wrap you. kneel and do what you gotta do.
29. some of this advice is for when you have a coherent bloc, but there's been less of those in this round of protests. still, keep it in mind.
30. if you're in bloc, consider bringing generic clothes to change into in a bag. gym clothes and local team sportwear are great. either do 28 and slip out somewhere under cover, or scatter and hide, and change in your hiding place. bring a bag to put your bag in.
31. how are you getting in and out? can you pay for public transit in cash (this still means being on cameras, keep your hat down)? can someone drive you in (drop off far, so they cant see plates)? lock up your bike somewhere?
32. this is counter-intuitive, but unless it's a covert action, where your goal is to get in and out without ever being noticed, keep your ID and a bit of cash in your pocket. ID will get you in and out of jail faster. again: NOT FOR COVERT ACTIONS. and dont drop it.
now, strategy
33. try to know your success and failure conditions before your crew goes out. when is it no longer worth it and time to bail? what are you trying to accomplish and how do you know you're doing so? try to create criteria if you can
33. try to know your success and failure conditions before your crew goes out. when is it no longer worth it and time to bail? what are you trying to accomplish and how do you know you're doing so? try to create criteria if you can
34. in large, multi-site protests like we're seeing rn, if all you're doing is occupying cops, you're helping a lot. standoffs mean they arent somewhere else. looting they HAVE to respond to because property > people for cops. small groups can make big differences here.
35. share your sitreps with other spokes if you can. if you notice a kettle, tell everybody and try to move everyone. have some chutzpah: you can do it.
36. DON'T LEAD PEOPLE INTO FENCED IN PARKS OR ENCLOSED ALLEYS PLEASE JUST DON'T PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU. HAVE MANY EXITS.
36. DON'T LEAD PEOPLE INTO FENCED IN PARKS OR ENCLOSED ALLEYS PLEASE JUST DON'T PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU. HAVE MANY EXITS.
37. consider carrying print maps of the area. dont mark them with objectives in case they get taken. review maps of the area ahead of time.
now, infrastructure:
38. we already talked offsite and comms, i won't cover offsite much here, read the guide
39. scouts! a good scout team is invaluable. especially bike scouts. get a signal chat and people on bikes in strategic locations reporting movements.
38. we already talked offsite and comms, i won't cover offsite much here, read the guide
39. scouts! a good scout team is invaluable. especially bike scouts. get a signal chat and people on bikes in strategic locations reporting movements.
40. dont put everybody in the scouts chat. keep a few offsite people reading the scout chat and relaying in to comms people.
41. if somebody gets arrested that you're in a chat with, put 'dead the chat' and everybody should immediately leaved. someone should contact the person
41. if somebody gets arrested that you're in a chat with, put 'dead the chat' and everybody should immediately leaved. someone should contact the person
that killed the chat to find out who got picked up and exclude them from the new chat
42. if y'all are super coordinated and have a ton of planning (not happening much right now) consider having a marshal in charge of calling moves for the whole bloc. spokes-council should
42. if y'all are super coordinated and have a ton of planning (not happening much right now) consider having a marshal in charge of calling moves for the whole bloc. spokes-council should
42 (cont.) still be convened and can challenge, but even the spanish anarchists elected military officials. in the field, you need a chain of command to operate quickly and effectively and outcompete cops.
43. read this thread. remember, you dont have to be able to go toe-to-toe with cops. you just have to make your group not worth the consequences of dealing with.
https://twitter.com/jessfromonline/status/1266774894756454406
end strategy section, back to misc.
44. where are you going when the protest/action is done? are you all rallying at one point? have a plan.
45. everyone check in with offsite when you get back. you all need to know everyone got home safe, or start checking jails/hospitals.
44. where are you going when the protest/action is done? are you all rallying at one point? have a plan.
45. everyone check in with offsite when you get back. you all need to know everyone got home safe, or start checking jails/hospitals.
46. offsite should know who is organizing jail support so they can pass that off when needed.
47. this is all easier if you know folks ahead of time. show up to your local left orgs. even if it doesn't feel like you're doing a lot yet, those relationships matter.
47. this is all easier if you know folks ahead of time. show up to your local left orgs. even if it doesn't feel like you're doing a lot yet, those relationships matter.
48. WHITE PEOPLE: put yourself between police and people of color. they are much less likely to be as brutal with you. this should be established policy in your crew, esp if your crew is (as it ideally should be, if not ask why) multiracial.
49. WHITE PEOPLE,: while Black opinion isnt a monolith & you dont have to regard the scolding of every Black liberal (see thread): if there are Black people/other people of color around and they're not escalating tactics, you shouldnt be unless its agreed
https://twitter.com/jessfromonline/status/1266980217949650949
50. what does your crew and your bloc do if someone is injured? for some blocs, if medics have them, you leave them behind with medics and keep moving. it can be bad to jeopardize and trap the whole bloc for one person who is with medics who they are gonna be with anyway. on the
50 (cont.) OTHER hand, some blocs reasonably dont want to leave anyone behind and want to stay to cover people with medics (police sometimes respect medic neutrality, sometimes don't.)
most important is: KNOW WHICH Y'ALL ARE DOING. DONT WAFFLE BACK & FORTH, DONT SPLIT THE BLOC.
most important is: KNOW WHICH Y'ALL ARE DOING. DONT WAFFLE BACK & FORTH, DONT SPLIT THE BLOC.
there's 50 tips for being effective in the street. might come back and add more later. i'm not the 'expert' and YMMV and you can disagree and your city might operate differently. that said:
i can tell you these are learned lessons from years out there & if you use them you'll do a lot, lot better than if you dont. you and your crew will be safer, and youll achieve your objectives more often. ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure. put in the work, and let's win.
51. quick addition cuz it shouldn't be missing: if you're carrying a phone dont have touch ID on your phone, police can legally compel you to activate touch ID but they can't compel a password. also turn off location services and wifi unless you absolutely need them.
52. diff cops have diff legal options as well! in the middle of old city in philly, there's a federal park with park rangers. if they nab you, it's probably a federal charge, way worse. we're more scared of the rangers lol. know local uniforms if you can.
https://twitter.com/kaizyr/status/1268659053229719555
i'll mention: you dont need all this to protest! tbh as long as you have #1, you can hit the streets! but 2-52 are gonna make you more effective. it's about collectively learning. i don't expect anyone to implement all/even most of 52 on their 1st protest.
https://twitter.com/jessfromonline/status/1268620358950649858?s=21
while we're here, some other extremely useful threads
53. buying shit and not getting caught
53. buying shit and not getting caught
https://twitter.com/EmilyGorcenski/status/1268627830868451330
54. riot control chemicals
https://twitter.com/EmilyGorcenski/status/1266119949426311170
55. riot control projectiles
https://twitter.com/EmilyGorcenski/status/1266130874279645186
56. take shifts! i didn't think to include it because it's longer term, but it's vital. we've certainly been dealing with it in philly.
https://twitter.com/aidanwould/status/1268718192870019072
57. this is a good COVID-19 specific tip. need to be a lot more careful about singing in custody during the pandemic.
https://twitter.com/sollysollinger/status/1268842979965485057?s=21
58. having regular check-in times with offsite are a good idea
https://twitter.com/chendersonbauer/status/1268793358090035202?s=21
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