A demonstration where police might attack requires a higher level of
tactical awareness than your run-of-the-mill march. Here are some generally
applicable suggestions to help you stay safe and effective in the streets.
Be aware of what is going on, what you want to happen, and how crowd and
police dynamics are evolving, or could rapidly change.
Always have a safe space in mind. All demonstrators need to be aware of a
safe place to get to if a situation grows out of hand. You define "safe" and
"unsafe" for yourself. It could be behind some trees, in a park, a parking
lot, a door-way, alleyway, a restaurant, several blocks from the action,
etc. For some, safe is among the locked arms of fellow activists, right on
the front lines. Safe spaces change depending on movement and barriers by
other demonstrators and the police, etc. There's no hard and fast rule about
finding a safe space, but always have one in mind before the shit hits the
fan.
Similarly, you should always have an exit in mind. Assess how to leave a bad
situation. Maybe it is best to be in a large group for protection. But if
the police are herding you like cattle, then the large crowd is their focus
and you may need to break up and leave in small groups. You should always be
ready to quickly change clothing to avoid being recognized in case of
pursuit. Getting away one moment might be your only chance to be active the
next. Arrange with your buddies how to leave, and how to re-connect if you
get separated during an exit.
Use the buddy system and move in a group. If at all possible, make sure to
have a partner you can trust, to whom you will always stay close. That way,
at least one person always knows your whereabouts and condition. Working in
small groups of people, all of whom you know well and trust with your own
safety, is another important factor. Even if you are not part of an
organized affinity group with a plan of action, it is helpful to at least be
with folks you can rely on.
Arrange with your buddies how to re-connect if you get separated in a large
demo. An easy technique is to agree to go back to the same spot you last saw
each other.
Be aware of crowd dynamics and dangers. You need to know what is going on -
not just in view, but around the corners and a few blocks away. Pay
attention to the mood of the crowd and the police. Certain actions like
property destruction and violence will likely be caused by or result in
violent behavior on the part of police. Be aware of police movement and
different groups of protestors entering or leaving an area. Try to monitor
the vibes and focuses of friends and foes at all times.
Know what is going on out of view, by regularly sending out scouts to
investigate what the police and other demonstrators are up to. Since the
situation at a dynamic protest will change frequently and rapidly, scouts
need to check around and report back often. It's a good idea to appoint a
pair of group members as scouts.
Don't act on rumours. It's common at demonstrations for someone to approach
a group of activists shouting, "The riot cops are coming!" As often as not,
of course, there are no police coming at all. These people may be panicking,
or may be agents trying to disrupt you. Acting on bad information can be
dangerous. All critical information must be verified. If the person
conveying info can't claim to have witnessed something directly, or if he or
she is a stranger, then that information is unreliable.
Assume the riot cops will come. It shouldn't be surprising when the
"authorities" do decide to blockade, surround, penetrate or break up a
demonstration. This happens frequently, and the key to not being caught off
guard is to stay prepared.
Don't panic; help others stay calm. Sometimes at actions, the situation
grows just plain frightening. But panic reduces critical judgment, adapting
and coping abilities, and it can spread rapidly. Our best defence in a
crisis is our collective cool - keeping each other centered & focused. If
you can't stay focused and centered, then you need to quit the demo to
chill. Similarly, if someone else can't be calmed down, they need to leave.
Be prepared to be photographed. If you don't want to be photographed by the
police or media at an action, the only sure antidote is to not attend. There
is simply no guarantee that you will not be later identified, almost no
matter how you attempt to disguise yourself. Assume some photographers are
working for the police.
Know your options, and what you and your comrades intend to do, in case of
arrest or injury. This document cannot cover the various paths you may
choose in case you or someone in your group is detained or arrested during
an action. In order to be aware of how to prepare for and respond to such
situations, you should seek training and advice from the team providing
legal & medical services to activists at a particular demo. The legal
information changes from city to city.
Some protester / police scenarios to consider:
Traps
1) Your affinity group is non-violently blockading. The police are behind
you. Some people come up and throw objects over you at the police. What do
you do? What do you think the other actors (object-throwers & police) will
do?
2) You are in a moving group. You go between two lines of police. (The police can then close behind you, blocking your retreat).
3) You are in a group. You go down a street with no side exits through the buildings. There are police in front blocking your path. They can form behind you & you are now trapped.
4) You are in a moving group. You go besides a line of police. An
undercover agent in your group points out someone, the police then jump in
and capture that person(s). The undercover agent may even help in the
capture.
5) You are in a moving group. You go up to a line of police. You possess a
legal permit to march. The police block your path and tell you to
immediately disperse, or face arrest. What do you do?
6) Your moving group is about to turn left at the corner. What information
do you need? How will you get it?
7) You are part of a group that is in a space. The police arrive. As they
start forming around you, what do you think they might do? What should you
do?
Safety
1) Your group unfortunately is about to get arrested. How should you act?
2) The police are in front of your group that is occupying valuable
territory. They are putting on gas masks. What do you think they might do?
What should you do?
3) The police are hitting people with their batons, pepper spraying people,
launching tear gas, spraying water, firing plastic bullets, launching
manure, charging people with their horses, &/or arresting selective people.
What should you do?
4) You or others have been hurt by the police. What should you/your affinity
group do?
5) After being hurt, people want to take photographs. What do you do? Why
do they want to take photographs?
6) The police are clearing out a protest. They are: on foot; motorcycle; in
vehicles; & or on horses. How do you exit safely? What are the positive and
negative dynamics of escaping crowds?
7) The police attack a crowd. Some people get pumped up by the action and
start throwing debris at the police. What do you do? How is this situation
going to unfold?
8) How to you evaluate what you think you can get away with at a protest
with police presence?
Protest Dynamics
1) Your affinity group is conducting a certain type of action (rowdy,
peaceful, dynamic, static, etc.) Another individual or group enters the
space and acts in a way that negates the effects of your action. What do you
do?
2) You go to an action with a plan. At the action, an opportunity unfolds,
and some other protesters ask you to help them with an action that isn't in
your affinity groups' plan. What do you do? What information do you need?
3) You go to an action without a firm plan, but a general sense of what you
could do. At the action, an opportunity unfolds, and some other protesters
ask you to help them with an action that has a higher level of risk. What do
you do? What information do you need?
4) You support a diversity of tactics, but some people are using tactics in
a very un-cool or incompetent way. It's a public demo and you don't own it.
What do you do?
5) Your blockade needs more people involved. A labour march is passing
several blocks away. The marshals are diverting the march away from the real
action where you are. What can you do to increase union membership in your
local blockade?
6) Two large groups with different agreed-upon action guidelines find
themselves in the same area wanting to do their action. How do you proceed?
What are your objectives? What are the positives and negatives towards
splitting up, or compromising and staying together?
7) It's one day of action, and there are lots of police and lots variety of
tactics. Some people are not able to assume the risk of certain tactics.
They also may not be prepared to protect themselves from a violent police
response. What attitudes and roles should the various affinity groups and
protesters assume? What goals do you have?
8) Your groups support a variety of tactics, and also to respect the working
class St. Jean Baptist neighbourhood. But some people want to trash private
commercial property there. What should you do?
9) What would you do if in the above scenario, the would be trashers accuse
you of being peace cops? or sell-outs?
10) The situation is intense and people in your milieu are starting to
panic. What steps should you take?
11) How should you respond to people shouting about imminent police arrival?
12) The situation is dynamic. A charismatic person makes recommendations for
collective action that you think unwise, but seems to be well supported.
What steps can you take?
13) The situation is dynamic and quick decisions must be made by
representatives from the various affinity groups at a spokes council meeting
in the middle of the street. How is your affinity group prepared to
participate in the spokes council in an efficient and democratic way?
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