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The Political Protestor's Uplifting Primer A Guide on Civil Disobedience Introduction For twenty years now I have been an enthusiast of violent political unrest. I started in my teenage years in Denver CO in the 90's at a myriad of sports related riots as well as campus protests at CU Boulder. I soon became what is often called a "Street" or "Action Medic" which is a person who attends such events with the intention of administering first aid to protestors or rioters on the scene who have fallen victim to the growing armory of "Less Lethal" weapons that Law Enforcement likes to deploy on such occasions when they get to play Army man in the streets of a major city. In the following years I attended over a dozen political events from the G8 and WTO to Occupy and Black Lives Matter actions. This gives me a unique perspective on the tactics, strategies, and equipment used by Riot Police and professional protestors alike. Hopefully if you're planning on attending the upcoming RNC or similar events in the future this guide will be useful. Tools of the Trade The following is a list of standard equipment I typically bring to a protest. While many of the items on this list are first aid specific they will be handy to have on hand for yourself or to give to more competent medics if you do not posses any first aid training. 1. Clothing – I typically wear a pair of EMS pants like these http://www.code3tactical.com/5-11-tactical-taclite-ems-pant-74363.aspx which can be found at any uniform store. Depending on weather conditions I may layer some polar long underwear. Keep in mind that jails are quite cold and an extra layer of clothing can be a godsend when you have to wait for 500 people to be processed ahead of you in county. A second pair of socks is also quite useful in this regard. Shin, knee and elbow protection that can be worn discreetly underneath normal clothing is also nice if you plan on jumping fences or diving over cars to avoid arrest or injury. I use something similar to this. http://www.code3tactical.com/damascus-dnsg-imperial-neoprene-knee-shin-guards-w-reinforced-non-slip-trion-x-pads.aspx Rather than a jacket I normally wear two long sleeve shirts or sweaters layered over each other in different and opposing colors. The ability to change your description in a out of sight alley can mean the difference between being seen as just some schmoe walking home from work in the wrong place at the wrong time and a political agitator. A good pair of comfortable shoes that you can run in are also advisable as you'll probably be walking several miles following marches as well as running for your life while crying like a little baby. Lastly wear a plain balaclava around your neck that you can pull over your face at a moments notice to conceal your identity should the need arise. 2. Protective Gear – First things first you're going to need a good gas mask. I swear by this model http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail...CA&gclsrc=aw.ds although it's a little pricey for the weekend warrior. Several alternatives can be found at your local military surplus store but I would highly suggest something that covers your whole face and eyes as tear gas will burn like a motherfucker if it is exposed to any of the soft tissue around your nose much less your eyes. Also recommended is a good pair of gloves that are relatively heat resistant. Tear gas canisters burn very hot and you don't want to get a 2nd degree burn throwing one back whence it came. Earplugs are a good bet for flashbang grenades but I'm yet to be in the line of fire of an LRAD so I have no idea if they or anything would protect you from it's effects. 3. Medical Gear – Now even if you do plan on administering first aid to some unlucky bastard who got a rubber bullet to the nuts you have to realize that your mission is not to perform battlefield surgery but rather CasEvac or Casualty Evacuation. This means getting the injured party treated to the minimum extent necessary to get them ambulatory and out of harms way and into the hands of a real medical professional (many of whom will have orders not to treat protestors so this may take a while). First things first you're going to want several small water bottles filled with a 50/50 solution of water and liquid antacid like Maalox. When poured in the eyes and face this will counter the effect of tear gas. Next bring several bandannas sealed in Ziplock bags that have been soaked in apple cider vinegar. This works as a makeshift gas mask for your patient or other unprepared individuals you may meet on your adventures in activism. I also take at least a half dozen chemical ice packs to treat wounds from rubber bullets, baton rounds, and direct hits from gas canisters. Last I carry a basic compact first aid kit with extra gauze, ACE bandages, smelling salts and a Swiss Army Knife. 4. Data and Communication – DO NOT BRING YOUR CELLPHONE! Local and Federal Law Enforcement agencies utilize phone tracking systems to target political dissidents and troublemakers at these types of events and unless you want to wind up n the wrong kind of database I suggest you leave Candy Crush and Facebook at home. I have a burner smartphone I got used at a CEX and hooked it up to a pre-paid plan from a store in the Mexican part of town that doesn't ask questions. This is useful for listening to police scanner feeds, looking at maps, following news/twitter feeds, and of course communication. I also carry a cheap Motorola radio to listen in to chat from other protest groups and private security. Additionally I bring two GoPro cameras, one attached to my chest always recording and another on a selfie stick to get a birds eye view of the action. Documenting what you see is important to show others what really goes down at these types of things. 5. Other Items – I always bring a hard copy map of the immediate area with possible escape routes and known police locations marked. I also bring a a notebook and pen along with a phony press pass in a laminated case on a lanyard around my neck that more often than not will spare you a nightstick across the face when confronted with the boys in blue. Tactics and Situational Awareness The first and most important thing to have on your side is information. Compile a schedule of known protest actions and marches. Get there early so you can get a lay of he land and take note of police staging areas and plan an escape route should they attack. Take special note of the direction of the wind as this will be quite useful when avoiding clouds of gas. Also keep an eye out for undercover cops mingling with the crowd who may act as agents provocateur to incite violence. Identify and avoid any Black Flag anarchists as they will be the primary target of harsh resistance. It's important to stay aware of crowd mentality and energy. A sudden shift in the crowd can mean an attack from police from a direction you're unaware of. Hearing glass breaking likely means anarchists or provocateurs are engaging in vandalism and the gas is in the mail. Try to be aware and not get "kettled" or boxed in from several directions at once resulting in a mass arrest. Be aware of dispersal orders being broadcast over megaphones. This is another sign that you're about to become a guest of the county. Speaking of which. Getting Arrested 101 You do this long enough and eventually you'll make a mistake and get nabbed. Once you are surrounded and arrest is inevitable take a piss. No really. You could spend hours in plasticuffs on your knees (Remember the knee pads?) waiting to be bused off much less processed. You'll likely be in a ten person cell with fifty people and one toilet with no privacy so you'd be wise to take care of business beforehand and eat a starchy lunch. It goes without saying that it is unwise to talk poo poo to your new captors because they will have no compunction beating you within an inch of your life on their GI Joe holiday. Most of the riot police are volunteers from neighboring counties and relish the opportunity to go to the city and rough up some hippies so don't give them an excuse. Most of them will be wearing gas masks and will have their badge numbers obscured with black tape so it's open season for them to play out all their violent fantasies on smart assed college kids who think they know their rights. It's a good idea to have the number for the Lawyer's Guild written on your arm in permanent marker for use when you eventually get your phone call. They will process your case and defend you should you be charged. Last time I was arrested I was part of a class action lawsuit and was awarded several thousand dollars for my 72 hour stay in county. Well I hope this was helpful. I may edit this if people want more information or if I realize I omitted something. I have plenty of information on the different types of toys used by riot police, their effects, and how to treat the resulting injuries. Have a blast out there kids! Politics can be fun! James Woods has issued a correction as of 12:41 on Jun 23, 2016 |
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Jun 23, 2016 12:33
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