A personal protest kit? [Archive]

View Full Version : A personal protest kit?

*Red*Alert

19th August 2009, 23:40

pastradamus

20th August 2009, 01:04

Given that capitalism is being bailed out across the West, and that the bourgeoisie governments have the wages and livelihood of ordinary working people in their sights to help pay for this pay out, a lot of discontent and protests can be expected.

For those who have experience in protests against cutbacks or new "taxes", like Thatcher's "Poll Tax" and also those who have experience with anti-Fascist protests (dealing with large law enforcement presence) what, ideally, should every protester/activist have other than a placard.

I suppose the idea I have is something like an all-day mass protest with a heavy police presence and a medium to high level of arrest practicing defiance or civil disobiedence, so what would be required in the line of:

Masks or protective clothing
Hydration and food
Arrest kit
Carrying above items (backpack or tactical vest)

I suppose what I'm looking for is a personal protest kit for any type so that activists can be prepared before just stepping out into the street with only their "No to [Insert Issue Here]" placards.

Masks, are the most important measure when involved in a riot situation. More so than placards or any form of weaponry. You can purchase some relatively cheap masks from wholesalers which are effective against Tear gas as well as other chemicals. CS (chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile) gas contains a compound of chemical toxins which, upon a good understanding of how it works one can use a mask as an effective countermeasure. I have a gas mask at home which is effective against CS. These masks are generally available to the public and are often sold to people who care for public swimming pools (the chlorine involved). So they should be easy enough to procure. I strongly advise people against making some stupid home made mask they saw on some stupid website or in that ridiculous joke known as "the anarchist cookbook" - 90% of which is both unpractible and dangerous. If the mask does not come with a faceguard than make sure you wear goggles and nose protection.

Hats and Helms are also very important as a common Police tactic is to beat a protester a destabilising blast in the head with a lead batton. Helms are easily disguised under hats. I've often heard of people filling Hats with material used for packiging, things such as Styrofoam which is often used in boxes. These packeging materials can often be used to double effect as a form of body armour, concealed under sweaters and t-shirts.

Water is vital to any protest or riot situation. Always come to a protest well stocked with water. If trapped in by police its likely that people and yourself will become thirsty and will need water to prevent either you or a comrade from passing out. Make sure you come equipt with lots of water. Dont worry about having to urinate as a consequence, you can just "refill" the bottle and use that as a weapon. I wouldnt worry too much about food. The Human body can last a good deal of time without it. If you are hungry, make sure you have something to eat about an hour before the protest as this will give you the energy you need to fight the police. A well-fed protester is less likely to pass out or lose energy than a hungry one.

As far as arrest is concerned I can only recommend a thorough reading of the IRA's "green book" which I have posted in another thread. The main part is to not mention which group(s) you are involved in. This will only lead to both Personal and Party surveilence.

1. ARREST

Most volunteers are arrested on or as a result of a military operation. This causes an initial shock resulting in tension and anxiety. All volunteers feel that they have failed, resulting in a deep sense of disappointment. The police are aware of this feeling of disappointment and act upon this weakness by insults such as "you did not do very well: you are only an amateur: you are only second-class or worse". While being arrested the police use heavy-handed `shock` tactics in order to frighten the prisoner and break down his resistance. The prisoner is usually dragged along the road to the waiting police wagon, flung into it, followed by the arresting personnel, e.g., police or Army. On the journey to the detention centre the prisoner is kicked, punched and the insults start. On arrival he is dragged from the police wagon through a gauntlet of kicks, punches and insults and flung into a cell.

What A Volunteer Should Do When Arrested

1. The most important thing to bear in mind when arrested is that you are a volunteer of a revolutionary Army, that you have been captured by an enemy force, that your cause is a just one, that you are right and that the enemy is wrong and that as a soldier you have taken the chance expected of a soldier and that there is nothing to be ashamed of in being captured.

2. You must bear in mind that the treatment meted out to you is designed to break you and so bleed you of all the information you may have with regard to the organisation to which you belong.

3. They will attempt to intimidate you by sheer numbers and by brutality. Volunteers who may feel disappointed are entering the first dangerous threshold because the police will act upon this disappointment to the detriment of the volunteer and to the furtherment of their own ends. Volunteers must condition themselves that they can be arrested and if and when arrested they should expect the worse and be prepared for it.

I. INTERROGATION

After the prisoner has been placed in a cell, he may be left for some time alone. During this lull, police officers, `The Interrogators`, will crowd around the outside of the cell door from time to time, shouting threats and insults, telling the prisoner what they will do to him when they go into the cell.

After some time the interrogators will enter the cell and ask the prisoner to make a confession. During this period he may be subjected to assaults and abusive language, depending on the circumstances surrounding the charge. At this stage he will be fingerprinted and other questions will be put to him, related to the specific charge or other charges. Usually his name and address will be taken, place of employment, occupation, educational standard and so forth. After this he will be again isolated in his cell while his `interrogators` check his identity, usually with local police, his home and place of employment. In this period of time the police will attempt to establish his political beliefs, if any, his associates, his police record, if any, and in this way build up a file on him.

Most probably `his associates` and general pattern of movement will give a pretty good idea to the police, if the person is involved in or is sympathetic to a political organisation. Armed with this body of information the police will re-enter the cell and accuse the prisoner of all sorts of activity. If the evidence does not indicate a degree of guilt on the specific charge, he will be accused of all kinds of vague activity.

The purpose of these vague accusations is to implant a feeling of guilt in the prisoner. If, however, the police have some evidence or strong beliefs, linking him with a specific charge, pressure will be applied immediately. This pressure will take the form of physical and psychological torture, most probably he will be punched and kicked around the cell while they scream at him to make a confession, indicating to him that they know all. One or more of the interrogating officers will act in a particular and brutal manner, if they fail to get a confession or on admission of guilt they will leave the cell, telling the prisoner they will be back and threatening him with the most barbaric forms of torture, implying that they extracted confessions from better men than he.

Another set of interrogators will enter the cell, possibly carrying a file with the prisoner's name written on it. They will act quite friendly and sympathetic towards him, telling him that they do not condone the activity of the previous interrogators, that they were mad, crazy and possibly they will kill him when they come in later, they will go to extremes to impress the prisoner of their own sympathy towards him, and ask him to make a confession to them indicating that they do not want the previous interrogators `to get at him again`.

They will probably guarantee him that if he makes the confession they will not allow the former interrogators to re-enter the cell, this will be coupled with a warning that otherwise they cannot guarantee him safety. When the prisoner refuses to confess they will pretend to become very annoyed and disappointed at his lack of co-operation. They may strike him across the face or in the stomach while telling him that he ought to be thankful to them, that they saved him from the previous interrogators and indicating that his behaviour and attitude is a thankless way to repay their kindness.

The interrogators will then open up a file and pretend to read extracts from it, related to the prisoner's past life and activities, even the most intimate and private aspects of his life will be read to him, and possibly a general account of his movements and associates. Most of this information may have been supplied by his friends, employer, school, family, or girlfriend, it may also be `Pub Talk`, local gossip, information supplied by touts or information extracted from other prisoners. This detailed information is designed to frighten the prisoner and to shatter his confidence in his associates and organisation. If, however, they get no confession, they will leave the cell, but before doing so they will give the prisoner their names and tell him to ask for them at any time he wishes to, again indicating that the next set of interrogators are crazy, drunk, and will do him severe damage, then they leave the cell.

After a period of time another set of interrogators will enter the cell, again these interrogators will be particularly brutal and nasty towards him. They will attack him immediately in a most hostile and vicious manner, suggesting to him that if he did not confess to the former interrogators he will confess to them, they will let him know that they have a reputation for getting confessions from people like him, implying that everyone they met confessed before they were finished with them

The torture used will now take on a three-fold purpose:

1. Physical Torture.
2. Subtle Psychological Torture.
3. Humiliation.

1. Physical Torture

The physical torture will be in the form of beatings, kicking, punching and twisting of limbs, it may even be burning from cigarette ends.

2. Psychological Torture

This will be in the form of threats to his family, his friends and himself, e.g. threats of assassination and threats to castrate him

3. Humiliation

This takes the form of stripping the prisoner of his clothes and remarks passed about his sexual organs. This period of interrogation may last for as long as two hours or more and at the end of that period they may produce a factual or faked confession from an associate. Failing to get their confession they leave the cell, telling him they will be back and when they do come back they will break every bone in his body.

This process can continue for seven days without a break, the minimum of sleep is allowed and if they deem it necessary, no sleep will be allowed. Lack of sleep causes the prisoner to become confused.

Because of the existing laws which authorise the police to detain a person for seven days, it means in effect that the process of interrogation can continue to disorientate their victim, due in the main to lack of sleep.

Interrogation can have many different phases, depending on the evidence or information which the police have gathered. It is obvious that a volunteer captured carrying out an operation is already seen to be guilty, especially if captured with a weapon, bomb etc., in this case the police have all the evidence needed to obtain a conviction and interrogation becomes unnecessary. Most likely the volunteer will be beaten up in the police stations for what he has done, not for what he knows, if interrogated under these circumstances it will be to get information on the organisation to which he belongs and on his comrades. Another shady aspect directly related to interrogation is blackmail and bribe. When the police cannot obtain a confession they may attempt to blackmail the volunteer, this may be in the form of threats to spread scandalous stories about the volunteer, stories or threats may be designed to hit at the character of the volunteer such as a threat to tell his comrades or his organisation that he told everything or that he had been working for them for years. The other phase of this shady interrogation is bribe. A volunteer may be promised money, a passport and a safe passage to any country he so desires if he co-operates.

THE INTERROGATION - ANALYSIS.......HOW TO DEFEND

The best defence in anti-interrogation techniques is to understand the techniques as practised by police forces. The purpose of interrogation is to get a confession. If the interrogators knew what they were searching for there would be no need for interrogation, therefore interrogation is necessary only when the police are unaware of information, which would lead to a conviction. The best anti-interrogation is to SAY NOTHING. All police forces work from a story, suspicion or clue, therefore when a volunteer is arrested they strive to build on that clue, on that suspicion and the only way that can be done is to obtain information from their victim. They usually start by questioning their victim, writing down a recording of what he says, comparing this information with information already in their possession, looking for differences which contradict the information previously gained, going back to their victim, pointing out these differences, resulting in the victim changing his alibi in order to suit this difference. The police will again check this new story with other information and again look for a difference or mistake narrowing the prisoner's alibi down until finally it breaks. All of these changes in his statements will be recorded and used as evidence against him, evidence which will without doubt be accepted by the court and so lead to his conviction. This cannot be over stressed: when arrested SAY NOTHING. Ask to see your solicitor and doctor immediately and keep on doing so.

DO NOT INDULGE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE POLICE. -VERY IMPORTANT!

After the prisoner had been placed in his cell, we have seen earlier in the lecture how the police had crowded outside the cell door shouting insults and banging on the door. The purpose of this exercise is to frighten the prisoner and so arouse anxiety in their victim. When anxiety has been aroused all natural, rational defence barriers break down or weaken. When this happens the prisoner becomes irrational and becomes more prone to interrogation, in other words an anxious man is easier to intimidate by interrogation than a cool, calculating person. During the time the prisoner is left alone in the cell he should, in as far is as possible, ignore the police, the threats and the insults and he should marshal all facts surrounding his arrest. He should bear in mind that he can be detained for no more than seven days if he remains silent or possibly years in prison if he speaks. Most volunteers speak from a sense of fear thinking mistakenly that if they speak, torture or ill treatment will not be used. It is a recorded fact that interrogators are guided by a simple rule of thumb: `If a prisoner won't speak he may be innocent and interrogation may be a waste of time, if he speaks a little there is always more and so interrogation is necessary`, therefore the prisoner who speaks a little in order to avoid abuse is in effect inviting more abuse from his interrogators who will always assume there is something more. Therefore the best defence is to remain COOL, COLLECTED, CALM, and SAY NOTHING.

We have seen earlier in the lecture how the first batch of interrogators will enter the cell usually insulting, shouting and beating the prisoner. Volunteers should understand that this first batch of interrogators usually fingerprint, ask name, address etc. At this stage a little is known about the prisoner and therefore the task of the interrogator is to identify him positively. Again the prisoner must bear in mind that everything he says will be recorded and compared with existing information in the possession of the police. The purpose of abusing the prisoner at this stage is called the `softening up period`, usually one or more will act in a particularly nasty manner. This interrogation may last not more than one hour and is only a preliminary investigation. The purpose of using heavy-handed techniques and sheer hostility is an opening for the following batch of interrogators, whom we have seen act in a particularly sympathetic manner.

This set of interrogators, we have seen, acted in a friendly and sympathetic manner towards the prisoner, offering him cigarettes and friendship. Volunteers should be well aware and on guard against this feigned friendship. These interrogators pretend to be sympathetic towards the aims and objects of the movement, going to lengths to impress the volunteer, pretending that they too believe in a united Ireland. They will, no doubt, tell the volunteer that their father or grandfather was in the same organisation and that they were forced by economic circumstances to join the police force and they are now merely passing the time until they are pensioned off. They will try to convince the volunteer it is in his interest to make a confession to them in order to escape from the previous interrogators who, they claim, are anti-Republican and no and are not interested in getting a confession but are only interested in beating the prisoner up. The volunteer should understand that these seemingly kind police officers may be acting the tough cop with his comrades who had been or are arrested. Finally we have seen how these interrogators, pretending to become upset, had stretched forward and beat the volunteer about the face and body, declaring that their advice and friendship was being returned or repaid with a stubborn attitude and a refusal to make EVEN A PART OF A CONFESSION. This technique is as old as police forces, they attempt to win over the friendship and trust of the prisoner, hoping that if their prisoner falls into that trap he will become upset, not so much at the punching about the face which he received from them but at his own refusal to co-operate: this perhaps is the most dangerous type of interrogation and one which leaves the prisoner in a psychological vulnerable position.

Another technique is called TOP SECRET FILE TECHNIQUE, this involves the interrogators bringing into the cell a file with the prisoner's name printed on it. The police will open this file in the presence of the prisoner as we have seen earlier in the lecture. They proceed to read from this file parts of the prisoner's past life, even to the most intimate details and a general account of his movement and friends, especially those associated or known to have contacts or sympathies with a political organisation, e.g., Sinn Fein. They also have information gathered from various sources such as employer, neighbours, PUB TALK OR LOCAL GOSSIP. Very often the PUB TALK and gossip is factual, this arises from the volunteer or volunteers in general speaking in pubs under the influence of alcohol, telling close friends and girlfriends and boasting in a bravado manner about their exploits and the exploits of others. This type of bravado is POSITIVELY DANGEROUS, not only to the volunteer and his associates but to the Movement in general. Another dangerous aspect of interrogation is `an associate's confession`, this involves an interrogator approaching the volunteer with a signed or unsigned, factual or unfactual confession of an associate. Volunteers must understand, (in the first place) this confession may be a hoax and in the second, even if it is a factual confession of his associate, this confession is not an indication of guilt and will not be accepted in court unless his associate who made the confession is prepared to turn State or Crown witness and is prepared to swear its truth in the witness box. Very often a volunteer may break under severe physical and psychological torture and make a confession, but rarely is prepared to turn Crown or State witness and swear against his comrades. If this technique is employed by the police DON`T FALL FOR IT, it is a trick to weaken the volunteer and so get him to make and sign a statement.

Another dangerous technique employed is bringing the prisoner who made a statement into the same room as the volunteer who refuses to co-operate, usually they are left on their own and the prisoner who made a statement may try to entice his comrade to do likewise. If this happens to you always bear in mind that you are not alone because the room is always bugged and any talk is recorded. Another important point to bear in mind is when the prisoner who confessed and perhaps implicated you approaches, don't launch a verbal attack on him because this verbal attack on him would be an implication of your guilt. Always speak friendly to him and suggest he must be mistaken, that he is ill and advise him to seek medical attention. Another important point to be remembered and one which is extremely important, DON`T GET INVOLVED IN A POLITICAL CONVERSATION, this technique is a universal tactic and one which recurs repeatedly. When volunteers refuse to make a confession and when all other tactics of interrogation have failed, the police usually, if not always, attempt to get the volunteer to speak on political matters. This is a technique which many volunteers fail to recognise, its purpose is to fling the volunteer off balance, to sound out his political thinking, to break his silence and so make it easier for him to speak freely. This tactic has been used against volunteers and very often to their own detriment. When a volunteer has been arrested and the usual terror tactics used against him, this display of friendship has a weakening effect upon him and can be explained in psychological terms.

As we have seen earlier in this lecture, these seemingly friendly interrogators will give their names to the prisoner before they leave the cell, telling him that the next set of interrogators are crazy, anti-Republicans who are out to do him harm, they will tell him to call upon them at any time he so wishes and they will do their best to save him from brutal treatment. All volunteers must understand and understand in the clearest possible way that no interrogator is his friend, that they are the enemy, the instruments of coercion, the tools of suppression and a more dangerous enemy than the interrogators who will beat him up. These people act a part in a well-rehearsed play, and are using subtle psychological techniques in order to undermine the morale of the volunteer. All volunteers are well versed in brutal treatment as practised by police and the Army. They understand what physical torture means, but now you will have to understand the meaning and application of psychological torture, perhaps the term is an uncommon one, but its effects are far reaching.

We have seen earlier how the 'heavy squad' now enters the scene and proceeds to attack the volunteer in a most vicious and brutal manner. This shock treatment is well rehearsed and is meant to push the volunteer into a physical and mental corner, in other words they hope that their shock treatment will knock the volunteer off balance, and off guard in the hope that he will confess. They will shout statements to the effect that they have a reputation for extracting confessions, that they have never yet failed and that he will not fool them. Now we must analyse this approach, the first thing of importance we note of importance is the shouting in conjunction with the physical torture. The shouting as we shall see is a more important interrogation technique than the physical torture. Again, why shout? Why boast? Why tell the volunteer that they are experts at extracting information? This shouting and boasting is merely an assurance to the police that they can get a confession, it is the first obvious sign of their own weakness, a compensation for their own shortcomings and all volunteers should and ought to look upon this display as a modern war dance. Just as primitive people held war dances, and built totem poles in order to compensate themselves for their own known weaknesses, so two frustrated interrogators will shout and boast in front of the prisoner to compensate themselves for their own weakness. The best anti-interrogation technique when a volunteer finds himself in this situation, is to look upon the police officers as he would look upon primitive people, wearing the head of a dead animal, hoping that by doing this they gain the strength or cunning of the animal whose head they wear. All volunteers should look upon shouting, boasting policemen as they would look upon primitive people doing a war dance.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE

We have seen that this type of torture is widespread and usually in the form of threats to the volunteer in question, to his friends and family, threats to assassinate him, to blacken his character, to castrate him; loss of sleep, poor quality of food and continuous noise. This in conjunction with the physical torture and fear of physical torture builds up anxiety and borders on hysteria. All of this is designed to smash down the volunteer's natural defence mechanism, usually a person held for a period of time, perhaps seven days, living in an environment of fear and indecision, constantly being threatened, cut off from all natural contacts, deprived of his usual social surroundings, lack of sleep etc. This can and does form disorientation and disillusionment: during this period the volunteer will get no sleep or very little sleep, living this type of vague existence for a number of days and can leave its mark and deserves an independent lecture.

[The sexual overtones of some interrogation techniques are graphically described in a section devoted to humiliation.]

HUMILIATION

We have seen that this type of interrogation technique invariably is stripping the prisoner of all his clothes and remarks passed about his sexual organs. Volunteers should be aware of the proven fact that clothes are an important aspect of the individual's character or make up. By removing his clothes the interrogators hope to remove the volunteer's character and make up, psychologically this is symbolic and by doing this the police like to humiliate the volunteer and so lift away the barriers, just as they find barriers preventing them from getting a confession. A person's clothes become symbolic of this barrier and by removing them they hope to remove the natural defence mechanism of the volunteer.

The second part of the humiliation is to pass derogatory remarks about the volunteer's sexual organs. Volunteers should attempt to understand the mentality which underlies this act and so be better prepared to meet this angle if and when it happens to them. Just as they removed the volunteer's clothes, which symbolised a defence mechanism or natural barrier, so too by passing derogatory remarks about the volunteer's sexual organs they attempt to humiliate the volunteer and by so doing to weaken his will to resist. The mere act of doing this has deeper undertones than one would guess. Volunteers should understand that from a psychological point of view this act is called a penis complex. This complex is inherent in the homosexual and although the interrogators themselves may be married men with a family it indicates suppressed homosexual tendencies. When the volunteer realises and understands this proven fact he should not have great difficulty in triumphing over his interrogators. He should look upon them as homosexuals with the immunity of the establishment, as people who become sadistic from the homosexual tendencies, which underlie them.

The police sometimes attempt to use blackmail and bribe in the last vain attempt to obtain a confession. All volunteers should ignore this type of carrot dangling. Blackmail rarely works effectively and can backfire against the police in libellous action and so bad publicity. Bribe never works, despite the fact that a volunteer may be offered money and protection in exchange for information. He should bear in mind that when he is of no further use to the police they drop him and the protection means nothing, for example, Kenneth Lennon.

[Lennon was found dead in a ditch after the IRA tracked him down - in England.]

While being tortured in a brutal, physical manner it is important that a volunteer should consolidate his position, he should realise that it's seven days if he keeps silent, perhaps seventeen years if he speaks. It's no easy thing to dismiss physical torture as a small or meaningless thing. It is by no means small and by no means meaningless to the receiver. From time immemorial, from histories recorded as far back as the Babylonian Empire up through the days of Imperial Rome, from the Spanish Inquisition to Nazi Concentration Camps, come stories of how people coped and defeated the attempts of police to beat information from prisoners.

One notable technique was the prisoners' ability to form images in their minds or on the surrounding walls. People who were brutalised found that by directing their powers of concentration away from their interrogators and diverting it to images formed in their own mind they could in effect overcome the physical pain. Some people pictured images in their own mind or in the mind's eye, this picture may have been a flickering candlelight, a leaf etc....

In the end when carrying Items I feel its best to carry items on you rather than a backpack for ease of access to the Items. A good Idea is a simple builders tool belt for these Items, or one can make their own. Another good asset is a shield. Often people use Bin Covers (the old metal type) which are both light and effective against battons.

*Red*Alert

20th August 2009, 01:24

pastradamus

20th August 2009, 01:43

Thanks Comrade, I like the literature you use for your Arrest/Security culture information ;) And I'm glad that it now has found it's way into direct use against the State for a large range of activist groups. At least some good came out of the struggle.

And thank you good sir!

Yeah I actually have an old 1982 copy of the book itself. But the Main sections I & II are what I have posted here. If you'd like anything else from it you just need ask me.

*Red*Alert

20th August 2009, 02:36

Another good piece of equipment to add to the list would be industrial-standard noise canceling ear muffs which meet ANSI S3.19 or in Europe EN352-1:1996 standards, capable of withstanding both shooting range and aircraft noise.

griffjam

20th August 2009, 03:08

What you bring and wear will largely determine how much fun you have in the streets, and how long you'll be able to stay there. If you pack your bag too heavy, that will also limit your mobility and increase your fatigue. Think ahead, and please check out our little guide to ACTION FASHION:
WHAT TO WEAR

comfortable, protective shoes that you can run in
clothing which covers most of your skin to protect from sun and pepper spray exposure
shatter-resistant eye protection ie: sunglasses, swim goggles, or gas mask
gas mask or goggles paired with a respirator or bandanna to protect during chemical weapons deployment
weather-related gear (i.e.: rain gear or sun hat)
heavy-duty gloves if you plan to handle hot tear gas canisters
fresh clothes in plastic bag (in case yours get contaminated)
a cap or hat to protect you from the sun and from chemical weapons

WHAT TO BRING

lots of water in plastic bottle with squirt or spray top, to drink and to wash off your skin or eyes if needed
energy snacks
identification and/or emergency contact information.
just enough money for pay-phone, food, transportation
watch, paper, pen for accurate documentation of events, police brutality, injuries
water- or alcohol-based sunscreen
your inhaler, epipen, insulin or other medication if you require it
several days of your prescription medication and doctor's note in case of arrest
menstrual pads, if needed. Avoid using tampons--if you're arrested you may not have a chance to change it (tampons left in more than six hours increase your risk of developing toxic shock syndrome)

ACTION FASHION FAUX PAS

Don't put vaseline, mineral oil, oil-based sunscreen or moisturizers on skin as they can trap chemicals.
Don't wear contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals underneath.
Don't wear things which can easily be grabbed (i.e.: dangly earrings or other jewelry, ties, loose hair)
Don't go to the demo alone if you can help it. It is best to go with an affinity group, or some friends who know you well.
Don't forget to sleep, eat, and drink lots of water. No matter how well rested and prepared we are and how tight our plan of action is with our affinity group, we can never really predict what will happen in an action, how the police will (over)react to our demonstration, no matter how peaceful we may be.

http://www.infoshop.org/page/Black-Blocs-for-Dummies

Do you desire to be an autonomous individual rather than a faceless, mass-produced cog in the machine? Great! That is, unless you are marching in a bloc—where conformity is a weapon that you can use to smash the machine itself.

The goal of the bloc as a tactic is to have everyone look as similar as possible, so that, ideally, no single individual can be identified within the anonymous mass. This helps to keep everybody safer. If only some people within a bloc take these precautions, the cops can more easily spot and target individuals and groups, which is dangerous both for those who are acting within the bloc and for those who are not. Those who make the effort to stay anonymous can draw extra police attention; those who don’t can be more easily identified, which can make them easier targets. Neither of these situations is desirable.

Take this stuff seriously! If you’re setting out to accomplish something risky, taking these precautions is crucial. If you’re not, you can help to protect your comrades and avoid making yourself a target.

If you’re going to wear a mask, keep it on at all appropriate times! If you are captured on camera or witnessed at any point with your mask off, you can then be easily identified with it on.
Be extremely conscientious about where and when you change into and out of your mask and anonymous clothing; there should be no cameras or hostile witnesses. If possible, explore the area in advance to find appropriate spaces for changing. Remember that police are especially likely to target masked individuals who are not in a crowd that is similarly dressed.
Wear different outfits layered one upon the other, so you’ll be prepared for any eventuality. Ideally, you should have one outfit for getting to the site of the action without attracting attention, your anonymous gear for the action itself, and then another outfit underneath so you can look like a harmless civilian as you exit the area. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, particularly if all those clothes get hot.
If you have tattoos that are or could be visible, cover them up! You can do this with makeup or concealer, especially if you use heavy-duty products designed for that purpose. Many actors and dancers use Dermablend to cover up tattoos, burns, and scars. It comes in numerous colors that can be mixed to match your skin tone, and it’s water resistant and rated for 12 hours of wear. It’s expensive, but cheaper than bail! If you can’t find Dermablend or a similar product, cover your tattoos with clothing that won’t ride up. Tuck your clothing in if you have to.
Likewise, if you have visible piercings, take them out—or at least cover them up so they are sure not to be exposed.
Do not march in a bloc wearing your regular clothing, especially if it’s distinctive. Cops may be stupid, but they can probably match the pictures of the masked-up person with the purple polka-dotted pants to pictures of the same person in the same outfit minus the mask—even if the pictures were taken on different days.
If you are going to carry a backpack or bag, don’t take the one you carry around in everyday life. No matter how perfect your outfit is, it’s all for naught if your bag is recognizable—especially if, like many people, you change bags much less frequently than you change clothes.
The same goes for your shoes, for similar reasons—wear different ones during the action than you wear every day. This is also important because cops can attempt to use footprints or other traces from shoes as evidence.
Do not wear patches or other identifiable insignia on your clothing while in a bloc, unless everyone else has exactly the same ones in exactly the same places.
Don’t just cover your face! Bandanas are popular and convenient, but they don’t conceal enough. Cover your head completely so your hair cannot be seen—especially if it’s distinctive. In a black bloc, you can do this by wearing a ski mask or making a mask out of a T-shirt—stretch the neck hole across your eyes and tie the sleeves behind your head, with the rest of the shirt covering your head and shoulders. In other circumstances, you could try a wig, if that fits the aesthetic of your action.
If possible, cover your eyes. Goggles can do this while serving the dual purpose of protecting your eyes from chemical weapons; nondescript sunglasses could also work in a pinch. Both of these can be obtained in prescription form and are better to use than your regular glasses, particularly if your regular glasses are distinctive. Contact lenses are not recommended in situations where you may come into contact with chemical weapons.
Be careful not to leave fingerprints and DNA evidence! Wear cloth gloves—leather and latex can retain fingerprints and even pass them on to objects you touch. Wipe down tools and other items with alcohol in advance, to clean fingerprints off them—you never know what might get lost in the chaos. Don’t forget about the batteries inside flashlights!
Practice at home! Don’t go out in a bulky outfit you’ve never worn before expecting to pull off cop-shocking feats of dexterity. You need to be familiar with your outfit and comfortable moving in it; it’s important that your vision isn’t compromised, too.
Do not let any of this give you a false sense of security. Be careful! Assess your relationship to risk honestly; don’t do anything if you’re not sure you could live with the worst possible consequences. Stay aware of your surroundings and listen to your instincts. Make sure you know and trust the people you’re working with, especially when it comes to high-risk activities. Practice proper security culture at all times. Know and assert your legal rights, especially in stressful situations. Doing so may not make things better, but failing to do so will certainly make them worse!

Don’t get caught! Stay safe(r), and smash the state!

yuon

20th August 2009, 11:41

I think that the two large posts above have covered most things, but I just want to mention something quite important (at least from my perspective).

If you are prepared for a demo (not necessarily a riot), be really prepared. Carry a number of water bottles which can be handed out, and passed around to those who weren't prepared. It's nice to be nice.

Oh, and not every demo has to turn into a riot, don't be an arsehole, don't make a demo a riot unless you first give everyone who doesn't want to be there the chance to get the fuck out.

Heh, seeing as I'm still here, I'll also mention, again, the importance of having legal information. Make sure you write on your body (in a place not likely to get sweaty, so it won't rub off, but also where you can see it easily), the phone number for the legal team for the demo. That's so you can ring them up, tell them who you are, what happened, and they can arrange a lawyer, bail and whatever else is required (hopefully).

pastradamus

21st August 2009, 01:42

Die Rote Fahne

21st August 2009, 05:54

Atrus

24th August 2009, 18:20

Thought I'd add, in case it's not been mentioned, here in the UK as a non-leathal weapon, Police use "CS Spray" to subdue protesters. Water WILL NOT get this out of your eyes, and makes the pain worse. The active compounds are, however, soluble in milk. It won't stop the pain completely, but will soothe more than water does. It's best in a spray bottle. Soap, shampoo and other detergents will also help, perhaps more than milk, but obviously they sting eyes on their own.
Alternatively:
http://www.defensedevices.com/suddecwip.html

These wipes supposedly neutralise CS Spray. I don't know if this is the case, but if so, they sound like a must for the protest kit.

pastradamus

24th August 2009, 23:17

redasheville

25th August 2009, 07:18

Sunscreen and a cliff bar.

Tjis

27th August 2009, 02:51

It has been said multiple times before but it can't be stressed enough: bring water! Water is the single most important thing you can bring to any protest, especially if you expect some trouble (anything from being held at one location by the cops to a full-scale riot). You'll get thirsty, others will get thirsty, you might need to get icky pepperspray out of your eyes, etc.
BRING WATER!

mannetje

15th September 2009, 18:27

such a kit could be necessesary. if there's in holland a right wing demonstration and the leftists take part in a anti-demonstration the lefty's always get arrested. fuck'n pigs.

Comrade Gwydion

16th September 2009, 08:41

such a kit could be necessesary. if there's in holland a right wing demonstration and the leftists take part in a anti-demonstration the lefty's always get arrested. fuck'n pigs.

That's fucking true, unfortunately.

Although I don't think the dutch cops go through that extensive interrogating ritual. They smack you around on the scene, but then just put you in jail and forget all about you I think, untill they let you out a day later. It must be said, however, that I don't have experience with this, so please tell me if I'm wrong!

Atrus

16th September 2009, 11:39

You'll get thirsty, others will get thirsty, you might need to get icky pepperspray out of your eyes, etc.
BRING WATER!

I think it's vital that everyone brings plenty of water to a protest, but I can't stress enough, putting water in your eyes after pepper spray makes things worse.
NEVER try to wash pepper spray out with water, it makes the pain much worse, you're better off doing nothing.
Better still, use milk to wash it out, or see my link in a previous post to some wipes which neutralise the chemicals in pepper spray.

☭World Views

16th September 2009, 14:49

I don't believe in using violence as a means of protesting. It merely gets us bad press.

However, I do support preparing for "anarchidiots" (people who profess to be Anarchists but know nothing about it as they throw rocks at cops).

A backpack avec:
- Hydration.
- Snacks.
- Pamphlets to hand out.
- You're red, black or red and black flag.
- Gas mask/Scarf and goggles in case the po po decide to tear gas you.
- Video Camera
- Route of escape if shit gets violent.

The reactionaries would probably try to either confiscate or break the video camera if it is obvious that you are recording and you catch police in the act.

What I do is wear a video camera disguised as a pair of sunglasses.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-81126207287951_2071_9961451

Atrus

16th September 2009, 22:36

What I do is wear a video camera disguised as a pair of sunglasses.

Any more info about how to get these?

Tjis

17th September 2009, 01:03

Any more info about how to get these?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/c090/

Bitter Ashes

17th September 2009, 10:26

When people were saying about sunscream and vaseline bieng an added hazard against chemicals, would makeup be included in that hazard bracket?

ellipsis

20th September 2009, 21:09

Just be sure that if you get a gas masks that you use new filters and that it has ballistic glass eye pieces.

bcbm

21st September 2009, 00:43

When people were saying about sunscream and vaseline bieng an added hazard against chemicals, would makeup be included in that hazard bracket?

Yes.

As for countering pepper spray- use a water and maalox mixture (or other liquid antacid).

Also, a waterproof jacket does wonders against various gasses and sprays, since they can't be absorbed in it.

Atrus

23rd September 2009, 20:54

As for countering pepper spray- use a water and maalox mixture (or other liquid antacid).

Do you have experience of this working? I'm a Chemistry student and can't see how that would stop that Capsaicin in pepper spray working.
Not that I'm saying it doesn't work, I'm just wondering if it's an empirical thing.

ellipsis

23rd September 2009, 23:58

Do you have experience of this working? I'm a Chemistry student and can't see how that would stop that Capsaicin in pepper spray working.
Not that I'm saying it doesn't work, I'm just wondering if it's an empirical thing.

All of the protest first aid stuff that I read uses this recipe, including anarchist black cross lit. Plus I have seen it used in protest documentaries.

Not sure how it works, probably has to due with PH. I know that when you eat real spicy food, water is no good but milk and yogurt will make your mouth stop burning.

Bitter Ashes

1st October 2009, 01:21

Yes.

As for countering pepper spray- use a water and maalox mixture (or other liquid antacid).

Also, a waterproof jacket does wonders against various gasses and sprays, since they can't be absorbed in it.
Those damn chauvanists! Fancy inventing foundation that cant withstand a bit of CS gas! You'd have thought they'd have made it with the intention of keeping women away from politics!

I am of course joking. I dont think the conspiricies go quite that deep. :lol:

I'm going to be vain though and say that I'd risk it. If worst comes to worst I'd carry a few wipes with me and hope for the best. Nobody gets to see my evil skin without a damn good reason!!! It really must be said though that none of this sounds terribly inspiring does it? I mean, a load of people stood there with lemony hankies wrapped around thier faces, goggles and anoraks bravely facing down capitalism just doesnt have the right image does it? I mean, it sounds like we're attending a Star Trek convention, not a political demonstation. maybe it's also worth considering that encourging people to wrap up might be more achievable during the winter months. I know that traditionaly it's during summertime that a lot of demos seem to happen, but it seems to me that is when demonstrators are most vunerable in thier shorts and t-shirts and no jackets packed in thier rucksacks.

Искра

1st October 2009, 01:42

don't you find wearing masks contra productive?
we never wear masks...

Bitter Ashes

1st October 2009, 01:45

btw, the US Army uses pepper spray and the British Army uses CS Gas. I've just checked and found out it's the same for the appropriate civilian forces too. Both are nasty, but need treating differently. These are chemical weapons with pretty names, so treat them as such.

If it gets onto exposed skin, or even worse, your eyes then first thing's first and that is to get out of the gas. There's no point trying to treat it while you're still bieng continuously exposed. Remember that everything that was exposed to the gas is now contaminated, so after you take off your goggles, remember that it'll still be on your hands/gloves. Changing your clothes should be a prioritity. You need to get out of the gas within 30 minutes at the very most, although you should be aiming for less than 5 minutes exposure. Anything more than that and you'll need hospital treatment.

The version I've heard of countering pepper spray is vegtable oil + water + a little bit of fairy liquid. AFTER that's been used, rinse it off with water. Dont put water on before or you'll make it even worse.

For CS gas (aka tear gas) then you want a solution of water + lemon + vinegar. Same thing applies as above. Dont use water to rinse it out until you're sure the gas is all off. Wine or cider vinegar is preferable to malt vinegar as it'll sting your eyes less, but malt will work in a pinch.

Make sure the first thing you do is get your hands clean. Then your eyes and then everywhere else.

I'm going out on a limb here in thinking that maybe this is the same stuff you want to be soaking those bandannas in too, but could anyone please confirm that?

bcbm

3rd October 2009, 21:47

Do you have experience of this working? I'm a Chemistry student and can't see how that would stop that Capsaicin in pepper spray working.
Not that I'm saying it doesn't work, I'm just wondering if it's an empirical thing.

the times i've been sprayed i just ended up using water to flush or had enough gear that it just burned my skin little without getting in the eyes, but the antacid and water mixture is pretty common for street medics and widely used in trainings where they actually get pepper sprayed, so i would assume there is something to it. perhaps the antacid makes it more effective as a rinse?

I'm going to be vain though and say that I'd risk it. If worst comes to worst I'd carry a few wipes with me and hope for the best.

make up will trap the chemicals against your skin. i would really advise against it.

btw, the US Army uses pepper spray and the British Army uses CS Gas. I've just checked and found out it's the same for the appropriate civilian forces too. Both are nasty, but need treating differently.

us police forces use pepper spray and cs gas.

An archist

4th October 2009, 12:45

don't you find wearing masks contra productive?
we never wear masks...
Well if you're not doing anything wrong or planning to do anything wrong, then don't mask up. If you're planning to chuck stones at lines of riot police, directly facing camera's, then it's probably wiser to mask up decently. Or even if you're going to be standing among people who do that.

Искра

4th October 2009, 14:25

Well if you're not doing anything wrong or planning to do anything wrong, then don't mask up. If you're planning to chuck stones at lines of riot police, directly facing camera's, then it's probably wiser to mask up decently. Or even if you're going to be standing among people who do that.
For example we do protest actions and stuff like that, and kids are showing masked... I find that contraproductive. How will you introduce people to your ideas if you are masked?
If you come to my mother masked to give her a flayer she'll probably smacked you with her handbag and scream. :)

Tjis

4th October 2009, 17:45

For example we do protest actions and stuff like that, and kids are showing masked... I find that contraproductive. How will you introduce people to your ideas if you are masked?
If you come to my mother masked to give her a flayer she'll probably smacked you with her handbag and scream. :)

Of course. But when there is a need to mask up, there generally is no time to introduce anyone to your ideas anyway.

Искра

4th October 2009, 18:58

Of course. But when there is a need to mask up, there generally is no time to introduce anyone to your ideas anyway.
I know, I wasn't thinking about those actions. Off course that there are actions when you HAVE TO BE masked.
I was referencing to this leftist, especially anarchist, tendency to mask themselves all the time, which is in my opinion bad.

TRS

4th October 2009, 23:45

OK, I don't know about anything else, but I have a basic checklist I bring to all protests. Whatever the organisers say, you can never really tell until you arrive what the police's reaction will be like. Of course, in many situations, I'll never need any of it. Some of it I've never used, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

POINT: THIS IS FROM A UK PERSPECTIVE. I'VE NO EXPERIENCE OF US/EUROPEAN POLICE.

Clothing:
:- Jeans - preferably black. They'll help you blend in, especially if there's a strong black block.

:- A cheapo black t-shirt with a white/ coloured tank top underneath. This'll help you appear completely different in case of you being singled out for arrest. You can just bin the black t shirt.

:- Strong shoes. A lot of people swear by soft shoes, saying they're comfortable to walk in, however I prefer stronger shoes for protection (IE, boots or walking boots). I saw a lot of cops stepping on people's feet on the front line at the G20 in London.

:- Hoodie. To protect your identity. Also, full body protection is useful in case of chemicals being used on the crowd.

:- Bandana. I prefer bandanas to gas masks and balaclavas as they're less obvious and less threatening. They're also a lot easier to hid on your person. Obviously, bandanas are best kept without obvious, stand out designs on them.

:- A small backpack.

In the Backpack:
:- Water. Useful for drinking (duh) and washing out eyes in the case of a chemical attack.

:- A small sachet of vinegar. If the police use CS gas, quickly soak your bandana in this and it'll keep out the worst of the gas. This is a last case scenario though. Better to keep out of the gas.

:- A mobile phone. Obviously, useful to keep in contact with your affinity group/ friends and family in case of emergency. I always change the names of any obvious contacts who are important to you (ie "HOME" or "JOHN (A-FED)") just in case you're arrested. Cops pull all sorts of dubiously legal tricks whilst you're in custody, and they're not above using your phone to find all your contacts/ contact your family to threaten you.

:- All the cash you'll need. You may never be able to get more. Running out can be very annoying if you want to go for a booze up afterwards!

:- A sandwich and some kinda of energy drink (ie Lucozade). Since about 2001 the police have been using "Kettling" against protestors in both Germany and the UK. Look it up on wikipedia for a full description/history, but basically it entails being held in a kind of corral for serveral hours. This can deny you basic human needs such as food and water, and a place to go for a piss, so something to keep you alive and awake until they let you out or the kettle is broken is needed.

:- Also, obvious point - get rid of all ID and credit cards

CELMX

5th October 2009, 06:21

Just wondering, will juveniles, if caught and arrested, be subjugated under the same amount/kind of interrogation as adults if caught/arrested at riots?

Will adolescents under 18 even be allowed to participate in protests?

near the beginning of this thread, prastradamus stated very graphically about the stripping of clothing from males. will females be put under the same type of humiliating interrogation? wouldn't that be sexual abuse?

btw...thanks for the posts! they were pretty helpful!:)

☭World Views

5th October 2009, 17:55

Yeah what I meant is that you should have a gas mask readily accessible, not put on all the time lol.

One should be able to slip it on in less than 5 seconds, otherwise you need more practice.

bcbm

5th October 2009, 18:31

POINT: THIS IS FROM A UK PERSPECTIVE. I'VE NO EXPERIENCE OF US/EUROPEAN POLICE.

i don't have any with UK cops but, in my experience anyway, american pigs are the worst with european ones being a bit less heavy handed. obviously they're all still exceedingly violent and most rely on similar tactics, ie kettling.

:- Strong shoes. A lot of people swear by soft shoes, saying they're comfortable to walk in, however I prefer stronger shoes for protection (IE, boots or walking boots). I saw a lot of cops stepping on people's feet on the front line at the G20 in London.whatever shoes you bring should be non-descript (ie, all black) ones you're comfortable in. you also shouldn't mind throwing them out. bring another pair in your bag. police have used shoes (usually the least uniform part of any bloc) as evidence to prosecute.

:- Hoodie. To protect your identity. Also, full body protection is useful in case of chemicals being used on the crowd.here i would, again, advise a rain jacket with a hood instead of a hooded sweatshirt. cotton will absorb chemicals and keep them close to your body; they can be simply rinsed off a rain jacket. rain jackets can also usually be folded to a much smaller size, freeing up room in your backpack.

:- Bandana. I prefer bandanas to gas masks and balaclavas as they're less obvious and less threatening. They're also a lot easier to hid on your person. Obviously, bandanas are best kept without obvious, stand out designs on them.i don't see why we should want to appear less threatening to the pigs? but that aside, simply having a bandana up over your nose and mouth can certainly help with chemicals (you need goggles though), but if you're trying to conceal your identity without having to carry something as suspicious as a balacalava i would advise using another black t shirt wrapped around the head to resemble a balaclava, and combine that with some sort of eye wear.

:- A small sachet of vinegar. If the police use CS gas, quickly soak your bandana in this and it'll keep out the worst of the gas. This is a last case scenario though. Better to keep out of the gas.i would advise just bringing a bunch of vinegar soaked bandannas in a plastic baggie, for yourself and others.

:- A mobile phone.if there's a possibility of arrest or you being "near" any illegal activities, you should only bring a phone to a protest if its a a new phone with pre-paid minutes. you can get a phone and minutes from just about anywhere for probably around $50-60. maybe less. don't bring a phone that can be associated with you. don't use it before the protest. don't put in all your friends numbers. all you should really need is the legal support number and to be signed up to any relevant twitter channels. if you're worried about losing people in your group, establish a meet-up point and time. don't use phones.

and, as with the shoes, everything you're wearing on the outside should be something you'll have no problem chucking in the trash. be mindful of the location you do this in. are there cameras? etc.

Code

14th October 2009, 15:48

When people were saying about sunscream and vaseline bieng an added hazard against chemicals, would makeup be included in that hazard bracket?

Why would you wear makeup to a leftist demo?? That's kinda consumerist. (no offense)

Bitter Ashes

14th October 2009, 16:59

Why would you wear makeup to a leftist demo?? That's kinda consumerist. (no offense)
I dont like my skin...

mlgb

24th October 2009, 09:41

...

Nebuchadnezzar

13th November 2009, 05:20

This is a bit of a noob question, but it kind of pertains to the subject: If one plans to contact or coordinate several protesters in a group while in the midst of a full-on LRAD and CS suppression effort, what's the best way of doing so? This assumes that everyone in the group is adequately protected from both weapons. Texting on a prepaid phone seems slow, inefficient and generally ineffective, since no one would hear or feel a phone ringing, but I don't now of any real alternatives.

Obviously, audio communication is totally unfeasible when one is wearing a gas mask and ear protection, but I don't know of any viable form of visual (text) communication. Anyone care to enlighten me?

ellipsis

13th November 2009, 05:34

Conceivable, a group could coordinate via pre-set hand signals like in the military. or use sign language. or a white board.

Chambered Word

15th November 2009, 14:55

As far as arrest is concerned I can only recommend a thorough reading of the IRA's "green book" which I have posted in another thread. The main part is to not mention which group(s) you are involved in. This will only lead to both Personal and Party surveilence.

I've downloaded it and read some of it, apparently the cops will pull down your pants and make fun of your penis.

Quite interesting.

El Rojo

20th December 2009, 13:28

ellipsis

20th December 2009, 16:21

Pics?

No legal risks that I know of, it just kinda draw attention to you like "hey I am planning on being beaten by police today!"

El Rojo

21st December 2009, 16:23

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy211/inverted1/ISTkevlar001.jpg

El Rojo

21st December 2009, 16:24

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy211/inverted1/ISTkevlar002.jpg

bcbm

21st December 2009, 16:32

i wouldn't ever wear that helmet to any sort of illegal bloc.

pastradamus

21st December 2009, 16:33

however, what risks are there, legally speaking, from wearing a miliary helmet?

I spent the last 10 minutes checking it out and under UK law and because it is not a military weapon then you are perfectly free to wear it.:)

Chambered Word

21st December 2009, 17:11

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy211/inverted1/ISTkevlar002.jpg

That's pretty damn cool! :D Love the fist.

I wear a woodland camo field/patrol cap. Does anyone else here like steel cap boots?

Sasha

21st December 2009, 17:21

bump, sorry.

i have recently acquired a matte black ballistic combat helmet, totally free. This now sports a red socialist fist on the front, and is so beautiful to makes me want to cry.

however, what risks are there, legally speaking, from wearing a miliary helmet?

in germany its illegal, its called passive weaponry (sic!), but so is wearing shinpads on your underarms (very effective to deflect trunceon blows and a lot less cospicous than an helmet), gasmasks, safty shoes or gogles. in the netherlands it would be legal (although could in the case of an arrest used to "proof" you had planned on rioting) unless their is an special public order decree out wich happens a lot.
in the hague its period banned to hide your face at protests.

props for the estetics of the red-fist (it realy looks awsome) but unless 200 other people in your block wear the exact same symbol on theirs you could just as well paint your social security number on it.

if you are in an black block (the name already says it) wear only black.
i know of people being convicted till lengthy prison times because of that cool patch on their pants, their distinctive vegan sneakers or that one unique key-chain.

Sasha

21st December 2009, 17:24

oh and please note that cops have an nasty habbit of dragging people away on their hellemt, if you wear one you can better wear an simple snowboard thing than an full motorcycle one.

El Rojo

21st December 2009, 19:12

all makes sense. I think ill save it for when the shit really hits the fan, when i may need ballistic head protection. si no, i can always elecrical tape over it for black bloc ect ect

ellipsis

21st December 2009, 19:30

I have that same keffiyeh but I guess so do lots of people.

bcbm

22nd December 2009, 00:26

all makes sense. I think ill save it for when the shit really hits the fan, when i may need ballistic head protection. if you actually need that level of head protection, i don't think having a bright red "shoot me" target on your helmet is a good idea.
si no, i can always elecrical tape over it for black bloc ect ect that would still stand out a lot, and you'd be counting on lots of other people having similar/identical helmets. your helmet is nice, but in a bloc situation you'd probably be better pooling some money with others who will be there and buying some bulk hard hats. they're fairly cheap and will give decent protection for your head.

i think the personalization of the helmet and its value would also make it more appealing to put it in your bag instead of just tossing it during a getaway, which is also bad.

Red Saxon

23rd December 2009, 06:17

If your hands/fingers are broken, thick gloves will definitely help for support.

ponyfang

28th January 2010, 14:12

Our group has armbands flags posters etc... I would try to get photos if you want to see em. Also some fancy olive drabe hats with comfertable red bands wrapped around em. ^_^

Code

6th February 2010, 04:07

Code

6th February 2010, 04:10

Our group has armbands flags posters etc... I would try to get photos if you want to see em. Also some fancy olive drabe hats with comfertable red bands wrapped around em. ^_^

I would love to see pictures. I was thinking of a similisr idea.

redwog

24th February 2010, 11:53

Iduno

21st April 2010, 00:59

WTF? What country are these protests taking place in? China? North Korea? Russia?

Mumbles

21st April 2010, 02:31

Throughout Europe and North America and other countries in those groups and abroad. You didn't think the government would sit back and let people gather would ya? :rolleyes:

#FF0000

21st April 2010, 07:32

I have seen baby shampoo (the no more tears stuff) used to flush pepper spray from the eyes.

Because the spray is oil based the effective methods use some form of solvent - the baby shampoo is a good one and it formulated not to burn the eyes.

It is counter intuitive to out soap in your eye but the baby stuff really does not burn.

Strange. I also hear a lot about using milk to wash out the eyes for pepper spray, since the stuff it's made with is apparently fat-soluble, and milkfat washes it right out.

Victory Of The People!

23rd April 2010, 03:54

I used to be in the military (before I was ever introduced to communism) and as someone who has inhaled their fair share of tear gas i feel the need to add a few important things about the use of gas masks.

1. Make sure it fits! - This sounds obvious, but it is a common mistake. Gas masks, especially the military kind (the black, full face masks that strap in the back and have the filter screw on in front) come in all different sizes (small, medium, large, x-large) and will not fit right if you get the wrong size. It must fit TIGHT around your face with no slack at all anywhere.

2. Practice donning and clearing the mask - You will not have much time from the moment the gas is released to put on your mask. Putting it on after the gas has already made contact with your eyes or lungs is useless, as you will be throwing up and temporarily blinded already. Practice, practice, practice. You should be able to put it on in 10-15 seconds at most. Always keep the straps loose and untangled. Also, keep the mask on your hip, or in some kind of tote bag for quick access. Grab it from the front (palm the front of the mask), put it on your face, then with the other hand, while keeping the mask tight to your face, pull the straps over your head and tighten it with a strong tug where the straps meet. Once its tight you MUST clear the mask for it to be airtight. Push the soft black button (in the front, the opposite side of the filter), and while you are pressing on it hard, exhale forcefully. Then take your fingers off the black "button" (its a big black circle). Now you are safe.

3. Alert others if you know gas is being deployed - yelling GAS! GAS! GAS! is universally understood to be a warning that tear gas (or other gas) is being used. The faster people find out gas is being deployed, the faster everyone will don their mask, and the more people will still be up and about afterward, rather than on the floor choking and vomiting.

4. Gas BURNS! - Besides burning your eyes and causing vomiting, tear gas (CS gas) reacts (generates heat) when exposed to water. That includes sweat. All parts of your body that are sweaty, underarms, groin (yes....your groin), and neck will feel like they are on fire. There is nothing you can do about this beside covering up, but the gas will still seep in most of the time. Its hard to avoid this, but do not panic, and do NOT rub the affected area, it will just make it a lot worse.

5. Practice excercising with your mask on - It seems like overkill, but believe me, you will not regret it. It is very very hard to breathe while wearing a HEPA filter mask on your face and your heart will be beating out of your chest. If your cardiovascular system is not up to the task you may get really winded, dizzy, and eventually pass out. Keep in mind that you will already be breathing heavy, scared, anxious, and running. Better to prepare in the comfort of your own home than to pass out in a gas-filled hellhole and get trampled in the process.

Lastly, BE BRAVE COMRADES! Keep moving forward. Nothing will scare the hell out of the capitalists like an angry gas-mask-wearing mob of communists charging at them.

BOZG

23rd April 2010, 09:37

don't you find wearing masks contra productive?
we never wear masks...

Actually, this gives you an idea of the orientation of most of the people in this thread. Protests are about taking a stand against the man rather than orientating towards ordinary people.

here for the revolution

28th April 2010, 21:30

Very useful thread, decided to take advantage of a free house to gather up everything I'll need for Saturday. I doubt there's going to be much of a `Black Bloc` there, but I've got the necessary gear just in case the shit hits the fan!

Joesky

10th May 2010, 23:02

Inkoherent

25th June 2010, 08:50

Thank you for all of you who contributed to this thread comrades. Great information, and will be heeded should I go to a protest any time soon.

How highly would everyone rate athletic fitness for a protest?

Sasha

25th June 2010, 09:40

First of all, i would like to say thank you to all the comrades who's contributed so far.
A comrade of mine was smashed over the head with one of those telescopic batons on a recent Anti-fascist protest in Bolton and I was wondering if arm guards/armour could be a good counter to this threat of police brutality.
I'm sure you could hide them under a coat...

yup, here in the netherlands and in germany its a good tradition that if you go to an confrontative demo/action to wear soccer shinpads on your underarms under your coat.
that way you can deflect some serious head busting blows without breaking your arms.

(note; in germany this kind of "passive weaponry" (sic) is illegal at protests)

Buitraker

2nd August 2010, 10:58

God thread and better collaboration.

But in my country, we have very big problem with riot police.
They only shoot balls.
So, Its very hard make anything, also riots are terrorist act because we have a problem like northern ireland

IndependentCitizen

25th August 2010, 14:52

Can I make a suggestion about carrying water?

Don't carry bottles, to me this is a waste of time if you're running. I highly suggest buying a bladder with a mouthpiece. Like the camelbaks the military use

British citizens can buy just the bladder, and the cord with mouthpiece from Halfords for £20 and it holds 2litres of water which can be put into your rucksuck and drunk at any time without having to take off your rucksuck in order to get water.

You also can't gulp down water, so you're limited to how much you can take. Which is a good thing, if you're dehydrated, downing a drink will do nothing. Always sip, which is the good thing about camelbaks, they don't allow you to drink mass amounts in a short period, you must drink it slowly.

This sounds counter-productive, but when you're running from anything, and you need a drink - you can drink and run without having to stop in order to reach for a bottle.

I also recommend sport nutrition supplements in your water. You can get flavored powder which gives your body the right nutrition it needs when you're being active without compensating dehydration. The taste isn't amazing, but hell. When you need extra energy, it sure helps. Sports in Science is the stuff I use when I'm training Martial Arts or I'm mountain biking for long distances, and it sure as hell works.

This + camelbak = perfect hydration package, and the mouthpiece can easily be cleaned by wiping it with a cloth.

Hope this helps.

Ele'ill

26th August 2010, 00:59

yup, here in the netherlands and in germany its a good tradition that if you go to an confrontative demo/action to wear soccer shinpads on your underarms under your coat.
that way you can deflect some serious head busting blows without breaking your arms.

(note; in germany this kind of "passive weaponry" (sic) is illegal at protests)

It's illegal here in the states as well.

Ele'ill

26th August 2010, 01:17

The most important kit of all is to know your rights before going to a demonstration.

Attend workshops, watch know your rights videos, read accounts of how far the police will go to get information or illegally detain or arrest you. The experience of being arrested even without being physically assaulted, tackled, shackled and verbally battered is traumatic. Knowing your rights and feeling confident enough to slow things down when being questioned gives you the mental edge.

I don't know if it was mentioned yet but it's something I've frequently noticed-

Of course- never forget to write the legal number(s) down on your arms, legs, on your body somewhere but even more important than this- don't be afraid to speak up in a large group before a demonstration and ask for it- the last three actions I've been in people were all ready to go until someone said 'what's the legal number?' and everyone was basically like 'oh shit, yeah' and nobody had written it down.

I don't have a protest kit as it would change as the specifics of the demonstrations change.

I make a point to have a friend with me- I usually have a pack with water, cashews (or some other similar food).

In regards to gas masks- don't go to a hardware store and buy those OSHA 'respirators'. I've seen people with them at demonstrations- I've never seen anyone gassed or sprayed while wearing one but from some of the people I've talked with they don't work- the companies that manufacture them also conclude that they do not protect against tear gases or pepper spray/powder etc..

thuytinhblue

26th January 2011, 04:37

I:(t makes the pain much worse, you're better off doing nothing.

Dahut

25th April 2011, 12:18

ellipsis

25th April 2011, 17:57

Yes minors can protest, don't know if treatment is the same. Probably you would still be held in mass detention at least till they ID you.

Females have their clothes cut off too, although strip searches of females is usually done by females.

The Anarchist

12th May 2011, 23:53

It's illegal here in the states as well.

It can't be too illegal? I've seen people openly walk around with bulletproof vests in the US...

Not sure if they were breaking the law, but it's not passive weaponry unless you plan on being offensive.

Ele'ill

13th May 2011, 00:21

It can't be too illegal? I've seen people openly walk around with bulletproof vests in the US...

Not sure if they were breaking the law, but it's not passive weaponry unless you plan on being offensive.

At a demonstration being quickly declared an 'unlawful assembly' it's considered a passive weapon. They can likely get you for it ahead of time if they confront you at any type of 'assembly' or 'demonstration'. They can also get you for everything from dropping a cigarette cherry to having a backpack. Meeting in a park before the demo? Is it the meeting place? They can close it 'temporarily' and engage in rude behavior. Laws? There's always a loophole and they utilize these in a scripted fashion. You can 'know your rights' but realistically this only means you know your 'initial rights' that they circumvent quickly.

Susurrus

21st June 2011, 06:37

I had an idea about a way to counter the various sprays and stuff, and was wondering if anyone thought it had merit(completely inexperienced in protests myself). Here's the idea: instead or using a plain piece of colored fabric as a flag or banner, get a regular piece of cloth or fabric and use waterproof spray paint to color it. When it dries, it might be a little more stiff than usual, but should things get nasty, one could simply use it as a waterproof cover or shield to block the sprays or such. One to experiment with is drying as I speak, I plan to see if it can effectively block a a spray of water. Does anyone think it won't be feasible, and if so, why? Thanks.

Susurrus

21st June 2011, 21:50

ellipsis

23rd June 2011, 04:25

Update:test did not work, water was able to get through, albeit with a little resistance. If the idea still sounds good, I would suggest perhaps using a trashbag as a flag or some other waterproof material.

I think you would be better off using a synthetic, non porous material and coating it in water proofing spray.

Ele'ill

23rd June 2011, 19:01

The only problem I see with your idea is that when sprays are being used you're usually within relatively close proximity to the baton swinging psychopaths and I'd be hesitant to 'cover and hide' at that point. In a lock down situation they'll just rip it away but perhaps it would buy some time away from their chemicals. I have seen banners used to deflect attacks although I've never personally seen that tactic work incredibly well.

Dulce et Decorum est

16th October 2011, 02:10

As a result of all these "Occupy Wall Street" protests going on, and after seeing the violent clashes in Rome, I feel like I should start preparing myself in case a similar protest of a violent nature erupts in Australia.

What are some of the basic things that I would need in such a protest?

RED DAVE

16th October 2011, 05:53

El Rojo

16th October 2011, 13:21

sometimes its impossible to avoid violence at demonstrations. i dunno about in australia, but i friend of mine from NZ told me that the cops can be brutal.

having said that, cops ALWAYS have the potential to be brutal, it is essentially, thier raison d'etre. However, there are some steps that you can take to maximise yr survivability. these may seem silly or excessive 99% of the time, but that othere 1% may mean the differene between coming home in one piece or comming home in an ambulance

1) NEVER turn yr back on a cop. 'nuff said
2) try and buddy up where possible. buddy up with somebody you trust, and stay as close to them as possible during the demo. it is very easy to get split up. with 2 people you can have 360 degrees of situational awareness, protect each other ect
3) protective clothing. its normal in the UK for journalists to wear helmets, and it makes sense for demonstrators to do so as well. police batons can do an awful amount of damage to the human cranium,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11967098

don't be that guy. nobody wants to be that guy. a lightweight BMX helmet will set you back about £10, and i also recommend a single shin pad for the upper arm, to block trunchoen blows without breaking yr wrist. i wouldn't recommend wearing these from the outset, since it marks you out to the pigs, but i reckon its worth carrying them round all day just in case things get crazy
4)always watch whats going on around you. get used to reading the mood of the crowd so you can react approriately without being taken by suprise. also keep an eye out for signs of the police gearing up for violence: donning armour, removing ID numbers, pointing out members of the crowd

other useful stuff:
water, lots of
first aid kit, only stuff you know how to use yrself tho
appropiate clothing, in Oz i guess this mean stuff for warm weather
comfy get tough shoes. its a common pig tactic in the UK to stand on demonstrators feet with thier stormtrooper boots
see if yr police force uses water cannon or tear gas. if so take appropriate steps

this is my personal modus operandi that i developed out of last years student protests. its kept me safe so far, although i would also subscribe that to a fat dollop of luck. talk to other people and see how they prepare, and dont forget to customise yr kit for specific demonstrations

good luck!

Per Levy

16th October 2011, 13:38

3) protective clothing. its normal in the UK for journalists to wear helmets, and it makes sense for demonstrators to do so as well. police batons can do an awful amount of damage to the human cranium

i dont know the laws in australia, but in germany you couldnt go to a demonstration with protective clothing, you would be arested right away or be forced away from the demonstration place. so that might not be a good idea.

fionntan

16th October 2011, 13:49

thefinalmarch

16th October 2011, 14:14

Red And Black Sabot

16th October 2011, 14:15

I found this zine to be very helpful

http://zinelibrary.info/files/211.pdf

There are a handful like it floating around the internet.

ВАЛТЕР

16th October 2011, 14:23

A pair of shoes with good ankle support that you can run in. Maybe some nice low cut hiking boots.

Jeans, long sleeved shirts, gloves, and a motorcycle helmet can help if you feel like bringing it, since a lot of shit can go flying around in one of these things. Not to mention the cops enjoy cracking skulls.

Bandanas, hoodies, goggles are good to have as well. Keep your skin covered as getting gassed is not fun.

RED DAVE

16th October 2011, 15:52

Frankly, I would start with a good book, which I would read at home. If a demo has a potential for violence either the cops are out for blood or some faction is going to disrupt. In either case, it's a good place to avoid.

The problem comes when a peaceful demo turns violent.
What a fecking cop out...Why don't you just use "fucking" and get it over with?

I have seen demos turn violent in half a second when the cops charged the crowd suddenly, and I have seen shit happen when a self-appointed group decided to mix it with the cops (or another faction). I have pulled a cop from a horse (when I was 17), and been tear-gassed four or five times. I know what violence is.

Violence at a demo is not cool, especially when there are kids around or people who are not ready for it.

I'm not saying shrink from it. But what I am saying is: it is not a walk in the woods at sunset. In a revolutionary situation: sure. But under these circumstances, it is to be avoided. Not at all costs but whenever possible.

You're so bad that you can''t use "fucking." Are you ready for ongoing, systematic violence from and against the cops? Are you ready for large-scale imprisonment, bail, trials, etc.? 'Cause if you ain't, "Don't start no shit; won't be no shit." Let the pigs do the escalation.

RED DAVE

danyboy27

23rd October 2011, 03:21

Some vodka, a clothe, and a lighter.

no weapon talk is allowed on revleft.

The Jay

23rd October 2011, 04:20

Some vodka, a clothe, and a lighter.

You should delete that man or you'll be banned.

S.Artesian

23rd October 2011, 16:39

1. helmet-- and I would recommend something rated for greater, not lesser, impact.

2. goggles.

3. males-- cup; females-- breast protection

4. GROUP-- we used to call them affinity groups. 4-5 in each group, and if possible maintain contact with groups on either flank. Can not emphasize enough the importance of a group.

5. Defensive object to parry clubs--- take 2 newspapers, tabloid format, open at the halfway mark, roll tightly towards the crease into a tube, tape ends and middle. This is not a weapon. It can't do much except absorb 3 or 4 blows from a club or baton, but that beats the hell out of absorbing the blow with your shoulders or arms.

To Red Dave-- I've been on demonstrations where there was no doubt what was going to happen-- Chicago '68 comes to mind-- would you suggest nobody should have shown up in Grant Park, Lincoln Park etc because we knew what the Chicago Police intended to do?

RED DAVE

23rd October 2011, 18:56

To Red Dave-- I've been on demonstrations where there was no doubt what was going to happen-- Chicago '68 comes to mind-- would you suggest nobody should have shown up in Grant Park, Lincoln Park etc because we knew what the Chicago Police intended to do?I was at several of the big ones in Washington that got crazy. I remember riding home to New York on a bus with everyone's clothes saturated with tear gas.

No, I just believe in observing reasonable precautions and not engaging in provocation.

I remember:

(1) Rolling newspaper in the sleeves of our jackets to fend off the fuzz. You tape it to your arms; then you put on your jacket.

(2) Carrying a couple of plastic garbage bags tucked in your belt for teargas bombs. You shove the bomb into the bag and seal it up. It blows up like a balloon, but most of the gas stays inside.

(3) Vaseline on the fact is good against teargas burns. Seltzer (club soda to you goyim) is better in the eyes than water for teargas.

RED DAVE

Rooster

23rd October 2011, 19:35

If you're expecting tear gas then you can get a gas mask for pretty cheap. You can just check any army surplus store. Other than that, you should maybe get some protection for your legs. Some shin guards might be good but you really need something to protect your legs above the knee as that's where cops smack you, right in the nerves, to give you a dead a leg. And I would second the helmet.

Decolonize The Left

27th October 2011, 04:00

Among other things mentioned, you can get a pair of forearm guards for relatively little at a big box store or a sports surplus store.

There are ones for sports, which will probably be cheaper:
http://www.challengermartialarts.com/images/products/sparring-gear/Macho%20Shin%20or%20Forearm%20Protector.jpg

Or, there are ones for martial arts which will cost more:
http://www.eskrimador-supplies.com/images/WEKAFArmGuards.jpg

Or there's ones for motorsports:
http://motorcycleridergear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2x4-Adult-Elbow-Forearm-Guard.jpg

All these will be very effective at deflecting/protecting against baton blows, but most certainly will be taken if you're arrested. So you'll be out $10-$50 depending on which ones you get.

That said, if you're going to go this route you are clearly expecting some confrontation, so the other items mentioned in S.Artesian's post above will be highly necessary.

- August

PhoenixAsh

27th October 2011, 04:23

In Holland we get arrested for wearing those to a demo

here is something useful perhaps....

or those who go to the protests when there is a confrontation expected:

- do not wear nylon or synthetic clothing. That shit melts and it will hurt you.

- wear protective goggles to protect you eyes. If they are not airtight make them so with ducked tape (not ideal) or use construction kit/glue to make them so. Swim goggles are the best. Use spit (the greener the cleaner) to prevent fogging up the glasses.

- do not wear contacts!!!!

- Teargas sucks. Unless you have a gasmask or you Macgyvered one yourself (google it) then there is a common household ingeredient which MAY help lessen the effects for a few minutes: cider vinegar and lemon juice. Soak a towel in that shit and press it over your mouth and nose. It sucks...but believe me...it is better than the alternative.

- Wear thick shoes. Walking shoes, army boots...whatever. TIE THE LACES IN! You do NOT want to have to run only to trip on them.

- Wear thick fire or flame retardend gloves. Preferably.

- Take plenty of water! You WILL get dehydrated. You WILL need to drink a lot after teargas inhallation.

- Take babyshampoo with you to wash out your eyes later. Shit stings...but it will help against pepperspray and you can use it on exposed skin to wash the chemicals off. Water will not always do the trick (but it is better than nothing....unless it is salen water...which is fastly superior. You need a lot. Trust me.

- IF at all possible...take some construction earprotection. We have seen sound canons and this MAY help a little...it will also def help in part against flashbangs. Do not use those standard earplugs. THey will let the air through to slowely...and that will create a pressure difference.

- IF you have a job which will frown upon you attending. Then use facecover. As soon as you reach the demo. Do not take it off unless there is a very pressing reason to do so....you will get taped, you will get photographed. Better be safe than sorry.
If you do not have a mask...google T-shirt ninja mask.

- Dress down. Do not wear flashy shit. Wear urban, subdued colours: black, gery, brown. Try to not wear distinguishing clothing with distinguishing marks. Makes you easier to identify from foootage.

- DO NOT PICK UP GASCANISTERS...shit is freaking hot....so if you do use fireretardend gloves.

- DO NOT PICK UP UNEXPLODED GASCANNISTERS...at all...unless your hands are made of titanium. Shit will explode unexpectedly.

This is what to expect from teargas:

* burning in the eyes, tearing up of eyes & in extreme cases: temporary blindness (which may last a couple of minutes or a few hours)

* thickening of throat, irritation of throat, coughing

* difficulty breathing up to point of feeling like you are chocking

* runny nose...and irritated nose...severe itching or burning sensation in nose

* drooling...believe me...you will drool more than a toddler on a sugar rush...

* rush of adrenaline...which will cause excessive emotions

* teargas these days is not just the gass that affects your mucus membrane. THere is also a component added which will increase a sense of disorrientation and panic.

DO NOT PANIC.... STOP > THINK > ACT ...which is get the fuck out of there.
This is easier said and done...and I still panic every fucking time.

Find as soon as possible escape routes when you arrive (remember you are in a crowd...and the crowd will all scatter...so a narrow allly may seem klike a good idea...but when 100 people have that same good idea....well...kind of defeats the purpose. And find where the wind is blowing from and too. Keep track of that. Teargas is not stationary....it will move with the wind.

Do not take your own phone. Or if you do empty it. Have your lawyers number/the groups lawyers number written in waterproof ink on your body. Remember you will sweat...so do it twice on two different locations. Top of shoulders will sweat little in comparison to the inside of your tights. Do not take expensive equipment....unless you are needing those for a specific job. Also: http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2277297&postcount=408

Take some food.

Preferably do not take anything you can not ditch.
__________________

If allowed get a sign on a wooden pole..or a flag on a pole...which can function as a weapon. If we walk with those to a demo we get arrested....

Naturally if you are looking for confrontation...you pretty mcuh do not care

o well this is ok I guess

27th October 2011, 04:39

First off, ask yourself this: does my area have a record for violence?
Violence usually doesn't spontaneously occur. There's a reason places like Rome and Oakland have clashes with the police and such. Also, if there is tension between protestors and police it will likely be a hot topic among those involved before any actual violence

ellipsis

30th October 2011, 03:50

There is a sticky in P&P for the this.

Thread Merged.

Renno

5th November 2011, 18:48

- Wear thick fire or flame retardend gloves. Preferably.

- DO NOT PICK UP GASCANISTERS...shit is freaking hot....so if you do use fireretardend gloves.

At any military surplus store in holland or germany, you can buy kevlar-gloves. Cost about 25-30 euro, and they will not be taken away by the cops. Also not in germany.
These are fireproof, you can pick up gascanisters (trust me) and are knife-proof.

And my swiss friends told me, that the personaly fitted earplugs, are good enough against flashbangs and the sound- grenades that make you throw up.

Also for protection, a motorcycle jacket does the thrick. Wear a black raincoat over it, and.......you can always say, that you came with a friend and his /her motorcycle

tom1992

3rd January 2012, 16:06

Lemon, helps to reduce the effect of tear gas.

Robespierre Richard

3rd January 2012, 17:04

Did anybody post the Egyptian Revolution's guide to the protester yet?

ellipsis

3rd January 2012, 18:41

Did anybody post the Egyptian Revolution's guide to the protester yet?

not yet. why don't you?

Robespierre Richard

3rd January 2012, 18:43

Okay here you go. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/62004262/How-to-Rebel-Smartly-Egyptian-Non-Violent-Protest-Manual) It's in English and Arabic though so I'd recommend downloading the PDF so it's easier to scroll through.

Or uh Scribd makes you have a facebook so here's a mirror. (http://www.currentperspectives.org/2011/07/the-egyptian-manual/)

BIXX

19th March 2013, 22:18

- DO NOT PICK UP GASCANISTERS...shit is freaking hot....so if you do use fireretardend gloves.

- DO NOT PICK UP UNEXPLODED GASCANNISTERS...at all...unless your hands are made of titanium. Shit will explode unexpectedly.

You all keep referring to "exploded" and "unexploded" gas canisters. What canisters are you referring to? I have never seen any videos of gas canisters exploding, or any canisters exploding at a protest. Any information regarding these would be helpful.

Also, I wanna know what the best gas masks are for use against papperspray and tear gas? I am thinking about saving up to get the best possible one for me, but failing that I wanna know what qualities I should look for specifically.

homegrown terror

19th March 2013, 23:20

near the beginning of this thread, prastradamus stated very graphically about the stripping of clothing from males. will females be put under the same type of humiliating interrogation? wouldn't that be sexual abuse?

i'm pretty sure it'dbe sexual abuse whether the victim is male or female, just not sexist abuse if the victim is male.

another tip no one's posted here: guys, SHAVE! there's a reason militaries don't allow facial hair beyond a moustache, and that's because it makes a gas mask ineffective. you need to shave at the most six hours before an action happens, or the stubble at your neckline will prevent your gas mask from forming a seal, and will allow air in. true it'll be a small amount, but once it's inside a mask the concentration and the moisture buildup means you're basically hotboxing yourself in the shit.

bcbm

20th March 2013, 09:18

You all keep referring to "exploded" and "unexploded" gas canisters. What canisters are you referring to? I have never seen any videos of gas canisters exploding, or any canisters exploding at a protest. Any information regarding these would be helpful.

tear gas

b7D-IqbYf3M

Also, I wanna know what the best gas masks are for use against papperspray and tear gas? I am thinking about saving up to get the best possible one for me, but failing that I wanna know what qualities I should look for specifically.honestly unless you're a journalist or planning some heavy duty shit i think you're better off with a pair of goggles and a rag soaked in vinegar. at best a cheap gas mask. an expensive gas mask is just one more piece of evidence you will be less likely to want to throw in a dumpster on your way out of dodge. i had a $30 one and it didn't even make it to the street

another tip no one's posted here: guys, SHAVE! there's a reason militaries don't allow facial hair beyond a moustache, and that's because it makes a gas mask ineffective. you need to shave at the most six hours before an action happens, or the stubble at your neckline will prevent your gas mask from forming a seal, and will allow air in. true it'll be a small amount, but once it's inside a mask the concentration and the moisture buildup means you're basically hotboxing yourself in the shit.

oof now i am imagining pepper spray on freshly shaved skin

Ele'ill

20th March 2013, 21:02

if you have to get a gas mask (like what bcbm said above I don't think they are as useful as they are made out to be) get a military or heavy duty industrial one that has the wide eye views and not the 'civilian' ones that have tiny eye holes that are useless unless you are in the fetal position being dragged somewhere. Make sure that the eye pieces or full view pieces are impact/shatter proof/resistant cause you don't want to get dinged with a rubber round and have it shatter into your eyes and face, a lot of the surplus masks aren't resistant to this. Most of the gas masks you find at military surplus are useless because they don't make cartridge refills for them anymore and the cartridges they may come with are banged up or expired or useless against CS gas, they are tiny eye hole masks that aren't shatter proof, are poor fitting due to long duration in shipping or storage

Some gas canisters dump smoke for a second and then explode others don't explode, regardless don't pick one up without the proper type of gloves
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalweapons/a/teargasexposure.htm

ellipsis

21st March 2013, 04:38

+1 for gas masks being over rated. gas and pepper spray can still get into you pores -> blood, so they are of limited use.

I never wear one, not had the occasion too. the one time i might have needed it, the wind blew the tear gas right back at the oakland cops. :grin:

servusmoderni

10th September 2013, 01:40

I wish I could have these. Looks awesome! :laugh: