Barricades

[Pogue]

A book I am reading says that barricades are useless and purely symbolic, as they take a long time to build and don't really hinder the police/whoever you're opposing very well. Is this true? I know they've been used regularly in protests around the world and I always thought they were self-evidently useful, because they give something to hide behind and stop police vehicles from advancing. Are they actually rubbish, or are they a really good means of defense of areas you have perhaps occupied or are protesting in?

[An archist]

A book I am reading says that barricades are useless and purely symbolic, as they take a long time to build and don't really hinder the police/whoever you're opposing very well. Is this true? I know they've been used regularly in protests around the world and I always thought they were self-evidently useful, because they give something to hide behind and stop police vehicles from advancing. Are they actually rubbish, or are they a really good means of defense of areas you have perhaps occupied or are protesting in?

Well it depends on what your barricade is made off and what equipment the police have. Barricades can be usefull sometimes, but when you quickly chuck some stuff on the road, it won't stop a lot.
Usually cops have something like this to get rid of barricades: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simantonius/3042769479/

[Sasha]

but if you build baricades like we do over here at evictions you can hold them of for considerble time:

http://www.kalenderpanden.nl/ontruim.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_3YIsiBHI4

[Pogue]

Very interesting and useful video. I think they still serve a clear purpose.

[BPSocialist]

Please do not discuss weaponry of any kind. - Plagueround.

[Sasha]

Very interesting and useful video. I think they still serve a clear purpose.

take in mind though that those baricades were prepared and planed for weeks and that the squaters followed an military styled batle plan, this was no spontanious riot.

dragging shit up the road after an demo goes pear shaped is usefull as well (and looks good) but most of the time wont have the sucess as it did here,
although if enough people participate they can grow quite fast;
movie about the most insane eviction ever in the netherlands (a more or less spontenuous resquated house in the vondelstraat, amsterdam, 1980) with streets baricades cleared by army tanks after being held for 3 (!) days. (http://video.squat.net/1980%20Vondelbrug%20te%20ver.avi)

[BPSocialist]

Sorry,but I was just giving advise on how to defend barricades

[Pogue]

Please do not discuss weaponry of any kind. - Plagueround.

What?

[Sasha]

^BPsocialist was incoherntly advising people on how to disable advancing police horses and copcars, Plagueround as a mod deleted the post.

[BPSocialist]

^BPsocialist was incoherntly advising people on how to disable advancing police horses and copcars, Plagueround as a mod deleted the post.

Is this bad?

[Dóchas]

well it may be taken into context that you actually did whatever you were talking about

[BPSocialist]

No, havn't just know these things:)

[Sasha]

Is this bad?

its a breach of the forum rules, as you could have know if you bothered to read the disclaimer on the top of this page:



DIY Practical forum for community advice, activist tips, and information on how to improve your life outside of capitalism. Share your experiences of doing it yourself.
No explosives, weapons, or drugs.

Forum Led by: Plagueround (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=16487)although i.m.o. caltrops fall under sabotage/defensive measures and not under weapons it is Plagueround as the mod who makes the desicions on whats alowed.

[BPSocialist]

The main thing I was talking about was caltropes which arn't really a weapon,

[Plagueround]

Caltops are most certainly a weapon. I myself have no problem with such discussions, but there are established rules in this particular forum that exist for such reasons. I see your point as far as how they differ from an offensive weapon, but I'd rather be over cautious about this instead of ending up getting the whole forum in trouble.

Also, please note that it is nothing personal against anyone when I edit posts. ;)

[My Heart is a Molotov]

I was in Bangkok at the time of the Airport Occupation. Politics of the PAD aside, the barricade seemed to work really well. Just lots and lots of luggage trolleys, cars, nets and barbed wire.