'Revolutionary Letter #8' by Diane di Prima
Everytime you pick the spot for a be-in a demonstration, a march, a rally, you are choosing the ground for a potential battle. You are still calling these shots. Pick your terrain with that in mind. Remember the old gang rules: stick to your neighborhood, don’t let them lure you to Central Park everytime, I would hate to stumble bloody out of that park to find help: Central Park West, or Fifth Avenue, which would you choose?
go to love-ins with incense, flowers, food, and a plastic bag with a damp cloth in it, for tear gas, wear no jewelry wear clothes you can move in easily, wear no glasses contact lenses earrings for pierced ears are especially hazardous
try to be clear in front, what you will do if it comes to trouble if you’re going to try to split stay out of the center don’t stampede or panic others don’t waver between active and passive resistance know your limitations, bear contempt neither for yourself, nor any of your brothers
NO ONE WAY WORKS, it will take all of us shoving at the thing from all sides to bring it down.
