How To Do It: Black Block Tactics
Allow demonstrators to take action without fear of immediate identification. If you choose to wear a mask, wear it right.
Cover Up
It is not enough to half cover your face. Even if you get away, the police may use photos or videos to charge you later. Cover your hair, face, arms and hands. Cloth gloves are the best. Take out piercings. Make sure there are no identifying features on your clothes, shoes or backpack. If you bring any materials with you, wipe them down first with rubbing alcohol first to get the prints off. Don’t bring anything you don’t need.
Stay Tight
If possible, come to a demonstration with a small group of people you trust. Choose your crew based on shared intentions, not just friendship. You’re here to have each other’s back in the streets and follow up if one of you gets arrested or hurt. Strangers needs to protect each other too. Stay physically close, do not spread out, so that if police try to enter the crowd, you can “accidentally” get in their way. The front of the march might need to slow down while the back catches up. Stay moving, though: a tight, mobile crowd is difficult to surround or disperse.
Plan Your Exit
Always wear “civilian clothes” under your hoodie so you can de-bloc and blend in a crowd or smoothly walk away. Keep an eye out for danger zones and escape routes. If things heat up, stay calm and act decisively. Commit to your exit when you decide you’re done. Sometimes you have to sprint and hide; sometimes you just step onto the sidewalk and remove your mask. You can de-bloc in the middle of a friendly crowd if you’re sure you are well-screened.
Keep It Quiet
Bragging and storytelling are natural but they are easy to use against us. If you have to talk, choose someone trustworthy who was with you in the streets. Don’t post anything on facebook you wouldn’t show to a cop. Same goes for Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr. Remember the police will read your texts and call-log if they arrest you.
Never, Ever Snitch
If arrested, invoke your right to remain silent. Name, address and no more.
Captioned under request.
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