Standing Rock Resources/Direct Action and Civil Disobedience

Direct Action

• BE PREPARED TO BE UNPREPARED
• BE PREPARED FOR A POTENTIALLY CHAOTIC AND VIOLENT ENVIRONMENT
• direct action theory:
  • political action that is immediately effective
  • action that is outside the system
  • usually raises tension and conflict for the state
  • usually effective at numerous levels
  • puts muscle behind current demands and strengthens those demands
  • operates beneath surface by disempowering the opponent/system
  • in disempowering the systems in place, we’re empowering ourselves
• arrestability comes in two forms:
  • ready to get arrested
  • planning on getting arrested
• going into Standing Rock, be prepared for the actions to already be planned
• very important to go into direct action context with the understanding that it’s almost never about winning in that moment
• direct action distracts people from perpetuating current, broken systems
• they must divert resources to stop the disturbance and reconfigure the system
• these are victories!
• de-escalation of violence is often key
  • mitigate force to be dynamic and move cohesively elsewhere
  • the goal is to be able to “keep playing the game”
  • direct action does not seek to use overwhelming force

police roles

• what are the police there to do? what behaviors can we expect from them based on their goals?
  • traditional roles:
    • to contain and isolate
    • targeted arrest (people perceived as leaders, vulnerable, or of a specific demographic)
    • invocation of law (either: “we’re ordering you to do this” which may not result in an adverse reaction directly if not followed or “we’re about to do ___ if you don't do ___” which holds higher risk of there being adverse actions taken if not adhered to)
    • mass arrest (attempt to arrest a large group of people)
    • post event hunting (cops taking intel gathered during an event to target/chase down specific individuals that may hang around after most have dispersed as an event is clearing out)
    • police riot (when the police lose control of their own people and begin acting in accordance to their own conscience which can be violent)
    • non-state actors (police will create a space for outside, non-government antagonists to act against the protesters with little to no ramification physically/legally/otherwise which can be violent)

police constraints & advantages:

• police constraints:
  • not getting split up
  • being recorded by media outlets
  • overwhelming numbers of people
  • role constraints (police are usually only doing one job, so it may not be possible for them to multitask rapidly or shift their response if they are doing something like holding up a baton or a shield)
  • centralized command structure (delay time between instructions being given and actions being taken)
• police advantages:
  • Impunity
  • Vehicles
  • Gear
  • time (police are often fresh/rotated vs the protesters being worn down)
  • clearly defined roles

self defense:

• defending against strikes—jabs, overhead strikes, push, leg/foot strikes
• having your hands up approaching a front line can help deescalate violence, but also puts you in a position to react more quickly
• moves will be predictable; you’re not dealing with a trained martial artist
• push: placing your hands on the baton will escalate the situation; instead, move with the impact; move as a group; don’t force people to take the blows at the front
• jabs: turn perpendicular and cover your abdomen
• overhead strikes: put an arm up and turn perpendicular/away/to the side
• low strikes: turn perpendicular and unweight the knee to catch blow on the back of the thigh or backside where there’s a lot of muscle

tools:

• goggles
• helmet
• lung protection/gas mask
• arm/knee/shin guards
• ear plugs
• gloves
• boots
• mouthguard
• cup
• neck brace
• shield
• NOT wearing contacts
• phonebooks and duct tape

tips

• if you’re going to put on armor, put it on under your clothes so they don’t see your weak spots
• don’t wear identifiable clothing
• if a gun is pointed at you:
  • do not argue
  • Do not turn and run
  • WAIT: time is on your side in terms of adrenaline dissipating
  • immediately deescalate anything you or nearby group members are doing
• trading off is a highly useful deescalation on a hassle line; don’t always have the same people up front getting screamed at—support each other!
• de-escalation has roots in relaying facts—not frenzied, subjective retelling of observation
• be clear and calm and aware