Black Bloc on the 15th! Come Prepared

The past few breakaway marches have opened many new doors on the political and tactical landscape in the Bay Area. A few of us who have participated in the past actions would like to see this sort of thing continue to grow and become more effective and organized. There are many simple things participants can do to make these marches more secure and effective.

Form an Affinity Group At the very least, get together once before the march with your friends to talk about how you want to act as a group during the day. Committ to watching out for each other during the march, and if possible, choose roles to take on. If you are planning on doing a specific or more militant action during the march, figure out how you can support each other. Give your personal info to a friend who won't be there, and let them know what to do if you are arrested (call you boss and lie, call your friends, call your parents).

Be Prepared Legally Bring the legal number (for the 15th, its 415.285.1011) And know your rights. Also, know when to get away. If you are worried that you may be targetted, or if things start to get to hairy, find a way to disappear. No reason to hang around for the early-evening mass arrests.

Come Out In Black It's not just a style, and we don't do it just to look scary. If we all look similar, those who may be targetted because of their skin color or their actions are less likely to get picked out of the crowd. The police have been video-taping and using other methods of surveillance at the past breakaway marches, so bring something to cover your face and hair. Bandanas, hats, and masks work well. If you have extras, bring them so people who have forgotten or haven't come prepared don't get left out.

Protect Yourself and Decide What to Bring Now Police brutality has been a problem in the past, and will continue to be a problem as long as their around. If you choose to bring more protective gear, try to do it in large groups to remain inconspicuous. Bring materials you think or know you will need during the march or during the night if you are put in a cage. But don't bring anything you won't need. Especially things that could be construed as weapons or contraband since they could cause you a lot more trouble than its worth.

The better prepared and self-organized we are, the more effective we will be both short-term and long term.

See y'all muthafuckas on the streets