Street Tactics Exercise
We’ve been running these exercises as a kind of extended, stop-and-start role play, letting the group practice each tactic, periodically changing the police and the people in front. You can do all or some of them, depending on time. They help the group to learn to function as a group, give some strong, nonviolent alternatives to simply fighting the cops and running, and are fun and useful. A solid line of police with nightsticks of rolled newspaper: A crowd of protestors: “Protestors standing, police advance with batons held in both hands to push crowd back. Note how easy it is to move a standing crowd. “Protestors standing, police advance, crowd sits down. Don’t hit yet: note how much...
Sample Mobile Street Tactics Training
“You will need to deal with fast-moving, ambiguous, and unstructured situations that will test your resourcefulness to the utmost.” CIA Recruitment Manual I. Preparation and Support: Hi, welcome to Washington DC, it’s September 29, you’re out on the street, and of course this is what you’ve done before you leftŠ. Made sure you have someone looking out for you, your stuff, have a contact at home who can help mobilize support and a prearranged check-in time. Eaten well – water, food in pocket Dressed well, – layers, prep for cold, tear gas and water cannons Jail Names – Place for ID, stuff Maps, scouting Identified your goals for the day, several potential targets, regroup spaces and safe space....
Wall Charts for Mass Action Trainings
from Prague 2001 trainings WHAT CAN DIRECT ACTION DO: spotlight delegitimise build a movement educate / inform reform (as a by-product) by: interfering embodying alternatives NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION non-hierarchical structure participatory decision making affinity groups preparation vision choices patterns communication energy inclusiveness diversity WHAT IS USED AGAINST US intimidation fear / pain divide & conquer isolation singling out leaders good cop / bad cop lies & disinformation veneer stacked negotiations RESPONSES TO VIOLENCE prepare stay calm become active: match energy, change energy, change situation, step-in don’t accept victim role keep contact to attacker talk (tone of voice) & listen don’t threaten or insult get help do the unexpected avoid physical contact Jail solidarity Goals: build movement, equal treatment,...
Exercises on Power
This exercise helps people deepen their analysis of the society they are living in. You want to lead them through a process that starts by asking people why they are active, what they want, why they came. Solicit this; see if anyone says to build power. If not, after harvesting some reasons from the group, ask if anyone is doing it to build power? I believe that building power is really at the core of our work if we want to manifest all the things people articulated as to why they are active. Next, ask the group who has power in our society. Create a list Money State, Government, elector’s People etc The people have power and potential...
Training Agendas
Organizing Trainings Community Skills Workshop Notes – conflict resolution, nonviolent communication, stages of group development, and dealing with group conflict Conscious Organizing Training – understanding power and oppression, the history of the struggle for liberation, and how change is made Organizer Training: Fear & Power, union-oriented Training on How to Run a Quick Worksite Meeting Training on Strategic Nonviolence in Worldwide Conflict, includes strategic planning Facilitation & Consensus Trainings Facilitation Training, given by Lisa Fithian at the 2007 National SDS Convention Monkey Wrench Consensus Training A Game for Teaching Consensus Process Spiked Facilitation Roleplay Action Trainings Shutting Things Down to Open Things Up, workshop agenda for thinking about space and dual power structures in organizing direct action Basic...