Know-How – Anarchy in the 'Burbs

Further Resources on Learning Essential Skills

Disclaimer: this is all publicly accessible knowledge and information. We share all this information for purely educational purposes.

We highly encourage everyone to explore the skills outlined in the “Skills for Revolutionary Survival” series hosted by the Indigenous Anarchist Federation (you can also look up these categories into the Duckduckgo search engine or a Tor Browser to find other resources in order to be well-rounded and informed on these topics):

Trauma Medical Gear/IFAKs: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/08/31/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-1-trauma-medical-gear/
Basic Personal Protective Equipment: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/08/31/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-2-basic-personal-protective-equipment/
Ballistic Protection: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/09/01/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-3-ballistic-protection/
Primary Firearms: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/09/26/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-4-primary-firearms/
Communications Equipment for Rebels: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/10/11/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-5-communications-equipment-for-rebels/
Secondary Firearms: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/11/11/skills-for-revolutionary-survival-6-secondary-firearms/
Tertiary Firearms: https://iaf-fai.org/2020/12/06/tertiary-firearms/
Cutting Tools for Field Craft: https://iaf-fai.org/2021/01/04/cutting-tools-for-field-craft/
Basic Wilderness Field Craft: https://iaf-fai.org/2021/01/19/basic-wilderness-fieldcraft/

Other important topics to explore:

Introduction to physical conditioning for insurgents: https://inhabit.global/tools/inhabit.body_strength_conditioning_guide_2020.pdf

Beginner’s Guide to Guns:

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/beginners-guide-guns/

Military Science:

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Military_strategy

Insurgent Strategy:

https://archive.org/details/Insurgencies2

Pods and Pod Mapping Worksheet:

https://batjc.wordpress.com/pods-and-pod-mapping-worksheet/

Planning for a Disaster:

https://truthout.org/audio/planning-for-disaster-a-writing-exercise/

First Aid/Medical information (accounts on Instagram with further resources/links):

@doc_opfor, @bootleg_medics, and @guerilla_tactical (guerrilla-tactical.com)

DIY: Building an Emergency Short-Term Bag

The following is some suggestions, resources, and items think about when building an emergency short term bag. Depending on your location and situation, you might want to add more things. Add what you want and feel that you will need, but these items will be a base idea of important items to add.

There is a general guideline of thought to think about in a survival situation to stay alive called the Rule of 3: 3 hours without shelter, 3 day without water, and 3 weeks without food. Depending on your location and your activity, these can lower significantly.

Another general guide line for items to add your emergency kit is called the 5C’s: 1. Cutting tool, 2. Combustion device (i.e. to start a fire), 3. Covering device (i.e. shelter, something to keep you warm or block the sun), 4. Container (i.e. preferably a single wall metal one; can also be used to boil water), and 5. Cordage.

The following are some items that you can add that follow these guidelines. It is good to carry items that can be used for multiple things; some items are good to have multiple of…

For Shelter:

– Tarp

– military poncho (can also be used to protect from rain, blanket, gather rain water)

– thick trash bag (cheap and you can stuff leaves in it to make an insulated mat)

– reflective blankets

For Water:

– Single wall metal container to boil water

– water purifier filter

– water purifier tablets

For Fire:

– lighter

– Ferro rod

– matches

– cotton balls covered in petroleum jell (cheap and simple to make fire starters)

Basic first aid, IFAKs, and trauma kits are important to carry but you also need to learn how and when to use these items. When you are able to expand your knowledge of being able to make things out of your surroundings, the less items you will have to carry (being light and mobile is hella important). However, it can still be more convenient to just carry extra items. Making things takes a lot of time and energy, and—depending on the situation—you might not have the time or resources at hand.

Medical supply websites:

– Rescue essential

– North American rescue

Survival/ self-defense websites:

– Self Reliance Outfitters

– Optics Planet

Etiquette for the Streets

Essential affinity group questions to ask yourselves before actions:

1. Are you able to and willing to be in situations that may involve a risk of arrest and or police violence?

2. Are there any reasons why you CANNOT go to jail? Do you need meds/medical attention if incarcerated, people others not incarcerated that you think should be notified/called/emailed?

3. What is our plan, what are our goals, and how do we do our exit strategy? Roles within affinity groups:

• First aid, medic, snacks water carrier

• Facilitator

• Spokesperson

• Cop watcher

• Safe retreat lookout

• Use the buddy system, move in a group

Essentials:

• Bandannas soaked in vinegar in plastic baggies

• Shooting glasses/sunglasses, googles

• Fresh shirt in a plastic bag, hella water!!!

• Cloth, and gauze for chemicals

• Gas mask/ chemical and or gas respirator for hazardous gases

• Heavy duty welder’s gloves for throwing tear gas canisters back at pigs

• Snacks, cash, maps optional Clothing:

• All black, and/or dark colors

• Good running shoes

• Cup/ sports bra

• Layers!!! Cover logos with duct tape

• Water repellent everything if possible

• Hammer, paint, rocks, bats, brass, fireworks, lighters

Other Recommendations:

• Disposable gloves, no DNA traces

• Don’t all carry your phone at demo

• Emergency phone numbers and contact info written multiple times on your body

• No contact lenses

• Hide piercings, hair, tattoos, etc.

Important Notes:

• Rendezvous if split up

• Never run when the police use anti crowd devices

• Comfort levels before during and after should always be vocalized

• If disagreements arise break up into smaller groups of at least 2

• Discuss plans for possible scenarios

• Don’t carry identification

• Do not resist arrest or touch an officer

• Identifying safe spaces

• Always have exit plans in mind

• Embrace crowd dynamics/mood and tune into the local police force’s personality

• Send scouts to scope the area—a communications team

• Don’t act on rumors—if you did not see it, it did not happen

• Assume that the pigs may be coming

• Keep 360 degree view with your team

• Prepare to maybe be photographed/filmed

• Keep others calm

• Never let the police snatch your friends, learn to de-arrest others!

Police tactics:

• Dispersing crowds

• Surprise attacks and sporadic arrests/force

• Surrounding, isolating and dividing crowds

• Blocking entrance and exit, kettling crowds

• Snatch squads secretly target leader-like individuals from the crowd

• If caught, do not make sudden movements and keep your hands in view

Know Your Rights!

In sum: Do not talk to law enforcement! Not at your house, at the protest, never. The only thing you should ever say to pigs is “I am going to remain silent. I want a lawyer. I do not consent to a search. Am I free to go?”

Scenario: I was stopped by the police while protesting Your rights:

• Stay calm. Make sure to keep your hands visible. Don’t argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you believe they are violating your rights. Point out that you are not disrupting anyone else’s activity and that the First Amendment protects your actions.

• Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly walk away.

• If you are under arrest, you have a right to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don’t say anything or sign anything without a lawyer.

• You have the right to make a local phone call, and if you’re calling your lawyer, police are not allowed to listen.

• You never have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings. If you do explicitly consent, it can affect you later in court.

• Police may “pat down” your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon and may search you after an arrest.

• Police officers may not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they delete data under any circumstances. However, they may order citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations. What to do if you believe your rights have been violated:

• When you can, write down everything you remember, including the officers’ badge and patrol car numbers and the agency they work for.

• Get contact information for witnesses.• Take photographs of any injuries.

• Once you have all of this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency’s internal affairs division or civilian complaint board

written by the American Civil Liberties Union

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/

Digital Self-Defense

Strategies & Tools:

Before anything: Threat Modeling! (see EFF site below)

Secure Messaging: Signal Private Messenger (texting), ProtonMail (emails), Jitsi Meet (video calls)

Safe Web Browsing (for both phones/computers): TorBrowser, Firefox, ProtonVPN or Mullvad VPN

Other apps/tools (for phone and/or computers): Privacy Badger, HTTPS Everywhere, DuckDuckGo, Riseup Pads, Cryptpad.fr, Jumbo

Security Culture conduct & agreements (see site below)

Other strategies: know-your rights, anti-doxing, social media, ephemerality tactics, & crypto-parties!

Key websites & Further reading:

PRISM Break prism-break.org/en/

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Digital Privacy (see “Tools”) — https://www.eff.org/pages/tools

EFF’s Surveillance Self-Defense –https://ssd.eff.org

Security in a Box –https://securityinabox.org/en/

Helpful Articles and Videos:

“What is Security Culture?”: https://crimethinc.com/2004/11/01/what-is-security-culture

“Your Phone is a Cop 2” (search up on):https://itsgoingdown.org

“Anti-Doxing Guide for Activists”: https://medium.com/@EqualityLabs/anti-doxing-guide-for-activists-facing-attacks-from-the-alt-right-ec6c290f543c•TROUBLE Episode 5 on Doxing and State Surveillance: https://sub.media/video/trouble-5-you-are-being-watched/

“Quick Tip: How to Mask up”: https://vimeo.com/183849378

“30 Day Security Challenge”: https://www.operational-security.com/category/30-day-security-challenge/page/3/

For more info about doxxing/stalking, contact: armageddon@protonmail.com

Security Culture

The central principle of all security culture— the point that cannot be emphasized enough— is that other people do not need to know sensitive information that they do not need to know. Don’t get too distracted worrying about whether people are infiltrators or not; if your security measures are effective, it shouldn’t even matter. Don’t ask others to share confidential information you don’t need to know. Don’t brag about illegal things you or others have done, or mention things that are going to happen or might happen, or even refer to another person’s interest in being involved in such activities. You can say no at any time to anyone about anything. Don’t ever turn your friends over to your enemies– never snitch! Don’t make it too easy for your enemies to figure out what you’re up to. Develop methods to establish the security level of a group or situation. Be aware of the reliability of those around you, especially those with whom you might collaborate in underground activities. Security culture is not institutionalized paranoia, but a way to avoid unhealthy paranoia by minimizing risks ahead of time. Security culture involves a code of silence, but it is not a code of voiceless-ness. Balance the need to escape detection by your enemies against the need to be accessible to potential friends. When you’re planning an action, begin by establishing the security level appropriate to it, and act accordingly from there on.

Treat your technology like an eavesdropping stranger. If you wouldn’t discuss it in front of a stranger, don’t talk about it online, on your phone, or better yet, at all. How we show up in the fight to abolish the current world isn’t for clout or social media likes anyway. In some cases, private or crucial information must be communicated by technological means, but always remember there are risks and this should only ever occur between trusted individuals. Talk to your homies and your family members to create a culture of awareness, so everyone knows their rights if the feds or the pigs knock on someone’s door. When you go to the protest, what are you wearing that might be traceable back to you? Are your tattoos showing? What alias will you use so people aren’t shouting your name for all to hear? What agreements have you made with people around you so that they do not accidentally dry snitch? Protecting ourselves is also protecting our loved ones and our comrades.

Other things to keep in mind for movement defense—

Mobilize legal support, raise money for bail funds and lawyers, track people’s cases through the court system, attend court support where possible, publicize cases as appropriate.

Offer protection and support for those who are targeted by the state.

Do not open the door if agents are at your door, you are not legally obligated to.

Do not spread rumors or conspiracies, do not act when given very little information.

If the feds visit your door, ask for their card and they should go away. Immediately notify your community and networks of what you said/what was asked of you verbatim.

Do not cooperate with grand juries, organize non-cooperation materially with networks.