Well, there you have it folks, yet again its going to be the State escalating the class conflict, to then be blamed on the socialists. Four PSL members were snatched synchronously by Denver SWAT teams for organizing anti-police protests, and they still sit in jail a week later having been passed over for bail hearings day after day. We can expect to see only amplified repressive targeted tactics used in Louisville, especially with the national guard foaming at the mouth at the possibility of conflict with protesters.
Not to discourage anyone from protesting or organizing, or honestly even being arrested for either. I'm just saying, realize the stakes and understand the current rules of engagement we can expect the State to employ at any given time. Prepare for the possibilities. Have a support system, preferably a party/org that will have your back. But of all things, don't sit this fight out due to fear. No one is asking you to go commit crimes. But the State doesn't care about the legal backing, they DO have the power to hold you for absolutely no reason for weeks on end, they simply reserve that for inflamed moments, such as this one.
If you're effective in any way expect to spend time in jail or prison
If you intend on being effective you should start mentally preparing yourself for that
DSA organizers in Portland and Spokane also got grabbed a few weeks ago. I think the portland case is getting dropped finally.
Also they said that soldiers are encouraged to take their name tags off.
very bad sign
Part of basic demands should really include making it illegal for police to not wear identification while on the job, and having pay-docking penalties department-wide for infractions of this. Specifically because it will break police solidarity.
having pay-docking penalties department-wide for infractions
Would they ever follow this though? It's a great idea, I just don't see them ever voluntarily breaking that solidarity.
Your friend better quit or figure out something fast before they end up enabling fascism
I expect they would throw everything possible as her legally speaking, if she did that.
This policy lays out what counts as conscientious objection and the process for filing as a CO. I suggest your friend get on it ASAP. https://www.centeronconscience.org/files/DODI_2017.pdf
Nobody's gonna get a dishonorable for quitting the guard. If it's anything like the reserve, they'll just give them a general, other than honorable discharge, at worst. AWOL's only really for if they're on continuous title 10 orders or some shit. Dishonorable discharge is for if you get kicked out over essentially a criminal offense.
Yep. Fall a drug test and take your general. Worked for me to get out of army contract.
there are veteran groups explicitly set up to help people quit. Look at some of the early episodes of "Eyes Left" they used to mention them a lot.
GI Resistance Working Group Coordinators
Russell Brown, hobadoxa@mac.com Gerry Condon, projectsafehaven@hotmail.com
Contact this working group at: giresistance@veteransforpeace.org
vfp@veteransforpeace.org or feedback@veteransforpeace.org (314) 725-6005 (office) (314) 227-1981 (fax)
I'm sorry, I was a bit rash in my earlier post. Unfortunately I can only speak confidently on shit that pertains to the army reserve and not the army national guard. I'm assuming the policies are very similar, but I also realize that each state can also establish their own policies as far as how harshly to punish guardsmen who fail to report for duty, whether it's on a typical drill weekend, or if it's for an activation under title 10/32 orders.
Honestly, in my time as a commander for my reserve unit, anytime I had a soldier fail to report for duty, I'd just excuse them or whatever. The most I could do was try to process them for separation under a general, other than honorable discharge.
For the guard, it's an entirely different animal - similar, but different. There's way too many different variables, so I'll just hold off on conjecture and say that the resources others have provided are good avenues to go with.
Yeah it's always a terrible decision to make and it's their prerogative, but as someone who has spoken to people conscripted into the military against their will who ended up fighting against protestors, they still refuse to talk about what happened. I think they would have chosen differently knowing what they know now. Just make sure your friend doesn't make a decision they will regret for a long time.
These guys are used here in the UK and France too, absolutely not a new tactic. Be prepared with grabbing and de-arrests. Solidarity in the crowd and group. Grab your fellow protesters when you see a snatcher attempt to pop out and do not let go.
Have them contact Ken Klippenstein?
https://twitter.com/kenklippenstein/status/1291219354328150022
Oh oops, I got the pronouns wrong. Sorry, I'm very bad at reading.
Tell your friend to step over . . . in the opposite direction of where they're supposed to go.
Now, i might be talking out of my ass here since im a terrible chemist amateur, but if i understand it correctly, riot shields are made of polycarbonates. They are relatively easy attacked by aromatic hydrocarbons and ketones, from which benzene, toluene and acetone are readily available in hardware stores. Wouldnt it be worth considering buying some of those chemicals and throwing it at them, if it weakens their shields quite well?
Everything of that in minecraft, of course.
edit: after looking around a bit more, PMMA, a polymer that substitutes riot cars windows often, is also easily attacked by it. :curious-sickle:
I was summarily downvoted for it before but I'll keep saying it because I know I'm right: instead of protesting, wouldn't it make infinitely more sense to dox, disguise, and delete?
Or to at the very least have dedicated days where secretly planned groups destroy property or disrupt traffic or w/e?
It just that it's the absolute worst possible idea, with the lowest possible ROI, to go to a protest immediately after a high profile case ruling, when the town's been fortified and they're all waiting for you there. I mean it's obviously better than nothing but there are so many more smarter and more efficient things that can be done.
All the "undesirable" individuals all packed in one place at one time for their convenience is exactly what they want
But it's just basic stuff. Should I riot and possibly get shot in the city, where all the poor black people live? Or should I riot and possibly get shot in the suburbs?
Definitely do a number on the precinct, and maybe the ((((((((upscale)))))))) parts of the city, but in general people should be moving around before they do the damage. Uncritical support for sistah soulja
I’ve never been a big protesting person myself. I’ve gone to a few, but we’re either fucking some shit up or we’re not. Just being in this streets allows for one thing. Them to harm you. Even blocking traffic. You know how many hours people spend in traffic every day? We’re immune to traffic at this point. Summer Taylor died. Did that move the needle in the smallest bit?
This is exactly my point. If just one 2nd amendment guy decides to harvest bacon he'll be doing infinitely more than almost every protestor out tonight. And if he wears his halloween costume well enough and doesn't bring his verizon buddy with him he'll probably even be in less danger too
And the best time for a wolf to steal some pigs is when the farmer isn't looking. Not when the farmer has called in the national guard.
I totally agree with you. And I believe this not because I don’t stand in solidarity with protesters and appreciate any and all effort they give to the movement. It’s because I do care about them. And just letting yourself become target practice helps no one. If you’re going out there to revolt and have some protection because you’re angry go ahead. This is not the time for sign holding and chants. Especially after I read they’re increasing the snatchings. We cannot just allow ourselves to get snatched. Fuck that.
You can't be a comrade if youre literally in the national guard lol they're like turbo cops
their tactics fall through if people start dressing like them. when they gotta look over their shoulder they ain't so confident.
edit: and fuck you libs downvoting this shit.
Boston pioneered a similar tactic with bikes. First the snatch squad bikes in, dives off the bike and tackles the protester, then a second line of bikes swoops in and separates the protesters from the arrest, using their bikes as riot shields.
