this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2025
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In Person Activism

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"Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them." -Tim Snyder

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[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 139 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Back in the day, the IWW and other Unions made sure they had their own good squads at the ready.

Some trouble makers are undercover cops or paid informers, others may just be folks who want to throw a brick at a cop and figure they can get away in the crowd. The goon squad was there to make sure that no one gave the cops an excuse to start busting heads.

The police are always more prepared for violence than protesters. There are always elderly, infirm, or young children marching with us.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 47 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's still common practice and still done by IWW groups afaik. At least in Asheville there are organized black blocs watching for agitators - cops have been known to fuck with them.

Ideally, nobody shows up looking to start shit, because that's how legal defense funds run dry.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I guess I don't look like goon squad material.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Step 1: get involved with active anarchist groups

Step 2: show up

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Or be me, get involved

And dont

Whose the anarchist now bitches

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 0 points 1 week ago

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the cops love to infiltrate groups like that.

Most of the big terrorist arrests you see happen when some provocateur tricks good hearted people into 'taking action.'

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The police are always more prepared for violence than protesters.

While yes, there's a shockingly relevent source of wisdom here in Pixar's A Bug's Life.

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 68 points 1 week ago (2 children)

There aren't enough pixels to tell if that bracelet has any blue on it. The evidence for wire seems to be a single keyring loop thing. The "cuffs" could just be a tin of chew.

Definitely still look out but idk if this is the best image to match with those captions.

Other things to look for include, holsters at belt and pit level, mechanic or medical gloves, a cheap necklace (could be a badge), large zipties (commonly used as cuffs during protests), eye protection, radio/walkie talkie.

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 67 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (5 children)

I think the vest is the ultimate giveaway here. Chances are pretty low a civilian protestor will have access to one.

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 30 points 1 week ago

That vest also doesn't look that bulky. It could be a security vest used more for stabs and impacts, which is a reasonable thing someone with access to one would wear to a protest if they thought things might escalate

[–] Buelldozer 17 points 1 week ago

Chances are pretty low a civilian protestor will have access to one.

In the U.S??? I can literally buy them in a store or order them online. I'm a "Gun Guy", but not a gun tard, and at least half of the other gun guys I know have one. You can buy basic Level III stuff like the guy in that picture is wearing for $300.

[–] Nasan@sopuli.xyz 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Want to say it's only illegal to purchase them in Connecticut and New York (unless for use within applicable professions). But yeah, rare to see people outside of law enforcement wearing soft armor in plain clothes.

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

Yeah, that was more my point. Just that it would be unlikely. This guy could very well be a civilian, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Man it's fucking wild that you can't buy armor but you can buy weapons a plenty.

[–] dontpanic@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Can I make my own out of the bulletproof backpacks they market for kids?

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 week ago

What a sentence.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Probably, but would it be cost effective?

[–] dontpanic@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

Doubtful but it seems like it could be a statement in and of itself.

[–] Vytle@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yeah, but would you try to hide it?

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

Of course?! Same reason I conceal carry. Why the hell would I advertise my offense and defense? And advertising gives the pigs one more reason to target your happy ass.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Actually, that's a good question. Would I try to hide it?

Like if I'm at a protest and seriously worried about cops shooting me I don't know that the thin ass vest the guy is wearing is gonna do much.

[–] Buelldozer 7 points 1 week ago

Like if I’m at a protest and seriously worried about cops shooting me

You show up to party with the booze ya' got, not the booze ya' wish ya' had. The rate things are going you may soon wish you'd ordered yourself some.

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 week ago

Kevlar vests like that will reliably stop most pistol rounds, but rifle rounds will zip through.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Bruh you and I go to very very different protests.

[–] abcdqfr@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

Color of the day armband, dead giveaway not labeled

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

The thin Blue line between the populace and the fascist overlords

[–] Omgboom@lemmy.zip 16 points 1 week ago

Also get in the habit of checking ankles for a holstered pistol

[–] needanke@feddit.org 14 points 1 week ago
[–] 4am@lemm.ee 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also the embroidered Yankees cap. They ALWAYS have a Yankees cap

(Not as a rule though)

[–] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Whatever the local team is. Almost always some kind of baseball cap though.

It's to cover the cop hair

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What's the wire supposed to be?

[–] 4am@lemm.ee 8 points 1 week ago

Records audio or it could also be a radio or camera system

[–] Genius@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 week ago

Cop, or transmasc bear who's into BSDM?

[–] lol_idk@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

Always the shoes

[–] perestroika@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

In our case, back in 2007, a cop from security police showed up at a protest offering symbolic support to revolting monks in Myanmar (who were crushed, but the situation in Myanmar continues). The demonstration was 100% peaceful.

The guy had a pretty good camera and claimed to be a journalist. He was too invasive, though, and some anarchist had an even better camera. The guy had forgot to remove his ring, issued to graduates of the Interior Defense Academy. Later, he was encountered by chance in the cafeteria of the National Library, across the street from security police HQ. Busted with much fun. :)

Pic here. Article (Estonian language) here.