By Vivien Sharpies
Seattle Nonviolent Action Group

CLOTHING

• Wear practical clothing in layers (holding cells can be very cold) thermal underwear can be useful
• Sturdy shoes
• Avoid dangling earrings, necklaces and scarves
• Tie long hair back and tuck out the way, secure glasses

BRING

• Change for phone calls, food in your pockets
• Make sure medicines are clearly marked with prescription
• Write legal support number on your arm, identification

PREPARING FOR THE ACTION

• Join or form an affinity group.
• Think through what you plan to do, including as many variables as possible. Make good contingency plans to avoid frustration and panic. Remember you cannot think of everything
• Clarify for yourself why you are taking this action. Be prepared to explain our reasons to others in positive terms. Work out one or two inspiring, positive self-statements that you can repeat to yourself if you become afraid.
• Think ahead of time of chants and songs. Singing can be very unifying, gives us a sense of strength, can be calming and helps us to ignore provocation.
• Know what makes you feel afraid and angry and talk this through with a friend
• Think of the difference between assertion and aggression. Practice using assertive body language and tone of voice.
• Be clear about your attitudes to police or other authority figures, think of how you want to be with the police.

DURING THE ACTION

• Stay calm. If tense or afraid take deep breaths. Ground yourself
• View unanticipated situations as opportunities not disasters. Be creative open and flexible.
• Be alert. Look out for each other. Buddy systems sometimes work well. Buddies should be of the same sex so you can continue to support each other in jail.
• Respect yourself. Hold you ground. Stay firm. Maintain your body space without invading others.
• Deal with people as individuals, communicate one to one
• Don't run. It can cause panic.
• Remember you purpose for being there, don't get sidetracked into verbal conflicts.
• Take responsibility and empower yourself to act as peacekeepers and take care of each other.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE BEING VIOLENT YOU CAN:

• Talk to the aggressor, establish eye contact, tell then they are hurting the person, tell them to stop
• Call others' attention to the violence.
• Put yourself between the aggressor and the attacked
• Deflect the aggressor's attention (e.g. the cops or the media are coming) help the attacked to move away
• Let the aggressor know they are being filmed.
• Physically restrain the aggressor.
• Throw you body over the attacked.
• With others surround the aggressor and move him/her away.
• Have everyone sit so the aggressor is exposed.

IF SOMEONE IS VIOLENT, YOU CAN:

• Look them in the eyes.
• Move slowly away. Don't make abrupt gestures.
• State the obvious. You are hurting me.
• Breath.
• Don't behave like a victim.
• Resist.
• Get you attacker talking and listen to them.
• If sticks, clubs, kicking are being used remember self -defense posture (curl up, fists at back of the head, elbows close in over the temple and fall to the right to protect the liver).

MORE SAFETY TIPS

• While being dragged relax. Don't be dragged on your stomach, turn over.
• If in a choke hold, turn your chin toward the holder's elbow and tuck your chin in
• Tear gas, don't panic, breath through a wet handkerchief, move upwind, bathe eyes with mild salt-water solution. Mace: same except bathe with 5% boric acid solution.
• Horses: sitting down makes it harder to disperse people. Horses are trained to move sideways against people standing up
• Obviously, your responses will vary according to the situation. Trust yourself. Use your judgment, intuition and common sense.