Know Your Rights workshop at Canisus College

"We can either be our own liberators, or we can be apart of our own oppression" stated one participant at the "Know Your Rights" workshop at Canisus College today. The workshop was organized by Animal Allies of WNY, an animal rights organization. The workshop was led by two veteran national environmental activists. This workshop taught activists and community members about direct action, civil disobedience, cooperation, and security culture, all in the face of very real repression of civil liberties.

The workshop began by defining violence vs. non-violence. One reoccurring theme that defined violence vs. non-violence was, harm vs. non-harm in various formations. This was critical in the discussion in order to clarify the validity and the non-violent nature of civil disobedience, versus popular caricatures of civil disobedience and direct action as violent acts carried out by delinquents.

There were few ground rules, one of which was pursuant to an important lesson on "security culture" which we would discuss later on. Our first lessons, in classic form, were designed to create group cohesion and exercise patience within the group. One particularly frustrating but, useful exercise in patience and horizontal discussion was the "15 game", whereas we were charged to count to 15 under three conditions: 1) we couldn't count in any specific pattern; 2) we couldn't count in succession individually; 3) everyone had to participate.

Two important lessons which are often lacking from civil liberties training that were thoroughly addressed today were diversity of treatment by the police, and an emphasis on diversity of tactics. "Everyone has a role in the action" was the message from the trainers, this was illustrated by images and stories of actions, such as, banner drops on the Washington monument and off bridges in Houston, TX. The response from law authorities, according to the presenters depended upon the municipality; for example, in New York, Washington, DC, or Philadelphia have police forces who are more relaxed in their repression but, in cities like Pittsburgh the repression (e.g. the G20) is direct, brutal, and sloppy because of the force' inexperience with mass demonstrations. Nevertheless, activists often face brutality and judicial corruption at the hands of the authorities but, if one critically engages the system this is a reality of governance itself (i.e. unconventional political participation is supposed to be minimal or non-existent, ideally from the administrative perspective).

The next workshop focused on a critical part of civil disobedience: disobedience, blockades, and non-violent resistance tactics. In the course of protests to communicate a cause or need, there may be the need to escalate against an institution of power so non-violent disobedience is utilized as a way of escalating the situation. Tactics included the caterpillar (sitting in a tight line- groin to back), the octopus (sitting back to back in a circle, locking arms), and the picturesque line formation (standing in line with arms locked). Sign language is also useful in actions; in jail or in mass demonstrations/ actions verbal communications may be impossible or ill advised simple cross-armed (stop) or open-arm (go) sign language is useful. The instructors also displayed a number of useful technologies to maintain communication among activists, namely walkie-talkies.

Towards the end, we discussed the all-important issue of "security culture" was discussed. Security Culture refers to closed (or "secure") expression and
communication between activists that is utilized to maintain secrecy and safety for activists when planning mass events. The section was short due to time constraints and exercises in repelling and locking (with chains and locks) blockade exercises. A number of things to watch out for that are critical and conveyed readily were: a) "good cop, bad cop tactics"; b) the "your friend is talking" information fishing technique; c) give minimal identification information while being detained or under arrest to suit compliance- for your own safety in police hands; d) keep calm & stay steady (don't pontificate until your day in court; don't be too emotional; give only basic responses; deal with police lightly and without provocation); e) revolutionaries and social-change agents are clashing with authority so, they are not wrong but the agents or police harassing you are.

The workshop ended with the distribution of a pamphlet on how to exercise your rights when dealing with police and a brisk discussion. Our rights are what we make them, and today we practiced how to make them count.

To support a local peace activist, Nate Buckley, who was brutalized by the NFTA transit police, please go here.