Question from someone whose username I’ve decided not to post: I’m planning on taking a group to protest at a detention center at some
point in the near ish future, but I honestly don’t know what to do when I
get there. Do you have suggestions of what would be useful?
Check out the place before your activity and check online maps with satelite imagery.
Can
you reach the people inside? Then you could throw them stuff that they
need, like sanitary pads, diapers, those cheap cell phones with a
prepaid charge on it, cigarettes (with a lighter in the packet), etc.
Can
you see them but are they too far away to throw stuff? Bring big
banners with messages of support (in as many languages as possible) and
maybe light fireworks if you think they’ll be able to see it.
Do
you have no way of seeing the people inside? Then you can still make
them feel supported by holding a noise demonstration. Bring rattles,
whistles, lids of pots and pans, sound systems, megaphones, and of
course your voices and make a looooot of noise. Practice simple slogans
to shout in unison so they’ll carry across walls and distance.
If at all possible, try to contact the
family or friends of those inside the detention center to find out which
genders and age groups are being held there, what those inside might
need, which languages they speak and maybe even what someone’s favorite
song is so you can blast it over the speakers.
If you share
images of your activities on the internet, make sure you do not reveal
the faces of the protestors or those in detention. Do show and point out
any logos of brands of security cameras, guards, fences, vans, etc to
show who is profiting from detention.
These are just some ideas, check out reports of other demonstrations outside detention centers for more ideas.
And maybe my followers have more ideas and experiences, so check the notes under this post too (once there are some).
QueerAnarchism 