Intervention: Street Action #BlackLivesMatter

This is a PSA from the Channel Zero Network. I'm posting it here in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter. Justice for the murder of George Floyd and for all of those brutalised and murdered by the police everywhere in the world.

As protests heat up, the Channel Zero Network has some reminders on how to stay safe while out in the streets.

• Bring buddies and don’t let them out of the range of your voice.
  
• Write a legal aid number on your body so you can get help if you get  arrested. Be sure to know your buddies legal names and birthdays. You’ll  need these to help find them if they’re arrested.
  
• When moving around, walk don’t run. Stick together.
  
• Turn off your phone while out in the street to avoid surveillance of  your location and so as not to have your unlocked phone taken by the  authorities or other bad actors.
  
• Try your best not to stick out in a crowd. Cover up tattoos with clothing or body paint. Cops will use footage from the protest to try to  identify you.
  
• Wear clothes that are good for moving quickly. Avoid wearing jewelry and wear closed toe shoes.
  
• Wear your mask at all times, even if you’re talking to someone in order to guard yourself against surveillance, covid 19, pepper spray,  and tear gas.
  
• Avoid wearing contact lenses. Bring goggles of some kind in case of tear gas or pepper spray.
  
• Consider wearing bike helmets as police often cause head injuries with batons and other weapons.
  
• Don’t take photos or video of people doing anything illegal or with their face uncovered. Whenever possible, film the cops, not the protesters.
  
• ONLY PUT WATER IN YOUR EYES. Don’t use milk or baking soda or anything else.
  
  Clean water is the safest thing to use at a protest.
  
  If possible, bring a water bottle to drink from and a water bottle to flush  out eyes of any comrades who are maced or tear-gassed.
  
• And white comrades are encouraged to follow the lead of black and brown comrades, as they bear the brunt of state brutality.

Follow Unicorn Riot and Channel Zero Network member It’s Going Down for ongoing updates.

The Channel Zero Network sends y’all solidarity.  Stay safe out there and never stop fighting for a better world.