Demonstrators vs Riote Police

This page was created on Dec 22, 2009 and was last updated on Dec 28, 2011

Public spaces, the street, is sometimes the theater of clashes between the power and the multitude. Riot police is used by the ruling elite to suppress manifestations of discontent which could destabilize the socio-economical order.

In non-democratic countries, the system of control used by those in power is more brutal, physical, violent.

In the so-called "democratic" countries, police uses softer measures, and the expression of discontent normally takes a more peaceful/non-violent form. The riot police in this case tries to contain the crowd and to dissipate it effectively, without any major personal and material damage, which would otherwise backfire on the oppressor. The street is the theater of events, but the real battle is in the media space. During the #occupy movement we saw a very sophisticated level of understanding on the side of the participants about the use of information to win the hearts of the population. Both, the city officials and the occupiers were going through motions that were very carefully planned, scripted, to have a high media impact. At all times there were three players in the game, the occupiers, the city officials and the general public.

Before you go into the action always plan for the media part of the conflict, where the police will try to vilify the demonstrators and defend their own methods and decisions.

On the ground, during the events, the tactics of the riot police are based on fighting a disorganized mass of demonstrators in a confined area. The scene is usually the civic center, although in recent years we've also seen massive protests taking place in open areas. The goal in a public demonstration is to be heard and to be seen. You can do that by placing small contingents of demonstrators in key locations, people well-trained for communication to deal with the police and with the media if present, and by splitting the majority of participants in very small groups, and sending them to cause "trouble" in a lot of different places in the city, in a synchronized manner. Use modern means of communications and advanced planning. You only need small groups dissipated throughout the city, taking key positions, to spread thin the resources of the

police, which is causing you problems. Remember, the police always comes in groups, even if you are 2 guys causing some distraction in front of a bank at the other side of the city. This is the way they operate, they always come with backup. This means that you can easily exhaust police resources with only a few tens of individuals, and give more freedom for your communication teams to maneuver within the civic center. By following this tactic you will also distract the decision making center of the city.

Civil engagement is a chess game, an open game in which the strongest wins. We have the advantage of being numerous. If we are well coordinated and if we plan our moves carefully the oppressor will be overpowered. Don't be afraid to plan and organize in the open! This is actually what makes us stronger! Plan and organize in the open to allow masses of people to participate. Our information disadvantage is offset by the power we're able to project.

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