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Brief description of arrest processing and suggestion for further arrestees
What they do to those arrested; how they are processed at Pier 27; possibilities to gum up the system.
I was arrested yesterday and held for over twelve hours before they
released me without charge. Here's what's been happening, and some
suggestions.
They are taking polaroid pictures of people as they are arrested, with
a sign that indicates what you have been arrested for, and your case
number or some such. Sometimes they have asked for your name at that
point, for others not. You are then herded onto a bus, taken to Pier
27, or to 850 Bryant. At the pier, where I was, you are herded into a
pen where they then try to match up your photo with you. They would
either yell out a name, if they had one, or show people pictures and
ask them to say `that's me' or `I know them, let me get them.' If they
do not have your name, your photo is ALL they have to match YOU with
what you are being held for, the police file, etc. This is what
happened to me: they lost my picture and didn't deal with me until
they were trying to get everybody out of the pens, when they released
me with a slip saying that I had only been detained, not arrested.
I hope this is clear. Here is my suggestion, which might work,
assuming they continue to process people in this manner, a suggestion
of how the system might be clogged enough to render it useless. First,
don't indentify yourself when they photograph you. This forces them to
match your face to your photograph. Second, after you are taken to a
pen, do not assist the police in locating you or anybody in the
pen. Turn away from the sides, and get the others in the pen to
do likewise. Force the police to pull people out one by one.
The purpose of this is to keep them from moving quickly. The system
that they are using is inefficient enough as it is. It would probably
be made useless if the arrrested would not aid the police, either by
identifying others or self-identifying. The police will most likely
be forced to pull out each person, and then match them with a
photo. This means that for each person, they will have to search
through hundreds of photographs to find them. Additionally, if
arrestees don't say `yes, that's me,' they will have even more trouble
matching person to photo. (That is, one could be non-committal: is this
you? I don't know, could be. Hard to tell.)
Of course, if those arrested refuse to give their names entirely this
would probably help, but even if they identify themselves in the end,
by not actively aiding the police in the processing of arrestees, it
will take a great deal longer.
It is my hypothesis that on Thursday, they slowed down arresting when
it became clear that they couldn't process all those arrested. So
later in the day arrests slacked off. If it is slowed down ever more,
you prevent further arrests. More people on the street means greater
effectiveness.
Of course, this will work best in the mass arrests scenarios which we
saw on Thursday, and will probably not see again. Note also that I am not a lawyer, and can't tell you the legal implications of this. Perhaps people who know a lawyer could consult them.
--X.E. Volia
released me without charge. Here's what's been happening, and some
suggestions.
They are taking polaroid pictures of people as they are arrested, with
a sign that indicates what you have been arrested for, and your case
number or some such. Sometimes they have asked for your name at that
point, for others not. You are then herded onto a bus, taken to Pier
27, or to 850 Bryant. At the pier, where I was, you are herded into a
pen where they then try to match up your photo with you. They would
either yell out a name, if they had one, or show people pictures and
ask them to say `that's me' or `I know them, let me get them.' If they
do not have your name, your photo is ALL they have to match YOU with
what you are being held for, the police file, etc. This is what
happened to me: they lost my picture and didn't deal with me until
they were trying to get everybody out of the pens, when they released
me with a slip saying that I had only been detained, not arrested.
I hope this is clear. Here is my suggestion, which might work,
assuming they continue to process people in this manner, a suggestion
of how the system might be clogged enough to render it useless. First,
don't indentify yourself when they photograph you. This forces them to
match your face to your photograph. Second, after you are taken to a
pen, do not assist the police in locating you or anybody in the
pen. Turn away from the sides, and get the others in the pen to
do likewise. Force the police to pull people out one by one.
The purpose of this is to keep them from moving quickly. The system
that they are using is inefficient enough as it is. It would probably
be made useless if the arrrested would not aid the police, either by
identifying others or self-identifying. The police will most likely
be forced to pull out each person, and then match them with a
photo. This means that for each person, they will have to search
through hundreds of photographs to find them. Additionally, if
arrestees don't say `yes, that's me,' they will have even more trouble
matching person to photo. (That is, one could be non-committal: is this
you? I don't know, could be. Hard to tell.)
Of course, if those arrested refuse to give their names entirely this
would probably help, but even if they identify themselves in the end,
by not actively aiding the police in the processing of arrestees, it
will take a great deal longer.
It is my hypothesis that on Thursday, they slowed down arresting when
it became clear that they couldn't process all those arrested. So
later in the day arrests slacked off. If it is slowed down ever more,
you prevent further arrests. More people on the street means greater
effectiveness.
Of course, this will work best in the mass arrests scenarios which we
saw on Thursday, and will probably not see again. Note also that I am not a lawyer, and can't tell you the legal implications of this. Perhaps people who know a lawyer could consult them.
--X.E. Volia
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Comments
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You're right - in one way, they can only manage so many folks in the holding pens. But, basically - if you are let out fast, you are able to get back on the streets, you don't risk any loss of moral being kept 30 people to a ten person cage, and the folks waiting in buses for three hours with their hands in cuffs can get a chance to piss, walk around and get processed.
Those choosing jail solidarity should have no ID on them and give no name. This is a big deicison, so be sure you know what you are doing and why you are doing it BEFORE you get into jail. As one of yesterday's "Doe Family", I got to witness a lot of indecision and frustration by people who initially chose jail solidarity. Be clear with yourself, your lover (or whoever you will be contacting from jail), your lawyer and your affinity group.
If you are not planning on doing jail solidarity, bring your fuckin ID. You have to release your name, address and finger print to be released anyhow - not having an ID is just one more reason to give the lazy cops not to process you.
Over and over, cops mentioned how much they were just in this "for the money". They don't care about processing you or about hurrying. They like the overtime and it's much easier jerking off at Pier 27 than it is to be out working the streets.
A couple other things to remember about being arrested:
* Cops will fuck with you. If you are in jail solidarity, they will isolate you and tell you everyone else chose to cite out.
* They will make lewd comments, try to anger you, make suggestions or smirk. Ignore them.
* If they tell you to take out your jewelry, tell them it doesn't come out. They'll tell you it will be cut off at jail. Say "OK". It won't.
* Make friends in the cage, but don't talk about next day's protest, the plans anyone has for that afternoon, or whatever. There are *always* cops listening. Or video taping.
* Don't answer questions or talk to cops. They're just trying to get information out of you.
* Many cops are friendly. They wish they were on our side, consider themselves "friends behind enemy lines", will be with us at the Revolution. I had five cops say something to the effect of "Keep up the good work!" while not in the presence of other cops. Be supportive of these folks, who may be going through just the same process we went through when realizing we didn't want to work for the man anymore.
* You get phone calls when you get to the jail. You get as many as you want. They're free if not long distance. If you aren't going to the jail, demand a phone call.
* You won't get taken care of unless you make demands. Get your group to chant "We need a doctor!", "We need water!", "We need food!", "We ned our lawyers!" - if you make a fuss or call a lawyer, you'll get better treatment.
* Choose your battles wisely. Their are thousands of our peers in there with us. Don't suck up the resources unless you need them.
* Take care of eachother. Some people may cry, freak out, isolate themselves, become cold, nervous, shaky, angry. This is not the time to behave like a San Franciscan - put your arms around your cellmates. Look out for eachother.
* If you're at the Pier, take a shit in the port o potty. If you go to jail, it's a community pot.
* Shove food (especially if you're vegetarian), cell phones or whatever inside hidden pockets or whatever. It may be found. It may not. It will come in handy.
* Layer. It will be very hot and very COLD - you will really love that extra sweatshirt around your waist.
* Cheer on your cellmates when moving or getting processed. Our moral can get pretty low in there and most of us get seperated from our friends.
* Stretch, walk, dance, play games, sleep.
Those choosing jail solidarity should have no ID on them and give no name. This is a big deicison, so be sure you know what you are doing and why you are doing it BEFORE you get into jail. As one of yesterday's "Doe Family", I got to witness a lot of indecision and frustration by people who initially chose jail solidarity. Be clear with yourself, your lover (or whoever you will be contacting from jail), your lawyer and your affinity group.
If you are not planning on doing jail solidarity, bring your fuckin ID. You have to release your name, address and finger print to be released anyhow - not having an ID is just one more reason to give the lazy cops not to process you.
Over and over, cops mentioned how much they were just in this "for the money". They don't care about processing you or about hurrying. They like the overtime and it's much easier jerking off at Pier 27 than it is to be out working the streets.
A couple other things to remember about being arrested:
* Cops will fuck with you. If you are in jail solidarity, they will isolate you and tell you everyone else chose to cite out.
* They will make lewd comments, try to anger you, make suggestions or smirk. Ignore them.
* If they tell you to take out your jewelry, tell them it doesn't come out. They'll tell you it will be cut off at jail. Say "OK". It won't.
* Make friends in the cage, but don't talk about next day's protest, the plans anyone has for that afternoon, or whatever. There are *always* cops listening. Or video taping.
* Don't answer questions or talk to cops. They're just trying to get information out of you.
* Many cops are friendly. They wish they were on our side, consider themselves "friends behind enemy lines", will be with us at the Revolution. I had five cops say something to the effect of "Keep up the good work!" while not in the presence of other cops. Be supportive of these folks, who may be going through just the same process we went through when realizing we didn't want to work for the man anymore.
* You get phone calls when you get to the jail. You get as many as you want. They're free if not long distance. If you aren't going to the jail, demand a phone call.
* You won't get taken care of unless you make demands. Get your group to chant "We need a doctor!", "We need water!", "We need food!", "We ned our lawyers!" - if you make a fuss or call a lawyer, you'll get better treatment.
* Choose your battles wisely. Their are thousands of our peers in there with us. Don't suck up the resources unless you need them.
* Take care of eachother. Some people may cry, freak out, isolate themselves, become cold, nervous, shaky, angry. This is not the time to behave like a San Franciscan - put your arms around your cellmates. Look out for eachother.
* If you're at the Pier, take a shit in the port o potty. If you go to jail, it's a community pot.
* Shove food (especially if you're vegetarian), cell phones or whatever inside hidden pockets or whatever. It may be found. It may not. It will come in handy.
* Layer. It will be very hot and very COLD - you will really love that extra sweatshirt around your waist.
* Cheer on your cellmates when moving or getting processed. Our moral can get pretty low in there and most of us get seperated from our friends.
* Stretch, walk, dance, play games, sleep.
Excellent work, Viola and Frog.
Yesterday was my first exposure to this process or anything like it. If you are new to being arrested or in any way unfamiliar with the minds of police and the way their structured heirarchy works, you should read carefully what V. & F. have written about the details of their experiences.
I was detained Thursday morning before 8:30 a.m., and I was released Friday at noon without charges, anonymously. I spent my first night in jail and came away without a criminal record. This increases the ammunition to flood local resources for detention, which ultimately validates the argument against the arrest of people who publicly express political dissent and contributes to the argument that war in Iraq overburdens cities in the U.S. at a cost to local and regional governments because the public is largely opposed to it. If you decide to stay in for as long as it takes the police to determine it's not worth their time to detain you and your comrades (because collectively, you are one united pain in the ass), you are released with a better chance of being able to put up the same fight next time you're in (which is what's required because the overseas military aggression is just going to go on and on).
POH-LIES
First and foremost, you have to keep in mind the police lie to achieve desirable outcomes. They're in character like actors. They say things to alarm you, offend you, make you turn toward covering your own ass and away from uniting with others who're in your same or a very similar situation. Freaked out and pissed off, you'll leave jail insignificantly sooner with a court date and a charge when you could have stayed a few hours longer to HELP REDUCE OTHERS' charges to the same zero-level as your own before you get out.
When cops issue any statement of any kind, be aware of what kind of information it is and talk to others about the PLAUSIBILITY OF THE STATEMENT. We heard cops say some outlandish shit that could really frighten, frustrate, confuse and intimidate people if they believed the statements. Being shipped to another city, getting jailed with maximum security prisoners, being charged with felonies that aren't substantiated and cost $$$ to process--remember to condsider how relevant the statement is to the reason you're there and whether the cops possess the infrastructure to carry out actions that involve large numbers of people or a lot of work. Remain calm--don't let them see you get all shocked when they make some ridiculous comment disguised as a course of action.
SOLIDARITY
It's the essence of triumph over the system and it means STICK TOGETHER in every physical and theoretical sense. I saw some very accomplished facilitators last night who are able to help everyone stay focused, make sure everybody gets a chance to express concerns, keep time and make decisions on the lawyers' time line and before officers return to your cell or holding area. These were people who could concentrate on democratic, effective decision making before 6 a.m. on four hours of sleep and about 200 calories (mostly empty) after more than 15 hours of enduring the system. It can be done. If you stay in contact with your lawyers and continue dialog with the comrades in your cell, everyone can walk without charge.
The cops know you are more powerful in a consolidated group. That's why the system is set up to isolate people and get them to consent to treatment and charges they wouldn't otherwise tolerate. Warrants and priors are in place to separate us. "Real criminals" are supposed to be distinctly different from "protesters" when you're all just people trying to get out of the cops' hands with as little entanglement with the 'justice' system as possible.
Discuss your intentions and get clear on the objectives in your group. Who wants to get out ASAP, for whatever reason? What does the legal team say the maximum fines are for anyone being held? Who wants to stay until those penalties are reduced and all parties are released without charge? The police have objectives, too, and some of them actually match some of yours at times. How can you get the police to work parallel to your objectives? How can you get those who want to be released with charge "cited out" and how can you get a message to your captors that you're staying until no one's charged.
ANONYMITY
You can't have an ID on you or give your real name to an officer. That's how it works--they don't know who you are and don't have the energy to wait and find out. You hold to your 5th amendment right when they try to coerce your name out of you. The evidence in the case against you is linked to your person by a polaroid that says where you were arrested and what you're being charged with by code. They've got police witnesses and maybe some video. If they can't make a case against you they don't waste their energy. They go for something where the evidence is solid and the ID is positive.
CONSENSUS
Remember that coercion (mostly lies and intimidation) is what the cops use to reach their objectives (making it worthwhile for them to make a case against what they caught you doing), and cooperation is what we use to get out without charge. Listen to what everybody in your cell has to say about his or her individual situation and your collective situation. Prioritize your objectives as a group and try to encourage each other to be clear on what you want to see happen (some people want to help reduce everyone's charges and see the cops meet demands of the group; others want to leave to get back in the streets or just go home and rest up). Pose the right questions and get the right information. If there's a phone in your cell and it's free to use it, call your legal support. Legal can help you coordinate with comrades staying in other cells with whom you're unable to communicate directly.
Jail solidarity ain't a bad tactic.
-have legal support before you go in. National Lawyers Guild, Midnight Special Law Collective, Just Cause Law Collective to name a few. Fill out a legal form with them and identify yourself by a nickname so they know who you and the cops don't have to.
-give your ID to your legal support in case you get arraigned.
-write the phone number for legal on your body with a sharpie
-pack food on your person, but take as few possessions with you as possible. The cops seem to use identifying personal property as an immense distraction from your priorities (getting released without charge!). The less shit you have the less you stand to lose because they fucked up their system for keeping track of whose is what.
-BE READY TO LOCK ARMS AND REFUSE TO BE MOVED. Granted this gesture will piss off the cops when they see it, but it's your assertiveness that keeps you from being separated into smaller and smaller groups and eventually to individual cells (as they are available).
-MAKE DEMANDS based on the objectives of your group.
-STAY TOGETHER! Singing and chanting slogans increases your morale as it erodes that of the cops. Maintain a sense of hope that your objectives will eventually be met.
-REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE--that the everyday people like us who live in Iraq (and all the other areas of the globe where the U.S. government represses and kills people) don't deserve the boot that's on their neck. Together we can make a difference; on our own, we can get cited for blocking traffic, resisting arrest and be faced with appearing in court on a date we could be out disrupting capitalist business as usual.
Yesterday was my first exposure to this process or anything like it. If you are new to being arrested or in any way unfamiliar with the minds of police and the way their structured heirarchy works, you should read carefully what V. & F. have written about the details of their experiences.
I was detained Thursday morning before 8:30 a.m., and I was released Friday at noon without charges, anonymously. I spent my first night in jail and came away without a criminal record. This increases the ammunition to flood local resources for detention, which ultimately validates the argument against the arrest of people who publicly express political dissent and contributes to the argument that war in Iraq overburdens cities in the U.S. at a cost to local and regional governments because the public is largely opposed to it. If you decide to stay in for as long as it takes the police to determine it's not worth their time to detain you and your comrades (because collectively, you are one united pain in the ass), you are released with a better chance of being able to put up the same fight next time you're in (which is what's required because the overseas military aggression is just going to go on and on).
POH-LIES
First and foremost, you have to keep in mind the police lie to achieve desirable outcomes. They're in character like actors. They say things to alarm you, offend you, make you turn toward covering your own ass and away from uniting with others who're in your same or a very similar situation. Freaked out and pissed off, you'll leave jail insignificantly sooner with a court date and a charge when you could have stayed a few hours longer to HELP REDUCE OTHERS' charges to the same zero-level as your own before you get out.
When cops issue any statement of any kind, be aware of what kind of information it is and talk to others about the PLAUSIBILITY OF THE STATEMENT. We heard cops say some outlandish shit that could really frighten, frustrate, confuse and intimidate people if they believed the statements. Being shipped to another city, getting jailed with maximum security prisoners, being charged with felonies that aren't substantiated and cost $$$ to process--remember to condsider how relevant the statement is to the reason you're there and whether the cops possess the infrastructure to carry out actions that involve large numbers of people or a lot of work. Remain calm--don't let them see you get all shocked when they make some ridiculous comment disguised as a course of action.
SOLIDARITY
It's the essence of triumph over the system and it means STICK TOGETHER in every physical and theoretical sense. I saw some very accomplished facilitators last night who are able to help everyone stay focused, make sure everybody gets a chance to express concerns, keep time and make decisions on the lawyers' time line and before officers return to your cell or holding area. These were people who could concentrate on democratic, effective decision making before 6 a.m. on four hours of sleep and about 200 calories (mostly empty) after more than 15 hours of enduring the system. It can be done. If you stay in contact with your lawyers and continue dialog with the comrades in your cell, everyone can walk without charge.
The cops know you are more powerful in a consolidated group. That's why the system is set up to isolate people and get them to consent to treatment and charges they wouldn't otherwise tolerate. Warrants and priors are in place to separate us. "Real criminals" are supposed to be distinctly different from "protesters" when you're all just people trying to get out of the cops' hands with as little entanglement with the 'justice' system as possible.
Discuss your intentions and get clear on the objectives in your group. Who wants to get out ASAP, for whatever reason? What does the legal team say the maximum fines are for anyone being held? Who wants to stay until those penalties are reduced and all parties are released without charge? The police have objectives, too, and some of them actually match some of yours at times. How can you get the police to work parallel to your objectives? How can you get those who want to be released with charge "cited out" and how can you get a message to your captors that you're staying until no one's charged.
ANONYMITY
You can't have an ID on you or give your real name to an officer. That's how it works--they don't know who you are and don't have the energy to wait and find out. You hold to your 5th amendment right when they try to coerce your name out of you. The evidence in the case against you is linked to your person by a polaroid that says where you were arrested and what you're being charged with by code. They've got police witnesses and maybe some video. If they can't make a case against you they don't waste their energy. They go for something where the evidence is solid and the ID is positive.
CONSENSUS
Remember that coercion (mostly lies and intimidation) is what the cops use to reach their objectives (making it worthwhile for them to make a case against what they caught you doing), and cooperation is what we use to get out without charge. Listen to what everybody in your cell has to say about his or her individual situation and your collective situation. Prioritize your objectives as a group and try to encourage each other to be clear on what you want to see happen (some people want to help reduce everyone's charges and see the cops meet demands of the group; others want to leave to get back in the streets or just go home and rest up). Pose the right questions and get the right information. If there's a phone in your cell and it's free to use it, call your legal support. Legal can help you coordinate with comrades staying in other cells with whom you're unable to communicate directly.
Jail solidarity ain't a bad tactic.
-have legal support before you go in. National Lawyers Guild, Midnight Special Law Collective, Just Cause Law Collective to name a few. Fill out a legal form with them and identify yourself by a nickname so they know who you and the cops don't have to.
-give your ID to your legal support in case you get arraigned.
-write the phone number for legal on your body with a sharpie
-pack food on your person, but take as few possessions with you as possible. The cops seem to use identifying personal property as an immense distraction from your priorities (getting released without charge!). The less shit you have the less you stand to lose because they fucked up their system for keeping track of whose is what.
-BE READY TO LOCK ARMS AND REFUSE TO BE MOVED. Granted this gesture will piss off the cops when they see it, but it's your assertiveness that keeps you from being separated into smaller and smaller groups and eventually to individual cells (as they are available).
-MAKE DEMANDS based on the objectives of your group.
-STAY TOGETHER! Singing and chanting slogans increases your morale as it erodes that of the cops. Maintain a sense of hope that your objectives will eventually be met.
-REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE--that the everyday people like us who live in Iraq (and all the other areas of the globe where the U.S. government represses and kills people) don't deserve the boot that's on their neck. Together we can make a difference; on our own, we can get cited for blocking traffic, resisting arrest and be faced with appearing in court on a date we could be out disrupting capitalist business as usual.
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