Feminist Global Resistance continues our Activist Action Series, offering techniques and safety tips for activists.

Our article, “Setting Up a Blockade and/or Occupation”, is a guide for activists planning a more extended action – a Blockade or an Occupation. This is a joint effort combining the words of activist friends and tools from “Sprout Distro” and “Ruckus Society“

Blockades and occupations can be powerful tools for gaining awareness of an issue and forcing negotiations with companies, governments, and police as well as inspiring future actions in the courts and on the streets to win rights and stop corruption.

Think Occupy; the 2024 Student Encampment Protests; the Water Protectors & Reject Keystone XL at Standing Rock, North Dakota; “Stop Cop City”

Be inspired and organize! 

To all activists, “dancing the streets”  requires a knowledge of what one may encounter during any action. Be prepared for any event and stay vigilant.  

Remember, we are in this together, so together we help each other. 

Activism can be fun, but it is serious business – take care of yourself and each other.

As always: Be prepared for confrontation and keep it safe out there!

 

 

Setting Up a Blockade and/or Occupation

 

Intro: Understand that you CAN do this.

For over 18 months, groups as small as 8 disrupted and occupied pipeline construction sites all over Turtle Island. It takes even fewer than that to accomplish more clandestine activities, which can be equally [or more] disruptive.

The reality is that you will take action if you want to see change; If you want to stand for something more than yourself.

It is easy to get caught up in thinking a singular action is about one issue, but that is incorrect. Those working within this struggle understand that the fight is much bigger than a single blockade or even a single issue – it is part of the ongoing war against oppression in which our lives, our future, and our freedom genuinely depend.

 

 

 

So why blockade or occupation?

Blockades and occupations have been successful. All of them have provided ways to spread information and dissent while building allies and networks.

It is important to have a good police liaison on your team that will help gather intel and develop a rapport that is important for ever-changing logistics – move forward on a lockdown or pack up to remove people to keep them safe. A good liaison apprises organizers of any possible danger or change that affects the action.

Locking down can keep the blockade going for many more hours, make a strong statement of commitment, and drive the media into a frenzy. It doesn’t take many individuals willing to risk themselves or much money to be effective. Still, you may need supplies, including extra water, food, mats, blankets, etc., as well as the physical and personnel means to implement the lockdown plan.

If some folks aren’t willing or able to be arrested, they can support in other areas, such as:

• Being responsible for packing the site up and caring for the gear of those who will be arrested.
• Taking food off-site and storing it safely to prevent it from being tainted or wasted.
• Identify and remove priority items like media equipment.
• Establish and facilitate an exit plan for any pets.
• Ongoing media & police liaison roles.
• Legal support roles to keep lawyers informed and keep protestors as safe as possible.
• Eventually, there may be jail and court support roles.

 

No matter how prepared you think you may be, police arriving on site, en masse, changes the dynamic of an action. Everything you do will feel rushed and panicked. It’s important to have a good, flexible exit plan. That includes prewriting media releases and finding out likely police stations that will be used in the event of arrests and the courthouses that will handle the cases. Those locking down or providing active support for the lockdown should have a specific step-by-step plan of what will happen when a police raid is imminent.

 

 

Blockades and occupations have been successful. All have provided ways to spread information and dissent while building allies and networks. Timed right, these protests will financially affect political and/or corporate entities through delays, planned equipment rentals, shutoffs, payroll, and manpower. More recently, a series of short-term occupations have disrupted work on various pipelines (Enbridge Line 3 pipeline, Canada, and KXL, US), city governments (ie, CHAZ, aka CHOP, in Seattle during BLM, and Zuccotti Park, OCCUPY, NYC) and financial institutions worldwide (Citigroup Global HQ, NYC, and Barclays branches across UK) while building momentum and minimizing risk.

 

 

10 Steps for Setting up a Blockade:

1. Identify Your Goals

• What do you want to achieve? Some common goals include interfering with the company’s operations, attracting media attention to spread your message, outreach, capacity building, or making political stances or demands.

2. Scout Potential Sites

• Before creating a blockade, sites/locations need to be scouted. What does it look like during a regular workday? What does it look like before workers show up? If it’s an office building, when does it open? What are the staff work schedules? What are the security concerns (surveillance, security staff, police presence on a normal day, and the location of police stations? If the will change over time (ie, construction site), the progress of that project will need to be surveilled over time to determine the best location, the equipment being used, and personnel on site.

3. Implications of Territory

• Find out specifically who owns or controls the land on which the action is planned and who the local people are surrounding the area. Research the correct way to ask for a meeting with the people in that territory. Research the current issues/struggles happening in the communities around your site. It is likely that people there are currently engaged in the same struggle as you, so find out if they have taken action (through the courts or physically) and research what those actions are or have been and what their results have been. Would your actions detract from theirs or complement them?
• Some communities might not support your blockade idea: Listen to their concerns and opinions!

4. Pick Your Target

• Your goals, scouting, and consultations will assist in locating the ideal target for the blockade.
• If media attention is your goal, consider the optics provided by the site and placement of activists for the best effect. Accessibility is a factor – scout the roads leading to and from the site and plan timing to allow for media outlets to travel to the action without getting bogged down in traffic, and, if located on open terrain make sure media personnel can travel across the terrain easily without too many obstacles for those carrying equipment (ie, fencing, fields, river banks, etc.). Make sure media outlets have a map of the exact location.

5. Have your act together

• Regardless of the duration of your blockade, here are basic but crucial supplies ANY BLOCKADE should make a priority:
  • Charged cell phones WITH RECEPTION for media liaisons, legal support, and site info
  • Reliable internet access point (social media is our best bet to tap into the mass grassroots)
  • Lawyer’s phone number if folks get arrested (get everyone to write this on their bodies in sharpie!)
  • Enough water and food to get you through 1 day
  • Locations of public restrooms (nearby coffee shop, friendly neighbor, compost toilet)
  • Cameras (including a video camera to film interactions with the cops)
  • Walkie-talkies (if it’s a large area)
  • Sun/rain shelter
  • Distribution Literature! Handouts, leaflets, reports, handbills, or any other literature that clarifies the “who, what, and why” of the action, including the intended goals, any background information, and the issues being addressed by the action.
• Create banners and signs to post around the site so people know why you’re there.
• A prepared press release to post on social media platforms and to send media organizations as soon as one organizes on-site. (keep TIP line numbers on speed dial to inform media of events – police presence and clashes, lockdowns, actions of locals, and counterprotests)
• Media talking points printed and ready for anyone who needs them
• Handouts to give to the people [neighbors & workers]
• Baked treats to give to the closest neighbors to initiate a positive first contact!
• Organize off-site media volunteers who can get the Facebook, Twitter (X), Bluesky, and other social media sites (media “storms” started with memes, videos, statements, and other pre-created content as well as timely status updates from the site of the current action)
• If the action plan is to occupy the site, gear needs to be brought on-site early. For longer-term blockades, be sure to plan for these supplies:
  • Tents
  • Sleeping bags, Coolers, Batteries /charging stations to recharge phones and computers *More permanent internet access point (such as hotspot or rocket sticks)
  • Tarps, Poles, Chairs, and any other supplies to build shelters and other things you want on site.
  • Chalkboard for setting up security shifts and rotating camp roles
  • Name tags (for people who are using aliases)

6. Create an Entrance Plan

• How are you going to take the site? How many people do you need to do it safely? Are you anticipating an immediate confrontation with workers? Do you have to overcome any physical obstacles to accessing the site? Is there already a police or private security presence there?
• Once activists are on-site, appoint one or two people to scour the area for items that could be useful. This can include construction supplies, keys to the trailer or equipment, site maps, etc. Ensure surveillance cameras get covered by fabric, paper, or paint.

7. Fill Roles

• If not assigned before the action, or if assigned personnel cannot get to the action (due to illness, family issue, transportation, etc.,or are just a “no show”), these roles need to be filled immediately:
  • Police liaison
  • Company/worker liaison
  • Media liaison
  • Internal media spokespeople (for social media and writing stuff)
  • Logistics team (for planning and overseeing the physical blockade setup)
  • Legal support crew
  • Front gate crew (hand out literature to people as they pass by, greet new people who arrive)
  • Neighbor liaisons

8. Get a System Going

• As long as this blockade is in effect, it will be “HOME” for all the activists involved. As people come and go, every role, defined earlier, will need to remain filled with current or new people to maintain the action. Remember, organizing the kitchen and emptying the compost toilet are just as crucial as writing press releases. Appoint a “role manager” to check and maintain the shift chalkboard and remind the group to sign up for jobs. Ultimately, everyone must be responsible for ensuring the camp runs as smoothly as possible.

***Keeping a solid presence is crucial for deterring company security, police, and others from having you dragged off-site***

9. Keep it Interesting

• Once the camp reaches a full day of occupation, what is the plan to keep the action a focus point for media and social media? Keep the media’s attention with activities, teach-ins, concerts, street theatre, games, speeches, ceremonies, or interviews highlighting different spokespeople for the action will help keep the action interesting and focused to maintain an audience and public support before police or other security break up or clear the site. Even if the plan is only to be there for a day or less, interest can be injected throughout the planned timeframe. Keep focused on your goals, but have fun too! Show people the kind of community we’re trying to create.
• Keep it interesting for activists on-site – Blockades are a great place to skill share! Issue a callout for workshops on topics to improve activist skills. Ask more seasoned activists for tips and tricks on “HowTos” (ie, how to tie knots or distract a cop). There is a wealth of knowledge at hand and a time and place to use it for education and building camaraderie! USE IT!

10. Make Several Exit Plans

• When arrest seems imminent, an exit strategy is important! Make certain it was planned and committed to memory – something to refer to when your mind is racing and to prevent full panic. Any response to threats depends on the intended goals of the action and the participants’ comfort/risk levels. If the goal is to disrupt work for as long as possible, plans should be in place to pivot to implement ways to extend your presence or otherwise disrupt work. This can range from having an excellent police liaison that can assist and negotiating more time to “pack up” to launching into personal lockdowns or physical blockades of the site.
• Locking down can keep the blockade going for many more hours, make a strong statement of commitment, and drive the media into more action and coverage. It doesn’t take many individuals willing to risk themselves or much money to be effective. Still, planning for access to extra water, food, mats, blankets, and other necessities is important. A “Supporter” network on the outside can bring in supplies, collect gear, and assist in keeping the blockade/occupation going and may be a source for fresh personnel for your action to relieve those needing to leave or replace people who cannot or are not willing to chance arrest or physical confrontation
• I will reiterate: No matter how prepared you feel, police or security arriving on-site, en masse, will change the dynamic of an action. Everything you do will feel rushed and panicked. It’s important to have a good, flexible exit plan and alternative exit plans. That includes prewriting releases to be sent to media outlets, utilizing TIP hotlines and maintaining planned commentary on social media.
• Remember the locations of police stations, jails and courthouses that were part of the original scouting mission and make sure every participant in the action has been well trained in a step-by-step plan to evacuate from the site as needed. When a raid is imminent, logic is hard to maintain – train everyone.