Resources: This is just our list of favorites for basic information. There are a lot more resources that you can find on the websites of these groups or contacting them. Los Angeles-Anarchist Black Cross Federation(LA-ABCF): We provide immediate and long-term support for members of the radical community who are arrested or detained. We also run workshops and provide materials so that activists can learn to protect themselves and also support activists currently imprisoned. http://www.abcf.net/la/ The Midnight Special Law Collective: Is a group dedicated to providing support legal for activists in a wide range of contexts. Their website has great materials regarding everything from know your rights (including a comic in English and Spanish) to providing court support. They also provide trainings for activists and their allies. http://midnightspecial.net/materials/ The National Lawyers Guild (NLG): Provides legal support for activists and other targeted and underserved groups. Their website has lots of materials available in a wide range of languages regarding what rights you have and how to get legal support. They also run trainings for activists and their allies: http://www.nlg.org/resource/know-your-rights Rosenberg Fund for Children: Provides grants to provide for children of targeted activists. These grants include money for prison visits, education and emotional care of children and young adults. http://www.rfc.org/ When in doubt: If you are contacted by law enforcement because of your activism you can call the NLG hotline: 1-888-654-3265 Know your Rights Green Scare Edition (For Friends and Allies Too!) ____________________________________________________ In today's climate of heightened repression of activists and their allies it is important for us all to know what our rights are so that we can protect ourselves and protect and support our friends and family. This guide is the short version of how we can do that. For more information contact any of the organizations listed on the back. In solidarity LA-ABCF Basic Rights: If law enforcement speaks to you: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, what your status is as a citizen, an immigrant or even a visitor to the US you have the right to remain silent. No matter what. You can invoke this in 2 ways either by saying nothing or saying: I'M GOING TO REMAIN SILENT, I WANT TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER If you are confronted by the police or any other form of law enforcement and you are unsure of what is going on THIS IS YOUR SAFEST OPTION. If law enforcement wants to or starts to search your house, your person, your car or bag. Say loudly and clearly: i do not conSent to a search This may not stop them, but if you say it, clearly so that others around can hear and there is no misunderstanding, you will have a strong case for excluding anything they find during court hearings. Casual consent: If you leave your door open to your house or your car or if you open your bag in the presence of the law enforcement they can take that as an indication you were giving consent to a search. BE VERY CAREFUL about this. Always exit your house or car and shut the door behind you before interacting with law enforcement. Practice: For many of us being strong when saying these statements to people who we find intimidating can be hard. So, Practice. Practice saying them to a mirror, saying them to your friends as they look at you in a scary way, saying them alone in your car when someone cuts you off or you see a police car. Practice so that the words come automatically to you. If you think your house might be a target copy the magic words and pin them to the inside of the door so that you everyone will remember them if law enforcement stops by. Basic Rights On-line and On Your Phone: Though there is a lot of talk about on-line or privacy assume that EVERYTHING you enter or say is available to law enforcement and can be linked to you. Ways to protect yourself: 1. Use common sense about what method you are using for what type of communication. 2. Talk face to face instead of cell phones or the internet. Be particularly careful about what you communicate through social networking systems. 4. Your cell phone knows everything about you. All cell phones store information about you and who you know that can be accessed by law enforcement. Smart phones have GPS that can transmit your location even when they are off. 5. Use encryption technology for messages you send and data on your computer. 6. If you don't want it to be out there write on paper. There's no way to be sure anything is totally deleted so be careful what you enter into a computer or any other device. Don't be scared to use technologies in organizing. Just make sure you are thoughtful in how you use them. Being prepared for the worst: It is always better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best. If you have a worse case scenario plan already in place you will be better able to deal with the stress of arrest or detention. As a ally this is an area where you can make a huge difference. Make a folder that includes the list below. Keep several copies in safe spaces not in your house. Ideally places you think are low risk targets. A lawyers office, safe deposit box, non-activist friend's house etc. Include in the folder: 1. A list of people who need to be contacted immediately if you are arrested or detained: Include a lawyer who you trust who can either provide legal aid or put you in touch with someone who can. 2. A plan for your children/dependents: (Both people and pets) THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAN TO HAVE IN PLACE. You may need have 2 sets of people. A local set who can provide immediately for children/dependents while the people who will provide long term care can get to town. A lawyer can help you write up a document that will set these people in stone and make sure that if you are arrested/detained your children/dependents are able to stay with the people you choose. MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS/DEPENDENTS KNOW YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM. Even if they don't know about your activism, it's important for them to understand that no matter what they will be looked after by people you trust. 3. A list of people on your support team: This may include people who don't need to be immediately contacted but who will help provide support while you are arrested/detained. 4. Potential sources for monetary support: Legal fees can sky-rocket and if you are imprisoned you will still need money, as will your family and any dependents. Come up with a preliminary list of people and organizations that can help you on this front. 5. Other things that must happen: What else needs to happen if you are detained? Think about things from the mundane to the vital: Do your plants need to be watered? Landlord and boss need to be contacted? Unsympathetic family members told what happened-and who should do it? Anything else that needs to be done and the time frame in which it should happen.