Crowd Management and Civil Disobedience

Submitted by Sue Basko on

Sue Basko's picture

Crowd Management and Civil Disobedience

by Sue Basko

 

Back in 2003,  police in some major California counties and cities used this manual to learn how to respond to civil disobedience (an unlawful event with a demonstration), unlawful assemblies, and riots.   The booklet is a little old, but it is still useful to see how these things are planned.   Actually, this is golden, and anyone planning to run or participate in a big protest in California should read it.

 

 

Topics include chemical agents, dispersal orders, and use of force.  The booklet also gives a very comprehensive list of Penal Code sections that are often used in crowd or riot situations, which includes the now infamous Lynching section.  

 

Needless to say but I am saying it anyway, recent video out of the Oakland and San Francisco areas show police whacking people with bully clubs just because they can, and firing weapons at people who are standing around doing nothing.  Someone sign them up for a course in crowd management, please.  The West Coast is starting to look way too much like a scene out of a despot-run nation.  

 

Protesters should also learn from these booklets that if they want to avoid turning demonstrations into  meaningless "police vs protesters"dramas, they can actually conduct protests in such a way that they follow the law.  Imagine that!  Being peaceful and law-abiding does not give the same adrenaline rush as starting things on fire or laying down in traffic, but it might be more effective protest.  It is normal boring people who are usually in positions of power to change things, so you may want to appeal to their sensibilities.

 

For more information about what police do in protest situations, please see:

 

Anonymous vs PERF, where you can download the PERF report.  

This gives useful information on police best practices nationwide.

 

Detailed, comprehensive, well-written.   A must-read for the protest planner. 

 

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16 Comments

Thank you Sue! I am all for

Submitted by lizsavage on

Thank you Sue! I am all for civil disobdience when it is done in a safe and rational manner. Some CD is illegal, however, it really isn't as these codes they put into place are technically violations of our rights to free speech. Like curfews at the park and city hall west steps... Did you know free speech ends at 10:30 PM in Los Angeles? lol

I am opposed to people who try to talk protesters into ideas that are destructive and dangerous. Esp those who seem so willing to give up other peoples freedoms, but never their own.

What really concerns me is those trying to turn this movement into a battle with police. That is not why I came here, or who I came here to fight. Another thing that concerns me is that the police are using military style force against us, when we have done nothing to deserve it. That isn't how you prevent a riot, its how you create one.

One of our rather passionate protestors has been arrested, tackled off a bike and arrested again, and now shot with "non lethal" weapons. Bikes are allowed in the street here in LA, and I thought we were allowed to speak our minds and voice our opinions. Why are protesters being shot at for doing so, why are the Police coming out in riot gear, when we have no weapons, and are non-violent?

OLA has offered a lot of CD classes, and Non Violence training since the beginning. Doing CD doesnt have to put anyone in danger, however with the state of our country, I think its important for those who partake in CD to choose their battles wisely, as the world is quickly becoming and ugly place for political protesters.

This is an autonomous movement, what you choose to do is on you, however we have to educate others, and ask everyone is the amount of force used against us to "surpress us" really neccesary?

My words represent myself and not Occupy Los Angeles. @lizsavage on Twitter

15 years in prison

Submitted by frankc on

This is a summary of the trial of Gregory Brice who was convicted of all 14 counts,according to the court person, for his involvement in the N17 march on Bank of America. He was sentenced this morning around 10:45am.The sentence will be made public when the paperwork is complete. Others may know how to find out now. He was facing a maximum of 15 years. People vs Brice  1ca16940-01 Brice came up a hill behind the police line where an officer in charge was standing. He yelled at the officer asking why all the police,200 in riot gear, for a peaceful march.The officer told him to move back, more words were spoken and then the officer stabbed him two different times in the chestwith his baton.That was followed by the officer grabbing him in an attempt to arrest and then a total of seven more officers jumped on Brice.The final argument, by the amazing public defender, convinced me that Mr. Brice was not guilty and that this was a case of police brutality.I hope an appeal can be made. I found out about his trial because a court person told me he thought there was another occupy case in the court on a day when I was there for another case.I do not know Brice.

Hmmm curious to know who this

Submitted by lizsavage on

Hmmm curious to know who this person is... as I know a few who got arrested outside the protest, and one supposedly there was video of the arrest, but I was never given it. I had photos I had found, and it seemed to be two violent arrests, but there were very few eyewitnesses willing to say anything.I wonder if this was one of the two I know.

My words represent myself and not Occupy Los Angeles. @lizsavage on Twitter

Gregory Brice

Submitted by frankc on

It might be ,Liz. Gregory is about 5'10",thin build and brown hair with a mustache and goatee. He came up the grass hill behind a column of police.He push aside a security guard that told him that he had to enter from another side to the bank and he was followed by other protesters.The Judge seemed to be a fair judge so I hope he gave him a break in sentencing.I couldn't go to court until 1:30 today so I missed the sentencing and Friday afternoon I was assured the verdict would be on Monday and apparently it happen on Friday right after I left.This arrest could have happened to anyone. There is a history that whenever a group of police jump on a suspect the victim is charged with assault. Those seven officers were never put on the stand for cross exam by the defense. The defense did not request these officers because it is the prosecutions responsibility to prove their case.

Sue Basko's picture

Jason Gregory Brice - sentence 365 days

Submitted by Sue Basko on

Hi, I just looked up the court record.  his name is Jason Gregory Brice and it says a sentence of 365 days.   It looks as if there might still be another case pending or not yet sentenced. YES - I looked again and it looks like he has another court date tomorrow on a different case.

LIZ - I want to explain something.  "Civil disobedience" at least under the law, ALWAYS means doing something illegal.  The illegal thing does not have to be violent or dangerous - but still illegal.

Bikes - I have been shocked by the police attacks against bikes. When I read the police booklet linked to the post, I saw that  police think of bikes as being used for reconnaissance and supplies.  I have seen video from Oakland and from NYC where police intentionally grabbed  a bike and threw the rider to the ground, causing serious injuries.  It terrifies me.

Sue Basko, Lawyer

OCCUPY PEACE - Legal Info on How to Hold a Peaceful Protest or Occupation

 

frankc

Submitted by frankc on

Sue, can you post the court information. I was at his trial every day until last friday when I left at noon. The PD never mentioned another case. There was another person arrested in that same area but I don't have info on that.Brice has been in jail since nov 17th and with overcrowding he may not have that much time to serve. He was facing a maximum of 15 years according to his PD. Thanks for the info.

Brice

Submitted by frankc on

There is a 20 year old brice that has been released.The 31 year old Brice had a court date yeaterday and has another today. This seems to be the right guy except that the booking date is 11/27/2011. The arrest date was the 17th ,so it must has taken over a week to come up with the 14 counts.I will call the court, div 52, tel # 213-974-6057 after 1:30. The court clerk did not tell me about a new or additional date when I called on the 23rd.

site info

Submitted by frankc on

Thanks Sue. The information is correct for the Brice who is 31 years old. I talked to the Court clerk and he said that Mondays sentence was for 365 days. Today was a plea-bargain on the second case that was ,I believe ,190 days and the previous 365 days was removed as part of the plea.His total is now 190 days and he has been in jail since November 17th.These Jurors are frightening in all cases I have been at. Thank God for the Judge in div 52, he seems to be fair. When I was at West Covina, the attorney was threatened with contempt for violating his pre-trial rules that there would be no mention of 1st amendments rights, etc. I thought this brilliant Public Defender was going to jail because she told him earlier in the trial that first they denied her client his 1st amendment rights and now he wanted to do the same to her.The Attorney in the Brice trial's closing statement was so passionate saying that look at what is happening in these court rooms. Our way of of life in our country is in jeopardy. It was something like that. She was also brilliant.

Sue Basko's picture

Sound like a brilliant Public Defender!

Submitted by Sue Basko on

Do you remember the name of the Public Defender?  If so, please let me know/ others know because people facing the trials are scared.  if they know the name of a good PD, it may help.  Very few protesters can pay for a private lawyer.

I may be wrong but -- if he has 190 day sentence -- and since he has been in for about over 2 months, and since it sounds like most people in LA County jails do about 1/10 of their time -- then he should be out very soon.  Thank goodness.  The LA County Jails sound like hellholes!

That was absolutely brilliant of the PD to bargain away the first sentence in the second plea deal.  The man still has 2 serious convictions.  If he gets a third arrest, he may be facing the 3 strikes Life In Prison California law.  It is my understanding that there is a protester in Oakland facing life in prison on a 3 strikes.

I say -- Conduct your protests peacefully and legally.  Don't get arrested.  it is just plain not worth it.

Sue Basko, Lawyer

OCCUPY PEACE - Legal Info on How to Hold a Peaceful Protest or Occupation

 

Brillant Attorneys

Submitted by frankc on

Thanks ,Sue. The County Jail is horrible, especially CJ. The Public Defenders have a group of top rated Attorneys that volunteer for these Occupy Cases. They also are the ones that deal with serious cases , like murder, and are needed at those trials.Brice's Attorney was not from that group and I hope to see her on Feb 9th if she is in div 52 so I can tell her just how great she was.The other Attorney is part of the group that volunteers for occupy cases because they are passionate  for 1st amendment rights and social issues. These Attorneys need to be thanked, whether they win the cases or not. They truly contribute to the Occupy Movement.

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