Never Trust a Cop: #OccupyYerRights | Mickey Z.

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Mar. 12, 2012 -- 13 Magic Words: “I am going to remain silent. I would like to see a lawyer.”

It was at an International Women's Day celebration at Liberty Square/Zuccotti Park on March 10 that I was handed a copy of The Dissident's Survival Guide: A field manual to encounters with law enforcement, corporate security, and other hazards, and ended up in a long and important conversation with someone from the Anti-Repression Committee of OWS Activist Legal Working Group.

I knew immediately that I had to write an article that -- at the very least -- scratched the surface of the ubiquitous threat of police tyranny and trickery. We must learn from the past (e.g. COINTELPRO) and stand united and disciplined as law enforcement types ramp up their aggressive, oppressive, and repressive techniques.

We must learn how to answer this question: What do you do when the gang wears blue?

The pamphlet I mentioned above offers valuable -- crucial -- information on a wide range of legal issues and serves as a persuasive reminder of what we are up against. Never forget, law enforcement agents are trained to deceive you. They are schooled in tactics like good cop/bad cop, telling you your comrades sold you out, threatening you, "be-friending" you, and tricking you into not remaining silent.

Mic Check: If you are detained and searched, do not remain silent. Silence is consent. State clearly: "I do not consent to this search." Then, refer back to the 13 magic words: “I am going to remain silent. I would like to see a lawyer.” If you do slip up and speak after saying the magic words, be sure to re-state them as soon as possible.

"When you're in custody, once you say I am going to remain silent. I would like to see a lawyer, the police are not allowed to question you -- but you actually have to remain silent," explains Katya Komisaruk. "You can't talk to the police about anything, not the weather or sports or movies ... Don't make small talk. Don't make jokes. Silent really means silent."

Mic Check: Cops, judges, and lawyers are trained to deal with situations like police stops, arrests, and other legal proceedings while most of us live in a bubble of TV-induced misperceptions. There is so much to know and so many mistakes to be avoided that nobody can afford the luxury of not learning these ropes.

As the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) explains: "Federal law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have a dark history of targeting radical and progressive movements. Some of the dirty tricks they use against these movements include: the infiltration of organizations to discredit and disrupt their operations; campaigns of misinformation and false stories in the media; forgery of correspondence; fabrication of evidence; and the use of grand jury subpoenas to intimidate activists."

However, in the face of such nefarious tactics, we must also make certain a widespread and growing movement is not paralyzed by po-po paranoia. How? Good start: #SolidarityKillsFear

Also: Choose your battles wisely.

While it may feel powerful -- natural, even -- to defy all authority at every turn, consider the potential ramifications of such behavior within an inherently repressive system.

From The Dissident's Survival Guide: "Do your best to minimize unplanned contact with law enforcement .... Jumping a turnstile, smoking weed, or shoplifting may feel like everyday ways to subvert ... but getting arrested for this kind of relatively minor violation can seriously undermine your more important work and lead to increased monitoring of your political activities."

Dylan once wrote: "To live outside the law, you must be honest." To that I'd add, you must also be disciplined and strategic (among a few other attributes).

Mic Check: Work in tight solidarity within your trusted community and don’t discuss actions with those who don't need to know such details. Learn more about using mobile technology in a safer way.

Perhaps most important of all, support your allies and ensure that no one in your circle is marginalized and that all within your group understand the obligations of solidarity.

Such unity and trust among occupants can and will serve as a bulwark against inevitable and insidious law enforcement devices. Once we have reached that point, another world is truly possible.

We are the 99%. Expect us. Join us…

#NeverTrustACop. #OccupyYerRights. #SolidarityKillsFear.

RESOURCES:

• For more crucial advice from the CCR, download their booklet, If An Agent Knocks, read and share widely.
• For a copy of The Dissident's Survival Guide: A field manual to encounters with law enforcement, corporate security, and other hazards, contact the Anti-Repression Committee of OWS Activist Legal Working Group.

If you need specific legal advice:

• National Lawyers Guild: 212-679-6018.
• Center for Constitutional Rights: 212-614-6464.
• Just Cause Law Collective: 510-396-8427.
• NYCLU: 212-607-3300.
• ACLU: 212-549-2500.

Suggested reading: Beat the Heat: How to Handle Encounters With Law Enforcement, by Katya Komisaruk.

Upcoming Mickey Z. event: Let's welcome the American Spring in NYC on March 23.

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Mickey Z. is the author of 11 books, most recently the novel Darker Shade of Green. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, he can be found on an obscure website called Facebook.

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