Mr.Kraken’s Field Manual for the Modern Dissenter

How to Keep Your Eyes Clear, Your Feet Moving, and Your Ass Off a Watchlist

So. You’re protesting. Maybe for the first time, maybe the fiftieth. Either way: love that for you. Get out there and make yourself heard. This little field manual isn’t about vibes, it’s about not getting wrecked by the ever-creative arsenal of your friendly neighbourhood arm of state sponsored violence.

We’re talking tear gas, rubber bullets, sound cannons, drones, horses (yes, actual horses), and more. But here’s the good news: you don’t need military-grade gear. You need smart layering, a good grip, and maybe your roommate’s baking soda.

This guide walks you through how to defend yourself using common stuff - like the kind of gear you could throw in a tote bag and bounce in under five minutes. No cosplay. No cringe. Just street-tested tactics drawn from the last half-century of civil disobedience around the globe.

I. Chemical Irritants: Tear Gas & Pepper Spray

What Happens

Your eyes sting, your throat burns, you cry like you just watched a sad dog movie. It sucks. But it’s survivable.

Your Moves

• Swim Goggles or Lab Specs – Use tight-fitting goggles that fully seal around your eyes. Avoid anything with vents—those let gas in. Test the seal at home by wearing them in the shower. If no water gets in, you're golden.
• Damp Bandana + Baking Soda – Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into 1 cup of water. Soak a clean bandana or dish towel in it, wring it out slightly, and tie it over your nose and mouth. It helps neutralise the acidity in tear gas and pepper spray. Don’t breathe through it too hard—it’s just a buffer, not a filtration system.
• Traffic Cone + Water – If a tear gas canister lands near you and you’re feeling brave: drop a plastic traffic cone over it, open end down. Pour water into the small top hole. The water cools and suppresses gas output. This only works if you move fast and use gloves or a jacket to protect your hands. Co-ordinated teams of two kept smoke and tear gas well under control in Hong Kong.
• Oven Mitts / Gardening Gloves – Use these to handle tear gas canisters safely. Canisters are metal and reach up to 400°F (200°C). Leather gloves or heavy silicone kitchen mitts will keep your fingers unburnt.
• Saline or Antacid Rinse – Carry a small squeeze bottle filled with saline solution or a 50/50 mix of water and liquid antacid (like Maalox). Use this to rinse eyes or skin after exposure. Do NOT rub your eyes. Blink rapidly to help wash out irritants.
• Umbrella – Hold it open in front of your body to block incoming gas or spray. Tilt it downward slightly when facing a police line to create a visual barrier. Bonus: it also shields against rubber bullets and cameras and can be used to create a non-aggressive buffer zone between you and the swinging fists of the state.

This Worked For:

• Hong Kong protesters in 2019 mastered the traffic cone + water tactic. The umbrella became a literal icon.

II. Brute Force: Batons, Rubber Bullets, Beanbags

What Happens

Police charge. You get shoved. Someone throws a can. A rubber bullet ricochets off a stop sign and clocks you in the thigh. Cute.

Your Moves

• Bike/Skate Helmet – Use one that fits snugly and has a strap you can tighten. Skater helmets (like Triple 8 or Pro-Tec) offer side and back protection, not just the top. Stick some foam inside for added shock absorption.
• Hoodie + Denim Jacket – Wear a thick hoodie under a jean jacket. If you're expecting heavy police presence, tape a small paperback book or folded towel over your ribs under the hoodie. It cushions hits without making you look like Iron Man.
• Work Gloves – Leather (like for welding) or construction gloves let you grab fences, protect against broken glass, and help you move safely. Also useful for holding onto a protest buddy when things get chaotic.
• Stuffed Backpack – Use a small or medium-sized backpack filled with soft but dense stuff—like clothes, towels or your protest gear. This acts as a makeshift backplate. Place heavier items (like a water bottle) toward the bottom for balance.
• Tray/Bin Lid/Skateboard Deck – Use both hands to grip a lid or tray in front of your torso to absorb baton strikes. A plastic sled or old boogie board also works in a pinch, though can be unwieldy in a crush. Duct-tape a handle on the back if you have time.

This Worked For:

• Maidan Square protestors used wood and scrap metal to block rubber bullets. You can do the same with trash can lids and a little boldness.

III. Water Cannons

What Happens

You get blasted. You get wet. Sometimes you get hit with chemically spiked dye water and look like a rave gone wrong.

Your Moves

• Rain Poncho / Bin Liner with Arm Holes – Take a large bin liner (55 gallon), cut holes for your head and arms, and wear it over your clothing. Layer with a hoodie underneath. If you're expecting chemical dye, wear old clothes you don’t mind ditching.
• Goggles (Again) – Chemical dye water or water infused with capsaicin (pepper) can still burn eyes. A sealed pair of swim goggles helps prevent temporary blindness.
• Umbrella (Still) – Point it downward, toward the stream. If you’re in a group, form a line of umbrellas side-by-side to absorb water and create a shield wall.

This Worked For:

• Gezi Park, 2013. Protesters used household furniture to jam water cannon trucks. People also flipped shopping carts and filled them with debris.

IV. Flash-Bangs & Sound Cannons

What Happens

Big bang. Screaming ears. Panic. You forget how to walk in a straight line.

Your Moves

• Earplugs or Big-Ass Headphones – Use foam earplugs (available at drugstores) or shooting range earmuffs to reduce the decibel shock. Insert earplugs before things escalate—don’t wait for the first bang.
• Sunglasses / Tinted Goggles – Use wraparound glasses or ski goggles with a tint. These reduce the brightness of flash-bangs and help block small debris. Polarised lenses help with visibility in glare.

This Worked For:

• During Standing Rock and G20 protests, earplugs and goggles were standard gear for frontliners. Protect your senses.

V. Horses and Vehicles

What Happens

Cops roll up on horses or SUVs. People panic. Shouting. Scrambling. You do not want to get trampled by either.

Your Moves

• Whistle – Clip one to your backpack or hang around your neck. Blow short, sharp blasts to warn others of incoming charges or speeding vehicles.
• Sidewalk Chalk – Mark safe exits, turnarounds, or places to regroup. If a known kettle zone exists, write it on the pavement. Useful for navigating when adrenaline kicks in and memory disappears.
• Good Shoes – Wear lightweight, lace-up sneakers with a solid tread. Avoid sandals, boots with heels, or anything you can’t sprint in.

This Worked For:

• Protesters in Belarus sat down en masse when police on horseback advanced. It stopped the charge cold. You can’t trample what doesn’t run.

VI. Surveillance

What Happens

You are being watched. By CCTV, drones, livestreamers, and unmarked police cameras. Facial recognition doesn’t care about your angles.

Your Moves

• Scarf / Mask / Hoodie Combo – Use a plain black or patterned mask that covers your nose and mouth. Combine it with a hoodie and hat to hide your head shape. Tuck your hair in. No logos. Change clothes if you’re being followed.
• Laser Pointer – Green lasers with high lumens can dazzle CCTV lenses or drone cameras. DO NOT shine them at human eyes or police—it’s illegal and dangerous. Use short pulses. Never hold steady.
• Foil-Lined Pouch or Cookie Tin – Wrap your phone in two layers of aluminium foil or store it in a steel cookie tin. This blocks most signals. Turn on airplane mode too. Bonus if you remove the SIM card or use a burner.
• Use Offline or Encrypted Tools – Use apps like Signal with disappearing messages for communication. For live coordination when cell networks go down, use AirDrop or Bluetooth-based apps like Bridgefy. Do not rely on Facebook groups or public Discords.

This Worked For:

• Hong Kong protesters used cookie tins, laser walls, and black umbrellas to confound surveillance. You don’t need to be Snowden—you just need to be annoying.

VII. Kettling & Arrest

What Happens

They box you in. You can’t leave. Then the arrests start. And they’ll take hours to get to you.

Your Moves

• Sharpie on Your Arm – Write the number of a legal support hotline or trusted lawyer. Use black, waterproof ink. Test it before you leave.
• Snack + Water – Bring a high-calorie snack that won’t melt (like trail mix or a granola bar) and a 1L water bottle. It’s enough to stay hydrated and rinse your face or eyes if needed. Anything bigger gets heavy. Eat small bites. Stay hydrated.
• Buddy System – Pick one person to check in with every 10–15 minutes. If you get kettled, stick together. If one of you gets arrested, the other contacts legal support. Hold on to each other physically if things go sideways.

This Worked For:

• Hong Kong’s “Be Water” model: constant movement, breaking up, reforming later. It kept kettling attempts from working.

VIII. Flip the Script

What Happens

They expect you to panic. You stay calm. You record. You go viral. You win the narrative.

Your Moves

• Phone (Airplane Mode) – Film misconduct from a distance. Don’t film fellow protesters’ faces. Blur footage before uploading. Use Signal or encrypted backups to store files.
• Power Bank – Keep your phone charged. Use a battery pack with at least 5,000 mAh. Put it in an inside pocket to avoid snatch-and-grabs.
• Livestream Strategically – Livestream to a remote buddy who’s watching. Don’t broadcast your exact location or strategy in real time. Narrate with caution.
• Use Legal Pressure – After the protest, use FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests to uncover surveillance plans or deployment logs. Document and share. File civil complaints for abuse of power, especially if injuries or detainment occurred.
• Weaponise Reporting – If you spot unmarked ICE agents or other federal snatch squads, call 911 and report "armed, masked men detaining people without identification." Describe visible tattoos, clothing, license plates, or vehicle types. Frame the call in terms of public safety, not ideology.

This Worked For:

• Black Lives Matter, Arab Spring, Standing Rock. Video documentation changed the public conversation. But only when it protected the people in it.

Fast Pack Checklist

• [ ] Umbrella – Defence, camera block, impromptu group shelter
• [ ] Swim Goggles – Protect eyes from gas, water, flash-bangs
• [ ] Scarf/Bandana – Filter gas, hide your face, mop up messes
• [ ] Bike Helmet – Brain protection, bonus intimidation points
• [ ] Gloves – Hot canisters, fences, first aid
• [ ] Layered Clothing – Padding, ID hiding, dramatic flair
• [ ] Backpack (Stuffed) – Protection + snack carrier. Include a 1L water bottle—enough to stay hydrated and rinse your face if needed.
• [ ] Sharpie + Notepad – Write a legal aid or lawyer's number on your arm before heading out. Use the notepad to record badge numbers, names, or vehicle details if anything goes down.
• [ ] Phone in Tin or Faraday Pouch – Communication, documentation
• [ ] Whistle – Signal and ward against horse or vehicle-based encounters

Final Notes

You don’t have to be fearless. Just prepared and co-ordinated. Get your kit together, stick to your buddy, know your exit routes, and remember: no one’s going to hand you change - you have to show up for it. You’re all in this together, and apes together STRONG. Damn the man.

And yeah, definitely bring snacks.

1. Pack light. Move smart. Be water.
2. Don’t give them what they want. Resist, don’t retaliate.
3. Stay safe out there.

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/8664337

Scrappy Capy Distro has released the first issue of Harbour, an anarchist literary journal. It has 7 pieces from 6 authors, poets, and artists. You can download it for free online, or get it on paper if you happen to live in Berlin and know the anarchist scene there.

Full Disclosure: one of those authors is me! My story Fair Game is the first prose story in this edition (on page 3 on both versions of the PDF). I'm very excited that they accepted it, especially because that means I can start posting a related comic/art project I’ve been working on in the background for several months.

In the beginning of the journal the editors say this on the subject of fiction:

Traveling to some anarchist book fairs, we noticed that most of the tables were filled with theory and there was very little fiction. This edition, and future ones, is an attempt to remedy this.

Theory is often placed above fiction as more important and serious, but we believe that fiction deserves just as much space. Not all critique of the world has to offer a complete or even partial alternative to the existent, but when we fail to tell a narrative of what possible anarchist futures could look like, it can be very hard to entice others away from the pull of capitalism.

If there ever were some collapse or successful insurrection, ideologies whose ideas were most digestible or had been most widely spread would win out. Following such change, we don’t want things to return to the way they were. We want anarchist ideas to ripple out across the populace, for them to be something easy for others to play with and understand. Stories are one way to do this.

We want to make a space — a space to imagine, a space to vent, where ideas from many different places can come together, a place where we can then leave with these ideas, to pass them on.

A harbour is a place from which to venture out.

I think there's a ton of overlap between that and solarpunk in general, and the ability to show positive, attainable futures, and to demonstrate the lived experience of those better worlds, how they work, is a big part of what draws me to the genre. Hopefully I'll have a more solarpunk story for them in the future.

Speaking of which, if you have a vision of the future you want to share, they're already planning for their Fall 2024 (Issue 2). Submissions will be open from September 1st to 30th: https://en.scrappycapydistro.info/submissions

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/1206079

you should never purchase meat. but always steal it. kleptitarians steal all their food. when it suits them they steal food that results from harm to animals and the environment such as meat.

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