Organising support for arrestees

At times, risking arrest may be a planned part of our action: in other situations we may deeply desire to avoid it. Nevertheless, activists get arrested. Planning, preparation, support and solidarity can help us protect each other and continue to build our movement.

Have a solidarity strategy

• Solidarity refers to how you act together in the face of oppression to strengthen and build your movement.

• Some jail solidarity strategies and court solidarity strategies involve using the strength of numbers to pressure the system into assuring equal treatment for all, and into accepting demands that they reduce or drop charges. Activists have employed a variety of tactics to ensure that the police keep them in jail, where they cost the system the most money and trouble. Activists arrested in certain actions have also all pleaded not guilty so as to clog the court system.

• These strategies require planning, preparation, and the commitment that arises from the group's decision making process. They work well in situations where there is some social restraint on police brutality, and when people's differing needs and life circumstances are respected.

• Guilt free solidarity can empower the people who take part in it: but it is also exercised at a cost. Even in the US and Canada, [and Australia] political prisoners have been brutalised, tortured and even killed. Regular prisoners face these dangers every day.

• In countries and situations where there is less restraint on the police, where people are being severely beaten, brutalised, or potentially murdered in jail, solidarity may best be exercised by putting pressure on the system from outside.

Plan for the possibility of arrests

• Ideally, have a legal support team in place, with lawyers and legal workers trained to understand the principles of solidarity. At the very least, know some lawyers you can call on for emergency help.

• Inform people. Trainings and preparations should include basic legal and jail information. Legal briefings can be offered before the action. Handouts with basic information and phone numbers can be available at the action.

• Know what your solidarity strategy is, and include information about it in trainings and preparations.

• Know who your political allies are that you can call on for support. Unions, NGOs, sympathetic politicians, religious groups and progressive mayors may not be willing to go out on the streets with you, but are often willing to help get people out of jail, or to pressure authorities to provide decent treatment.

Use the Legal Support Person Info Sheet

Practical support structure

Before going to an action where arrest is a possibility, each person, or each affinity group, should arrange a home support person who expects a call at an agreed time. If that call is not made, they will assume their action buddy has been arrested, and will begin to mobilise support. They should have full information on each person they're supporting, including passport numbers or driver's licence numbers, social security status, health issues, outstanding legal issues, etc. This is a great way to involve people who cannot do an action due to home commitments, age, physical challenges, or simply fear. Have that number memorised. It might also be good to have a second, fallback number.

Have a general support number that people can call to report information about who has been arrested, how people are being treated, etc. Ideally, have two. Make them separate from the number for the lawyers themselves this phone needs to be kept free as much as possible in case people call from jail. Memorise the general support number or write it on your arm in indelible ink before the action.

Ideally, have another number that friends and relatives outside of jail can call for information. Make sure support people have it and are also in contact with each other.

As soon as you are arrested, begin to extend your network of support to those who did not plan on arrest. On the bus, in holding cells, in jail itself, offer moral support, practical support, and basic information on legal rights and on strategy.

In jail, collect as much information as you can about who has been arrested. If you are allowed to make phone calls, the first person who calls should convey as much of that information to those outside as they possibly can. Remember, calls can be cut off at any time. And expect all calls to be monitored by the authorities.

It's generally easiest to reach your personal support people from jail and give them the information to pass on to the Legal Support Team, which may be busy or even blocked. But have both.

What support people can do

• Make the authorities aware that they are being scrutinised! Call or appear in person to demand information about specific prisoners. Knowing that someone will do this for you will help you avoid panic and despair.

• Mobilise political support: This is your best protection in jail!

• Call, write letters, send faxes and emails to jail authorities, police authorities, politicians, etc.

• Mobilise others to do the same. Start close to home, with the politicians' own constituencies.

• Through the internet, it's easy to mobilise international pressure. Be sure the phone numbers, fax numbers and emails you provide work internationally.

• Conduct a vigil at the jail itself.

• Inform the media. Call a press conference, give interviews, talk on the radio, arrange interviews of released prisoners, write letters to the editor. If the general media won't cover the issue, contact Indymedia at http://melbourne.indymedia.org/

• Organise support demonstrations at home, at embassies abroad, at government offices, etc.

• Contact people who might have influence with the authorities. Is your aunt's second cousin a government minister?

• Call on your political allies and enlist their help and support.

• Contact international organisations such as Amnesty International.

• Mount legal challenges.

Support for the needs of prisoners

Providing supporting for the needs of prisoners may include:

• Arranging legal defence and raising money.

• Calling a prisoner's family, friends, job, school, etc.

• Feeding cats, walking dogs, caring for children, paying overdue bills, etc.

• Arranging for visits by chaplains or for religious services. (In jail even the most hard-core atheist will welcome these as a diversion!)

• If prisoners are in for a long time, supporters may visit, write letters, post money in prisoners' jail accounts so they can buy supplies at the commissary, etc. as the situation allows.

• Being there to pick them up, greet them, feed them and provide comfort when they get out.

• Arranging medical care if needed.

• Providing emotional support, counselling, and help in debriefing afterwards.

• Remembering to support people who have been unexpectedly arrested.

See Prisons and Lock-ups for more information.