Learnings from the Anarchists

To protect your eyes and lungs from tear gas, get a gas mask with shatter-proof lenses. US M17 masks are good. Less obvious and cheaper than a gas mask is a bandana soaked in vinegar – or even carrying around a fresh lime with a hole in it so you can re-soak your banana in lime juice! Always have back-up and pre-soaked bandanas in a zip-lock bag. Just apply it to your mouth to breathe through when tear-gas starts coming at you.If you want to have armor of some type for defense, you can do-it-yourself.

An outer hard layer of cardboard or plastic with a soft inner shell of foam works well,bonded with duct-tape. However, it most important to cover your most easily damaged parts – your joints and necks. Joints can be covered in foam and then duck tape, and with padded gloves to defend your fingers. A rubber glove over the top of that will allow you to pick up hot tear gas canisters and throw them back.

Your neck can be defended in the back some hard shell that is connected to a helmet, or a scarf. Your head is definitely you’re the part of your body that needs the most
defense. Bicycle helmets are light but don’t protect the back of your head or face, so something like a football helmet (mask removed) or motorcycle helmet works well. Hardhats and hockey masks are cheaper – just make sure to attach with sturdy elastic.

Marching Tactics

Marches should have a clear starting point and an ending point. Marches can also be used as launches for more sketchy activity such as “break-away marches” to commence some direct action or Reclaim the Streets. Marches usually require tough banners, and these banners can be some of your best defense against police assaults while giving your march cohesion. Banners can be tough if they are made out of vinyl, not cloth or paper – and should be painted well in advance so the paint is dry. Banners linked with thick PVC piping (of at least in inch thickness on the top), available from any hardware store, can provide backbone that won’t break easily under police assault. PVC piping can be segmented and combined with various types of joints to make open square banners also. Tall banners (with eye slits or scouts) will defend you against projectiles such as rubber bullets but lower ones allow you to see where you’re going. Banners on the side are also important to protect the
flank, and since the police usually also come from behind back banners or puppets are useful. Flags with PVC poles also work well, and can be used defensively to poke the toes of oncoming opponents. Use banners to defend yourself against cops and their chemical attacks! …source Action Direct Manual – Sections HERE