[IPSM] Heads up: Cops visiting Ottawa activists

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

i realize that this isn't indigenous solidarity related, but felt it was
important enough to send out anyway.

Heads up: Cops visiting Ottawa activists

on thursday morning, an ottawa-area activist was visited at their home by
two plainclothes police who said they were rcmp from out-of-town

the previous night, after a public event on diversity of tactics, some
activists present suspected the event was under surveillance when men in a
white van were seen watching from outside the venue

so perhaps more people will be visited in the future? we've seen these kinds
of strategies before, most recently in the lead up to the olympics in
vancouver, where activists involved in anti-olympics organizing were
visited, followed, and surveilled.

the visits are surely intended to gather intelligence and to intimidate.

ottawa activists should be aware that this is going on. learn how to protect
yourself, don't let yourself be tricked. guidelines on how to deal with
police visits are posted on the anti-G8/G20 mobilization website,
attacktheroots.net: http://www.attacktheroots.net/node/38


during such a visit, they may say that they are there to help you and your
group/cause, trying to secure real information which they can distribute to
others (cops and non) who may be less appreciative or understanding of what
you are doing than they, the visitors, are

they may say they are supportive of your cause, they know you're not out to
do anything bad, they believe that the progressive victories in our society
are in large part due to the kind of work you and others are doing and have
done

they tell you they're dressed in plainclothes, no official car, so that
people won't see you speaking with the police and think that you're stabbing
the movement in the back

they may ask you to go for coffee or meet in some other way

they may assure you that they do talk with other activists and that there is
no unofficial 'activist policy' to not speak to the police

they may mention pieces of your personal information, just so you know they
know more about you than they should

they may speak to your interests - the importance of unions, the problems of
corporate media, whatever moves you/them

they say they want to help you in what you're trying to do and that good
communication and communication channels will benefit all involved

they may tell you about their personal convictions, their background, how
they agree with your values and about instances of their work where they are
modeling these values

they may be gathering intelligence through observation of you, your
behaviour, anything you might say - even if you try and keep quiet

they may be intimidating (but probably not explicitly, they're probably
trying to come across as friendly and an ally)

they may not even directly mention the upcoming G8/G20 summit/protests

again, see the info/advice posted on
http://www.attacktheroots.net/node/38<http://www.attacktheroots.net/node/38>