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LOCK
BOLOGNA
11.3. ABENDS
öffentliche Blockadeworkshops
Termine auf der Rückseite und auf bolognaburns.org
46 Bildungsminister*innen laden zum Sektempfang
in die Wiener Hofburg und wollen zum
10-jährigen Jubiläum des Bologna-Prozesses
eine katrastrophale Hochschulreform feiern!
bolognaburns.org bologna.uniwien@unsereuni.at
Civil Disobediance
Method
Sanction
In Österreich gibt es kein Recht auf zivilen Ungehorsam, aber auch keinen
Straftatsbestand des zivilen Ungehorsams. Bestraft wird die jeweilig begangene
Verwaltungs/Straf- Übertretung (z.B. bei Sitzblockade auf der Straße ein Verstoß
Ingegen die there
Austria, Straßenverkehrsordnung, in der Regel mit
is no right to civil disobediance, but50-70
also Euro Verwaltungsstrafe
no element of crime of
geahndet).
civil disobediance. Only the respective administratory offence will be punished
(e.g. the violation of read traffic regulations through a sitting blockade, which will
be fined with app. 50-70 EUR).
De-escalation
There will be no aggression against the police from our side. Our tool of
action is that of civil disobedience using sit-in blockades. We will not res-
pond to confrontation with the police and will only peacefully try to reach
the blockade points.
Mass blockades
Our blockades are public, human and en masse. We will not carry mate-
rial suitable for blocking roads. Our only tools of deployment will be our
bodies.
Transparency/Solidarity
Our action is a collective one. We will try to reach our goals in soli-
darity and in accordance with the action consensus. For the public
we remain as Block Bologna, but are in solidarity with other forms of
action.
Formulation of Goals
Our human mass blockades are intended to disposess the Bologna Sum-
mit held in the Hofburg of any public legitimisation. The idea of congesting
the streets is intended to show the participants of the summit what it me-
ans to be confronted with entry restrictions.
Co-ordination
Every blockade is bound to the action consensus and apart from that is
acting under it‘s own authority. Decisions are being made by delegates
from working groups in general assemblies. The coordination is collecting
information and is passing it on. It makes no decisions!
Implementation
During the actions we want to create a situation which is transparent for
all those involved and in which the participants show solidarity by taking
care of, and supporting one another. For the mass blockades to succeed
every participant needs to assume responsibility. The personal limits and
the various forms of protest are to be mutually respected. In the event of
police violence, such as in the clearing of a blockade, we act together by
showing solidarity and using the methods of civil disobedience.
Mobilisation
Preparation
Find coordinators and flag carriers for the strings already during
workshops. Inform planning group in case of interest.
During Demonstration
Movement
After the end of demonstration: Start. Flags go in front.
Blockade strings try to reach the blockade points de-escalatively
Registered manifestations will serve as secore areas of retreat. The
Police must allow access to these manifestations.
Coordination
Input of Information
Central point of collecting information from coordinators of the
blockade strings, scouts and manifestations
Overview of media coverage (Internet, Radio, TV, ...)
Processing of Information
Development of suggestions
Output of Information
Sending out suggestions via WAP, twitter, indyticker and Radio
Kommunikation
Coordination Telephone: Communication between coordinators of
blockade strings, scouts, manifestations and coordination
Information Telephone: Available for all blockade participants
(number on flyers)
WAP Ticker: Available for all blockade participants
(number on flyers)
Radio: (frequency on flyers; reception via (mobile phone)
radio / headphones)
Twitter: Available for all those with internet connection
Indy-Ticker: Available for all those with internet connection
Affinity Groups
What?
Affinity groups are groups that constitute for a single event or for a longer
period in order to commonly act more coordinated and consciously. They
group themselves for a common action. Affinity groups consist of per-
sons, which know each other, which know about each others‘ strengths
and weaknesses and which support each other. The group is intended to
create an atmosphere of courage and to help judging one‘s own power.
In mass actions, affinity groups are the place where decisions are taken.
The bigger councils serve for coordination and exchange of information.
Who?
The optimal size is about 6 persons. Before the action, the group should
find a concensus about the approach, so that it can stay together during
the action. Within the group pairs, so called buddies or tandems, should
be constituted. The buddy is the person that one should especially com-
mit oneself and react to. Buddies always stay together and keep an eye
on each other.
How?
The affinity group should excercise quick decision making. Acting self-re-
sponsibly means that everyone perceives one‘s own limits and has them
respected by the group. If someone wants to leave the blockade in case
of an eviction, this person should not have to go alone, but be escorted by
persons from the affinity group. Take time to get to know each other and
exchange your views on how you want to behave during the action and
what you expect from your affinity group.
What to talk about in affinity groups?
Choose a calling name for your group.This way you won‘t have
to call each group member by name and you‘ll be able to (re)
gather quickly. Avoid possible/common individual names
(Hannah, Thomas, ...) and those that could express danger
(Dogs, Police, Fire, Water Cannon, ...).
Agree on meeting points for before, during and after the action.
After the action, it might be important for you to talk about your
experiences in a circle of persons you trust – especially if you
were confronted with violence.
Delegates‘ Council
The delegates‘ council makes sure that a big group acts and decideds things to-
gether. The delegates‘ council assesses in which areas decisions are needed,
exchanges information and possibly formulates solution proposals. Things that
consider the whole action and that cannot be decided in the affinity groups are co-
ordinated in the delegates‘ council. Every affinity group sends one delegate to the
delegates‘ council.
Concensus Decisions
We want to take decisions by concensus. This will guarantee that everyone sup-
ports the action and nobody is ignored. Concensus doesn‘t necessarily mean that all
are of one opinion. But it always means that all are feeling O.K. about the decision
and nobody‘s needs are ignored.
Flashlight
When things have to be done quickly, the flashlight round is a useful tool: One after
another says one sentence maximum. Before that, a clearly formulated question or
exclamation is needed: e.g. „How do I feel in this?“, „Do I think I can remain seated
when water cannon is used?“, „Am I for directly getting onto the street?“
Helpful Rules
I-Language: Speak for yourself and not for others.
Listen: Let others talk to the end and try to understand them. Try to listen between
the lines what the need behind a certain position might be – help each other to do
that!
Things to take with you
Valid ID card of passport
city map
Ask for the legal aid team‘s telephone number and write it on your
arm or leg with a water-proof pen
don‘t take alcohol, other drugs or weapons with you
don‘t take address lists or other sensitive data with you
take a valid ID card or passport with you (otherwise police can take
you with them for identification)
take a piece of paper and a pen with you
(to write a memory protocol)
Touching or grabbing a police officer can already be interpreted
as „resistance agains state authorities (obstructing police officers in
the course of their duties)“. Always consider precisely what you do
and how far you want to go.
General Information
Criminal Law
punishable actions
decision taken in court
criminal record, penal record, possible prison sentence
Administrative Law
decision taken by public authorities
fine (like for illegal parking or driving too fast)
no criminal record, no publicly visible penal record,
no prison sentence
Blockades
Simple sitting blockades, blocking roads, remaining at places of dissolved
gatherings, etc. are only violating administrative law and ARE NOT crimi-
nal acts! In the worst case you still only get a fine.
2) Spontaneious Demonstrations
Dissolution of an assembly
The police are not allowed to randomly use violence, but they are bound
to laws:
use of violence in a proportionate/relative way
in a peaceful mass blockade, which does not use violence, police
may only carry (or – in some cases – push) persons away.
Hitting, kicking or using pepper spray is forbidden.
Police only have the right to check your identity, when a concrete reason
is existing (e.g. suspicion of violating administrative law or commitment of
a crime).
4) Service Number
You have the right to ask a police officer‘s service number if you are the
person concerned of a legal act (as soon as police interact with you, this
is a legal act).
Exception:
Closed Unit
Multiple officers that act as a unit can refer to their commander / officer-in-
charge.
In this case: Ask officers for the number of the commander / officer-
in-charge!
5) Arrest
Your Rights:
Right of two sucessful (!) phone calls. Call the legal aid team and a
person of trust to inform the legal aid team.
Don‘t make any statement or testify. You have the right to refuse to
give evidence. A refusal of evidence can NOT be used against you.
Only tell your full name, date of birth and your residence address.
Duration of Arrest
violation of administrative law: max. 24 hours. You must be released
after 24 hours.
violation of criminal law: max. 48 hours. You must be released after
48 hours or a custodial judge has to decide if you are getting into
pre-trial custody.
As soon as you are released, inform the legal aid team!
Call the legal aid team from the police station. Insist on your
right to two successful phone calls.
Don‘t make any statement or give evidence. Only tell your full
name, date of birth and residential address.
Ask for the arrested peron‘s full name and date of birth and
make a note
Ask police where (to which police station) they take the person
The blockades are public and announced actions. This means that
they are open for any potential participants and that we like to to medi-
ally support our legitimate concern. Because of this, blockade workshops
should possibly take place in public space, which serves purposes of mo-
bilization as well as satisfying interested journalists.
If you hold workshops the way they are sketched in this brochure, no le-
gal problems can derive for you.
Nevertheless, should you or other workshop participants feel intimidated
by media representatives, you can still ask them to go. In this case refer
to the one workshop officially declared as press event (date to be issued
soon).
Where is the boundary between civil disobediance and resistance agains state au-
thority / obstructing police officers in the course of their duties?
Civil disobediance means passive resistance. Resistance against state authority, on the
other hand, means to be accused of actively obstructing an officer to execute a legal act.
On a blockade, people sit passively, hooked into others and can have themselves car-
ried away (e.g. in a „wet sack position“) in case of an eviction. From a legal point of view,
this is no act of violence. To actively and corporally intervene agains legal acts of police
does not represent the concept of civil disobediance. The implementation of this concepts
needs a certain extent of self discipline, since also reactions in the heat of the moment
can be used as evidence against you.
actively defend yourself against police acts. This includes: hitting (lashing about), kicking
or similar. In general, one should be careful about touching police officers.