Affinity Groups are the building blocks of movements. An Affinity Group (AG) is a non-hierarchical group of generally 7-15 people who have organized themselves to prepare for participating in actions. The “affinity” portion refers to what they have in common (could be where they live; common interests or themes (like permaculturists or bicyclists); existing social networks; shared views on approaches or tactics; or skills folks have to offer). Affinity groups can help rapidly grow an organization by actively recruiting folks—imagine ten people each recruiting ten friends so now there are 100 folks.
How do AGs Form?
Folks can form their own AGs based on their existing social networks. Added advantages of doing this are already established, trusted relationships and it helps to quickly grow the movement. Sometimes individuals compose a heartfelt email about why they want to do this and send to those they know that might be interested within their networks.
Folks can create affinity groups by proposing it in your organization’s newsletter or even proposing a specific theme or organizational AG.
How do AGs fit into a larger Communication HUB structure
Affinity groups self-organize and each have a liaison and a well-being coordinator who feed into an Affinity Group Hub. We are proposing here to develop a communications website that will have calendars for both Resistance Actions but also for actions that help build the kind of world we’d like to see. We hope to develop pages for skill sharing or trainings, as well as supplies or material needs for these movements. Information can be posted that will be helpful towards building a movement too big to be ignored.
Specific AGs can set up chat groups within Keybase under the affinity group section to communicate and their liaisons and well-being coordinators will be part of the Affinity Group HUB safe channel chat team.
All AGs may want to form their own AG basic agreements for individual actions or in general about how the group operates or specifics on how the group feels comfortable reacting in specific contingencies or situations as well as buddy systems and other ways of supporting each others’ needs.
Practicing Decentralized collective decision-making and preparing for contingencies
AGs work through direct democracy. Fear, isolation, stress, doubt, and set-backs can be easier to bear if individuals feel connected, supported, and secure during large group actions.
It is important that everyone considering direct action undergo Know Your Rights and Non-violent Direct Action trainings to better protect yourself and others as well as make well-informed decisions about participation.
AGs can take everyone’s needs into account and the group can clarify and prepare for what it wants to happen during a particular action or situation and work to develop contingencies.
Groups will want to practice quick, consensus or consent decision-making with each other. In some cases it may also be helpful to use code names and hand signals for quick understanding.
Emotional and Physical Support
AGs work to generate trust and provide emotional and physical support in potentially stressful situations. As such, it is important to get to know one another, share information, explore individual needs, and consider likely responses.
Two-tiered buddy systems are helpful. Each arrestee should have a “buddy” and that pair hopefully has a non-attending safe “buddy” as well. Buddies know particular medical needs, try to keep each other in line of sight/stay together; check on physical and emotional needs; get help if needed and other support functions.
AGs try to be somewhat self-sufficient in preparing for their own support. This can involve some level of planning for transportation, food, medical, legal observation and other needs in anticipation of what the group might encounter. The following roles may be helpful in some circumstances, depending on the nature of the action.
- Facilitator - Briefly summarizes the situation and clarifies the decision that needs to be made through a quick consensus or modified consensus process.
- Legal Observer - Although in large actions there may be overall observers, if there is a lot going on it is still helpful to an AG specific person on the fringes taking notes and if necessary, video; note time and charges of arrests; record police names, badge numbers and license plates, and the like, especially if things get chaotic. Sometimes there may be a separate person who in extreme cases could grab personal items at the last minute, have the groups’ information form and contacts, and arrange transportation and resources if arrests occur.
- Police Liaison - In AG specific actions clarify to police that they are not a decision-maker or arrestee, but there only to facilitate conversations between the two groups by relaying messages back and forth. Foster calm communication and deescalation with police, emphasizing non-violence and transparency, while not providing information the group is not interested in sharing. In larger actions there is generally only one police liaison for the multiple AGs involved.
- Media Liaison - Helps individuals be prepared with well-thought out sound bites in case they are approached by the press.
- First Aid - Prepares supplies and trains in types of first aid sometimes needed in direct action situations. Helpful to be trained in CPR.
- Peacekeeper - Someone who builds skills in de-escalation techniques who will step in if bystanders or others are becoming agitated.
- Well-being crew (Care Bears) - Work with AG to have accessible snacks, water, sunscreen, information, spirit lifters(chants,song-sheets),tissues, mats, blankets, umbrellas, waterproofs, labeling tape, garbage bags, and the like.
Initial Meeting ideas
1st meeting - Talk through sample internal AG agreements and legal briefing docs (like Know your Rights). Look at well-being bundle, practice quick consensus decision-making.
2nd meeting - Discuss pre-action or action roles&tasks/contingencies. Do a quick Art Build for creative group signage!
POTENTIAL ARRESTEE PREPARATIONS
Because we are a peaceful, non-violent movement unanticipated arrests are unlikely, however nationally federal and homeland security agents seem in some places to be testing boundaries.
Do ‘Know Your Rights’ and NVDA trainings. Fill out Jail support forms prior to action for someone in your group staying in green zones to have access to, sign action agreements, provide your AG with your own personal/work contacts and what exactly you want conveyed.
Prepare only what you need to bring as well as labels for backpack or items that you would retrieve upon release. Leave jewelry at home; layer clothing (holding areas might be cold); sturdy shoes; hat and weather appropriate clothes/gear; cut nails and tie up hair; carry water in refillable plastic; tampons, if needed; small amount of necessary meds with original prescription label; have backpack and other protective gear labeled so that can be left with AG at last moment; no illegal drugs/alcohol consumption; nothing that could possibly be conceived as weapon; leave contacts and cell phones at home (or consider a ‘burner’ phone); very little money as it will go onto a card that will expire if not used within 5 days; consider prior bail arrangements; transit pass could be helpful if rides not pre-arranged.
Arrange public or other transportation so you don’t worry about bike or car stranded at action site.
Refer media to action spokespeople but be prepared with GOOD sound bite about “why you are doing this”.
Eat well, get good sleep, and prepare yourself emotionally for various scenarios. Review your own breathing and calming techniques as well as bodily protection and de-escalation techniques.
Write local number jail support contact on your arm so you can call to give charges to legal support and let folks know of anything else you need conveyed.
SUPPORT PREPARATIONS
Have sunscreen, rain gear, ground padding, blankets, snacks, water in plastic refillables, labeling tape, plastic bags, first aid kit, and copies of jail support forms in Well-being kits. Help arrange transportation if needed Gather information on medical, contacts and just what to convey to whom, and any other concerns prior. Have designated “runner” ready to notify medics, peacekeepers, legal observers, or other action officials if necessary. Record unusual or hurtful authority behaviors. Pre-locate food and nearby available bathrooms or provide composting toilets/TP. Be ready to help clean-up action site at end so it is left better than before the action.
