Strike back against BLM fascism!

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:05 am

General rule of thumb is they can fuck your day a whole lot worse than you can fuck theirs.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:08 am

Bob wrote:Yeah baby -- next time some drunk beats somebody's head in or drives their SUV through over your tent -- better call a hippie, 'cause the real cops are detained by the bullhorn fuckwits.

Hah! Maybe that is the strategy to follow; "Gift" bullhorns to all the frat-boy types you run into, thereby creating enough diversions that the police will be too busy to deal with anything else...might help drown out the bass-beat also!

Curious - what do you think a hippie would be able to do that a non-hippie wouldn't (as it relates to dealing with a smashed in head or tent)...I was not aware that hippies received mandatory training in First-Aid, Incident Control, Crowd Control, Heavy Excavation, Dealing with a Fatality, etc. (but then I have never been a "hippie", so I wouldn't know)

Which begs the question - What is the best call for a hippie? "free brownies!" or what?

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:24 am

ahem. dfj, it's called sarcasm. heard of it?

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:45 am

hey Rian, I caught the sarcasm - did you? And the question still stands...

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:59 am

Curious - what do you think a hippie would be able to do that a non-hippie wouldn't (as it relates to dealing with a smashed in head or tent)...I was not aware that hippies received mandatory training in First-Aid, Incident Control, Crowd Control, Heavy Excavation, Dealing with a Fatality, etc.

Actually yes to get your Hippie journeyman card not only do you need to have the mandatory training but you have to have continuing education classes to get re-certified every year.

I washed out because I couldn't completely dismantle and re-assemble a VW microbus in a day and a half with only 6 toke breaks.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:07 am

I actually built a bench, front porch, and hung out the shingle for the local judge one year. Wish I'd seen the courthouse in use a little more often.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:10 am

Zulegoona wrote:
Curious - what do you think a hippie would be able to do that a non-hippie wouldn't (as it relates to dealing with a smashed in head or tent)...I was not aware that hippies received mandatory training in First-Aid, Incident Control, Crowd Control, Heavy Excavation, Dealing with a Fatality, etc.
Actually yes to get your Hippie journeyman card not only do you need to have the mandatory training but you have to have continuing education classes to get re-certified every year.

I washed out because I couldn't completely dismantle and re-assemble a VW microbus in a day and a half with only 6 toke breaks.

ROTFLMAO! I "forgot" to even apply...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:15 am

BTW, I can't deny being a hippie carpenter, but I ain't no hippie cop, nor (ObLyndonJohnson) a pigfucker.

ROOSTERSEjX · Post by **ROOSTERSEjX** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:14 pm

Being a frequent visitor to our nation's public lands, I have had many great encounters with the BLM. Visit their website (http://www.nv.blm.gov/Winnemucca/recrea ... /index.htm) for the Winnemucca office, they LIKE Burningman! Why would you want to go fucking with them?

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:29 am

I believe I diagnosed this eons ago: persecution complex.

Patience · Post by **Patience** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:16 am

That is all.

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:04 pm

I'd like to wade in with a first hand account of an interaction with BLM Rangers.

(I work with the Law Enforcement Agency Liason branch of the Black Rock Rangers, aka the Zebra team).

I responded to participant reports of BLM Rangers entering domes and questioning people in the vicinity. I went to investigate, got out of my car, and asked if I could be of assistance. The BLM Rangers said they were trying to locate an individual to pass along a message from his mother. A family member was critically ill, and these "rotten feds" were going above and beyond their duty to try and deliver a message. I know this is legit because Black Rock dispatch had received the same message. Sometimes, the BLM Rangers really are good people just trying to do their jobs.

Also, as part of the LEAL team, it's my job to observe interactions with law enforcement personnel. In every instance I have ever been called to, the person receiving the citation was committing an illegal act in plain sight.

*If* you choose to break a state or federal law, at least have the sense to do it out of view.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:28 pm

Tiara wrote:In every instance I have ever been called to, the person receiving the citation was committing an illegal act in plain sight.

*If* you choose to break a state or federal law, at least have the sense to do it out of view.

I have to agree with this - almost everyone I have seen ticketed/arrested were clearly breaking at least one law (mostly smoking pot). There was one case I witnessed in 2002 where a beligerent man made the mistake of touching a police officer while having a "discussion" with him (and I do mean touch, not shove, it looked inadvertant to me). He was promptly beaten with the police officer's baton and arrested. I wasn't there at the start, but the man was behaving in a manner that would have been questionable between to citizens, let alone an officer. Apparently he was attempting to intervene on a friends behalf... Oh - and the man was visibly drunk. The officer APPEARED to be overreacting, but I wasn't there at the start so I can't say for sure. And it is never a good idea to attempt an intervention with a police officer on a friends behalf if you are DRUNK! (I know this isn't about the BLM per se...)

The only complaint I have is the driving of white surburbans at night with all lights off while looking the other way (almost ran me over in 2004). Don't know if this was BLM or police or Feds or what, but that crap has got to stop! I don't care if they are sneaking up on a law breaker...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:12 pm

Thanks, Tiara, I've been wanting a LEAL perspective on this, and as the only one I know is Pred, I haven't asked.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:43 pm

and for every time I saw a person getting ticketed, I've seen at least 10 "interventions" by Rangers that ended the matter long before the LEO or anyone "official" showed up.

If you really want to strike a blow against facism at Burningman (of all types), thank a Ranger for what they do. Just imagine what Burningman would be like without the Rangers...

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:16 pm

I wanted to clarify that I'm not trying to say that abuses of authority don't occur or that questionable decisions aren't made by law enforcement officers at the event. Just that I have never witnessed one firsthand, and that I spend quite a few hours during the course of the week specifically trying to monitor such situations.

In the event that a participant at Burning Man *does* witness a questionable interaction with law enforcement personnel, there is something you can do: Run, don't walk, to a Black Rock Ranger or to a Ranger outpost (located at Center Camp, and in the 3 and 9 o'clock plazas). Ask them to radio for the LEAL team member (aka Zebra) on shift. Whoever is on duty will come to your location and gather as many facts as possible. That information will be presented to the officer's supervisor in the next daily meeting between BM staff and the various law enforcement agencies.

An officer who clearly violates his or her own department's policies and procedures will likely be dismissed from further duty at the event.

It is far less useful for us to hear about incidents long after the fact. However, if you are looking for another channel to get the word out about a law enforcement experience you have had at Burning Man, the LEAL team would certainly like to hear about it. Helpful information to include would be your name and contact info, the date, time, and location of the incident, and identification of the officer (which agency they represented, badge number, name, physical description, vehicle license number, etc)

Anyone with such information to submit can send me a PM for an email address to send it to. I can't guarantee any specific outcome, but I can promise that your information will be presented to relevant people within the Burning Man organization and/or the Black Rock Rangers.

jellibee · Post by **jellibee** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:23 pm

We were physically tortured last year. We may or may not have done something dumb that attracted their attention, but forcing playa dust down our throats was just one of the strong arm tactics they used. The use of technology was amazing. We left early and were followed the entire way home. Instead of going to a police station, we went to our local hospital.

It was so over the top, I can hardly post this note because the response will be easy disbelief.

Anyway, I posted in the fall to let anyone else who had gone through this that they were not alone, even if we were.

jb

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:51 pm

Physically tortured. That is funny. I mean actually funny. I can see the headlines now ... BLM tortures weirdos in the desert! I think you have been watching too much CNN.

So uhm, I am assuming there must have been several dozen witnesses to this "torture" since people are pretty much walking around 24x7 at the event.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:59 pm

If you were stopped for even a few seconds and asked a question you could claim they forced you to breathe playa dust. There are millions of ways to spin a story like this. Without specific details you're right...there's some disbelief going on.

Plus did you read Tiara's post? She can put you in touch with people who can at least look into it and maybe prevent a repeat. Posting that story instead of contacting her accomplished what?????

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:43 am

Posting that story instead of contacting her accomplished what?????

posting your reply accomplished what????

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:10 pm

j~ I searched for your earlier accounts of the incident.

I found this:

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:28 pm Post subject: Assaulted on the Playa - We may be alone - you are not

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My wife and I were physically tortured by some authoritative force this year on our second trip to the playa. Another friend we met on the playa while out and about on Thursday night whom I had not seen until this week mentioned the strange entourage that was following us and with the help of a few others... well we're only guessing it was BLM. . . .

If you are able to provide details beyond "we're only guessing it was BLM", please feel free to pass the information along.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:26 pm

jellibee wrote:We were physically tortured last year...(snip)...forcing playa dust down our throats was just one of the strong arm tactics they used..... jb

So, unless you follow-up with the proper channels, you only have a story to tell people.....

Just so I understand your story;

Are you saying that they forced Playa dust into your mouths (by a hand, shovel, funnel, etc) for no reason other than to watch you suffer? That they deliberately put Playa dust into your mouth?

-or-

Are you saying that, during the course of their detention of you and subsequent investigation for possible illegal activity, while following standard Police procedure to minimize risk to themselves, you accidentally inhaled Playa dust due to an uncomfortable position they had you in (face next to Playa)?

There is a HUGE difference...

jellibee · Post by **jellibee** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:28 pm

Yes, we guessed BLM because at one point a BLM truck pulled up to talk with this group; the brownish, very new looking trucks, with BLM insignia on door - we had seen one other one on Thursday night parked just off the Esplanade (on the Man side) with its lights turned off. When they pulled up during the day on Friday, they began using a fairly large (high powered?) set of binoculars that were mounted (not a hand set) in the back pickup part of the truck. That is truly the only piece of identification we were given, voluntarily or observed.

jb

jellibee · Post by **jellibee** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:38 pm

I'm sorry, it's hard to defend what I posted. Everything is correct. Even for me, it was hard to fathom that what happened could happen. I was totally unprepared. The coordinated efforts were amazing. The attack happened late at night on Friday/Sat AM. I'm truly hesitant to post more details because it just gets even more fantastic. The playa dust was blown into our faces using simple straws at a frequency such that we could not either hold our breath or get out of its way.. at some point, we had to breath and breath it in. It was not a pound of playa dust either, but it worked quite well as an irritant. We were treated for it at the hospital. We're not BM virgins. We set up a wonderful theme camp in 2002 and the rollerrink (on the esplanade) flooring and lighting for this year were provided by us.

Thanks for listening. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I love Burning Man so much.

jb

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:56 pm

jellibee wrote:I'm sorry, it's hard to defend what I posted. Everything is correct. Even for me, it was hard to fathom that what happened could happen. I was totally unprepared. The coordinated efforts were amazing. The attack happened late at night on Friday/Sat AM. I'm truly hesitant to post more details because it just gets even more fantastic. The playa dust was blown into our faces using simple straws at a frequency such that we could not either hold our breath or get out of its way.. at some point, we had to breath and breath it in. It was not a pound of playa dust either, but it worked quite well as an irritant. We were treated for it at the hospital. We're not BM virgins. We set up a wonderful theme camp in 2002 and the rollerrink (on the esplanade) flooring and lighting for this year were provided by us.

Thanks for listening. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I love Burning Man so much.

jb

If what you say is true, you are a victim of at least an assault and battery (most likely more). Contact the Nevada State Police and/or the Nevada State Attornies Office and see about filing charges. You could also pursue Federal Civil Rights Violation charges.

The first step is to record what happened in a formal fashion. I recommend retaining an Attorney (if you have not already done so). Take Tiara up on her offer. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. You hint that there may have been "reason" for being stopped, and if this is why you have not come forward "officially" you need to carefully think about your decision.

If you do nothing (but post to Eplaya with vague allegations) you are helping the very people that perportedly did this to you (making you kind of an accessory-after-the-fact, in spirit if not fact).

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:08 pm

Playa dust blown through straws?

Forgive me, but...

Playa dust blown through straws?

jellibee · Post by **jellibee** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:13 pm

Thanks for the information. I don't think I'm up to it, honestly and I'm sorry about that. In part, I'm failing the community in that way. But I don't know exactly who was behind everything that happened as I admit. I know I'm posting here which is a half hearted attempt to hopefully help someone else maybe be aware of their surroundings and maybe keep this from happening to them. I get shaky when I write this down because it's like re-living it. I hand wrote an account of what happened shortly after we got back because I was afraid I would forget some of the details, but it's still very fresh. I apologize for vagueness and again for not stepping up to a full follow up. I really appreciate your posting that info. I think the posting helps me a bit, which may be selfish.

Thanks,

jb

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 7:29 pm

jellibee wrote:I know I'm posting here which is a half hearted attempt to hopefully help someone else maybe be aware of their surroundings and maybe keep this from happening to them...(snip)... jb

With respect, I fail to see how what you have posted would be of help to anyone who might want to avoid having Playa dust blown up their orifices by rogue law enforcement officers (or anyone, for that matter). Other than to have them avoid BM altogether....

jellibee · Post by **jellibee** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:17 pm

No, I don't want to discourage anyone from attending. There's too much good stuff at BM. I'm trying to say this:

Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware that there is a strong law enforcement present and watching. And on a lighter side, don't hand out Pez to your friends on the playa at night. You know, yellow is lemon, orange is orange, purple is grape. It looks too much like your handing out and chomping on a lot of pills. We picked up our 'escort' shortly after that.

Be aware smart about your behavior and you'll have a safe, fun, and very rewarding experience at BM.

jb

ROOSTERSEjX · Post by **ROOSTERSEjX** » Fri May 20, 2005 7:15 pm

flibidyjib wrote: The BLM thus seems to be the main perpetrators of harassment of BM atendees. It is because of them our cars are now searched as we enter.
flibidyjib

(This does not seem to have had a thorough rebuttal, and I know this post was a long way back....)
The reason cars (including mine) are searched upon entering the city is to check for (1) stowaways and (2) unliscensed vehicles (such as pocket bikes). Gate is not under the control of BLM and we do not search cars because of them. We search cars because everybody coming to BRC must pay for a ticket (ie. contribute), and so that the pedestrian/art car-based streets remain that way. If we happen to find a trunk filled with fireworks, or guns, or dogs, or feather boas, we will deal with it, but we really aren't looking for anything else.

Strike back against BLM fascism!

Re: Not a problem? OK.