Amnesty International & Art Rights Truth
Gear Up!
/ workshop : research : activism /
/ London, Berlin : 2025 /
/ with Miriam Poletti, abstraqt /
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Gear Up! emerged in response to police violence and increasing restrictions on the right to protest in Germany, especially as these issues have escalated around the Palestinian solidarity movement since October 7th, 2023.
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Our intention is to support protesters by creating a toolkit that helps them take action, protect themselves, care for one another in the face of state oppression, and engage in the act of protest in creative ways.
In workshops, we designed and made vests together. These vests include practical items like face masks and tissues for protection, water balloons and soap bubbles to distract the police, and a whistle to make noise. The vests have a transparent pocket on the back for carrying banners and strong carabiners that can link with other vests.
Gear Up! grew from conversations with collectives, organizations, artists, and lawyers who generously shared their expertise. We've compiled this knowledge into a zine - a practical protest manual offering guidance for demonstrators and those experiencing police violence in Berlin, alongside examples of creative disruption tactics from activists, artists, and movements worldwide.
