And yet what?? People in planned, skilled direct action events know whether or not they want to use tactics like this. People getting advice from the internet should not be told that something like this is a good idea.
caveat. Do not do this in the US. They will beat you with clubs and then charge with you Resisting Arrest
Also, please forgive me for being another American inserting themselves in an otherwise light-hearted conversation
I mean, it's not really that light hearted? They're arresting peaceful protestors who are trying to bring attention to how dire climate change is.
Also you realize the police in the UK are also often pretty brutal and are allowed to carry clubs?
So, to be fair I’ve definitely seen folks charged with felony assault on an officer counts that are eventually “negotiated down” to resisting arrest charges for this sort of behavior in Az. Maybe not applicable to everyone. But “passive resistance” can still be “resisting” arrest.
As many people have pointed out, this is the oldest trick in the "non-violent direct action" book, and it's good because it's annoying and it works.
But it's very funny that a senior cop is treating it like a new and sinister innovation.
Also, its bizarre that a senior cop is expecting the protesters to just...agree not to do it? What? The whole point of protesting is to make the government's job harder.