Progressive Politics

Out running errands and see a cluster of weirdos kitted out for war, milling about like they’re stuck in a Call of Duty matchmaking lobby? Grab some pics and vids to raise the alarm. Keep in mind that specificity is paramount when logging these sightings, both to increase efficacy and avoid panic. Fortunately, one of master’s own tools has proven itself an invaluable counterintelligence asset. Plucked straight from U.S. military field books, the acronym S.A.L.U.T.E. can help you gather the most pertinent details. It’s also the practice almost universally recommended by the groups I spoke to.

• Size: How many people and/or vehicles do you see?

• Activity: What, specifically, are they doing that’s suspicious?

• Location: What address, cross streets, or landmark are they at (the more specific the better)?

• Uniform: What are they wearing, whether it’s fatigues, nondescript civilian clothes, or something else entirely?

• Time: What date and time did you observe them?

• Equipment: What guns, weapons, or devices do they appear to be carrying?

Thanks for taking such comprehensive notes. Now where do you send them?

There’s no evidence the feds are conducting “how do you do, fellow antifa” honeypot busts. But anyone attempting to post alerts about the activities of federal agents would be wise to operate as if they were. The groups I spoke to remain concerned about infiltrators stymying their efforts. Even at the press conference, activists clocked and called out a suspected undercover among the crowd.

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for this element of activism. To safely discover and interact with the patchwork of anti-ICE activities around LA, I relied on trusted individuals from my personal network of journalists and activists, as well as community groups and organizers leading local efforts. But if you’re just getting started, the accounts mentioned in this article, any of the more than 65 groups that have joined LA’s Community Self Defense Coalition, or the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights are solid sources of information. And if you’re ever unsure about an entity’s bona fides, sites like mutualaidhub.org can help determine if an outfit is legit or carpetbagging.