At Code Red, we believe that care is a revolutionary act—fundamental to our mission and woven into every aspect of what we do. Our approach to care takes on many forms, whether through (1) Community Care, (2) street medics, or (3) JEDIS (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Safety). On this page, you’ll find a brief overview of these teams and the crucial work they do, along with links to more detailed information. Here you’ll also find important information about care during and after the event.
Contact Care team:
care.coderouge@proton.me
Important: collective care & buddies during the action.
Caring for each other is essential to keeping things as safe as possible during the action. Our care team will be present throughout the whole duration to ensure that anyone in need of support can reach out and be heard. As this is a festive occupation, the team will include nightlife/festive oriented profiles.
Partaking in the action with someone that we know well, or with who we’ve taken time to discuss personal limits, expectations and feelings is essential. It’s what we call a buddy :
- Someone that we can count on, a point of reference.
- Point of mutual care & support during moments of stress
- Witness in case of police violence
- Someone to stay with in case of repression or arrest.
Taking care of yourself during the action :
- Drink water, remember to stay hydrated
- Bring some food (easy to carry, comforting & nourishing)
- Listen to your body and your limits
- Ask for help if you need it
Asking for help :
If you witness or experience any problematic behavior, if you see someone who doesn’t look well or need support yourself, don’t hesitate to ask the care team or medics for help. They will do their best to provide the care you need.
This action will take the form of a festive occupation. Our hope is that this leads to new encounters, mutual reinforcement and uniting our struggles against technofascism.
We ask everyone to be responsible with their consumption. Because of the high risk of police repression & violence, we advise against bringing and using substances. However, there will be a space with non-judgemental care and consumption oriented resources available on site.
Emotional debriefs
To wrap up our successful campaign, Code Red’s Care team is offering several emotional debriefings to participants. The dates for the debriefings will be announced after the campaign.
Why participate in the emotional debriefing?
You can process your emotions and experiences during the action together with your fellow activists. Everyone will have the opportunity to share the challenges they faced and the moments of success they experienced during the action.
The emotional debriefings provide a safe and inclusive space to talk about your feelings with people who can best understand and relate to your experiences.
If you’re feeling unsure, remember that we’re here to support one another through our highs and lows.
What to do in case of police violence?
In the event of police violence (experienced directly or indirectly) the consequences can be serious for your well-being, both physically and mentally. It is important to stress that the impact is different for each person and can differ from action to action. We strongly encourage everyone to check-in with themselves, their buddies and their affinity groups to see how they are feeling, before, during and after the action.
If you experience police violence during the action, you’re not alone! The Care team is there to listen, support and advise you. If you’re injured, our street medics can take care of you.
After the action, medical professionals who volunteered and followed a special training (Istanbul protocol) will draw up official injury reports. Such a report consists of a confidential description of what happened to a doctor and a physical examination of injuries. It can be done completely anonymous and is a legal way of reinforcing our right to protest by making this intolerable violence visible! It can also help to process what you’ve been through.
CONTACT the Care team on care.coderouge@proton.me and someone will tell you how to proceed.
Community Care
At Code Red, we believe in creating lasting change, not only in the world but also within our activist community. That’s why we have the Community Care team. Our role is simple: we take care of the people driving the change, and make sure that they take care of themselves and others. Activism can be challenging physically and emotionally. Our team is here to support you before, during, and after actions. Whether you need someone to talk to, help managing stress, or just a moment to rest, we’re here.
We’re not all professionals, mainly just people who care deeply about each other. Some of us are trained in coaching or de-stress techniques. But mostly, we’re here to offer a kind ear, a safe space and the reminder that you’re never alone in this fight.
Let’s take care of each other, as we take on the system together.
Street medics
The street medics provide physical and mental first aid for all activists, document police violence when required and try to cultivate autonomous care within the movement.
JEDIS
“JEDIS” stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Safety. It is a working group within Code Red, focusing on intersectionality. The group has designated liaisons with other working groups, and its members actively participate in actions.
How does one combat systems of oppression?
There are two complementary ways to pursue this goal. The first is to fight against the oppressive structures of the world as it is, choosing our targets and demands in line with the necessity of intersectionality. The second is to cultivate a culture within our groups that fosters diversity and inclusivity while ensuring everyone’s safety.