Anarchist Radicals Circulate DIY Guides for Makeshift Weapons Ahead of Protests
Executive Summary
A major anarchist media collective, CrimethInc., has published a detailed online manual teaching protestors how to build makeshift shields and reinforced banners, designed for both defensive and offensive tactics in street protests. The guide, widely shared on activist channels, signals a continued evolution in protest tactics and encourages wider adoption of improvised weaponry at demonstrations.
Key Judgements
Key Judgement 1
The publication of this manual marks a deliberate effort by anarchist networks to increase the tactical capabilities of protestors by promoting the construction and coordinated use of makeshift shields and reinforced banners.
Evidence: The 2025 CrimethInc. guide includes step-by-step instructions for building shields from scrap materials, tactical use-cases for both offensive and defensive actions, and organizational tips for “shield walls” at protests.
Key Judgement 2
The dissemination of these instructions will likely lead to more organized and confrontational encounters with law enforcement, as protestors adopt new group tactics and offensive tools promoted by radical collectives.
Evidence: The guide encourages protestors to form coordinated teams, practice shield tactics, and use banners to conceal preparations of projectiles or other improvised weapons during demonstrations.
Analysis
CrimethInc.’s June 2025 publication provides a comprehensive, visually guided walkthrough for constructing “reinforced banners” and various shield types using cheap, easily sourced materials. While the guide is framed as a resource for “historians,” it is overtly aimed at equipping protestors for confrontations with police, including advice on evading detection and maximizing crowd protection. Notably, the manual describes banners as both defensive tools and offensive enablers—capable of shielding protestors from nonlethal police munitions and concealing the use of projectiles or disruptive devices from law enforcement.
The document represents a strategic shift from ad hoc protest improvisation to planned, collective preparation, encouraging protestors to form “affinity groups,” practice coordinated maneuvers, and even hide equipment in advance of actions. This professionalization of tactics is consistent with trends seen in major U.S. protest events since 2020, including widespread use of shield walls and improvised defenses in cities like Portland and Atlanta. By offering granular construction tips, operational security guidance, and tactical advice, the guide lowers barriers for less experienced protestors and raises the likelihood of sustained, organized resistance during public unrest. Law enforcement and organizational security teams should anticipate an uptick in both the frequency and sophistication of makeshift defensive/offensive tools at large demonstrations, especially where radical networks like CrimethInc. have influence.
