OLA has a grand tradition of autonomy, which is a beautiful thing, though not when some douche takes that to mean acting like a twat. In light of this, the South Wind has agreed to certain codes of conduct in order to make this a peaceful-but-not-pussy day.

1. RESPECT YOUR WIND. Each Wind has its own distinct flavor. The West passes through some of the most affluent, white neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The North comes through the Valley, split between upper middle-class white suburbia and latino immigrants. East LA is well known as a major hub of hispanic population and culture. South LA is a predominantly black neighborhood which has suffered for years from poverty and racist and abusive policing. Whatever wind you are on - you are a guest in that community, and you have been allowed to participate alongside community groups and organizations who have been in that area a lot longer than your sorry ass. Show these folks the respect they deserve. On the South Wind, we defer to our comrades The Black Riders Liberation Party as a group that has organized and served the communities of Compton and Watts for years. On Mayday, when it comes to tactics and the pigs, we take orders from The BRLP.

2. DON'T GET FUCKED UP. We ask all participants to respectfully leave their booze, drugs and medications at home, for their own safety and for the safety of those they will be caravanning / marching with. While we all, without fail, love and respect your right to imbibe what you want, it's recognized on the South wind that minimizing any reason for pig interference is of primary importance to the success of our mission. Please medicate at home and empty your ashtrays, folks. We also have young kids and families with us who may not have the same opinions as you about substance use, even for medication ; )

3. DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. Today, for one day only, you have to listen to those who have organized the event, who know what the strategies and tactics are, and will be giving orders which you need to follow. If you want to go off on a wild, autonomous little jaunt and get fucked up by the pigs by acting like a douche - great. Just don't do it in the midst of our organized caravan and the events carefully planned throughout the day. Do not talk to pigs, do not engage with pigs. Let your pig-liaison do that. If a cop gives an order, defer to your point person to see how to react. Taking shit into your own hands is not going to gain you respect and a following in South LA. You're going to look like a twat and we ain't bailing you out.

4. ALL POWER TO ALL PEOPLE

We say all this not to piss on anyone's bonfire. But on the South Wind, we recognize that we will be laboring under the threat of heavy and abusive racist policing. We are prepared for assault, and we are ready to do whatever it takes to get to the convergence point without provocation by the pigs. We are disciplined, and we do not make stupid moves. The South is an assault course, Soweto in LA, a battleground. If we manage to make it to the end of our route, our comrades who live and organize in South LA know that they may well suffer repudiation from a bigoted Polce force as punishment for speaking out against injustice and putting their bodies on the line for May 1st General Strike.

As a mark of our respect, we in Occupy LA working on the South Wind will allow ourselves to be led and guided by the needs of the community of South LA as we caravan up Central Avenue on May 1st. We are disciplined, militant, calm and respectful, without ever caving to injustice. If anyone acts like a douche, we're ditching you on the sidewalk and you can find your own way home.