Otpor! (“Resistance!” in Serbo-Croatian) prepared secondary demonstrations — their “Plan B” — outside police stations to respond immediately to arrests during protest events. The police were less likely to beat or detain the activists, knowing that large crowds and a number of journalists were waiting outside for them, while the activists felt less afraid, thanks to the support they knew they were receiving.

Coordinated Actions Upon Arrest

Once arrests occurred, Otpor! put Plan B into action by mobilizing its extensive network of contacts:

• A nearby observer with a mobile phone observed the arrest and determined which police station received the arrested activists.
• Lawyers went immediately to the police station to negotiate for the activists’ release.
• Other Otpor! activists gathered, within an hour, in front of the police station and at the organization’s office. They played games and sang songs to keep the crowds upbeat, calm, and involved. Activists remained outside the police stations until the detainees were released.
• Media contacts went to the police station to report on the protests and take statements from the activists after they were released.
• Opposition parties condemned the arrest and sent their members to the police station.
• Local NGOs informed international organizations and asked them to condemn the arrests.

Building a Strong and Quick-to-Act Network

Otpor! put substantial time and effort into building a strong, extensive, and loyal network that could be mobilized quickly. Extensive planning outlined who would call whom and exactly what each person was to do after the arrests, so that the second demonstration would follow the arrests almost instantaneously. Most contact information for the network was stored on individual members’ mobile phones, so that the police could not seize or destroy the information.

For more information on this tactic, read our in-depth case study.