Lock-on (protest tactic)

It often involves improvised or specially designed and constructed hardware, although a basic lock-on is the human chain which relies simply on hand grip.

The safe removal of the protesters necessitates the involvement of skilled technicians, and is often time-consuming.

The lock-on chosen by the protester may be the difference between being arrested or not, or may vary the kind or number of charges brought against them by the police.

Locking on is a very successful means of slowing down operations that are perceived by the protesters to be illegal or immoral.

Other common hardware includes padlocks, U-locks and other bicycle locks, lockboxes and tripods and platforms and other rigging in tree sitting.

A woman sits with a chain around her waist, padlocked to heavy earthmoving equipment.
A protester locked on to heavy earthmoving equipment
Mother and son use a V arm tube to lock on to a gate as part of a protest blockade.
Two protestors locked to a gate with a V arm tube.