Lansing, MI: Report Back from Shut Down of Islamophobic March

On June 10th, Lansing Michigan was one of 20+ unfortunate US cities to be invaded by Islamophobic marches poorly disguised as “March Against Sharia,” as if Sharia law is a legitimate threat in this nation. The marches were organized by a group called ACT for America, which was established in 2007 and is noted by the Southern Poverty Law Center to be “the largest grassroots anti-Muslim group in America.”

A coalition of local activists and anti-fascists began organizing immediately to counter the march in Lansing. Lansing Solidarity and Defense spear-headed this effort, and mobilized with Michigan People’s Defense Network, Great Lakes AntiFa, Redneck Revolt and other activist groups around the state. Great Lakes AntiFa established 2 goals for our chapter prior to this action:

1. If we are outnumbered, drown out the hate speech
2. Block the march if we outnumber the racists.

Redneck Revolt Northern Lower Michigan and Ypsilanti received intel that the ACT racists would meet in the Meijer parking lot and march to a local refugee neighborhood. Lower Michigan and Ypsilanti showed up early and patrolled the area in vehicles, doing surveillance on ACT members. They communicated the intel to the activist community in real time. They encountered III%s gathering in the graveyard next to the refugee neighborhood, and drove them out, pushing them into a dead end about half a mile from this targeted area. Redneck Revolt and Michigan People’s Defense Network did surveillance of the Islamophobic march force. Approximately 30 people showed up, with about 15 of that number being armed militia.

The saddest march ever.

The activist community (lead by Michigan People’s Defense Network, Lansing Solidarity and Defense and other leftists and activists) mustered a block or two away from the planned march start point.

We marched in unity to the location of the Islamophobes, and blocked their march. They never made it past the starting point. They were unable to complete their march and inflict any more hate on our city. Bigots were outnumbered by more than 3 to 1.

As we approached the small contingent of racists, nervous militia positively drowning in guns called for police support and demanded that the cops erect barriers between the leftists and the bigots. Police complied quickly.

Hilariously just before the action, the Northern Michigan Volunteer Militia elected to post on our regional AntiFa Facebook page in a lame attempt to dispel the rumors that this was an Islamophobic action.

To which we responded:

A shout out to Michigan People’s Defense Network, Redneck Revolt, Lansing Solidarity & Defense and all the activists who showed up to bravely combat hate. Thanks to you, bigots were deprived of their shitty march.

Redneck Revolt handed out water, and escorted protesters who felt threatened by Proud Boys and militiamen to their vehicles, and also did anti-capitalist outreach. They made headway when a threeper crossed the line to hug a Redneck Revolt member and thanked RR for solidarity defense concerning his grandparents that died in the holocaust, and by calling out the Nazis in their ranks. Great Lakes AntiFa handed out masks to new comrades who desired to protect their identity. As we left the action, we passed out Anti-fascist literature and put fliers on cars. We took special care to not miss a single vehicle.

Redneck Revolt patrolled the refugee neighborhood to ensure no right-wingers would harass refugees after they were defeated. Thank you to all the activists who came out. This action proved that when we stand together, we control the narrative and provide effective community self-defense. The importance of the win in Lansing cannot be overstated; Michigan is a known hotspot for far right militia movements, and they got shown up in a big way last Saturday.

Great Lakes AntiFa are collecting protestor experiences and analyzing for future operations. Message us at www.facebook.com/GreatLakesAntiFa with your experience of your local shitty Anti-Muslim march.

Love and Solidarity.

Great Lakes AntiFa
Redneck Revolt Lower Michigan & Ypsilanti Chapters