May Day, Social Media, Organizing, and Things to Keep in Mind

The internet has changed many of the ways we share information, it’s fast and dirty and leaves a lot of the nuance out of it. As events; demos, fundraisers, discussions etc. are planned less face to face they become more a part of this mediated form, effectively creating screen to screen relationships where there was once ones based on more personal interaction. The benefits of the internet’s speed and ease are easy to be seduced by, but the thing we lose is familiarity of not only our selves but others and their strengths and weaknesses. The onslaught of information means we miss a lot, and events organized solely on the internet rarely have the draw that ones that combine physical interaction along with it.

An unforeseen element of this mode of interaction has been alt-right trolls, deplorables and other basement dwellers impersonating for the sake of doxxing or luring into confrontation antifascists and anarchists at large. Long-term anti fascists and anarchists have been duped by these fakes at times, no one should think they are not susceptible to the fraud. When it becomes common place for our interactions to be through a computer, it is not unreasonable that we are all at some point going to get catfished.

Large days of activity; the inauguration, march fourth and now May Day have taken on a new level of confusing as anarchists and the alt-right all vie for their messaging and events to win out. Here in Seattle, the situation is no different. Over the last few weeks so many different facebook events have popped up for this years May Day and determining what is “real”, and what is an alt-right trap has become increasingly difficult.

Without the on the ground work, many of these events are simply popping up in an internet void with little to no context. And a lot of us are left to wonder if they are they made by earnest Seattle area anarchists or alt-right imposters. If the former is true, and these are coming from somewhere inside of our milieu, it speaks to the broader issue that because of their internet only nature, most of us can’t tell which is which. Some of the events that have come up recently may have been organized by fascists and white supremacists from the surrounding area. And the fact that it is difficult to tell what is sincere is disconcerting. There are at least two groups that have been vocal on the internet about their want to come disrupt the Seattle “anarchist may day march”. Our hope is that they are just as confused by these dozen events as we are and don’t show up to shit. But to not expect them, after Berkeley (twice) or UW on j.20 would simply be naive.

Photos from American Vanguard and Anti-Communist Action social media accounts

Internet organizing also tends to assume that the only role of organizers is to put an event up on facebook. While not entirely essential, there is some responsibility of organizers to ensure that if things go badly, there are resources available. This is not a critique in an attempt to decide who is allowed to call for an event. But an observation for those preparing to attend, and a thought towards methods for determining our safety. Who has organized and tapped medics so that they will be on the ground? Who has contacted legal crews beforehand to make sure that there will be jail support? These are not requirements for a demo to go off smoothly, but they do speak to the level of responsibility and accountability put in for the people showing up.

Anonymity is crucial, especially in this social climate and with what is at stake. The originators and organizers of events have every reason and “right” to stay anonymous, for their safety and everyone’s. But there is still ability within that to gauge how much our greater networks at large know about an event or the safety measures being put into place. Is the call for a place and time that seems out of character? Does it violate some traditions of space and time sharing with other demos on days like May Day without explanation? Does it use imagery and icons that are unfamiliar to you and your crew? Are the people calling the demo local enough to understand the area and have experience with the terrain, both physical and law enforcement? These are genuine questions to be asking one another when deciding to engage in the street forms of our movements. In our opinion these thoughts do not compromise the security of those choosing to call for action and instead helps us create stronger atmospheres of not only security in a technical sense, but a sense of community responsibility to those who we would ask risk themselves at the hands of the police and possible right wing threat.

If you are choosing to engage this may day, here are some resources for how to stay safe.

https://tiltedscalescollective.org/chapter-excerpt/

https://itsgoingdown.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/dont_talk_to_police_print.pdf

https://ia902205.us.archive.org/26/items/BlocsBlackAndOtherwise/blocs_black_and_otherwise.pdf

And please read this link regarding recent repression in the Seattle area here.

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