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Jan 4, 24
Filed under: Action, Anarchist Movement, Featured, Incarceration, Solidarity
On New Year’s Eve, anarchists and abolitionists took to the streets to hold noise demos in over 20 cities across the so-called US and Canada, rallying outside of prisons, jails, detention centers, and juvenile hall facilities. For years, people have organized noise demonstrations to ring in the new year and build bonds of solidarity capable of breaking through the isolation of the prison walls.
Demonstrations this year took place against a backdrop of escalating repression at home, as the state prepairs to bring to trial dozens in an effort to crush the movement in defense of the Atlanta forest and stop the construction of Cop City through draconian RICO charges and beyond.
Moreover, both corporate parties, in an effort to distract from growing class anger at inflation and the rising cost of living, have escalated their campaigns at demonizing refugees, the houseless, and the poor. From pushing mass disinformation and outright lies about the supposed threat of “retail crime,” Palestinian solidarity activists, and asylum seekers at the border, politicians are hoping to capitalize on manufactured fear while promoting the “solution” of border militarization, drug war era policies, and increasing attacks on the houseless.
This continued ramping up of repression has already had disastrous impacts, with 2023 being a record year for police killings – 1,141 in total, over three people per day – more than in 2022. This mass murder takes place against the US backing of the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the occupied territories, as the Pentagon’s war budget is bigger than ever.
All of this exists to attack a grassroots politics of autonomous mutual aid, community solidarity and defense, and anti-capitalist resistance that has been growing over the last several years. We must continue to push back and attack these attempts by elites and their lap-dogs to divide us and instead push for total control over our own lives and communities, outside and against the interests of the rich and powerful. New Year’s Eve noise demos are one small expression of this trajectory and a reminder of the struggle in front of us in the coming year.
Past New Year’s Eve Noise Demo Roundups on IGD:
Northwest
Seattle, WA: Noise demo organized outside of the King County Juvenile Detention facility. Graffiti messages written reading, “Free them all,” and “Fuck 12.”
Tacoma, WA: Support vigil continues outside of the Northwest Detention Center in support of ongoing hunger-strike by prisoners. For more info on the strike, go here.
Eugene, OR: Noise demo rallies outside of jail. From the Neighborhood Anarchist Collective:
It was 8:15pm and the spirit in the air was jovial despite the fact that 2023 was marked by much hardship locally and across the globe. By that time there were approximately 25 people. Someone brought out a portable speaker to get a beat going, but soon no music could be heard from it as the noise of the people drowned it out. Soon after we began to see the silhouettes of our intended audience emerge in the translucent windows above. Some came to see the commotion right away and some after 10 or 20 minutes of the din of clanging pots. The lights in other windows flickered with the sound of the beat. Sometimes the light of a tablet danced through the windows, or the shape of a heart was made by the hands of the people inside.
All of this in turn made our noise making even louder. People beat the sidewalk with cookie sheets, or threw firecrackers into the road behind us. Some had referee whistles, other people had air horns, or good old pots beat with ladles. Even a nearby truck joined in the noise making when its car alarm went off. The jail staff had left the gate open in the fence they constructed during 2020. Inside was the courtyard and soon a few brave souls wandered into the courtyard and stood on park benches to get the noise just a little closer to our comrades imprisoned inside. But as soon as the courtyard was clear the gates swung shut remotely which riled us up even more. We transitioned from beating our pots to beating the wrought iron fence with our pots. Walking back and forth in order to make a chatter similar to a playing card in a child’s bicycle spokes but 10 times louder. Some pressed the intercom button to get a bored guard’s response only to blow a whistle right into the mic.
The noise went on for at least an hour and a half. And when our ears were ringing and our wooden spoons had been reduced to a short wooden nub the noise ended as quickly as it had begun and the crowd dispersed with no contact with pigs. We went away pleased that we were able to bring some warmth to our friends inside for at least a little while. We hope for freedom for all prisoners in 2024!
Pacific
Vacaville, CA: A noise demo was organized outside of the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, CA. From a report by Oakland Abolition and Solidarity:
In keeping with tradition, abolitionist organizers met on the last day of the year to get loud outside of the California Medical Facility in Vacaville CA. The group numbered more than 40 and was easily audible from the inside by several reports. Deep and empowering speeches we made through the megaphone and sound system, they spoke about the conditions inside the facility from the words of the people facing them. Others spoke in honor of Ruchell Magee who spent the end of his very long sentence at CMF.
The entrance that the action took place at was adjacent to a neighborhood, and a lot of people came out to film and take supportive interest in the event. One person was even on the phone with their loved one inside who confirmed that they could hear everything we were saying! They were very excited that we were out there and very excited to connect. Two banners were hung from the fences, some of the signs were corrected, and a litany of sidewalk chalk. Messages included “FREE THEM ALL” “FUCK CDCR” “THIS PRISON WILL FALL BEFORE WE DO” “KKKOPS WORK HERE” “NO BORDERS NO WALLS” ABOLISH THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX” “FIRE TO THE PRISONS” and many many more. A four year old demonstrator inscribed “DON’T PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL” with a little help. An eight year old enjoyed kicking the fence while playing his melodica, giving some melody to the rhythmic chorus. Finally, our departed comrade Cole was present there in the form of the flags that he used to carry to action after action for years and years. We always miss him more in these moments.
After about an hour, the group moved away from the gate together and had each others back as we drove away form the facility. Many of us were able to sit together over a meal and debrief the event. We are hungry for more, we are hungry to end prison in our lifetimes. For a world without cages!
Southwest
Tucson, AZ: Noise demo organized outside of the Pima County jail.
Central
Boulder, CO: Rally outside of the Boulder County Jail “with fireworks, music, and pots and pans…Inmates flashed lights and waved back in response.”
Austin, TX: Noise demo held outside of the Travis County jail. From a report on Austin Autonomedia:
On New Year’s Eve, a few dozen revellers gathered to ring in the New Year in solidarity with those imprisoned at the Travis County Jail. This iteration of the annual NYE demo, which aims to show support to the people inside and antagonism to the jailers, has been running for 10 years. This year, the crowd marched with drums, puts, pans, and fireworks, all set to sick techno beats from a mobile speaker system. At the end of the demo, to celebrate the 10 years, a special gift was left for the jailers: bags of ballpit balls covered in slime.
Solidarity as well to those who staged a disruption at the NYE fireworks show at Auditorium Shores in solidarity with the struggle in Palestine.
Fire to the Prisons, Freedom to the Prisoners!
Long Live the Intifada!
Midwest
Bloomington, IN: Noise demo held outside of jail.
Chicago, IL: Noise demo and march outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, IL. Check out this short report on Unsalted Counter-Info.
Cincinnati, OH: Noise demo held outside of jail in Cincinnati. Organizers stated, “That’s the most people to ever show up to one of these in 7 years. That’s really special.” Prisoners put up messages of solidarity in the windows.
Cleveland, OH: Noise demo organized in Cleveland outside of jail.
Southeast
Roanoke, VA: Noise demo organized outside of the Roanoke Jail.
Richmond, VA: Noise demo organized outside Richmond City Justice Center.
Asheville, NC: Cindy Milstein reported:
I went to a noise demo where DIY solidarity looked like warm pizza and fresh flowers and zines and handcrafted stickers, freely gifted, and the Certain Days calendar offered as a fundraiser for Asheville Bail Fund.
I went to a noise demo on stolen Cherokee lands, walking to and from it past capitalist excess drunk on its own delusions and power, and I cried both ways. I wiped tears away during the demo. My body was there, seeing those in the jail flash lights back at us, wanting them to all be free, and prisons and police to be abolished, and a wholly new world take their place. But my heart was far, far away, with the dead. The dead who should still be here were it not for thefts of lands and all that’s sacred, including life.
I went to a noise demo, yet this #NotMyNewYear, #FuckThisWorld, I heard and felt the quiet of absences: three months of tens of thousands of Palestinians murdered or still “missing” under the rubble, and today, one sudden and still incomprehensible death that’s hitting hard for me and many others, Klee Benally. May their blessed memories—each and every of our dead—topple walls and empires, colonialism and fascism, and all that keeps us from being free, from living lives worth living and dying in our own good time, not killed off early by this sick, sick social order.
Durham, NC: From a anonymously submitted report:
Around 50-60 people made a beautiful cacophony around all sides of the downtown jail, with a banner declaring, “From Gaza to Durham, Empty the Cells!” People banged on railway ties, shot fireworks into the police lot, and took down the American flag in front of the building, while those inside flickered lights in response.
Atlanta, GA: Noise demo organized in front of the Dekalb County jail.
New Orleans, LA: Noise demo held.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Noise demo outside of Broward County Jail.
Northeast
Baltimore, MD: Noise demo held outside of jail. Prisoners inside waved back in solidarity.
Central Falls, RI: Noise demo organized.
Graffiti on ground reading, “Free them all!!!” Via @AshAgony on X/Twitter.
Brooklyn, NY: As Ash J reported, “Anarchists & other abolitionists are holding a noise demo outside of Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) right now to show solidarity with all those locked up in the USA’s jails & prisons. People locked up inside are flashing their lights on & off…Demonstrators lit sparklers, made noise, & let off fireworks.” One person was arrested by police.
Canada
Montreal, QC: Noise demo was held outside of jail. One post on social media read, “#NoiseDemo last night was great. Almost 150 people, lots of fireworks, high energy.”
Hamilton, ON: Noise demos held outside of Barton jail and youth detention facility. From a report on North Shore Counter-Info:
