Reportback: An Autonomous Assembly to Organize Resistance in Hampton Roads, VA

Submitted to It’s Going Down

On Sunday, January 15th, the radical folks of Hampton Roads, VA joined cities all over the country in organizing our first-ever autonomous assembly to plan resistance against the Trump administration. As a small but ferocious radical contingent of Hampton Roads, we invited mostly hierarchical local organizations focused on sympathetic causes like environmental justice, queer history and LGBTQ* support, Catholic Workers, and beyond. We were reluctantly expectant of a strong liberal turnout, but were delighted and surprised to be met with an outnumbering turnout from antifa and radical folks in the area who found out about the event through social media. Keeping high spirits and solidarity up is tough in towns like ours, so the mere act of finding each other was enough to make the event a resounding success.

We spoke briefly about our purpose in gathering, then handed the discussion over to the community as each person took a moment to introduce themselves and introduce their cause, involvement, or concern in the community. Because our turnout was so heart-warmingly strong, after introductions we had just enough time to break out into smaller cells organized around specific issues — environmental justice, racial justice, LGBTQ justice, antifa action, and youth outreach — and get to know each other a little more personally, as well as strategize a little more specifically. Overall, connections were made and groundwork was laid for tighter cohesion. Our next assembly rapidly approaches and we’re excited to discuss community defense on multiple fronts with an expanding base of movers, makers, shakers, organizers, and agitators.

On a more somber note, we regret to report that three of our antifascist comrades were arrested and charged with felony riot acts during the #J20 black bloc kettling. They are our dear friends and dedicated organizers, who have each played instrumental roles during the recent NC KKK shutdown, and in orchestrating a New Year’s Eve prisoner solidarity noise demo. We have started a legal aid fund on their behalf, located here.

Additionally, for those who don’t have funds to donate, but do possess artistic talents and would like to contribute to the concert and silent auction benefit we are hosting on February 3rd, we can also be reached through the protonmail account listed in our campaign.

In solidarity with everyone who will be still more targeted and endangered in the next four years, in solidarity with everyone stepping it up here and now.