Syracuse, NY: Regional Anti-Fascist Coalition Blocs Up to Confront “Anti-Sharia” White Supremacists

“Whereas an individual or small group may have been met with police harassment and physical confrontation in this situation, our coalition laughed him off and marched by unaffected. The State is not omnipotent. We have situational power to nullify the law. Let’s keep it up!”

On the morning of June 10^th, a coalition composed of several regional antifa, IWW, and anarchist organizations awoke early to converge in Syracuse, NY to combat “anti-Sharia” white supremacy. As mentioned in a previous statement, these “anti-sharia” marches function as a smokescreen to enable state-sanctioned fascist rallies in our city centers. These fascist actions must be countered, disrupted, and shut down by any means necessary.

On our march to the protest site, a lone police patrol car announced via megaphone, “It is illegal to protest while wearing masks.” Whereas an individual or small group may have been met with police harassment and physical confrontation in this situation, our coalition laughed him off and marched by unaffected. The State is not omnipotent. We have situational power to nullify the law. Let’s keep it up!

We arrived at the scene and settled in for what turned out to be a five hour shouting match. While verbal confrontation may seem liberal in appearance, we clearly stated our defensive position in advance and kept our word. With children, dogs, and a variety of community members present, it is important we remain accountable in this way.

Cops, militia, and white supremacists all photographed us from the same vantage point. This line defines the strength and unity of our position, while exposing the bootlicking acquiescence that forms theirs. Although the resources of the State are at times imposing, in reality, this group’s sense of solidarity is laughably weak. Even with the help of a megaphone, their retorts amounted to petty schoolyard style comebacks. Occasionally, if we listened carefully, an uninspired “U-S-A!” chant filtered through their congregation. One passionate man showed his true colors with an amusing yet perplexing rant on bestiality. At one point, a courageous, misguided patriot’s voice soared above the rest, “You are all a bunch of communists!,” to which our coalition erupted with cheers. They finally got something right!

In notable difference from more liberal-minded protests, our chants took on a radical tone. Among other points made, we criticized settler-colonial occupation of stolen land, demanded the abolition of nations and borders, affirmed our radical queerness, condemned the State’s white supremacy, ”Cops and klan, Hand-in-hand!,” denounced capitalism and fascism, ”Ronald Reagan is dead!,” and called out racist, anti-Muslim, right-wing appropriations of feminism.

“While within the security of our coalition we can afford to enjoy ourselves, we must remember the importance of maintaining a tight bloc. Plainclothes NY state police lurked on the outskirts of our coalition. They attempted to isolate us, lead us away from our comrades, and fish for information.”

While within the security of our coalition we can afford to enjoy ourselves, we must remember the importance of maintaining a tight bloc. Plainclothes NY state police lurked on the outskirts of our coalition. They attempted to isolate us, lead us away from our comrades, and fish for information. Regardless of what they claim, or perhaps even believe themselves, they are not looking to collaborate on equal terms—even if, especially if, they claim to fight white supremacist extremism too. Agents of the State are completely incapable of working with us by free and equal association. Our fight leads to our victory. The State has no place in that world. Stay tight, be wary, and give absolutely zero statements. Your mask does you countless favors here, but it does not prevent correlation between various anonymous statements and social media. If you are approached, bid farewell as politely or offensively as you wish, walk away and return to your friends. Report to your organization any information you may have unintentionally divulged. No shame here. We all get tricked sometimes, trickery is their trade after all, but as a matter of security and longevity we gotta know what’s up!

“Police and fascist-militia presence aside, through our numbers, we had control of the situation. Whether or not we realized it in the moment, any escalation was in our hands. The size of our bloc compelled the police to escort the fascist-militia to their cars.”

Police and fascist-militia presence aside, through our numbers, we had control of the situation. Whether or not we realized it in the moment, any escalation was in our hands. The size of our bloc compelled the police to escort the fascist-militia to their cars. Oh the irony!

Meanwhile, we protected our own and made a safe exit. Special thanks here to the medics and others who kept everyone hydrated. Many bystanders thanked us with high fives and expressed their approval, “We love you guys!”

This action gave us invaluable experiential knowledge for future tactics: when we claim them, the streets are ours. Let’s offer sympathizers our extra bandannas and flags!

From community self-defense to regional mobilization, it is clear that a plurality of horizontal, decentralized organizations are capable of uniting to defend themselves.