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Jun 28, 18

This Is America #14: So Much for the Tolerant State

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Welcome, to This Is America, June 27th, 2018.

State Attacks on #OccupyICE Continue as Police Push Towards Raids

In the last few days, both Democrats and pundits have increased calls for “civility” against the boogeyman of “left-wing violence,” amidst both the mass doxxing of ICE employees, the growth of #OccupyICE, and the tame protesting, booing, and name calling of public officials in public places. While the bootlickers on the Right use the “spirit of 76′” as a window dressing for their future fascist visions, it seems none of them want a return to bread riots, destruction of property, and tar and feathering of government officials that marked the lead up to the first American revolution.

“Use your words,” we are told, by the same ruling class that would mobilize the full force of the State against anyone that challenges the dominant order.

This policing by the Center is designed to have two effects: first, to get more moderate elements in social movements to police the more insurgent and combative ones. And two, to prepare and normalize the very real repression that is coming. Already, various #OccupyICE camps have been attacked, but a full scale eviction, especially of the flagship encampment in Portland, has not been attempted – yet.

https://twitter.com/SoellerPower/status/1012155511196839938

Much like with Occupy in 2011 however, the police have started to play up fears in the media of “reports” and “calls” from the public about the encampments, in an attempt to drive a wedge between the surrounding community and the occupations, as well as build support for a coming raid – which will be violent, costly, and also risks bringing out more people who support the encampment into the streets and thus into the struggle. This is why we need to call out the bullshit from both the Center and the police, now. This is counter-insurgency, not civility.

And the police are also afraid, as they know that this weekend mass rallies are being called for by progressive and non-profit groups, and they are scrambling to break away the direct action oriented segments of the movement before they get a chance to grow.

In the face of this, now is the time to prepare for these raids, but moreover, prepare for how people will respond to the violence of the State and it’s police, once the hammer does come down.

In Portland, despite threats of arrest and recent attacks by DHS agents, as well as low level attempts to recapture the ICE building from protesters, such as taking down a “Refugees Welcome” flag, the encampment in Portland remains.

On Twitter, Portland communards report that DHS agents even went so far as to put up a cardboard cutout of Hulk Hogan in the window with an ICE agent suit on, in an attempt to intimidate demonstrators. Despite this, people remain in high spirits and the occupation continues forward, keeps on growing, and people report that recently wooden roofs have been added to various structures.

In Tacoma, last night around 10 people were arrested by Tacoma police before a nightly noise demonstration was to take place. Despite the arrest, the noise demonstration still took place and the encampment continues. Today however, it was released that police were giving occupiers 24 hours (or until 6pm on June 28th) to leave the area or face arrest. For more updates, check @Occupy_NWDC on Twitter.

In Los Angeles, religious groups carried out civil disobedience at a federal courthouse against child separation ahead of an appearance by Jeff Sessions on Tuesday. 25 people were arrested. Meanwhile, Occupy ICE LA continues to camp out in front of entrances of the ICE building. Supplies and bodies are still needed. Check @LAAgainstICE for more info.

In Detroit, while we reported last time that barricades went up, effectively blockading ICE vehicles, Occupy ICE Detriot (@ICE_Occupy) wrote on Twitter:

Yesterday (the 25th), we shut down the ICE office with 40 people. Our camp was dismantled; our spirits were not. Today, our camp was rebuilt and the movement continues. Join us tomorrow!

Currently the occupation continues, but more people are needed on the scene.

Lastly, in New York, the #OccupyICE encampment has moved to a new park in Foley Square, but police are now giving it until midnight to vacate the area. The Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council put out a statement on their decision to pull out of the original occupation, due to ICE sneakily denying bail hearings due to the protests, essentially pitting protesters against migrants. In a statement they stated:

In other anti-ICE news, in Washington DC, people protested outside of ICE HQ. In Richmond, California, anti-ICE demonstrations took place in front of a detention facility. In Tornillo, Texas, people also blockaded the entrance to a detention site, the largest child detention camp in the United States.

Also, this weekend will see massive anti-ICE demonstrations in a variety of cities organized by different Left and non-profit groups. This would be a good time for people to hit the streets and encourage people to get involved in the occupations, hold a bucket out for donations for the encampments themselves, and also carry out new waves of actions with more people on the streets. We also want to remind people that if they are looking for full color, easy to read, and high quality anti-border materials such as posters and stickers, please check out CrimethInc., which has both and more.

#AntwonRose

Protests and demonstrations continue for Antwon Rose in East Pittsburgh and beyond. On Tuesday, a group of construction workers walked off the job in solidarity with Antwon Rose and took part in a protest march.

Also in Pittsburgh, people organized autonomously to carry out a home demonstration against the police officer that killed Antwon Rose. According to a post on Twitter:

Several autonomous crews organized a demonstration outside of killer cop michael rosfeld’s home today. A full report-back will be released through later tonight.

Living and Fighting

  • In Philadelphia, people began circulating flyers with the names and faces of local ICE agents.
  • The supreme court ruled against public sector unions, stating that unions cannot automatically collect union dues from employees that they bargain for without them officially signing up to become part of a union. This ruling was met by protests and more are planned.

  • Immigrant rights organizer Maru Villalpando will remain in the US says a judge who ruled against ICE’s attempt to deport the long time organizer in the Pacific Northwest. As a guest on this show several weeks ago, Villalpando stated that ICE wrote that she should be deported due to her long-term “Latino advocacy.”
  • Now released from jail, former neo-Nazi leader Matthew Heimbach has stated that he is “quitting politics.” While we think these recent statements have more to do with Heimbach’s ongoing legal troubles, for the time being, he is keeping his head down.
  • The Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement or (RAM) continues forward in it’s bail program, this time releasing a youth.

  • Unicorn Riot reports that the fate of the Line 3 pipeline in the Midwest, at least in the eyes of the State, will be decided this week. The pipeline has been fought by indigenous people and their accomplices for years. Unicorn Riot writes: “This week, the fate of the biggest oil project in North America is scheduled to be decided. Five commissioners on the public utilities commission will either grant a certificate of need, or deny the project.”
  • Appalachians Against Pipelines, Camp White Pine, and L’eau Est La Vie Camp are all calling for several weeks of action against the Bayou Bridge pipeline in Louisiana later in July. The Bayou Bridge pipeline is the tail end of the Dakota Access Pipeline. In the last month, protests have continued, but despite court order to halt construction for various reasons, the company has continued to rush into building the project. See the call to action here.

  • On Saturday, July 30th, Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys will return to Portland for yet another rally. This week on social media, Patriot Prayer’s leader Joey Gibson has taken to promoting and selling “Better Dead than Red” shirts which feature the words “Rose City Antifa” on a gravestone. Recently, Gibson has also stated that he is working closely with local DHS agents, who will help facility his far-Right rally. What a Libertarian! Read the call to action for June 30th here.
  • In Philadelphia, graffiti was written in solidarity with Antwon Rose.

  • Also on June 30th in DC, anarchists, antifascists, and anti-authoritarians are calling for an abolitionist bloc in a mass march.

https://twitter.com/SmashRacismDC/status/1012035992319152133

  • People are being encouraged to make calls and emails to demand parole for some of the remaining MOVE 9. More info here.
  • In Staunton, VA, 200 rallied in solidarity with immigrant youth being detained inside a prison with a long history of abuse.
  • In Texas, people flyered the neighborhood of white nationalist and Proud Boy’s lawyer, Jason Van Dyke.

  • Mass protests broke out after the courts decided to now uphold Trump’s current iteration of the Muslim Ban.
  • Lastly, be sure to check out a new collection of posters linking ongoing police killings of black DC community members and political cases such as the J20 and Standing Rock. Check out the posters here.

That is going to do it for us tonight, until next time!

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