In addition to some of the topics I wrote about yesterday, I am going to forward you some solid advice from a group of people that I have worked with, successfully, in the past when it comes to Anti-Fascist Action. This is via a well-respected comrade in Portland who has been on the ground doing the good work for a while now. Opsec reigns supreme, every pun intended, so excuse if this text come across a little jarred because I have edited it for that particular reason. Do read this with the events taking place in Portland in mind, but at the same, take notes of these helpful ideas because they work.
The usual disclaimers apply. You know your situation much better than any of us could. You know your capacities and desires better, too. I’m also not arguing that you should do anything dangerous or illegal.
It seems to me that Trump supporters want to draw us into a frontal conflict employing tools they are familiar with (brute physical force, guns, etc.). Everything that has happened in Portland over the past four years reads as a series of provocations to that purpose, aided and abetted by the police.
We shouldn’t give them what they’re seeking…Rather than focusing on reacting to what they do, we have to be thinking about how to outflank them and prevent them from achieving their objectives. This often means expanding the fronts we are engaging on, opening up new spaces where they are not prepared to counter us.
This below is where it gets practical and by now I hope your coffee is kicking in:
So, for example, if their goal is to dominate the streets and the news cycle, and they set out to do that by concentrating their forces (and consequently a large number of police) in downtown Portland, and it ceases to be worth the costs to meet them head to head, one solution is to expand the playing board (“the streets”) into a space they can’t dominate in a way that also changes the news cycle.
To make this example a little more precise, if you know that on a certain day the vast majority of fascists and police will be concentrated in a particular area, what other locations will that leave open? Are there places that opponents of Trump/fascism could accomplish things that would be newsworthy, taking advantage of the absence of Trump supporters and police? If Trump supporters mobilize in a given location, only to hear that something contrary to their objectives has happened elsewhere as a consequence of their mobilization, it could take the wind out of their sails. It might even compel the police to rethink the wisdom of mobilizing a lot of officers to secure space for fascists, if the consequence is that they are unable protect other locations
It is important to note that Anti-Fascist work has many faces and all of them are important. Providing food, water and shelter, education, community work and such are a vital part to this movement. The above, however, is immediately important to note in the U.S. as these next 50-60 days until the election and immediately after will prove to be a testing ground as to how far “they” can push the fascist envelope.
Subtle reminder to tune in, follow and share this weeks playlist. It’s definitely one of the recent better ones and I am still way deep into this one.
Just going to have to post these two without any real smart comment after one another. To emphazise the point, Jeff Bezos’ personal wealth increased by the unimaginable number IN A DAY, not Amazon’s.
Via my good friends over at the Acid Sweat Lodge.
Again, I am out of shit to say about the Police, the idea of policing, especially in the U.S. - and I am not saying it is any better here in Europe, it’s just as bad, aside from the seemingly daily killing of people for no other reason other than being racist scared fuccbois with guns. Imagine a world where 99% of a police’ budget would go to training and implementing community based social workers, education and rehabilitation instead of these rabid pigs? Again, demand everything.
Injustice is nothing but political will.
Not that I have come across this counter “argument” - it’s not a valid point in my humble opinion - but apparently this does happen. Just so we are clear on the subject: Sex Work is Work. End of.
Not baffled, nor should any one be surprised. You can only judge a politician by their past actions - policy created, voted for and supported, and not by their promises for your vote. In our current system, holding politicians accountable is a delusional pipe dream, the system isn’t designed for it, only the propaganda to make you believe so, is.
Before I end todays newsletter a very quick, but heartfelt thank you to everyone that has signed up here, supports this work and sends words of encouragement. It’s all really supportive and heard as I am trying to find healthier, more informative ways for us all to stay connected and progress into a better tomorrow.
Thank You.