Thursday, September 2, 2021

This Is America #147: Anti-Frat Action Goes Wild; Daryle Lamont Jenkins on Current Terrain; Philly ABC; Organizing Offline

Welcome, to This is America, September 1st, 2021.

On today’s episode, first we speak with Daryle Lamont Jenkins about his recent travels to New York for an antifascist film festival and Portland for a mass convergence against the Proud Boys. We talk about fighting the far-Right in a post-J6 world, the need to build alternatives to the State, and the growing threat of the anti-vaxx/mask movement. We then talk with someone from Philadelphia Anarchist Black Cross about the history of the group and the importance of upcoming ‘Running Down the Walls’ events.

We then switch to our discussion, where we talk about the need for people to re-hone their organizing skills as posts on social media are often leading to diminishing returns.

All this and more, but first, let’s get to the news.

Living and Fighting

Line 3

On August 25th, Unicorn Riot reported:

Thousands converged on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds to demand that construction on the contentious Line 3 tar sands pipeline be stopped. A massive police response greeted the water protectors who held ceremony, set tipis up and attempted to occupy the area after the permitted Treaty Not Tar Sands Rally. On Friday, hundreds of State Troopers made arrests…The next day, hundreds of water protectors unsuccessfully attempted to speak to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at his residence in St. Paul. Over 60 were arrested by police…Despite plenty of opposition and constant direct actions halting construction, Enbridge’s new Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota is nearing completion.

Lincoln, Nebraska and Iowa City Pops Off

Thousands took to the streets of Lincoln, Nebraska and Iowa City, Iowa to demand the closure of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as Fiji, after continuous reports of sexual assault have come to light at the fraternity.

In Lincoln, the massive crowds have currently forced the closure of the frat house and also clashed with police amid reports of police tasing an African-American man. According to a report on Instagram:

Last night, a man was tazed by Lincoln Police on O street in front of his family. Nearby witnesses began to act immediately. At the same time, just around the corner, protestors were demonstrating against the rapists at a UNL frat. They heard what happened and soon came to help the fight.

Notably, at least initially, there was no time for organizers to stop the crowd from acting. The police were terrified. People acted swiftly, autonomously and posed a huge threat to police. They blocked traffic, surrounded cop cars, acted with force, broke riot lines, and they eventually forced LPD to retreat.

At the height of their power though, after police had retreated, professional organizers stepped in and led the crowd to the sidewalk. Even amongst shouts of dissent, and a willingness to continue in the street, they gave their social media handles and promised to sue the police. But people were angry.

We hope last night has revealed the true intentions of these self-appointed leaders–to quell action, not support it. People organizing themselves can make their own decisions.

On late Tuesday night, a massive crowd marched on the frat in Iowa City, Iowa, flipping over cars, breaking windows, and spray painting graffiti.

Struggle for Abolition

#ShutEmDown2021 actions continue, with a noise demos being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In DC, people took to the streets after the police murder of 27 year-old Antwan Gilmore who was reportedly asleep in his car when police approached him, startling him, and then opening fire. This deadly shooting comes only days after police arrested and brought in alive a white Trump supporter, who threatened to explode a truck bomb in front of the Library of Congress.

Stop Cop City in Atlanta

The Stop Cop City campaign continues to build in Atlanta, with activists forcing the city council to push back voting on the project to until the end of the summer. Currently, a mass march is planned on September 3rd. Also, responding to a call for solidarity, an office for a company involved in the ‘Cop City’ project was trashed in Minneapolis. According to the communique:

Responding to the call from comrades in Atlanta for an 8/18 day of action in solidarity with the struggle to defend the Atlanta forest; vandals broke into the office complex housing Corporation Service Company’s (CSC) regional office in Roseville, a suburb of Minneapolis. After smashing the office door and throwing cans of paint inside, a message was left sprayed across the front: HANDS OFF THE ATLANTA FOREST.

Demands are being made for CSC to drop their client, Blackhall Studios. Blackhall Studios would like to level the South Atlanta Forest to build the country’s largest soundstage and an airport, creating unprecedented levels of gentrification in the city.

Atlanta police plan to level 300 acres and create a sprawling tactical training compound featuring a mock city, with which they’ll develop the ability of police departments around the country to brutalize those practicing resistance.

Rebels in Minneapolis know what it means to inhabit a rapidly gentrifying city, and know what it means to have cutting edge police repression deployed against us. We also know what it means to fight back. Atlanta, we love you.

Mutual Aid and Climate Chaos

Fires are raging across Northern California and Hurricane Ida has slammed into the southeast, causing mass flooding and infrastructure to fail. Check out these following mutual aid projects to support:

Dixie and Caldor Fire

Hurricane Ida

Nabisco Strike Heats Up

A baker strike at the Nabisco factory is heating up in the Pacific Northwest, as left-wing protesters are joining the fight in solidarity. Workers and their allies have been blockading trains and scabs and claim they had a big impact on production. On striking worker who was part of an encampment set up by train tracks claimed, “If they were making stuff, we could smell the cookies.”

Upcoming Events

  • August 21st – September 9th: Call for abolitionist actions in support of prisoner struggles. More info here.
  • September 4th: Halifax Anarchist Bookfair. More info here.
  • September 4th: Stand with Planned Parenthood, Eugene, Oregon, 1pm, West Eugene Planned Parenthood.
  • September 11th – 12th: Running Down the Walls. Events to raise money and awareness for political prisoners. See list here.
  • September 18th: All Out Against Proud Boys in DC. More info here.
  • September 25th: Community mobilization against the KKK. Longview, TX, 11 AM, Gregg County Courthouse.
  • October 2nd – 3rd: NYC Anarchist Bookfair. Happening both outside and online. More info here.
  • November 12th – 14th: Protest against white nationalist ‘American Renaissance’ conference in Burns, Tennessee.

It’s Going Down

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