anonymous submission –
In our region immigrants received texts from ICE to do in-person reporting over the weekend, something generally unheard of. This sort of thing happened all over the country.
On Saturday, people showed up to support people who came to the check ins. Two people were detained that day from clashes with police and DHS. We weren’t there that day so can’t speak to it or analyze it so I hope some other crew or individual writes about that day.
We showed up on Sunday where the building seemed to be closed and no one was being let in, but migrants who came were connected to lawyers and took pictures in front of the building as proof they showed up.
People had been there since 8 because the reporting time was between 8AM and 4PM, but we arrived around 12:30. When we got there there was probably about 100 people and maybe 30-45 of them in some level of black bloc (And I say “some level” because a lot of people still had very identifiable features out – eyebrows, whole forehead, hair. Some people were wearing black but their clothes really stood out in a fashion kind of way, people with tags and logos that weren’t covered. It’s not just wearing all black but about being as uniform and nondescript as possible), many people with solid defensive gear: 3M respirators (are you all using 60921, 60923, or 60926 filter cartridges?), goggles (did you make sure they are shatter proof?) and helmets. Barricades were up at both the entrances, a more extensive one on the entrance people expected a conflict at, the same area the cops attacked and left from the day before.
Practically every car passing by was honking in support and the group was well stocked on food and water, a few extra defensive supplies and one leaf blower. I would also like to make honorable mention of what was possibly the best Bánh mì of my life, but maybe that’s just because every thing tastes better when it’s free and revolt really makes the simple pleasures of being alive feel magical. In general, the vibes for the whole time were great. People were really nice and welcoming, people were going around collecting trash and making sure everyone – especially those in bloc – were hydrated and have been eating.
As the day went on the collective force of human will in revolt was providing umbrella cover for taggers, sabotaged a mechanical lift that was left outside after we couldn’t move it, and scouring the area for anything not bolted down – trash cans, rope and a dumpster were added to the assemblage of trash, debris and infrastructure which made up our barricades. And how ironic, what the enemy considers less than human, garbage to be removed, assembled barricades of trash blocking off their pristine, towering building of modern architectural shit. Even the plants and flowers to dress up their fortress of human misery were torn out of the dirt – to the ire of some but as one person put it, rip that shit up and gift it to others – that’s flowers for the people.
My crew left a little after 4 as it seemed others were packing up and heading out. There was not a single cop in sight the whole time we were there.
Some Reflections
It’s been said and speculated that the actions yesterday stopped ICE from showing up on Sunday. It’s possible that the fighting created a situation where the regular workers felt unsafe to come into work so ICE couldn’t carry out their work, but it’s also possible that ICE is trying to fuck with migrants and put them in an uncertain and scary position, or send their opposition (us) on a wild goose chase to tire us out and wear down our morale.
This begs two important questions: How do we oppose and interfere with ICE on our terms, rather than simply react to them? There’s a whole logistic and supply chain for ICE enforcement and deportations that can be attacks – their suppliers, their funders, their vehicles, their political support in government, finding out who individual agents are and taking the fight to their neighborhoods and homes.
There’s also the question of what does victory mean in this moment? Broadly, and in smaller moments. For me this is taking seriously the possibly to free captured people which means building the infrastructure to support them. It means taking ICE agents out of operation for extended periods of time – or permanently. It means making it logistically impossible or more difficult for them to carry out raids and deportations. It means raising the cost of enforcement action – every raid should be a riot and they should have to mobilize more and more resources to even have a chance to succeed. Ultimately, it’s the destruction of ICE, the United States, the border, the entire idea of citizenship or the nation.
No Border = No Nation.
No Nation = No Border.
One of the things that was really sweet was a few moments of migrants thanking people, and specifically going out of their way to thank people in bloc, for being there. It feels awkward and we’re not there to be thanked or for any recognition (otherwise we wouldn’t be hiding our identities), but it is a big morale boost to know that not only just being there but being there in a fighting capacity is making people feel a little more secure.
Another thing that has been really nice to see was people in black bloc being really friendly and outgoing instead of standoffish. Sometimes it can be rough with newer people who missed the experiences and lessons of 2008, Occupy, the post-ferguson era, even the first trump era. But this also means that they don’t inherit our traumas and entrenched ideals and ways of acting.
Some of the things that were missing was at multiple times it would have been useful to have a hammer or wrench to fuck around with some barricade material. There was also a very limited amount of barricade material so it may be worth thinking about coordinating with someone to say pick up a bunch of pallets, bring them to a drop zone away from but in walking distance from the area so people can go and bring in more barricade materials.
It would have been nice to have more supplies to hand out – black t-shirts, maybe a ‘what, why and how’ of black bloc and basic security flier as well as general handbills for analysis and tactics. There were also two low hanging cameras in the front that could have easily been covered and really should have been.
See you all in the streets! Death to ICE & Long Live Anarchy!
anonymous submission –
In our region immigrants received texts from ICE to do in-person reporting over the weekend, something generally unheard of. This sort of thing happened all over the country.
On Saturday, people showed up to support people who came to the check ins. Two people were detained that day from clashes with police and DHS. We weren’t there that day so can’t speak to it or analyze it so I hope some other crew or individual writes about that day.
We showed up on Sunday where the building seemed to be closed and no one was being let in, but migrants who came were connected to lawyers and took pictures in front of the building as proof they showed up.
People had been there since 8 because the reporting time was between 8AM and 4PM, but we arrived around 12:30. When we got there there was probably about 100 people and maybe 30-45 of them in some level of black bloc (And I say “some level” because a lot of people still had very identifiable features out – eyebrows, whole forehead, hair. Some people were wearing black but their clothes really stood out in a fashion kind of way, people with tags and logos that weren’t covered. It’s not just wearing all black but about being as uniform and nondescript as possible), many people with solid defensive gear: 3M respirators (are you all using 60921, 60923, or 60926 filter cartridges?), goggles (did you make sure they are shatter proof?) and helmets. Barricades were up at both the entrances, a more extensive one on the entrance people expected a conflict at, the same area the cops attacked and left from the day before.
Practically every car passing by was honking in support and the group was well stocked on food and water, a few extra defensive supplies and one leaf blower. I would also like to make honorable mention of what was possibly the best Bánh mì of my life, but maybe that’s just because every thing tastes better when it’s free and revolt really makes the simple pleasures of being alive feel magical. In general, the vibes for the whole time were great. People were really nice and welcoming, people were going around collecting trash and making sure everyone – especially those in bloc – were hydrated and have been eating.
As the day went on the collective force of human will in revolt was providing umbrella cover for taggers, sabotaged a mechanical lift that was left outside after we couldn’t move it, and scouring the area for anything not bolted down – trash cans, rope and a dumpster were added to the assemblage of trash, debris and infrastructure which made up our barricades. And how ironic, what the enemy considers less than human, garbage to be removed, assembled barricades of trash blocking off their pristine, towering building of modern architectural shit. Even the plants and flowers to dress up their fortress of human misery were torn out of the dirt – to the ire of some but as one person put it, rip that shit up and gift it to others – that’s flowers for the people.
My crew left a little after 4 as it seemed others were packing up and heading out. There was not a single cop in sight the whole time we were there.
Some Reflections
It’s been said and speculated that the actions yesterday stopped ICE from showing up on Sunday. It’s possible that the fighting created a situation where the regular workers felt unsafe to come into work so ICE couldn’t carry out their work, but it’s also possible that ICE is trying to fuck with migrants and put them in an uncertain and scary position, or send their opposition (us) on a wild goose chase to tire us out and wear down our morale.
This begs two important questions: How do we oppose and interfere with ICE on our terms, rather than simply react to them? There’s a whole logistic and supply chain for ICE enforcement and deportations that can be attacks – their suppliers, their funders, their vehicles, their political support in government, finding out who individual agents are and taking the fight to their neighborhoods and homes.
There’s also the question of what does victory mean in this moment? Broadly, and in smaller moments. For me this is taking seriously the possibly to free captured people which means building the infrastructure to support them. It means taking ICE agents out of operation for extended periods of time – or permanently. It means making it logistically impossible or more difficult for them to carry out raids and deportations. It means raising the cost of enforcement action – every raid should be a riot and they should have to mobilize more and more resources to even have a chance to succeed. Ultimately, it’s the destruction of ICE, the United States, the border, the entire idea of citizenship or the nation.
No Border = No Nation.
No Nation = No Border.
One of the things that was really sweet was a few moments of migrants thanking people, and specifically going out of their way to thank people in bloc, for being there. It feels awkward and we’re not there to be thanked or for any recognition (otherwise we wouldn’t be hiding our identities), but it is a big morale boost to know that not only just being there but being there in a fighting capacity is making people feel a little more secure.
Another thing that has been really nice to see was people in black bloc being really friendly and outgoing instead of standoffish. Sometimes it can be rough with newer people who missed the experiences and lessons of 2008, Occupy, the post-ferguson era, even the first trump era. But this also means that they don’t inherit our traumas and entrenched ideals and ways of acting.
Some of the things that were missing was at multiple times it would have been useful to have a hammer or wrench to fuck around with some barricade material. There was also a very limited amount of barricade material so it may be worth thinking about coordinating with someone to say pick up a bunch of pallets, bring them to a drop zone away from but in walking distance from the area so people can go and bring in more barricade materials.
It would have been nice to have more supplies to hand out – black t-shirts, maybe a ‘what, why and how’ of black bloc and basic security flier as well as general handbills for analysis and tactics. There were also two low hanging cameras in the front that could have easily been covered and really should have been.
See you all in the streets! Death to ICE & Long Live Anarchy!