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Folks, many of you may be concerned about what's about to happen in DC over the next few days. I want to give a very brief overview of what DC-based organizers have been focusing on in response to the combination fascist siege and state military occupation.
First, there is no counterprotest planned for this. Not only is it less safe than usual with 20,000 armed troops in the streets, it's also not the right tactic. The police/state and non-state fascists are fighting each other over federal property. It's best to just let them fight
While they're fighting, DC residents (especially unhoused residents), are going to be particularly vulnerable. The focus is on providing as much protection to them as possible.
So this is not to say "ignore fascists til they go away." Rather, it's that direct confrontation at this time isn't the best tactic, and a different response (providing direct aid to those most vulnerable to fascist violence) is more appropriate at this time.
DC Mutual Aid Network-affiliated groups have been working with shelters to provide housing for folks who live unhoused downtown, including @CasaRubyDC and @RemoraHouse_DC. They've also been able to fundraise for hotel rooms for them (at hotels that aren't hosting fash).
I would recommend donating to the central DC mutual aid fund. These funds are distributed to any autonomous mutual aid collective doing work around this (and these groups are typically either BIPOC-led or BIPOC-initiated). https://www.gofundme.com/f/ongoing-mutual-aid-for-dc-frontlines?fbclid=IwAR0umdgXGmT8cdcpuy93WNhuI_ucfqmEwRsdqVup2m8hwypcnhfIq7xm9Ps
The other, still ongoing, effort is to get downtown hotels to close and stop profiting off a right-wing coup! @ShutDown_DC has identified several hotels where the fash are primarily staying. Making phone calls to these hotels is still much appreciated. https://www.shutdowndc.org/updates/take-action-tell-dc-hotels-to-close-january-15-21-and-pay-workers-to-stay-home?fbclid=IwAR1zzMRCc0WPkCuYj0E6WIXPRc7H8SLDCzrnnoJUWMeIdV5HU2tiK-Pt02M
But this is all a very fluid situation, and we'll have to see how circumstances might change over the next few days. If I know any more information, I can try to keep folks updated on here.
With all that said: This is a very good reminder that Antifa doesn't just mean blocking up and punching Nazis. Keeping each other safe through community care and mutual aid is equally as important antifascist organizing and resistance.
This is also a good reminder that this is a *3-Way Fight.* We have to defeat the rising violent threat that far-right white supremacists place on our communities. But we can't allow the state and its police to use these fascists as an excuse to further its carceral agenda.
The police/military are not "on our side," and they're certainly not protecting anyone (except themselves).
They just happen to be pointing their guns in the other direction at the moment. They view non-state fascists as more threatening to their power for the time being.
They just happen to be pointing their guns in the other direction at the moment. They view non-state fascists as more threatening to their power for the time being.
One thing we have to keep an eye on is how their actions will end up coming back to harm BLM and other left-wing activists in the medium and long term.
P.S. @SunriseMvmtDC is working on compiling this directory of mutual aid groups in DC, along with links to donate to them. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCGUcpFe6cKQ7dQnluO-9r2FkTUa8-2DresOywDGwgs/edit?fbclid=IwAR3ZWYoQKfNOP80WjeuF_dNJa43844ryctq0h0jsYF-NaAmczMQAlPv-91U
The central GoFundMe listed at the top of this doc (the same one that I linked above in the thread) was set up by @PCollective2020.
The central GoFundMe listed at the top of this doc (the same one that I linked above in the thread) was set up by @PCollective2020.
