At the risk of being giant contrarians:
The dominant response to a transphobic police raid is "have a demo about it." The police flexed by doing the raid, and they're flexing again by channeling insurgent energy into a symbolic protest. While there, they will flex again by either 1) beating and arresting people, 2) coercing the demo into total passivity, or 3) both.
People are mad. Give them an avenue to affect change beyond a crowdfunding campaign where all they do is toss money (not "mutual aid," it's not mutual and it doesn't build connections) or have a parade (does not "raise awareness" or build collective agency).
Please for the love of all that is good in this world, have open general assemblies that allow people to come together and meet as equals (no Lautis, no Ordner:innen). Give space for them to communicate with each other, get to know each other.
Why is "demo" the default model of change and especially the default response to repression? The State and normies don't give a fuck about your demos, and they're not helping us become dangerous.
Another new text!
"Demonstrating… What Exactly?: On Demonstrations, Counterinsurgency, and Tactics"
Berlin has such a strong protest culture that it feels like it eclipses all other political action. But why? And for all the incredible amount of time and effort we put into this a particular form of organizing, do we really have so much to show for it?
This text looks at demonstrations in Berlin, principally the street movement over the last three years in support of Palestinian liberation. It tries to critically analyze the form and function of demos beyond what we assume them to be.
But it’s not just about the Palestine solidarity movement, nor just about protests. It’s not even just about Berlin. It’s a case study in a particular set of tactics and actions over the last three years that are representative of “western” radicalism at large.
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Available as a zine, soon to be available for online reading too.
https://en.scrappycapydistro.info/zines/demonstrating-what-exactly
Shout out to our comrade for the cover art.
https://www.crowskult.art/
