The shocking election of right-populist billionaire Donald Trump has unleashed a flood of analysis, finger-pointing, and despair on the Left. However, there is an urgent need for pragmatic action in the months and years to come.
We must fight tooth-and-nail against the future which Trump and his cabinet of horrors are working to usher in: increased deportations, the registration of Muslims, bans on abortion and birth control, attacks on LGBTQ people, anti-Semitic populism, and the newfound electoral coalition of U.S. White Nationalism. Before Trump expands Obama’s deportation and security policies, we must build self-organized counter-power with a newfound commitment to our comrades, neighbors, and coworkers.
Trump’s election has already unleashed a wave of racist attacks across the United States, and we encourage everyone to meet these attacks–and whatever else may come–with diverse tactics and ceaseless action from comrades of all abilities. Here’s how we are already starting to organize. We urge you to do the same:
Organize Antifascist Affinity Groups
Don’t wait until an established group sets up a public meeting, get something going with your friends today. Around the country, interest has grown in organizing local antifascist groups. We recommend Antifascist Network’s primer on starting a group as well as their resources for activists articles to anyone interested. Your affinity group can take part in other resistance movements, convene in anti-authoritarian blocks at demonstrations, and take action to resist oppression.
Solidarity and Rapid-Response Networks
Before the election, collectives in different cities were organizing in support of people dealing with exploitative bosses and slumlords. With larger participation, these networks could become increasingly viable in a post-Trump world. In New York, rapid response networks are being set up to monior ICE raids.
Another tactic is the New Sanctuary Movement, which provides spaces for those facing deportation to hide while considering their next moves. Many activist spaces are in the process of becoming sanctuaries and you can help a space where you live become one as well.
Win the Propaganda War
For too long the streets have been dominated by advertisements and apolitical street art. We need to produce stickers, posters, and murals to announce our presence–as well as counter racist and fascist graffiti that is increasingly appearing across the country. The three arrows of the antifascist circle was developed exactly for this purpose, and we’d like to see it generalize as a symbol of our resistance. We will not allow organized white nationalists to engage in open organizing on the streets of New York.
Marches, Demonstrations, Walk-outs, and Strikes
In the days following the election, thousands of people took part in dozens of protests that spontaneously and immediately took place around the country. Antifascists must continue to expand this presence in the streets, sharing militant tactics learned from past movements–the city-shut downs of the anti-war movement, the massive “Day Without Latinos” general strike of 2006, the square reclamations of Occupy, and the infrastructure blockades of Black Lives Matter and #NoDAPL. We must also organize in our workplaces and schools, where politics have been an impolite topic for too long. We need to use the anger this election has generated to shut shit down.
Expose Fascists
Even with Trump’s election, the vast majority of organized white nationalists and fascists remain cowards who only share their views anonymously or around other fascists. This is why the KKK cloak themselves in masks and the Alt Right trolls use anonymous message boards and sock puppet Twitter accounts. However, they often make mistakes and expose personal information. Monitor their message boards, social media accounts, and document any information you find about them. Send it to your local antifa, start your own blog, or flier their neighborhood, workplace, or school to force them from the shadows.
In the coming days, we will be releasing information about area fascist and Alt-Right/White Nationalist groups. Please send tips and info nycantifa@riseup.net or fascismwatchnyc@gmail.com
Update: a couple translations of appeared of this article, in French at La Horde, and in Finnish at Varis Antifasistinen Verkosto.
NO PASARAN!
UNTIL ALL ARE FREE!!
