On this page: Seattle Vigil here ♦ Portland Anti-racists confront cops and fascists here ♦
Seattle Vigil: Masses Winnable to Communist Revolution
SEATTLE (USA), August 30—Everyday March held a vigil to memorialize Summer Taylor, a protestor killed on I-5, and the protestors killed in Kenosha. They blocked half the street with their cars to keep the anti-racist demonstrators safe.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) responded with cops in riot gear, SWAT and the State Patrol. Soon, the SPD moved into attack formation. As they pushed back, tow truck drivers arrived. Our comrade asked the drivers to leave, explaining the nature of the demonstration. The three young drivers agreed, pulled out and left.
Other times, when we marched and rallied and when the National Guard or regular army soldiers have been called, we have approached them with our literature. Most of the time they take it.
We can’t all attend every demonstration. But we can meet people anywhere (work, school, neighborhood) who want to fight racism. The overwhelming majority are interested in communist ideas. When friends ask where the numbers will come from to make a communist revolution, we can point to the many workers that are like these young drivers.
Graffiti in Seattle
Anti-Racists Confront Violence of Cops and Freelance Fascists
PORTLAND (US), August 29—A friend sent this firsthand report on the violent confrontations between fascists and anti-racist demonstrators to nearby comrades. It has been abridged because of space limitations.
I’m home safe…tonight reminded me why it’s important so many people keep reporting what’s actually going on. Tonight was also one I’m sure everyone will hear about. Just remember to look deeper than a narrative [of the capitalist media].
As I was walking home, I walked into the middle of the Back the Blue/Proud Boys rally. I noticed a group of Black teenagers chanting “Black Lives Matter.” A car of Proud Boys maced them, shouting racist vulgarities.
A fascist pushed one of the demonstrators in front of a Proud Boy truck. It looked like the driver intended to run him over. Another protester stepped in front of the intended victim. That’s when the fascists got out of their trucks and started hitting people.
I ran home to get my camera and protective gear. When I got back, there were fascists on almost every street, with weapons in plain sight. Shortly after, I heard a gunshot.
A woman went over to the cops to ask for help. A known Proud Boy, Joey Gibson, was in the crowd attacking people. The cops looked at each other and then crossed the street, ignoring what was happening. Another woman asked a cop why he wasn’t helping. He responded by covering up his ID number.
Here’s the thing: This caravan was advertised weeks in advance. The fascists announced that they planned to go after BLM groups.
The police did nothing to stop them. They didn’t do anything when dozens of trucks without license plates entered the city. Many had fascists with weapons hanging out! They didn’t step in when people got maced or almost run over. They looked the other way.
However, they did run through a police tape to arrest a Black man.
So, when you read about the drama tonight, remember that Black Lives Matter (BLM) is not destroying the city. Think about if all this had been reversed. Had it been a BLM car rally, had it been BLM protestors causing these issues—the police would have declared a riot!
That is why the protests continue…
P.S. I was not near the later incident where a group confronted Joey Gibson. What I’ve seen in the media leaves out his attempts to attack several BLM protestors [with deadly intent] near the scene of the shooting. And the police refused to help the protestors being attacked…
—Portland Activist
KENOSHA , US, August 1—-Mass demonstrations against vicious police shooting of Jacob Blake, shot at close range 7 times in the back in front of his children
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