So It Begins

As I write this, protests and human action against ICE agents in Los Angeles, California has been escalated to violent riots by the ICE agents and the local Law Enforcement. In an act of further escalation, the National Guard is being deployed.

Members of the National Guard:

You operate under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and have an absolute duty to deny unlawful orders. You are being sent into a situation where you’ll need to make a decision – follow orders, or obey your oath.

I wish to remind you – As a society, we decided at Nuremberg there were no innocent Nazis, just those less guilty. Your choice now decides your future, L.A. County’s future, California’s future, the United States’ future, and in a lot of ways the world’s future.

Choose wisely.

Protesters:

Be safe.

Mask up.

Get someone to put anti-facial recognition makeup on you.

Cover your tats.

Zero identifiable markings.

No brands on clothing.

As plain and as basic as you own.

Turn off your phone.

There’s plenty of badged journos around – you’ll find yourself in the footage later, you don’t need to be tracked.

Care for your new folk.

Sadly, some of us are old-hat at this shit, given recent situations. Take a new person under your wing, and teach them how to keep safe.
They’re not stupid – they’re green, just as you were once.

I’m not there/I can’t fight:

There's still plenty you can do.

Make art.

Spread the word.

Are you nearby?

• Leave your hose out and on for folks to wash off the tear gas.
• Film everything. You’ll see where the escalation comes from – show it to the world.

Donate.

Bail bonds funds to keep people out of jail.

Watch.

It’s going to be incredibly difficult to watch a lot of what’s going to happen, here. You need to see, you need to understand, you need to prepare.

You are next.