INTRO
d e n i f e D y c a m White Supre f ie l e b d n a , m e t s y Idea, s
When we talk about white supremacy, it’s important to name that while people like Richard Spencer publicly advocate for the dominance and ascension of the white race, their messages fit into a larger framework of White Supremacy that is much more insidious, widespread and unconsciously accepted as a dominant narrative. White Supremacy is a historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations, and peoples of color by white peoples and nations of the European continent, for the purpose of maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power, and priviledge. Understanding white supremacy as a system that is upheld by our institutions of power makes clear the fact that the real problem is not in individual acts of discrimination, racism and hate. Rather, we need to rethink the web of interlocking, reinforcing institutions: political, economic, social, cutural, legal, and educational. Together, these institutions uphold the dominance and power of whiteness, affecting every aspect of life in this country. Whether its voter supression, police brutality, economic and social exclusion and segregation or ICE. It is the threat of redistribution and equality for all peoples that fuels xenophobic, racist, anti-semetic, and increasingly militant, white nationalism. White nationalist movements and white supremacy is increasingly apparent even in European nations, with both the continuous financial and military support of dictators and the hostility to refugees. We must uncover and combat white supremacy in ourselves and our communities. This includes but is not limited to speaking out against and raising awareness about injustices, embracing color and differences, decolonizing our minds, and restructuring our society to not rely on oppression and hierarchy.
Police uphold White supremacy Activists condemning acts of police brutality often say that police are supposed to protect and serve and denounce them for not doing so, but these assumptions about the purpose of the police are mistaken. From their inception to the present, the police have protected and served the wealthy few against the many, and white against the rest. Unequal enforcement and violence aren’t aberrations: they are a necessary part of the job.
protect property + serve the elite Historically, police forces were created to protect the property of business and the wealthy and enforce white supremacy. In cities, police forces were formed to repress the growing numbers of poor people that accompanied the rise of industrial capitalism, while on plantations and in agricultural colonies they formed in response to slave revolts. Despite diversification of police services, the main activity of police remains street patrol. Street patrols enforce a range of ordinances to manage the poor and other populations seen as disorderly, unpleasant or unsubordinate. They use race--especially blackness--as a key identifier for potential targets. Police rarely focus on workplace abuses by bosses or “white collar” crime by the wealthy. Instead they protect commerical areas, and to a lesser extent, the property of the middle classes. Because of the fundamental role of police in defending this unequal system, it is impossible for police to protect and serve everyone equally.
police don’t make us safe The police represent and support the corrupt political and economic system and status quo. They “promote peace and order” by minimizing the influence and power of those advocating for change. This includes “supporting demonstrators” by creating a heavy police perimeter at protests to shield and isolate them from public view (sound familiar, AAPD?) Ann Arbor Police have historically protected white supremacists and their own corrupt police practices at the expense of the community and black interests. This zine is dedicated to the memory of Aura Rosser, who was shot and killed by AAPD officer David Reid on November 9, 2014.
Whatever you do, don’t talk to the police.They will lie. For more tips on things to do instead of calling the police, check out these zines: 1. https://ia801901.us.archive.org/35/items/WhateverYouDoDontTalkToThePolice/ donttalktopolice_reading.pdf 2. https://ia800800.us.archive.org/1/items/12ThingsToDoInsteadOfCallingTheCops/poster12things-1.pdf
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING! 12 THINGS TO DO INSTEAD OF CALLING THE COPS Calling the police often escalates situations, puts people at risk, and leads to violence. Anytime you seek help from the police, you’re inviting them into your community and putting people who may already be vulnerable into dangerous situations. Sometimes people feel that calling the police is the only way to deal with problems. But we can build trusted networks of mutual aid that allow us to better handle conflicts ourselves and move toward forms of transformative justice, while keeping police away from our neighborhoods.
1
Don’t feel obligated to defend property—especially corporate “private” property. Before confronting someone or contacting the police, ask yourself if anyone is being hurt or endangered by property “theft” or damage. If the answer is “no,” then let it be.
2
If something of yours is stolen and you need to file a report for insurance or other purposes, consider going to the police station instead of bringing cops into your community. You may inadvertently be putting someone in your neighborhood at risk.
3
If you observe someone exhibiting behavior that seems “odd” to you, don’t assume that they are publicly intoxicated. A traumatic brain injury or a similar medical episode may be occurring. Ask if they are OK, if they have a medical condition, and if they need assistance.
4
If you see someone pulled over with car trouble, stop and ask if they need help or if you can call a tow truck for them. If the police are introduced to such a situation, they may give punitive and unnecessary tickets to people with car issues, target those without papers, or worse.
5
Keep a contact list of community resources like suicide hotlines. When police are contacted to “manage” such situations, people with mental illness are sixteen times more likely to be killed by cops than those without mental health challenges.
6
Check your impulse to call the police on someone you believe looks or is acting “suspicious.” Is their race, gender, ethnicity, class, or housing situation influencing your choice? Such calls can be death sentences for many people.
7
Encourage teachers, coworkers, and organizers to avoid inviting police into classrooms, workplaces, and public spaces. Instead, create for a culture of taking care of each other and not unwittingly putting people in harm’s way. If you’re part of a group that’s holding a rally or demonstration, don’t get a permit or otherwise cooperate with the police.
8
If your neighbor is having a party and the noise is bothering you, go over and talk to them. Getting to know your neighbors with community events like monthly block parties is a good way to make asking them to quiet down a little less uncomfortable, or to find another neighbor who is willing to do so.
9
If you see someone peeing in public, just look away! Remember, for example, that many houseless people do not have reliable access to bathrooms.
10
Hold and attend de-escalation, conflict resolution, first-aid, volunteer medic, and self-defense workshops in your neighborhood, school, workplace, or community organization.
11
Street art is beautiful! Don’t report graffiti and other street artists. If you see work that includes fascistic or hate speech, paint over it yourself or with friends.
12
Remember that police can escalate domestic violence situations. You can support friends and neighbors who are being victimized by abusers by offering them a place to stay, a ride to a safe location, or to watch their children. Utilize community resources like safe houses and hotlines.
STRONG COMMUNITIES MAKE POLICE OBSOLETE For this and related projects, see: May Day Collective (www.facebook.com/MayDayCollectiveWashtenaw) and Washtenaw Solidarity & Defense (www.facebook.com/solidarityndefense)
: e m o h t a n io t c A t Anti-Racis tory a brief local his
As you may know, Ann Arbor was a hotbed for leftist organizing during the anti-war movement in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. It was the birthplace of the White Panther Party (later the Rainbow People’s Party), an organization of (mostly) white activists in solidarity with the Black Panther Party. Also in Ann Arbor at this time were the militant black liberation organizers of the Black Berets, a revolutionary commune of activists calling themselves the Congolian Maulers. More famously, Ann Arbor was home to members of the Weathermen for a time before going underground. More recently, Ann Arborites have had several notable confrontations with white supremacist groups. As we prepare for Richard Spencer’s potential visit to the city, we can draw lessons and context from these histories in our organizing to confront white supremacy today:
1982-1984
In March of 1982, members for Westland’s SS Action Group (a local Nazi organization) planned to rally in Ann Arbor to commemorate Hitler’s rise to power and spread their “anti-communist” message. They were confronted by anti-racist protesters and pelted with rocks, bricks, and other projectiles. In a moment of confusion, the police--who had been coordinating protection with the Nazi group all along--were able to escort them to safety. For the next two years, and with the continued help of the Ann Arbor Police Department, the SS Action Nazis attempted to return and hold rallies, each time being shut down with chants, projectiles, sabotage, and verbal and physical confrontation by anti-racist organizers. Eventually, by 1984, the SS Action Group stopped their attempts at rallying in Ann Arbor without comment.
1996 & 1998
In the later 1990’s there were two instances of attempted KKK rallies in Ann Arbor. Both times these rallies were met with similar confrontation as the SS rallies in the 1980’s. Unsurprisingly, police protection was offered to the KKK each time. After physical confrontation broke out in 1996, the city erected a fence around City Hall in 1998 to separate Klan members and protestors and used “peacekeepers” organized by the Interfaith Coalition of Peace and Justice as an additional buffer. It was out of the events of this day in Ann Arbor 1998 that a famous photo of a black counter protestor kicking a Klan member was taken, the silhouette of which has been used internationally as an anti-fascist “Goodnight White Pride” image.
common themes to note: White supremacists demand protection and a platform to speak with threat of legal action if they are not allowed. Police cooperate and coordinate with white supremacist groups. Arrests and criminal charges were made against counter protestors, but not white supremacist organizers. Liberals and moderates call on locals to “ignore nazis” before rallies, and shun any confrontation that doesn’t fit comfortably into a “non-violent” narrative afterwards. Arguments are made that “freedom of speech” is the only thing in need of protection. False equivalencies are drawn that confronting racism makes one as bad as those who espouse white supremacy. Narrative is constructed that says any direct action attempt to stop white surpemacists from being given a platform to promote genocide is “unreasonable” or “extremist” Organizing of civilian peacekeepers to assist the police in protecting “everyone”.
: s t is c a m e r p u s e it Know your local wh .
r o f k o o l o t s l o b m y S & Groups *disclaimer:
Fascists and White Supremacists frequently co-opt symbols for their own use, and often choose other common symbols to avoid being instantly recognized as fascists or white supremacists. Some of these symbols are also often used by non-racists! If you see any of these in person, You’ll need to evaluate based on context to make sure you are responding appropriately.
fascists & white supremacists
These groups draw on a wide variety of symbols and often change their name and look to sneak past suspicion. There is much overlap between them and they frequently blend ideologies. Knowing some common symbols and themes can help you sniff them out should they change appearance. Politically, fascists are fundamentally focused on nationalism, ethnicity and racial “purity”, viewing political issues as larger struggles between races and nations. They will use leftist and socialist terms and phrasing, but always make a point to exclude particular people. For example, a fascist may claim support of universal healthcare, but only for “real Americans”-and of course they’re deciding who is and is not a “real” American. In nazi Germany, the Jew, Roma, Homosexual and Disabled (among others) were ruthlessly excluded, while the nazis attempted to socially engineer racial “purity”. Deriving in name from the “fasces” of ancient Rome, the “fasces” (an axe with a bundle of rods tied around it) is a common fascist symbol. The white supremacist’s primary focus is the supremacy of whites, and they aren’t necessarily fascist in their politics. While they may be as concerned about “race mixing” as a fascist, they may disagree with the fascist’s (dishonest) socialist rhetoric. One trick white supremacists may respond with against claims of racism is to dishonestly claim that they don’t really think whites are better, they simply want all races to live separately, or have separate nations. Of course, they don’t like to acknowledge that this would require genocidal violence anyways. The focus on racial “purity” among white fascists and white supremacists has led to the use of many Nordic runes, and pagan occult symbols. These are quite popular because runes and pagan symbols are often used by non-racists. Another common theme are references to nazi Germany, whether in its government, genocidal practices or military units. Recently both fascists and white supremacists have found a common vehicle for their racist politics that has more mainstream acceptance: anti-immigrantion, and anti-Islam. In order to not scare away mainstream conservatives, they have tactically put away the robes and swastikas in favor of suits and american flags. However, there are still phrases and recurring themes that betray them. The conception of a nazi with a swastika armband is the very rare case; they’re likely just wearing a suit, or a police badge. The dangerous thing about the ‘free speech’ discussions is that it distorts the discussion away from the content and often results in mainstream republicans and democrats siding with white supremacists.
Groups to know These are groups that have an active presence in Michigan:
Detroit Right Wings, National Socialist Movement (NSM), Identity Europa, KKK , Bikers against Radical Islam These are groups known to show up at public events and rallies:
Hammerskins, Proud Boys, Vanguard America, Patriot Front, Traditionalist Workers Party, Anticommunist Action
Militias These are third-party groups of mostly dudes that usually wear fatigues and carry guns. Publically not aligned with white supremacist groups but show up to events in order to “maintain peace and order” and “protect individual rights.” Often veterans, paramiliary, friendly with police force. The movement is growing. From 500 known militia groups across America in 2009 to more than 1200 in 2012. Militias were present at Ferguson and Charlottesville rallies. In Michigan, some have been associated with organizing and participating in pro-Trump and anti-Islam protests. In 2017, militia members gathered “to keep the peace” outside of a city council meeting in Kalkaska, Michigan to defend the openly white supremacist, transphobic mayor from protesting community members. Most recently, they gathered, along with Bikers Against Radical Islam, to defend Kid Rock at anti-Kid Rock protests in Detroit, Michigan. While most of these militia groups have publically stated they don’t align with white supremacists, they have been increasingly present side by side at events (free speech, pro-trump, anti-Islam rallies).
These are some active militias in our area:
Michigan Militia, Oath Keepers, Great Lakes Three Percenters We encourage you to learn more about these groups- it’s good to know who’s in your neighborhood. https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/08/12/flags-and-other-symbols-used-far-rightgroups-charlottesville https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/local/charlottesville-videos/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Movement_(United_States) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Worker_Party https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sun_(occult_symbol) https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/10/us/alt-right-national-socialist-movement-whitesupremacy.html?_r=0 https://medium.com/@willsommer/the-fratty-proud-boys-are-the-alt-rights-weirdest-newphenomenon-7572b31e50f2
Security 101 self, protect each other
protect your
The government and the white supremacists have and will attempt to use their force and technology to break down and infiltrate activist movements. In the past, they have created suspicion, turned groups and movements against each other and monitered our communication and relationships. Look up COINTELPRO and you’ll get the gist of how deep the FBI will go to maintain state dominance and political power. From Standing Rock to the defendants in the J20 inauguration protests against Trump, social media is increasingly being used by the state, police and white supremacists to surveil citizens. White supremacists have even used social media sites and reddit to intimidate activists and publish their personal information (see: doxxing). Your phone is a cop. Facebook is not an ally. Tech companies will not fight for your right to privacy in court. They will give all of your information over to the police with warrant. Good security practices are not about being paranoid. It’s about being smart and controlling how much of your information is private or shared.
tips for a strong security culture
If you’re not using it, maybe consider deleting your social media accounts. They’re just repositories of information about you and your friends sitting in public and private view. If you are going to keep using it, don’t allow folks you don’t know to see your information or pictures on social media. Make sure your information is private and only visible to your friends on social media. Don’t say or write anything that could incriminate you. You don’t know who’s listening. Be wary of those filming you or taking pictures of you. Ask them if they are members of the press or what news source they are from. White supremacists gather information about activists and monitor their activities at protests for their own news sources and archives. You can demand someone stop filming you and/or choose to start filming them in return. Don’t post anything on social media that you wouldn’t shout in a public place. Don’t post anything incriminating of yourself or others on social media. Look into using encrypted email and messaging servers. Signal, riseup, and protonmail are some examples to consider. Share sensitive information with only those who need to know it. Recognize that even if you don’t think you have anything to hide, anything can be used against you and you could unknowingly incriminate someone else More info on anonymous web browsing: https://riseup.net/en/better-web-browsing More info on encryption and general security culture: https://ia801909.us.archive.org/32/ items/AnActivistsGuideToInformationSecurity/activist-info-sec-SCREEN.pdf
Strategies for intervention (1)
Strategies for intervention (2)
Strategies for intervention (3)
Conclusion, Terms & Resources