Oakland, Calif.—On Aug. 16, around 1,000 people gathered at Lake Merritt Amphitheater to support California’s redistricting proposal that’s in response to Texas’ redistricting plan to steal five more Congressional seats by denying fair representation and therefore a voice to Black and Brown people even more than they already have. The demonstration was one of at least 25 actions happening that day in the Bay Area. At this one our mayor, Barbara Lee, and our Congressional Representative, Lateefah Simon, spoke passionately about the need to fight. As in all other actions it included a whole gamut of issues: not just “save democracy,” and stand in solidarity with those raided by ICE, but also “protect trans kids,” “resist fascism,” “defy, rebel, resist, disobey.”

 

 

LEARNING HOW TO FIGHT FASCISM

Beyond the political world, people are finding ways to concretely support our neighbors and fellow human beings targeted by ICE: providing training, especially to youth, about how to respond to possible ICE kidnappings—particularly when agents come in plain clothes, don’t identify themselves and pretend to inquire about the health of possibly undocumented youth. The response should always be: don’t open the door, deny that such person lives here, and those in Alameda County should call Alameda County Immigration Legal Education Partnership (510) 241-4011. In other counties, check with local organizations.

Many are also increasing their efforts to organize legal help to escort people to their court hearings and collect material help for those who might have lost their jobs, etc. Most recently there is an effort to have people stand every day at street corners where day laborers are gathering, looking to be picked for a job to shield them from possible ICE raids.

Other local actions include ongoing opposition to reopening the infamous Dublin and Alcatraz prisons as detention centers, and weekly actions at many local Tesla car dealerships.

Organizing actions involves new discussions about what is really important to people, what is the meaning of these activities as an expression of our solidarity with those who are the present targets of oppression anywhere and everywhere.

–Participant