July 31st, 2010: Call to Action Against Racism and Fascism

july31antifa.blogspot.com

July 31st, 2010: Call to Action Against Racism and Fascism

During the early morning hours of March 27th, a Portland, Oregon
anti-racist activist was shot in what appears to be a well orchestrated
attack. It is suspected that the attackers were members of the neo- Nazi
movement. The victim is a member of the anti-racist skinhead movement, a
son, a friend and has dedicated the past ten years of his life to fighting
white supremacist organizing.

The Portland Police Department has suggested that the shooting is “gang
related.” Already facing mass protests over numerous recent cases of police
brutality and murder, the police treatment of this case is not surprising,
and fits into a pattern of downplaying racist violence while targeting
anti-racist activists.

Although police and politicians attempt to portray cities like Portland as
welcoming safe places, Portland and the Pacific Northwest has a violent and
dangerous history. For 30 years Portland and the surrounding region has
been targeted by white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements. Groups like
White Aryan Resistance (WAR) and Aryan Nations waged an ongoing and
underground campaign to both recruit young whites and to terrorize people
of color, GLBTQ people, and others who were seen as enemies of their racist
order. The 1980’s were an especially violent period in which neo-Nazi
skinheads with ties to WAR beat Ethiopian immigrant Mulugeta Seraw to
death.

But this racist terror has not gone unopposed. Coalitions of anti-racist
youths, militants from the GLBTQ communities, and individuals fighting for
justice and dignity organized to beat back the racists and neo-Nazis. This
organizing was often opposed and criminalized by the authorities who sought
to disrupt independent antifascist organizing. This situation led
organizers to rely on themselves and their own communities.

The organizing by anti-fascists in Portland was a positive example and has
been part of a broader, longterm campaign across the country. From NYC to
LA, from Minneapolis to New Orleans, there is a history of peoples
organizing to both defend themselves against racist terror, as well as come
together to build multi-racial coalitions to discuss and plan forms of
action to address conflicts and crisis in our various communities.

THE SHOOTING IN THE CONTEXT OF GROWNG REACTION

The March 27th shooting occurred within a backdrop of growing Right wing,
racist, and emerging fascist organizing and activity. There has been a
dramatic escalation of rhetoric and action from the broad Right. While all
sectors of the working classes and poor face economic and social
uncertainty, the racists, the Right wing, and the smaller but significant
sections of the neo-Nazi and fascist movements are looking to divide our
class and peoples. Where there should be united class anger against a
system that is continually grinding people down, the Right openly
demonstrates its contempt and hatred for our people. Fascists and neo-Nazis
are looking for these moments of division in which they can move in,
recruit, and carry out their own organizing.

CALL TO ACTION:

We propose Saturday July 31, 2010 as a Call to Action Against Racism and
Fascism. We want to use the CA to both engage the broad, independent, and
radical antiracist/anti-fascist movements.

We want mass and varied forms of protest and action. These actions can
range from: music and DJ shows; educational events; outings of known Right
and fascist organizers; street protest; immigrant solidarity and
anti-minuteman action; and so on. While we want collaboration and
coordination when possible, we also want to maximize the impact of this CA
and thus argue for the greatest degree of creativity and initiative.

We encourage individuals and organizations to determine what best works in
their localities. We support the incorporation of any existing and ongoing
anti-racist/anti-fascist action into this CA and imagine the CA as a way to
bolster already active organizing.

To reiterate, we argue for a maximum of creative and independent
initiative and ask only that a) individuals and organizations endorse the
call b) any public actions and events be promoted. We would not necessarily
seek to publish details of planned actions unless requested to do so.

We want to use the CA as a means to increase collaboration between our
forces and work in a popular manner to highlight the need for a mass,
radical response to racist and fascist organizing.

ENDORSERS:
Anti Racist Action - Central Texas
Anti Racist Action - Los Angeles, CA
Anti Racist Action - Portland/Rose City Antifascists
Anti-Racist Action - Kent, OH
Anti-Racist Action - Trenton, NJ
Bring the Ruckus!
Common Cause - Ontario, Canada
First of May Anarchist Alliance
Four Star Anarchist Organization
Iron Rail Infoshop
Kersplebedeb
Red & Anarchist Skinheads – Northeast
Solidarity & Defense
Wild Rose Collective
Workers Solidarity Alliance

Endorse the Call! Email: july31.antifa@gmail.com.

French:
http://july31antifa.blogspot.com/2010/06/31-juillet-2010-lappel-laction-contre.html

Spanish:
http://july31antifa.blogspot.com/2010/06/31-de-julio-de-2010-una-llamada-la.html

See july31antifa.blogspot.com for more information.