Naked bike riders demonstrate against federal troops in 'quintessentially Portland' protest

Do you think that I’m talking about individual vigilante acts of violence? I guess I can’t really blame you. The education system in the US definitely reinforces it’s whitewashed MLK by pointing to “the other methods” just being random political assassinations or some anarchist kid throwing a molotov cocktail at a cop car. I’m guessing that’s what you have in your head? The US education system really only allows people to be taught a single method of resistance that is easily controlled by the state.

I mentioned the Black Panther Party specifically because of its community defense tactics as well as community support programs they enlisted.

If you’re actually interested in what I’m talking about then you can go have a read about their methods of community defense. But the fact that you’re asking for an example of individual resistance from me tells me you don’t actually know what I’m talking about.

The organizations I work with personally are working to build these types of communities. Our primary defensive tactics currently are in non lethal forms directed at keeping protesters safe from the situations that lead to violence in the first place. We are not, however, a currently “invaded” city. And are learning tactics from our organization in cities that have been heavily occupied.

And yes. We are “antifa” if that’s what fits your definition. Though that literally just means any organization that wants to protect their community at this point. Some police departments at this point could be labeled “antifa” for limiting ICE activity in their city. Though most are not.

This isn’t about going out and murking random state actors. This is about community defense and safety in a time in which communities are being attacked. And, yes, physical resistance and group intimidation ARE tactics to be used in that defense.

We need more people though. We cannot be effective if every liberal at a protest stands idle while a random comrade is brutalized and taken by ICE. ICE are weak scared little boys that run back to their vans if enough people intimidate them. They are not prepared for or expect to deal with anything but one person they pick out at a time. Physical resistance has been effective in protecting people.