It's Time Change Tactics

Recently, with the numerous crises(LGBTRC at UC Davis being vandalized, noose and racist shit at UCSD, soon to be March 4th and budget cuts already in place) that have struck our community, we have been forced to struggle against the blatant animosity placed before us and have been met with quite outrageous resistance.

When people organized to let the campus know that we weren't going to take shit like the Compton Cook-out lightly, what did they do? The Koala called BSU a bunch of ungrateful niggers. We protested against that, and what did they do? They hung a noose. We protested against that and what did they do? Said they were with us, issued a bullshit document with empty rhetoric and promises as well as increase the police presence on campus to 'protect' black students when the police are a RACIST institution of oppression.

My question is, when we escalate, do we really think that there's not going to be reaction from our opponents? They're going to escalate. We shouldn't be surprised when they escalate, instead, we should strive to understand the nature of this capitalist, racist, sexist, and homophobic system and the actions it pushes people to materialize. And what language does this system speak? Violence.

This system violently oppresses us and threatens our very existence. Understanding this, it would be foolish and naive of us not to take necessary measures to protect our communities. What do I mean? I mean that we can't just fucking keep marching around and shouting at the higher authorities, demanding them to do something because they won't. We have to understand that they are invested in the system. They serve the system. Their privilege exists because the current system gives these people privilege (the chancellors, politicians, police).

What is needed? Escalated and renewed tactics that implement direct people power.

I'm talking about for March 4th, because we anticipate heavy police presence, and from what we've seen earlier this year with police brutality against protestors, let's not just bring cameras and make a fuss when we get beat up by the pigs, instead, lets' bring rags with vinegar, solution to deal with tear gas, and train ourselves with black bloc tactics(how to move as a coherent unit to prevent being singled out and arrested, etc) so we can effectively resist and protect our brothers and sisters. Instead of relying on racist police to 'protect' us from racists, when they themselves are racist, to take it on ourselves to look after each other and pick up knowledge and skills regarding self-defense. After all, who is going to protect us when the police brutalize us? Not the legal system - only us.

I'm talking about a call to re-think our tactics. Yes, critical liberation theory - they're going to brutalize us because it's in their best interest because this system GIVES THEM PRIVILEGE. What makes you think they're going to willingly give that up? The more we resist, the more we see that those that hold power won't give up their privilege and if we really want to prevent our brothers and sisters from being hurt, why the fuck are we looking to the power system for answers?! The solution is within us to defend our community the way we see fit.

We've reached a point where going back only means returning to the way it was in the beginning - more shit like the Compton Cook-out or Warren College's 'Night of the Orientals Party' or vandalized LGBT resource centers, etc. Either you free or you not - no such thing as in the middle. This second class, oppressed citizenship shit still means we're not free, so let's get real and down with it and stop fronting. It's time to escalate.