Previously: Homeless is not an insult, houseless is not a treadmill & media: No Blackstone in Columbus
February 18, 2025
Open letter & feedback for newbies
It is my hope for yall to ally with local organizations and all working people to become a fighting mass movement against all oligarchs. For this aim I sought opinions & feedback on the event from protesters and organizers. Here's my honest report, analysis, and suggestions.
Most frequently, I got questions about your identity, motives, specific goals and political demands. In attempt to answer their questions or at least provide some context and speculation, I have shown them debrief threads online, and described my impressions. But this has not been a satisfactory answer.
Ultimately my friends & comrades generally feel quite suspicious, which I know is quite apparent to yall. However, many attended your protest, and that participation shows some openness, albeit reluctant.
On cops
I'm worried by yall overall neutrality and individual receptiveness to interactions with cops. (see: tiktok video of the POV individual conversing with the "dialogue officers".) Some of yall engaging in internal critiques feel similarly. I urge yall to listen to them, and do not trust any police.
I sympathize with not wanting to antagonize cops. You can still do this and also discourage your people from assuming the better of cops... or even speaking to them at all. I understand that most yall are probably new to abolitionist ideas. This may seem strange, impractical, or extreme. I worry this request won't be very convincing or won't go smoothly. But I must try.
On confronting MAGA extremists and white supremacist ideologies
These hate groups have infiltrated the cops, which is part of why it is important not to trust them. If you continue to protest, yall will meet counter-protesters. I encourage you to seek guidance from experienced organizers on this. MAGA, neonazis, and supremacists are insidious and dangerous.
Yall have made peacefulness a high priority of your protests. But MAGA and neonazis will inevitably make that commitment a challenge. They'll be crybullies, provoking you then acting a victim. Even if you respond with restraint yall are vulnerable to looking bad. In my opinion, mindfully preparing for violence in self defense when necessary is preferable. Not everyone can bring themselves to do that, but some can and will-- planning is better than not. Self defense is an American value and yall are meant to be entitled to it.
Suggestions for possible political demands
Restore & protect the human rights of transgender individuals. Restore and ensure medical care, including reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy for all. End the attacks on public health by Trump administration and MAGA. Robustly fund mitigations of harm of airborne illness, particularly bird flu.
End the genocide in Palestine, FOR REAL, FOREVER, give the land back to the Palestinians. End colonization and imperialism. End all the genocides everywhere we cannot possibly recall, Congo, Sudan, far too many. End Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Fund human lives instead of wars!
End deportations of immigrants and abolish ICE. End police brutality, de-fund the police, better yet, abolish them. No more bigoted assault from MAGA extremists, neonazis, paramilitaries & everything-ist, creepy prejudiced trolls. End assaults, sweeps, criminalizing and bulldozing the homeless. House them!