it's the music, people!

Anon asked another question, but tumblr ate it.

Anon— you said something like if we get injured then are you gonna call 911.

Hell no. This question alone tells me that you have most likely never been to a protest, especially one that takes place in the context of heavy/visible police presence. We have our own medics. They wear arm bands and are sometimes packed with gear. We help each other out. We don’t leave people behind. We’re the ones holding down the broken down c hainlink fences to free us from an inevitable violent assault by riot police. We’re the ones picking people who fall. We’re the ones watching each other’s backs. We are not the ones with military grade wear and weapons, ready and trained to use them against our fellow humans. We are not the ones who go along with orders. We are not the ones who say “Well, I was only doing my job.” We’re making our own communities, we’re changing our cities, and the powers that be don’t want that. So they meet us in the streets, though they try so hard to keep us out of the public space. They meet us with the same materials we use in war. They meet us with the same mentality. Funny thing is…we’re the ones who frequently get blamed for the violence, for causing an unnecessary stir. There are still so many people who believe causing a stir is unnecessary, who perhaps think we can go about “change” and “justice” in other ways, more silent ways, less bothersome. You know what’s fucking bothersome? A nation whose president cares more about beating China than about his own citizens getting gassed and beaten in the streets. A nation that allows its mighty forces to invade countries, kill the people, steal their natural resources, and leave. But we like to use words and phrases like “freedom” and “liberation” and “fight against terrorism” to deceive and spin our disgusting practices of domination.

Take to the streets. They’re ours.

28 January 2012 ·