A statement by Eugene Jail Support to all members of the ICE OUT protest community:
Spurred on by ICE’s increasing activity, including the state sanctioned murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Eugene has given nearly 2 months of sustained resistance against the surge of Trumps fascist government. We have protested in solidarity with all those at risk of being targeted by ICE, those resisting in Minneapolis, those sentenced to prison for resisting in Prairieland, Texas, and especially those who have been kidnapped and imprisoned in detention centers. We have confronted the federal forces (ICE, DHS, Border Patrol and BORTAC) that are occupying our town locally. We applaud the multitudes of people from all sectors of society that have come out to the streets. Healthcare workers, labor unions, students, youth, raging grannies, singers, musicians, anarchists, communists, socialists and all kinds of everyday anti-fascists have given their contribution to the struggle. This is what the beginnings of a thriving community of resistance looks like. We must continue and grow in this way, pushing through discomort and embracing bravery and action in the face of state repression.
After more than 2 months of protest, our community is now under investigation by both the FBI and EPD. Repression is an expected consequence of powerful social movements, but it means we must learn new behaviors and practices to keep every member of our movement safe. Every bit of information the police learn about who or how someone was involved, who dislikes who, or what happened at the protest last week will be used against the entire movement, and that makes the situation more dangerous for everyone. A culture of non-cooperation with law enforcement across the board is an absolute necessity that we will need now, and in the years to come. This means many things, but the most important one is making a commitment to yourself and to all of the other people in this movement that you will not share any information with local police or the FBI under any circumstances. Remember that speaking to law enforcement, even if it appears to be a friendly chat, gives them more information, evidence, and gossip that can hurt all of our communities. It is best to simply not speak to them.
It is important to remember that standing against ICE and federal fascism also means standing against the FBI. The FBI works for the Trump administration as their investigative arm, and exists to achieve its goal of suppressing resistance to the federal government. Equally as harmful to our movement, EPD and other local police collaborate with the FBI and dedicate their efforts to suppressing protest, which inevitably helps the government quash dissent. Whatever your thoughts about law enforcement generally, if you oppose fascism in the government, these law enforcement agencies are not on your team. They exist to slow you down, stamp you out, scare you and possibly imprison you or your comrades.
Though we may not always agree with each others tactics, it is important that we embrace a diversity of tactics and understand that we will only win if we use every tool and tactic at our disposal. What could we accomplish if we all channeled our fight towards those creating these atrocities, instead of others who prefer to contribute to the resistance in a different way? Across the world and across time, movements for liberation have marched peacefully in the streets, and they also have all had factions who take more direct, militant and confrontational actions. Labor unions burnt down factories to get us the 8 hour workday, anti fascist youth destroyed Gestapo stations during the rise of Nazi Germany, Black led riots against the police and racist laws dominated the Long Hot Summer of 1967 during the civil rights movement. The examples are endless and they are global, and they prove that resistance movements don’t win if we stop each other from trying everything. As Diane DiPrima said, “No one way works, it will take all of us shoving from all sides to bring it down.”
On a practical level, what is being asked of you is that you do not talk to law enforcement of any kind about protests. Do not call in information to FBI tip lines, do not accept cash bribes as snitch money, do not answer questions if you are called, door knocked, interrogated or arrested. Do not let them into your home. Speak with your friends about how you can keep each other safe through non-cooperation. Develop non-cooperation policies/expectations within your organizations. The choice to remain silent and not cooperate is a constitutionally protected choice. You have the right to refuse to answer any question posed to you by law enforcement. It is perfectly legal to say “I don’t want to talk to you” or “I am going to remain silent” if you are questioned. Perfectly normal to walk away.
Remember when someone breaks a window, or when someone waves a sign on the street corner, they are protesting the severe state violence of ICE detentions, family separation, murder of protesters in the street, and deportations. Remember that’s what you are protesting too. Stay on the same team. Work together. Don’t cooperate with law enforcement.
XOXO, Eugene Jail Support