1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media, Hello, and welcome to Cool People Who 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: Did Cool Stuff. You'r weekly reminder that whenever bad stuff 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: is happening, people are out there trying to do good 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: stuff in response. And this week is a special cool 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: People is You week. Maybe these will happen more, I 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: don't know, but you're the cool people this week because 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: the history we're talking about this week is the history 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: that we are living through, and we are I don't know. 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: I think it's important position ourselves as the people acting 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: whenever possible. Action is the antidote to despair. And we 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: call the right wing reactionaries because they are by and 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: large reacting to the things that we do. They are 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: reacting negatively to progress, and even though we're looking at 14 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: them in power right now, we still need to understand 15 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: that this is a reaction to the work that we 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: have done to try to make this world better and 17 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: fairer and cooler and better. I already said better, but 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: that's okay. I have a podcast with the word cool 19 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: in the title twice, so I can be repetitive in 20 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: a way that would make my fourth grade teacher sad 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 1: who always got mad at not mad at, but would 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: tell students not to use words like cool and good 23 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: and nice when trying to describe good things, but to 24 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: be more specific. But here we are. I don't know 25 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: why I'm talking about this. The piece that I'm going 26 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: to read today is a piece that appeared on crimethink 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: dot com last week, and this very audio version that 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: you're listening to the recording of it. I volunteered to 29 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: record it for them, so that's appeared as well, and 30 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: I thought to run it here as well because I 31 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: think it's worth hearing and understanding. And I know I 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: do a lot more audio processing than written processing. I 33 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: read for work. I listen to a lot of audiobooks. 34 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: I listen to a lot of podcasts. Clearly I like 35 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: the audio format, and so do you, and listen, this 36 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: is your very first time listening to a podcast, in 37 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: which case this is a strange one. This is not 38 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: what cool people who did cool stuff normally is. It's 39 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: normally twice a week history podcast where we talk about 40 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: cool people in history. Anyway, the piece I'm going to 41 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: read make Ready Safeguarding our Movements against Repression, how to 42 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: respond to Donald Trump's threats, and it was released on 43 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: September eighteenth, twenty twenty five. In a post on truth 44 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: Social yesterday, Donald Trump declared that he is designating Antifa 45 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: as a major terrorist organization. What does that mean? How 46 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: can we prepare to weather the storm? Everyone should read 47 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: this guide. It's always difficult to tell how seriously to 48 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: take Trump's performative declarations. He makes wild statements to see 49 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: what plays to his audience, throwing things against the wall 50 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 1: to see what sticks, and then doubles down wherever there 51 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: is no pushback. But this time around his administration has 52 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,839 Speaker 1: stuck very close to the classic fascist playbook, with one 53 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 1: supporter going so far as to declare without any irony 54 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: that the shooting of Charlie Kirk is the American Reichstag fire. 55 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: The obvious next step in that playbook is to expand 56 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: from targeting immigrants to go after anarchists, leftists, and other 57 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: opponents of the regime as well. Yes, Trump has previously 58 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: declared that he would designate Antifa a terrorist organization, most 59 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: famously at the outset of the George Floyd Revolt, but 60 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: at that time the rest of the federal government largely 61 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: acted as a break on his impulses, whereas today the 62 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: entire executive branch of the federal government is comprised of 63 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: toadies and sycophants who are incapable of distinguishing their interests 64 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: from his. Granted, there is no law authorizing the president 65 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: to designate domestic terrorist organizations, but even without new legislation 66 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: or an executive order, Trump has direct control over the 67 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the 68 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: Federal Bureau of Investigations and other federal agencies. What he 69 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: says on social media is probably indicative of what he 70 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: will direct his underlings to do. The fact that ANTIPHA 71 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: is not an organization at all, but rather a nebulous 72 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: category that could include virtually anyone who disapproves of Trump's 73 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: autocratic agenda is convenient for Trump. This means that, regardless 74 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: of who you are and what you do, you too 75 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: could become a target. That's why everyone should review the 76 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: following suggestions, whether or not you think they apply to you. 77 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: Rather than spreading panic, preparing ourselves in concrete ways will 78 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: enable us to approach this situation calmly and effectively. While 79 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: no domestic terror organization designation currently exists, and nor does 80 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: any obvious mechanism to establish one, far right prosecutors already 81 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: have a track record of groundlessly pressing trumped up terrorism 82 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: charges as a means of terrorizing activists and supporters of 83 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: social movements. Trump has explicitly called for the use of 84 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: racketeering charges to suppress as critics. Far right Republican senators 85 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: are already sponsoring a bill that would add rioting to 86 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: the list of offenses that the Justice Department can use 87 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: as part of a probe under the Racketeer Influenced and 88 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 1: Corrupt Organizations RICO Act. There are obvious precedents for how 89 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: this might go. Two years ago, a wide range of 90 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: defendants in Atlanta, Georgia, were randomly charged under the RICO 91 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: Act as part of the repression of the Stop Cop 92 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: City movement. The cases have been endlessly delayed, and earlier 93 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: this month, a judge dismissed most of the charges on 94 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: a technicality. Under Donald Trump, many federal agencies are disorganized 95 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: and focused chiefly on managing perceptions. This precisely describes the 96 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: authorities who brought the haphazard RICO charges in Georgia two 97 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: years ago. If the trajectory of the Stop Cop City 98 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: reco case offers any indication of how other rico persecutions 99 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: of accused activists might go. The chief threat may not 100 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: be that the crackdown Trump is calling for will send 101 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: people to prison, but rather that the charges will discourage 102 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: and immobilize people, creating the conditions for the Trump administration 103 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: to eventually supersede this form of repression with something worse. 104 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: It remains to be seen how seriously the administration will 105 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: carry out Trump's threats, and whether they will start by 106 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: attacking grassroots groups or proceed from the top down targeting 107 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: massive liberal institutions and fundraising platforms. In either case, our 108 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: long term prospects will depend on whether we can establish 109 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: large numbers of people to act in solidarity with each other, 110 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: taking up the kind of grassroots direct action tactics that 111 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: can be effective regardless of whether the people who control 112 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: the state wish to listen. Here are some steps you 113 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: can take to protect yourself and your community, proceeding from 114 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: the immediate to the general. Don't be intimidated. Keeping your 115 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: morale up is essential to resistance. Do not surrender in advance. 116 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: Our adversaries aim to cawous into submission because they know 117 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: that they cannot subdue us by brute force alone. Remember 118 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: Managing perceptions is core to the fascist project. They seek 119 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: to project strength at all times, precisely because they are not, 120 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: even when things seem grim. Keep your hopes up and 121 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: keep fighting. Defeatism only serves the enemy. Several recent examples 122 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: show that a determined movement can beat repression. On January twentieth, 123 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen, only a few hours into Trump's first presidency, 124 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: hundreds of people were arrested in proximity to his inauguration. 125 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: They were charged with eight identical felonies apiece, two of 126 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: which were not even on the books as legitimate charges, 127 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: and threatened with decades in prison. The defendants could have 128 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: reacted by taking plea deals or going it alone in 129 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: the court system. Instead, in an astonishing display of solidarity, 130 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: nearly two hundred people committed to fighting the charges together, 131 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: and after a stressful year and a half, they beat 132 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: every single one of the charges. The Stopcop City reco 133 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: case has foundered thus far for similar reason. Rico and 134 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: conspiracy cases often hinge on whether some of the defendants 135 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: can be frightened into cooperating with the prosecution. If the 136 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: defendants form a united front and their communities stand resolutely 137 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: beside them. The chief advantages of the state evaporate solidarity 138 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: is power make the most of your strengths. Donald Trump 139 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: and the institutions he presides over are hierarchical, centralized, formally structured, 140 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: and profit driven. They would prefer to fight a symmetrical adversary. 141 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: By contrast, the movements that challenge them are largely decentralized 142 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: and horizontal, without formal roles or funding. This is a 143 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,599 Speaker 1: good thing, not only because it undermines prosecutors concocted narratives, 144 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: but also because it makes it more difficult to figure 145 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 1: out who to target in the first place. If they 146 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: have to focus on the population large, if resistance could 147 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: come from any direction, they won't be able to concentrate 148 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: their forces. The autocrats are not in a position to 149 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: repress everyone who opposes fascism. Remember on June fourteenth, twenty 150 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: twenty five, the day of the No Kings demonstration, well 151 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: over five million people flooded the streets to defy Trump. 152 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: Safety will not come from hiding from the authorities, permitting 153 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: them to go after their targets one at a time, 154 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: but rather from spreading resistance tactics, strategies, and momentum as 155 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: widely as possible. Everyone who is against fascism is an 156 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: anti fascist. In seeking to target everyone who opposes fascism, 157 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: Trump is biting off more than he can chew, provided 158 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: we don't roll over and let him win. But do 159 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: you know what would never bite off more than it 160 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: could chew. I don't know why they actually probably would. 161 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: I don't know whatever this is that transition. Here's some 162 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 1: ads and we're back. Prepare for federal visits and raids. 163 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,439 Speaker 1: Review what to do in the event of a visit 164 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: from police or federal agents, whether they are simply making inquiries. 165 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: Show up with a subpoena or execute a no knock raid. 166 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: Back up your electronics and store the backup somewhere secure 167 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 1: that cannot be easily connected to you. Remove items from 168 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: your house that should not fall into the wrong hands. 169 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: Get legal representation in place ahead of time so you 170 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: know what lawyers you will work with. If you learn 171 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: of someone else's house being raided, show up and take 172 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: video footage. The more attention is focused on every state assault, 173 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: the safer everyone will be instruct your friends in advance 174 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 1: as to how they can support you in the event 175 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: of a raid or arrest, whether that means feeding your cat, 176 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: providing child care, or reaching out to your employer or 177 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: family members. Make your preferences known in advance. For example, 178 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: if you are arrested, would you prefer to be bailed 179 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: out immediately or to wait to see if your bail 180 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: is reduced. The more precisely you can specify your desires 181 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: in advance, the better. In a worst case scenario, you 182 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: don't want rival factions of your support committee to be 183 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: wrangling over what you would prefer without any way of 184 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: resolving the question. Be transparent about repression. If you are 185 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: the target of repression, talk openly about it. They want 186 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: to isolate you and make you paranoid if you're already 187 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: on their radar. You gain nothing from trying to hide 188 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: that they are targeting you. Don't draw any connections for 189 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: them that are not already clear for all to see. 190 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: Don't make yourself unnecessarily easy for them to find, but 191 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: double down on your public connections. If federal agents visit 192 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: you or subpoena you, the best way to get the 193 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 1: support you need and maintain the trust of your community 194 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: is to refuse to cooperate. Document everything about the encounters, 195 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 1: and publicize it so that everyone knows what is going on. 196 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: Redundancy means resilient. If you play a role in a 197 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: project or community effort, however formal or informal, make sure 198 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: others know how to do what you do that goes 199 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: for you as an individual and for any groups you 200 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: participate in as a whole. Spread your skills and knowledge 201 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: far and wide. Copy the key to the bookstore, share 202 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: the log into the social media account with someone you trust. 203 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: Help people to found another food distribution or legal aid 204 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: project like your own. Making it easy for others to 205 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: replace you can diminish the incentive to target you. Likewise, 206 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: make information about how to counter repression as widely available 207 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: as possible. Hold regular educational events in your community about 208 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: TIS security culture and distribute materials about it. Educate people 209 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: about how to respond if agents pressure them to become 210 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: informants or subpoena them to a grand jury. The more 211 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: people know these things, the better. As federal agents sometimes 212 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: begin by exerting pressure on those they perceive to be 213 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: on the periphery of social movements, coordinate to support each other, 214 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: reach out to others in a similar situation. For example, 215 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: if you run a radical bookshop or student group, you 216 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: could create a network of similar projects so that all 217 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: of you can move into action as soon as one 218 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: of you is targeted for repression. Brainstorm about what forms 219 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: of leverage you can employ to maximize the cost of 220 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: targeting you, and to ensure that any assaults on you 221 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: mobilize people rather than intimidating them. Prepare a contact list 222 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: and a list of responses tailored to different scenarios. Give 223 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: copies of these documents to comrades you can rely on 224 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: to support you in the event of depression, so that 225 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: as soon as something happens, everyone will hear about it 226 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: and know what to do. For example, if we are 227 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: arrested and not immediately released, such and such group will 228 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: hold a press conference. The next day, such and such 229 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: person will conduct an online publicity campaign, and such and 230 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: such other person will arrange a fundraising campaign. Discredit the 231 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: police and courts. While Donald Trump and his henchmen have 232 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: sought to bend the legal system to their will and 233 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: sidestepped it outright wherever that was not possible, this involves 234 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: some drawbacks as it diminishes the perceived legitimacy of institutions 235 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: that they nonetheless rely on. Promisingly, multiple grand juries have 236 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: refused to indict defendants charged by prosecutors serving Donald Trump. 237 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: We should popularize the tactic of jury nullification as a 238 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: means by which ordinary jurors can throw a wrench in 239 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: the gears of federal repression. Wherever possible, we should erode 240 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: public faith in the institutions that Trump will use for 241 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: his crackdowns. Despite the false promises of liberal politicians, the 242 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: wave of momentum towards defunding the police that crested in 243 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty secured no major changes in legislation or budgets. 244 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: The one lasting effect of the movement was that, through 245 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: grassroots action, the participants succeeded in compelling large numbers of 246 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: people to quit the police force. Today, exerting continuous low 247 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: level pressure against the Trump administration and its lackeys will 248 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: diminish the number of people who are prepared to serve 249 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: Trump as traitors to their communities, whether as ice agents 250 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: or in some other capacity, fracture the political class. We 251 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: need a strategy to compel opposition politicians to actually impede 252 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: the police state. Rather than simply standing aside left to themselves, 253 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: most politicians will simply cultivate an image, rather than helping 254 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: those who are under attack. But if their image depends 255 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: on the perception that they are opposed to Trump, that 256 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: can offer points of leverage via which to impel them 257 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: to take a stand. Identify every institution, group, and influential 258 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: individual that you have access to that is not inextricably 259 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: invested in the rise of fascism. Work out what forms 260 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: of leverage you can exert on each of them. With 261 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: some of them a conversation will suffice with others, and 262 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: might require other means. Set concrete goals, such as dissuading 263 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: job seekers from working for ICE, getting influential figures to 264 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 1: issue solidarity statements, or compelling local politicians to instruct police 265 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 1: not to cooperate with federal operations. The police state requires 266 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: the smooth functioning of the entire apparatus of power that 267 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 1: makes it vulnerable at countless different points. The liberals who 268 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: helped create a fracture between Trump and Elon Musk simply 269 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: by holding signs at Tesla dealerships have demonstrated how to 270 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: divide the alliance that supports Trump. This should be repeated 271 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: over and over, especially targeting those who are peripherally involved 272 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: rather than those who are most deeply committed to his 273 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: authoritarian project peel away the pillars of his support structure 274 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: one by one. The United States is polarized and divided 275 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: regionally as well as locally. If communities, cities, or whole 276 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: regions can eventually put themselves concretely beyond the reach of 277 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: federal repression, a model for real resistance will emerge. Take 278 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: the offensive in chess. Once you become focused on defensive maneuvers, 279 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: you have lost the game. To face down Trump's power grab, 280 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: we need proactive strategies rather than simply reacting over and over. 281 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 1: We have to choose the time and place of conflicts. 282 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: This can be a way to tie up the resources 283 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: and labor cycles that will otherwise be directed against us. 284 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 1: Trump's oligarchical policies are emiserating countless millions all around the world. 285 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: We need to demonstrate means of addressing the urgent needs 286 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 1: that he is creating in a way that conveys a 287 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: revolutionary vision of social change. The best defense is a 288 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: good offense. Refuse to divide. When repression succeeds, its most 289 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: damaging effect is not the immediate impact of the blow, 290 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: but the fault lines it opens. Up. Trump's chief goal 291 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: is to make us doubt ourselves and resent each other. 292 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: Resolving misunderstandings and conflicts is a fundamental part of resistance. 293 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: Present criticisms in good faith holding open the door for 294 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 1: those who are currently arrivals to eventually become allies, provided 295 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: that they learn to conduct themselves responsibly. Rereading divisiveness and 296 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: toxicity are doing the work of the state. That's the 297 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: end of that piece. But I'm actually going to read 298 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: one of the linked pieces that if you want to 299 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: read this and it's worth of creating a little bit 300 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: of a checklist around, you can go to crimethink dot 301 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: com and at this point it'll be one of the 302 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: top articles. Otherwise you'll probably have to search it if 303 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: it's if you're listening to this in the future. But 304 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: they have an older piece that they link to called 305 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: when the Police Knock on Your Door, Your Rights and Options, 306 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: And that's what I'm going to read next, but not 307 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: before someone else gets to have a say. People who 308 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: pay us to have a say, they get to talk 309 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: now er back. When the Police knock on your door 310 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: Your Rights and Options? If you want that poster is 311 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: available from crimethink dot com and you can just print 312 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: it out, but I'm going to read the contents to 313 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: you just so. Obviously having this down in a written 314 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: format is really useful, but I find that a better 315 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: way for me to hold on to information is to 316 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: kind of let it be in the air around me 317 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: and hear it multiple times and then have it written down. 318 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: So that's why I'm reading this to you, because it 319 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: was linked from the other piece and I was like, 320 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: you know, I feel like people should hear that too. 321 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: In cooperation with legal counsel, our comrades have prepared a 322 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: poster explaining how to handle visits from law enforcement. This 323 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: includes any agent from any law enforcement agency, regardless whether 324 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: they are local, state, or federal, including the FBI, ATF 325 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: and ICE when they are working as law enforcement uniformed 326 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 1: or not. Consider putting a copy of this poster by 327 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: the doors of your residence and familiarizing yourself with the information. 328 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: These days, no matter who you are or what you're doing, 329 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: you never know when you might receive an unwelcome visit. 330 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: Say no, you cannot come in, I do not consent 331 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: to a search. Keep the outer gate or door chain 332 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: locked if you must step outside, and close the door 333 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: behind you better yet speak through the door. Say no, 334 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: I will not answer your questions. You can also say 335 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: I have been advised to not answer questions. If you 336 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: leave a card, a lawyer may contact you. The police 337 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: are trained to intimidate. Don't let them bully you regardless 338 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: of what they say. Remember that you are never required 339 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 1: to answer anything they ask. Your responsibility is to your 340 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: conscience and your community, not to the police or their investigation. 341 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 1: Research the legal resources available in your area. Keep the 342 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: phone numbers accessible for the local National Lawyer's Guild hotline, 343 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: the local hotline to report ice raids, and any contacts 344 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: you have for legal support or raising bail money. Agree 345 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: on a respet bonds plan with those you share this 346 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: home with. Keep in mind that the phone numbers you 347 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,120 Speaker 1: have written out in your home may be discovered by police. 348 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: Do not sign anything you are given without seeking advice 349 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: from a lawyer first. Lying to police may result in 350 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: criminal charges. The safest thing to do is not engage 351 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: with them at all. Rehearse the phrases on this poster. 352 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: That way, when the time comes, you will feel confident 353 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: enough to deny them entry, access and information. If they 354 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: want to conduct a search, ask if they have a 355 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: search warrant that is signed by a judge. It must 356 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: be no more than ten days old. If they do 357 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: not have a search warrant, say I do not consent 358 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,959 Speaker 1: to a search. You may inform them that if they 359 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: leave a card, a lawyer may contact them. You can 360 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: then ask them to leave, or you can simply close 361 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: the door. If they do have a warrant, you may 362 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: ask them to slide it under the door or mail slot. 363 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: Want to take a picture of the warrant and send 364 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: it to a lawyer. Signal is a secure and encrypted 365 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: messaging app for smartphones. You can assert that you wish 366 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: to consult with a lawyer before consenting to a search. 367 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: This may not stop them from entering. Before they enter, 368 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: you may wish to shut down electronics of anything you 369 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 1: wish to keep private from plain sight, and close all doors. 370 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:27,199 Speaker 1: The warrant may not apply to the entire house. Anything 371 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 1: in plain sight that obviously appears illegal or evidence of 372 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: a crime may be seized. If they have come to 373 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: carry out and arrest, they must have an arrest warrant 374 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 1: signed by a judge that is no more than ten 375 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: days old, specifying someone in this home who is named 376 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: you are not required to confirm whether or not that 377 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: person is present. The best way to decline to answer 378 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 1: is to say I am going to remain silent. I 379 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: will not answer any questions without a lawyer. If police 380 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: have a reason to believe the named person is in 381 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: the premises, they may enter without your permission to search 382 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: for the individual. They can check places where a person 383 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: could hide. Anything in plain view that obviously appears illegal 384 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 1: or like evidence of a crime may be seized. If 385 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: the arrest occurs inside, police may more thoroughly search the 386 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: area of the person arrested. On the other hand, if 387 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 1: the name person decides to surrender outside, it may limit 388 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: or prevent a police search of the house. It is 389 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 1: crucial for anyone arrested to fully exercise the right to 390 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: remain silent. Do not answer any police questions other than 391 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: booking questions, name, date of birth, and address. The best 392 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: way to assert this right is to say, I am 393 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: going to remain silent. I want to speak to a 394 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: lawyer if they have a subpoena. Police who come to 395 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: your home with a subpoena are not legally entitled to 396 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: enter unless you give them permission. Unless they have a warrant, 397 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: they cannot come inside to search for anyone or anything 398 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,679 Speaker 1: named in the subpoena. The best way to assert that 399 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: they do not have permission is to declare I do 400 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: not consent to searches. After an incident, you may want 401 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: to write down the details of what happened, include the date, time, location, 402 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: the people present, the agencies involved, the badge numbers of 403 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: the officers, the names they mentioned, the questions they asked, 404 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: the items they seized, and any damages, injuries, or other details. 405 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: Documenting the details of this incident can be beneficial later. 406 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: It may be important to have a record of all 407 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 1: these details, and it is possible they will be forgotten. Otherwise, 408 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: in case there could be potential risks if the document 409 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: is discovered. It may help to protect the privacy of 410 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: the document to write the name of an attorney and 411 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:50,880 Speaker 1: the words confidential attorney client communication at the top. All Right, 412 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,239 Speaker 1: that's what I got this week. I know that kind 413 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:58,360 Speaker 1: of ends on this like sort of bummer note, But look, 414 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: I do a lot of stuff around preparedness, and the 415 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: point of preparedness is to not worry, like that's actually 416 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: the point of it is to kind of go through 417 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: like Oh, if a wildfire was going to come to 418 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: my house, what would I do? I would turn on 419 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: all the sprinklers, and I've already done a little work 420 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: clearing brush around the outside of the house, and I 421 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: have a go bag and my car always has a 422 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: half a tank of gas. Once you've done all that, 423 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: you can stop worrying about wildfire because there's no point 424 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: in worrying about it anymore. And that is my goal 425 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: about teaching preparedness. That is my goal about this stuff. 426 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: Print out this poster, keep it somewhere in your house, 427 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 1: talk about the people that you live with about how 428 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: to handle this kind of thing. And then you've done 429 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 1: what you can, so tell yourself to let go and 430 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: stop worrying as much. That is my advice. I know 431 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: that's an easier said than done, but it is the 432 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: kind of thing that with practice you can do. I 433 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: believe in you, And next week I'll be back with more, 434 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,719 Speaker 1: almost certainly regular episodes of Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff? 435 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: All right, good bye. Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff 436 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: is a production of cool Zone Media. For more podcasts 437 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: from cool Zone Media, visit our website Coolzonemedia dot com, 438 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: or check us out on iHeartRadio, app, Apple Podcasts, or 439 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.