This peice was featured in Muntjac Magazine Issue 1
Do we want to protect each other, or just ourselves?
The question comes as a comrade writes:
There has never been an anti-colonial movement in Britain from colonised people.
Uprisings, sure. Fleeting moments with little support to be found from The Movement .
“No Justice, No Peace” heard on the same streets where those in power continue to deal out injustice, in peace
Keep your head down, stay out of trouble and you’ll do well.
A lonely fascist surrounded by 200 anti-fascists, says someone unaffected by the uniformed fascists between the anti-fascists & the ‘lonely’ fascist.
“There’s security here and I don’t even know who they are!” proudly exclaimed by a community ‘anti-fascist’ organiser.
A protest steward faces a crowd of de-arresters, tells them solemnly tells them that the police won’t take anyone away
A van drives off with a minor in-tow
Instead of seeding you’ve been ceding and now there’s no land left to grow
or go to
“I abhor all violence” said only in reaction to retaliation and uprisings from below
“This will only make us look bad” say those who have more than enough power to change what looks bad
Who is us, anyway?
People who love britain, but abhor fascism? A vile contradiction at best.
Discomfort grows, alongside avoidance.
Conflict continues regardless.
In a world full of still violences, willingness and determination to distance yourself from violence won’t save you, but it’s easy and comforting to be a pacifist when violence is distant.
Community is as necessary as it is messy. Civility it is not. Militancy it contains.
There are communities beyond what is state-sanctioned or acceptable.
Will we stand on what we mean, or will we muddy things for personal gain, comfort?
If you let your enemies/adversaries or even the people you are trying to move decide or guide your tactics, then who is winning?
“What and who are you trying to save?”
If you are speaking for yourself, speak for yourself
Do not speak to condemn me for things you are unwilling to do
Do we want to protect each other, or just ourselves (and britishness, inexplicably)?