Community Self Defense at SFO

Our communities fight for self determination. And this past weekend we actualized it. This past Sunday, ten thousand people joined alongside the leadership of AROC, ASATA, and other grassroots organizations to shut down San Francisco International Airport (SFO). We showed up to resist the Trump regime’s racist executive order repressing the ability to of our families and friends from Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq to travel freely.  We took direct action to prohibit all business as usual at SFO, until all immigrant people being forcibly detained by US Customs and Border Protection on the airport were freed. And we won. All those detained under the Executive Order were released on Sunday. This was made possible by every individual who took action: every lawyer, every family member, every organization and every worker that joined in solidarity at SFO.

How We Organize to Win
This victory is a small but important one. We know that the work ahead of us will be long and hard. It is, however, important to recognize when we make an impact, and to learn from our actions. At SFO, we were able to mobilize thousands within hours. People showed up with their children, they showed up with food and water and medical supplies. They showed up in force and defiance. This action, and the ongoing disruptions at airports across the country are built on years of organizing and movement building.

We understand that Trump’s attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us. It is no coincidence that Trump’s first executive order targeted the indigenous people of this land. His next order attacked Xicanas and Latinas. Only then did he make his move against Arabs and Muslims. This recent attack on Arabs and Muslims is an extension of the ongoing attacks on indigenous, Black and Brown people in this country and consistent with the history of US wars and repression. We cannot separate the grave impacts of the Trump administration’s policies here in the US from how they impact people globally. We cannot defend Arabs and Muslims here, while turning a blind eye to how the Trump administration has emboldened the longstanding US commitment to waging war on Arabs and Muslims everywhere. We need to take every opportunity available to us to understand these connections, and to have our awareness compel us to action.

What’s Next
The fight is not over. We demonstrated that we can rely on one another, protect, defend and fight for one another over this last week. Community strength, resistance, and self-determination is more important than ever.  Our win for the detained families can be a taste of further victories if we commit to developing our thinking, strategies, and actions to build our collective self-defense against policing, deportations, imprisonment and war. Join BayResistance.org for text alerts and updates on when we need to show up for one another and mobilize.

For many, this last week was the first time they took to the streets. For many others, this last week brought back memories of struggles of the past. For all, we want to offer some resources to help us stay united against fascism and racism, and to develop the tools to be able to better show up for one another, understand this moment, and defend each other.

RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR ARABS AND MUSLIMS      عربي

  • If you do not have a US Passport, DO NOT TRAVEL outside of the US. This administration has made it clear that they will not respect your visa or green card.
  • If you are a green card or visa holder and encounter the FBI, your local police, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DO NOT SPEAK to them. Get their card or information, and let them know you will have a lawyer contact them on your behalf. Reach out to organizations like AROC for legal support.
  • For everyone, regardless of your status, DO NOT ENGAGE WITH ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT. Communication with the police, FBI and ICE makes you and our communities less safe. They are NOT here to protect you.
  • If you are visited by any law enforcement, DO LET US KNOW. It is important that we are all aware of who is being targeted. Because if they are visiting you, they are likely visiting others.
  • Know Your Rights Booklet:  English   Arabic

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Fighting Racism, Zionism and Repression

  • Arab and Muslim Organizing
  • South Asian Organizing
  • Resistance to Policing, Imprisonment, Surveillance, and State Repression:
    • Critical Resistance: www.criticalresistance.org
  • Legal Defense
  • Anti Zionism and Anti Racism
  • White Anti Racist Organizing
  • For Mobilization Alert: BayResistance.org
    • نصائح قانونية للعرب والمسلمين 

    ان لم تكن من حملة جواز سفر امريكي، لا تغادر الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية. لقد اعلنت الادارة الامريكية الحالية انها لن تحترم تأشيرة دخولك (الفيزا) ولا بطاقة الاقامة الجرين كارد.

    ان كُنت من حملة بطاقة الإقامة الجرين كارد أو متواجد في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية على تأشيرة دخول (فيزا) وتم ايقافك أو مساءلتك من قبل مكتب التحقيقات الفدرالية ال اف بي اي أو الشرطة المحلية أو دائرة الجمارك والهجرة، انت غير مُلزم بالتحدث معهم او اجابة اسئلتهم. اطلب معلومات جهة المسائلة وأعلمهم أنك ستطلب من محامي التحدث إليهم والاجابة على اسئلتهم بالنيابة عنك. قم فوراً بالتواصل مع المركز العربي للمصادر والتدريب للدعم القانوني.

    تجنب التواصل مع قوات حفظ الأمن والشرطة أو مكتب التحقيقات الفدرالية ال اف بي اي أو الهجرة بغض النظر عن وضع اوراق الاقامة او الهجرة التي تحملها. ان التجربة تعلمنا أن التعاون مع الاجهزة الامنية يجعل جاليتنا أكثر عُرضة للخطر، اعلم انهم ليسوا هنا لحمايتك.

    إذا قامت أي من الاجهزة الأمنية أعلاه بالتعرض لك او زيارتك يُرجى اعلامنا مباشرة. من الضروري أن نكون متيقظين وجاهزين لمحاولات استهداف جالياتنا، إذا قامت احد هذه الاجهزة بزيارتك او مساءلتك من الوارد انهم يقومون بالتعرض لغيرك من أبناء جاليتنا.

    لمزيد من التفاصيل أنقر على الرابط التالي: لك الحق أن تبقى صامتًا>

    Photos by Brooke Anderson