This morning, nine local Spokane activists, organizers and protesters were arrested by federal agents in connection to the June 11 protests against ICE. (More on that here)
It’s a direct escalation of federal pressure in Spokane, especially with the arrest of additional protestors who were not arrested by local law enforcement on June 11, like Jac Archer, Co-Executive Director of Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR). If you’re feeling frustrated, angry or powerless, we spent the morning talking to local organizers — including Archer, who is still in federal custody — about where you should be directing your energy.
Do Not:
Do not protest today.
Organizers from SCAR and the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS), as well as lawyers for those arrested, are encouraging community members NOT to protest today.
“We don’t want to risk doing anything that could escalate their situation or hurt their cases,” SCAR wrote in a social post.
Do:
Center immigrant communities in your support and conversations today, not just the protestors who were arrested.
“I would really love it if people in the community could remember and focus on what this is about,” Archer told RANGE from holding this morning. “It really feels to me like an attempt to chill and intimidate support of our immigrant community members. I’m being inconvenienced for an afternoon, but some people are losing their whole lives, their homes. I just wanna make sure people remember that, and also remember that right now. The best thing we can do is choose not to let things like this intimidate us from supporting our community.”
Do:
Go to PJALS’ Protesting 101 - A People’s Training tonight from 5:30 to 7 pm. The 90-minute training is free to attend, and will teach people how to “protest safely, effectively and with intention.” The registration link is here, location provided upon registration.
“Coming to the training tonight would be fantastic because this is also a time when we need to be thinking about what kinds of risks we're each willing to take,” Liz Moore from PJALS said. “And particularly for those of us who have white skin to be really engaging in some preparatory thought about what kind of risks we're willing to take, what kind of discomfort we're willing to engage in.”
Do:
Sign up for a training with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network to join one of their local Rapid Response Teams. There are two upcoming training sessions: one on July 31 from 6 to 8 pm, registration here; and one on August 28 from 6 to 8 pm, registration here.
Do:
Donate, if you’re able!
Moore suggested “immigrant-led organizations whose communities are feeling the full weight of the power of government being used against them.” Here’s her list:
- Nuestras Raices Centro Comunitario
- Mujeres in Action
- Latinos en Spokane
- Manzanita House
- Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane
- Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition
- Creole Resources
Moore also suggested donating to PJALS and SCAR as organizations engaged in “this long, important work of fighting the fascist power grab.”
SCAR also has an ongoing bail fund used to free arrested protestors. You can donate to that by calling 509-240-9393 or emailing bail@scarspokane.org.
Do:
Stay connected on social media and other channels with organizations like PJALS and SCAR, who regularly update folks on upcoming actions.
“There will be times when it's important to have a courtroom be full or have people be outside a courthouse during a hearing,” Moore said. “It's not the case today, but there will be opportunities when that's really important.”
The best way you can stay up-to-date on when protesting or showing up for folks is strategic and necessary is by turning notifications on for posts from PJALS and SCAR.
