October 16: ROCKET

And the rocket’s red glare/The bombs bursting in air…

I know, I know. This weapon is NOT launching a rocket. Rather, it is propelling a canister of “riot control agent” in Ferguson, MO, in 2014. Chemical irritant. Lachrymator. You know: tear gas. Now I’m all for badass-looking weaponry and gear. It shows you mean BUSINESS. How could anyone hope to stand against such overwhelming force? I think people would have to be pretty damned angry and determined, since they’ve been turning out for protests like this for years, braving injury, arrest, and even death to inspire change.

October 15: OUTPOST

In 1969, the Stonewall Inn was an outpost in the Greenwich Village of New York City where gay people (mostly men) could congregate and feel at home. On June 28 of that year, police staged a raid at the Stonewall, and people fought back in what are now called the Stonewall Riots, the Stonewall Rebellion, or the Stonewall Uprising.

Today this event is recognized as the beginning of the Pride movement, which still takes place in June. In 2019 the NYPD Commissioner formally apologized for the actions of the department 50 years before. And the Stonewall Inn is marked as a National Monument. I hope that one day in Portland, Seattle, New York and other “anarchist jurisdictions,” there will be monuments to the people who stood up to, and for, our country.

October 14: ARMOR

How insane is it that in order to peacefully protest in America today, a high school English teacher has to put on ballistic armor, a mask, and goggles to protect himself? This is inspired by my friend Ben Gorman @teachergorman, who took to the streets of Portland nearly every day this summer in support of BLM, and continues to do so when he’s not teaching. He carried a megaphone so he could raise his fist in support without co-opting the strength of BLM. He, and the hundreds of thousands of protesters like him, had the guts to face superior firepower and the raw hatred of fellow citizens to stand up for what is right. If they can do that, we can have the guts to walk into a voting booth and repudiate the last four years.