167.-insurrectional-abolitionism-1.pdf
Web PDF • Imposed PDF • Raw TXT (OCR)











































INSURRECTIONAL
ABOLITIONISM

Part 1 — tearing down icons,

tearing down institutions /// smash apartheid
Chicago



THOUGHTS AND IMAGES FROM
AN ONGOING DISMANTLING PROJECT


r 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
P



1. Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, nd Statues and Combating
Recent Criminal Violence; issue: June 26, 2020
by fascise Amertan preside, Donal Tramp, 6

2, Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally Against Racist Columbus Statue Attacked by CPD- Causing
Injury, Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the Police State
by Lowiytacha, 10

3. Accounts from the Batle of Grant Park: How Chicago Demonstrators Pushed Back the Police
and Nearly Toppled a Statue

layanonymous author fom rimetine 2


True Leap Press is a radical publishing collective. We support the
intellectual struggle and advocate for the building of mass-based projects
for antiracist, anticapitalist, and antipatriarchal political education. Our

collective encourages any-and-all forms of revolt and insurrection against

global anti-blackness, white supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, and
heteropatriarchy. We also aim to facilitate the growth of a revolutionary
abolitionist consciousness that is deliberately antipatriotic and against all
oppressive forms of nationalism.

ager


Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments,
Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent

Criminal Violence
Laweusrice

sewed on June 26,2020
‘by eset Aeron president, Donald Trump

ALLNEWS:

‘By he autbovty vested in meas President bythe Consttion and he laws ofthe United Ses of Americ, itis hereby
onder as follows

Ssstion . Pups. The is dy of goverment iso ensure domestic ranquty and defend the i propery and
Fig ofits itzens. Over he last 5 wosks, thre as Been sarin arson the ea papery of cians, 6
afer officers, goverment proper nd ered American manments sich asthe Linon Memon. Min of
‘Gert arnt and letting xvas who have cured ut an suppor these st have exily weld
‘hemselvs with ideologies — such b Maris tha ll forte destton of th United States system of
ovement. Anarchists and lefewing extemiss have sought advance a fringe Meoogy tat puns the United States
fo Amerie as fndametally unjust aed hve sought to impose that kelosyon Americans hough violence and mb,
Intimidation. They hav led onthe tet, ured police hice, led and seule government fre 3 el
busines ones defending thr propery, and even seized an area within city whee aw and ode ave way
‘arch. Dring th uns ince eae so hav sn harmed ao Kl. These cial cs are equetly
Panne and supported by agatrs ho ve tive acres State lines to pomot th own vs agen These
‘alias sametesly atack the epic of ar institons ad the very le of law tl



Key targets in he violet exons’ campaign agsnst ou our are publ monunets, memorials, ad statues. Theit
selon fags ea dep ignorance of our history ands inetve fds to indiscriminately dstoy
‘ying that hoor or pst and wo erase rm te pubic mpd any sggeston hat oar ast may be Wor honoring.
‘herishing remembering or ubdesading

Inthe last week, vandals pled a tue of President Uysscs S. Gram in San Fano. To hem, it made 20
erence ht Pesignt Grate he Union Army victory oer the Confederacy inthe Civil Wa, efoeed
Reeonsreton, fought the Ku Kut Klan, and aocsed forthe Fiesnth Amnmer,which guano reed sles
‘heript to yte. In Chart, North Cala, the nares of 07 veterans memorialized os 3 Word War ll onan
‘were pinto oer witha symbol of communi And cir this moat, Boston, a mem ermererating an
‘fi Americn gin ht fought in he Cv War as dtc ws rt

1s Madson, Wisconsin, ters knock aver the ste ofan aboot negra who fought forthe Union ring the
Git Ware Christan Tigres ar ow i the cross, oo. Reveal 2 noni acts fr one movement at as
‘sen prominent in seing the agen for demonstrations rset weeks dlr that any existing rela depictions
fof dess andthe Holy Fanuly shouldbe purged tom our places of Wrsip.
Individuals an orpnizations have the pt to peacefly advocate frit the removal the constion of ny
‘monument Bu no nda o group bas the night damage deface orronone any monamen fy Fre

Inthe midst of hese acs, many Stat an loca governments apeae ahve ls the ability to dsinguish etc he
lawful exer of rip fo ee speech an assembly st varied vandalism, They have sender oma re,
‘mperiag conn snfey alwing forthe whole vslton of cr law and pivegng te veka pulse of
the mob ove the rights faw-abidingchizens Worse, they apparel have lost the wll othe deseo stand up ta he
‘ati nge and defend the anda wut cht Americas goed, er people aevituous abd hat usc real ib
‘his couny fo. fr gretr exe than anywhere else nthe wort Some pailrymisgided pubic offs even
"spp ahnve accepted he tht lene can be virtogs an ive prevent fe police fam enfin he Ie
nd protecting public monuments, memorial, nd sates fom te rcb'sropes an rai,

“My Adinsttion wil pot alow item mats incited by a rai ings o Become th arbiters ofthe aspects of ur
Istory that an he celebrated in pbc space. St and fecal pai oii abst of thir aw ener
responses in deference ts lent ans ast ni

‘Ses 2. Poe. (2) lt isthe policy ofthe United Stats to prosecute he filles extent permite under Federal wnt
2 sporpeae an pron oa el thal destroys, age, vandaizes, desecrate a monument moral cr
Stu wits the Untied Sate or others vandals goverment proper The desi ofthe Congreso pros!
Federal ropery x cleat reflected in section 1361 of ie 1h United Sates Code wich auboies pena of up
10 year imprsoamest fr the wilful injury of Federal prope More rece nde the Veteas” Merotal
Presamation and Recgnton Act of 2003, section 1867 of tle 1, United Sets Cae, the Congress paished with the
‘me penaics he deston of Fea and in some eases Site maintained moment that hoe military

‘ean Other criminal statutes, suchas the Teel Act sect 1962 a te 1, Une Ses Code, pri
Prosceusoas ofarson damaging monument, erora, ap sauce Slate grounds sp some cases. Covi tts ke
‘he Public System Resource Protection Act, seein 100722 oie 34, United States Code also old thas who estoy
‘eran Federal ren asountable fr hcr offenses. The Federal Government wl ot oleate voatons of thes at
‘he

(@) tise poicy ofthe Unite States to prose toh fullest extent permit under Federal lw, nds appropri,
'ny person o any ety tat ates in forts to nee lene or thr leg atvty i connection wih the its
‘nds of vn deserted in secon To his onder Nios Fader aw inelaing ssction 2101 of tie 1
‘United Stats Case, rot te wolenc hat hs fpf hepa fer meek in seme ces Other Hats puis hse
‘who pata trait the apistors who fave cooled these alos act Such vs tle secon 371 of le
1, Unied Sates Code, which eininalizes certain conspiracies vite Federal seton 2 of tie I, Unite States
Code, which punishes those who ado abe the cermin of Fedral crimes, an secon 28394 of ile i, Uied
‘Sates Cade, which rohit mtr opp to feo effons oso define set of Fer xine. Those
‘whoa joined inset violent ats around the United Stats wl be ed accountable

(6 Itstheplcy of th Unit States to prosecute tthe fllest extent permited unr Federal law, and as appropri,
ny person oan ety tat damages, ices, or destys religous proper, ncuding by atackng removing. oF
{icing depctons of Jesus osha relipos figures rigs work. Fedral as pri. under cera
‘ircmtances damage or delicement of risus propery acleding te Church Aion Preven AC 196, section
247 of tie 18, United Sates Code, and section 871 of ile 18, United States Coe. The Federal Goveret wil ot
‘oleate violations ofthese ns designed to procter ere of ign

(4) teste picy ofthe Unite Stas, apyeoprinte and consistent with aplicabl at withhold Feder suport
‘ito public spas fom Stat and local goverment tat hve fled to protect public monuments, merora, and
Sanus fom destuton or vandalism, These jursdictons’ cet abandonment ofthe enforcement esponsibiies
wit respect opi monamens, merits, and ates ass daubt on hr wilinenes to praetor abi spaces
{nd msnan te peace win them Thee jrsicton ae appropriate candies or ted Fes Finds ha
‘pon pubic pcs

(0) Itsthe poy ofthe Unit Stats a appropriate an consistent with applicable lt withold Federal spport
{fom State ual a enforcement gence at ave lle to pect pt onus, menor ad ace
‘om destton or vols. Unlingnes 1 enforce tate nd loa laws inthe ace of aah on eur Sty
‘whether beets of ympahy fr the extents behind this voence ose ter imoper eason cast dou athe
management of thes lw enforcement agsoies. Tess ln eforcemem agencies rent appropiate caps for
Timed Federal funds that support Sate and lea pole.

Sse 3
essntActsafVnkns. (a) The Atomey Gen hl prize wine Deparment of asi he invesieaon
nd proseuton of mates deseribed in subsections (2), (an) this The Atorcy General shal ke al
Sppropate enlorcemea! ston agaist advises ergaieaon oud have lated Feral law ous
(hove vestigations



(©) The Auomey Genera shal a appropiate ad consistent with applicable ls, wrk with Slate and les
‘forcement autores ap Federal agence to ute the Fatal Cover appropeitl poles neato ad
‘Ssstane to Sat and local law enforcement authori in connection with the veins or prosceaons forthe
secration of monument’, memorials abd status, egaess of wheter such sce re situated on Federal
rope

‘Sox Liming Fea Grants for Jursison and Law nforsmen geisha Petmithe Desecration af
‘Monument. Memorials or Stas. The end of ll excovivedeparmenie and ages hall examine ther espotve
grant prosas ad app the polis established by sections 2) ad (eo this order w al sich programs othe exten
{ha sich application sboth appropriate an consistent with apical a.



poo the
‘ent ofthe Seestayof th nei, he Serta of Homslnd Security, rhe Admins of General Sense,
the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney Genel athe Seretary of Homeland Securit shall roid, as appropiate ant
msi with pica law, personel o ait ith he prosecon of Federal monuments, memory sue,
property. This section sl tite ath om the date of this order less extended bythe resent

‘Ses. 6 Genel Provisions (a) Nothing inthis ers be constr t impair otherwise affect

(i. the authorty wanted bylaw to an executive department or agency, rth head threo oF
(i the functions ote Director of the Oe of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or
legate propos.

(t) This order sallbe implemented consistent with appliabe aw and subject to the aaiblty of appropriations

(c) This order snot tended to, and doesnot, ceate any rt or bene, substantive procedural enforceable st
[aw on qty by any party agains the Unted States, ts departments, agence, o entitles, offices, employees, oF
‘agents, or anyother person.

(a) This orderis not intend to, ara does no, affect the prosestvial ssretion of he Department fasts with
respect te nda ass.
DECOLONIZE ZHIGAAGOONG!

‘Wo struggle toward decolonization of Zhigaagoong. Aland East
of Michigan Avenue is unceded Now mishlcodewinan territory.
{tls occupied oniy by white supremacist entitlement and 2
collective delusion of ownership. We demand that the City of
Chica decolonize and
‘Rematriate unceded Native lands!
Officialy recognize First Nations Garden as a permanent
‘space and open more green spaces inthe city!
+ Abolish C*tumbus Day, denounce of the Doctrine of
Discovery, and honor alltreaties!

DEFUND CPD! FREE THEM ALL!

We strurie toward complete abottion of pai in Chicago,

Potleing incarceration, and punisiymert exist ae tools of

Pevtal violence againet Bock ietiganow

Strategies that defund, disempower

Police Department: We demand that
ray wut CoO ase nenvestinnorcarcerat
‘muitiple complaints atop new hiring an buying weapons!
‘Torminats plane to bud potce academy in west Garfield
Park! suocapacademy

























Ran AR ur) (oy
AT Saces eke sud :
Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally
Against Racist Columbus Statue
Attacked by CPD- Causing Injury,
Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the
Police State

JULY 21, 2020 BY LOVEYLUCHA



‘#DecolonizeZhigaagoong, #DefundCPD, #BlackLivesMatter
Chicago, IL

“After a powerful Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally and March, the biggest gang in Chi
Town shows who they serve, and what they're here to protect. Lightfoot can say what she
‘wants to #45's people, but don't lie and tell us you care about Black and Brown people in
Chicago" Lives Matter Chicago ( https://twitter.com/BLMChi }





On July 17th, 2020 at the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally in Chicago, more than 1000
people gathered. They were Black, Native and Brown folks

more, The crowd consisted of yo
families. Many community members






|e was a beautifil collaboration between more than 15 grassroots organizations and
autonomous groups, concerned individuals, groups of friends and families. Everyone met in
downtown Chicago at the Buckingham Fountain followed by a march to a symbol of
genocide, slavery and colonialism, the Christopher Columbus Statue.

‘An invitation to the event read, " Chi-Nations Youth Council, Black Lives Matter Chicago,
and BYP100 ( https://twitter.com/byp100 ) —among others call for the abolishment of
police and the redistribution of funds to the people of Chicago.

‘In 1830, during the Indian Removal act, the Chicago Police Department was founded—three
years before Chicago was official. These overlaps are often seen as coincidental, but the
history of police in the United States shows a clear mission to remove Native peoples from
‘our land and enslave our Black relatives. All land East of Michigan Avenue is unceded Niswi
‘mishkodewinan territory. The city of Chicago has no rights to this land—through treaty or
sale. It is occupied only by white supremacist entitlement and a collective delusion of
ownership.

We are gathering and celebrating ourselves as Black and Indigenous peoples. We are tired of,
having to say “we are people.” We are tired of having to say "we matter.” We built this

country as Black and Indigenous peoples. Our knowledge and labor has been exploited for
too long. Let’s dance, sing, party, and celebrate ourselves. Bring drums, flags, musie, and



ein






VECOLOMIZE ZHIGANG-OONG-
DEFUNDCPD #
Bs


Dring the solidari nous people took the sta
the crowd, songs were sung, and performers ene: Most
chimed in with the speakers, hollered in agreement, laughed with one another, cheered
danced, and prayed. The smell of sage whirled around the gather
spoke (httpss//www.facebook.com/wateh/2v=3146155698774324 )" I've come from the
Dakota homelands and I greet each one of you with 2 good heart. I've dedicated my entire life
to indigenous rights, for the land to get back... to see the liberation of indigenous peoples on
turtle island, for the dismantling of white supremacy. And I know that my fight is not whole
unless I'm also advocating for the liberation of black people. If don’t understand that my
struggle is connected to the struggle of my relatives, then we are gonna fil. So that’s why we
eto connect our struggles. want ize the land we are on. The original
territories ofthe three fires confederacy Oglala, Anishinaabe, Potawatomi, Miami, Meskwaki
and more all gathered here to trade... We are collect
4 directions and asking the ancest



rally black brown



and spoke to
resent there was Love. People





1g. A vocal Dakota activist







are h



recog





ly casting our voice out to each of the
to be with us here.”



eed
eerie te tra
Perey ener eer



A member of the Chi Nations Youth Council (https://twitter.com/chi_nations ) shared a
song, accompanied by his drum, for “all those brothers and sisters protesting who have lost
their lives. For all the rights we deserve.


‘The energy was high and uplifting at this beautiful solidarity rally. A BLM Chicago
(hutps://wwwe blacklivesmatterchicago.com/) member spoke, “We're here to remind this city
‘that we are not separating, That we are not backing down. Not giving up since may 30th
‘when they beat us up with batons. We will continue to be out here. Today we are demanding
not only that they defund epd. We are also demanding that they decolonize Zhigagagong
(Chicago).” The crowd of more than 1000 people roared in applause.



A person from Brave Space Alliance (https://twitter.com/bsalliancechi ) shared, “First and
foremost, to all the black and brown people here today I want you to know that we have b
involved in a lot of protests, a lot of demonstrations. But this right here isthe best, most
intentional, most beautiful display of black and brown joy that Ihave seen in a long time!” -
‘They're words were met by cheers..“ifyou're here right now you are hyper aware ofthe times
\we are living in right now... and this is not the time for your respectability polities.”

Side

Mo plpeenlnce hec LL tet ee
Doprenleatchin etter

Cee ee eer
SC meer eri

er et tet em ner tinn)

‘community control ofthe matherfucking cops... PAC NOW said
er ete etic eer nee



Fg oh)
Be Cte eS ei De Cau Rca
eet eerie Pema)


Pigg he
eee er



‘The solidarity march proceeded to the statue of the murderer Columbus and was very well
organized. At their arrival, Police had already surrounded the statue and were guarding i,
{forming a barricade with their bikes. About a dozen cops in riot gear were on standby at the
other side of the hill. Several police SUV's had alzeady lined up along the lawn west ofthe
statue in Gran park, Strets had begun to be blocked off by cops. Before the people even
reached the Columbus statue, the CPD had already demonstrated their power and authority
to protect this symbol of racism and genocide

Meee


A local community member shared, “1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue ~ that’s what 1
‘was taught in school when I was a kid, And what we have been taught is wrong. Columbus
didn't discover anything, He wasn't looking for spices or India. He came to a land that he had
heard about from African and Arab sailors. To look for a new place to throw the Portuguese
flag up, as Europe was in the dark ages while the rest of the world flourished. He came and
brutalized the Native people of what we call South, Central, and North America. A

‘discovery” to Europe that this land existed and that the earth was round, A discovery only.
to them, But people already lived here. And what followed is the history we all know. Not
what they teach in school but what we hear from our Indigenous sisters and brothers. The
‘genocide, theft of land, rape, murder. Columbus the carrier of plagues and pandemics, does
not deserve a statue, or any status as an explorer or anything a all, He deserves to be
condemned!”





‘The people marched towards the Columbus Statue, and upon seeing the cops surrounding it
started collectively chanting, “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?", as they made their
way forward, At which point fireworks were heard in and around Grant Patk all the while
the people kept chanting. The people would not be deterred, The mere act of protecting this
symbol of hate and oppression by the CPD was an act of violence against the indigenous,
black, and brown community.



Police vehicles immediately mobilized from all directions, riot cops were on the scene within
seconds and numerous cops on foot ran to protect the statue. Cops alleged water cans were
being flung at them and started using tear gas against the demonstrators, Fireworks were
being lit while onlookers watched and filmed from the sidelines. An indigenous femme
‘wearing a ribbon skirt holding feathers awaited her chance at a round dance while CPD.
cowered right beside he






“The area around the statue was clea
base around the statue v
Columbus", “ACAI
Someone climbed on the
the crowd began to pull. Well or
Pulll", Anticipation was high. Ev
Chicago, a city with a huge population of black, brown, indigenous, and immigrant peoples,



of the police and artists came out and redecorated the
ich as "Defund CPD", "For Fred Hampton”, “Fuck
“Enough is enough’ "The Cops are losing”, and more.







dy draped statue of Columbus, wrapped a rope around it and
“Pull, Pall
at statue down, Itis shameful that

and det



‘mined the people chan



thas yet to take any racist




4% Grace Del Vecchio @delvecchiograce - Jul 17,

Ra JES ores
Protesters chanting “Bring it down” #C

Ce a




Unfortunately, the statue did not come down, and was interrupted by the police brutally,
attacking the crowd. An eloquent speaker from Good Kids Mad City
(https://twitter.com/GKMC1B8 ) spoke at a press conference, “This past Friday, peacefully
protesting downtown at the racist Columbus statue, showing our rights as citizens to protest
‘against the injustices that have been placed in society. While the action continued, police
officers were brought in to cicle a group of young unarmed innocent group of people. They
brought out tear gas, pepper spray, and mace. They were beating people. There were multiple
instances of police brutality. People with their heads busted open, people who coulda’t
breathe throughout the rest ofthe night, people whose skin was burning from pepper spray
and one of our own members, an 18 year old gil who had her teeth knocked out.”

Police viciously and indiscriminately attacked anyone within their reach. Beating and
arresting, their batons wacked hands, faces, bodies, pushed and punched women, youth, non
binary folks, NLG lawyers, elders just anyone they could reach with their batons. They tried
stealing peoples bikes and if the owner didn’t let go they beat their hands with batons and hit
and push them until they let the bike go. The whiffs of healing sage were replaced by mace
and pepper spray as frantic police sprayed unarmed people. Cries for medics and folks
running to help one another was heard. Even though there was a fire truck and ambulance
there, none of the people were treated in the ambulance for the burns and blood that ensued,
Instead, the ambulance comforted the cops hit by a water bottle. There are various videos
online showing the seriously violent and sociopathic behavior of the Chicago Police
Department that have been, for many years now, training in military taties and upping their
supply of brutal weapons to use against Chicagoans.

A local Native activist shared some photos of frightened police on FB and wrote, “These
pictures were taken at the same time, that’s me calmly standing there with my feathers and
ribbon skirt waiting to round dance, while the cops were crying and ‘running for their life’
she went on, “When folks weren't scared of their bullshit they decided to target less
defensive people away from the folks defending themselves- the children, medics,
photographers, disabled, and the elderly. We said people are more important than property
their response was ‘people’?”.



retreating

Cede


EY
avi

a]
j
j


A Southwest Sider of Zhigaagong expressed, “It was very important and a delight to see
PD's usual smugness exchanged for shock as protestors launched projectiles and fireworks
at them in the intial attempt to clear the statue's immediate space. The pigs’ faces showed a
cognitive dissonance as the protestors’ offense intensified. It seems it was very hard for them
to believe violence was being directed to THEM and not just to property, which is an
important development in the uprising here in Zhigaagong.

Let it be known: this was a multiracial action, contrary to the white supremacist media
narrative that wartiors in the uprising are foreign white agitators. We all have legitimate
reasons to want to eliminate by any means necessary unelected, unaccountable marauders
and assaulters who have the Authority of the State power but not our consent whatsoever.
CPD and all other occupying forces are not chosen by us directly, cherefore, they have no
legitimacy and constitute invading and occupying forces. Invaders and occupiers have no
rights, period. They do not even have the right to defend themselves from injury or death
from those who violently oppose their illegitimate and violent presence, Adelante!

After the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally, alot of people were hurt, scared and
confused. Some, mostly corporate medi, blamed the few protesters who lt fireworks or
‘threw water for the escalation of a mostly ‘peaceful’ protest, promoting a dialogue of ‘good’
protester, ‘bad’ protester.

(One local Chicago compatterx wrote, “On Friday even before we arrived at Grant Park all the
‘weapons were there, and so were the pumped up cops thirsty for blood. This is not a figure
of speech, They surrounded us. We went to Grant Park that day in defense of Black and
Indigenous lives. It is a peaceful act to tear down monuments to genocide and enslavement.
The pigs repress, sabotage, beat, threaten and intimidate all those who stand against them no
matter the tactics, no matter how calm, restrained or how chill we behave, Whenever we
{question the status quo and exercise forms of association they cannot control, whenever we
:make another world not just necessary, but actual, they undermine and repress us. On Friday
people stood together and defended each other.

‘Young Black organizers reminded us relentlessly to not panic, to not run away, to stick
together, to form defensive lines, ro take care of each other, to protect each other, to stay
together. Do not panic, they are dividing the group, isolating this or that portion, separating
and then attacking,
People showed remarkable calm and restrain, and this was good not because it was
“peaceful” to place your body and your bike between the pigs and other protesters but
because it allowed us to protect instead of trample each other, which is clearly what the
police wanted us to do, They ambushed and chased and threw people downhill hoping for a
panicked stampede. They deliberately divided the group so they could mote easly beat us up.
‘And this is continuing even now, after the protest. They are hunting us down and tearing us
apart. They are manufacturing the “provocation” that makes their position legitimate, and
they are prying open divisions between protesters in order to do so."

However, some folks felt the organizers should have been more clear about the march and.
direct action that was to follow the rally. Little Village resident expressed, “I'm feeling
weird about that rally on Friday turning from a rally ta march & statue take over. I'm still,
not clear on how or why that happened. For safety reasons, I feel like people should be
informed and be given the opportunity to consent to participate in putting their bodies at
risk like that. There were children, differently abled bodies and undocumented folks in the
crowd. People got hurt” She also had some suggestions we could al isten to, “Td love to see
that statue come down and I support the groups who want to do that. This isthe part that
concerns me, I don’t feel right about putting peoples lives at stake for an agenda that only
some knew about and agreed to... 've been studying revolution, liberation and creating.
autonomous communities for some time, Transparency in mission is still key at every step of
the way. We can build our own militia, Its nor illegal to do so, But using people as pawns is a
very, and i hate to put it this way, but white, patriarchal and colonial practice. Sois only a
few people making decisions for everyone. The revolution will be a slow, intentional &
‘wansparent one. I think we've all ot some reading to do.”

The days following the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally saw more protests and many
press conferences. On July 18, a march to the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoor’s house was
interrupted by Police blacking the road and continuing the brutality

(https://wwwfacebook.com/humboldtparkinchicago/videos/309669607079480/) A local
Chicago compx wrote, “On Saturday evening at a Logan Square protest lead by Good Kids
‘Mad City, people practiced incredible restraint in the face of massive police presence
surrounding them, outnumbering them, provoking them, kettling them, threatening them for
hours; the psychological assault was so intense a young woman near me passed out. But no
‘one left, no one bailed, everyone stayed together, And still that evening a police car drove
into protesters. Ic was intentional. They are now “investigating”, which means they will
‘manufacture some kind of provocation. They brutalize us to justify their gear, their arsenal,
their power and the necessity of their institution,
Whether we stand in silence in a line as we did Saturday, or throw firecrackers and water
bottles as some did Friday, the police brutalize us. These are merely different tactics, and we
cannot afford to take any tactics off the table. They are all necessary. We are all necessary. "

Ata press conference on July 20th by GoodKids MadCity,
(hutps://Awwwe-facebook.com/Fox32Chicago/videos/729166491216253/ ) an organization of
Black and Brown young people fighting to end violence and calling for more resources to
uunder-served communities, a youth activist spoke, “This is a continuous thing that has been
happening within these last few months of actions happening downtown of unarmed youth
coming peacefully protesting, and we have more tactics and scare tactics and tanks coming
in...[Lightfoot] She brings out thousands of cop cars, tanks with weapons with guns and
tasers for unarmed youth. She invests 1.8 billion dollars into the Chicago Police Department.
‘She has a 33 million dollar contract with CPD to be in CPS schools to brutalize young.
students, To brutalize young black and brown students CPD gets five million dollars a day.”
She also went on to explain about food deserts and lack of mental health facilities. On how
folks have to drive 30 minutes to get groceries, but the north side and downtown has ample

sources, And black and brown south and west sides struggle for food and basic necessities.
Lori Lightfoot would rather protect statues than the citizens who live in the city. Come on,
‘Objects instead of living bodies in the city of Chicago. As somebody who is black.



Somebody who has the same skin as us and she's not protecting those who look like us. If
she didn’t have that title she would be in the same predicament as us. She's not funding us.
[No she’s not taking care of us, She's not making sure that young black women are safe that
young black women are being protected. She sent those officers out .. [who] were brutalizing
young black women, black girls, people not over the age of 18, beaten pepper sprayed. This is
‘hat has been happening in this city every single day forthe past month for the past year
past decade... But we are here to let Lori and the CPD know that we aint taking this no
:more. We're not taking this. No more funding that’s going to people that brutalize us,
murder us, sexually assault us. We're not gonna take it anymore...Funding needs to go t0
black and brown communities not to send cops into schools. "

‘Miracle Boyd, an 18 year old recent graduate of Chicago Public Schools and also a part of
GoodiKids BadCity, was the young woman who got her teeth knocked out by a Chicago Police
Officer. She also spoke at the press conference on Monday and expressed, "I fight every day
in my community to end gun violence... | was attacked by CPD who valued a supremacist
statue over my life, safety, and well being. Christopher Columbus did not discover America
He was a rapist, murderer, thief and colonizer who layed the groundwork for indigenous
{genocide and the trans atlantic slave trade of Africans. Yet the police are defending the statue
fof a man who died more than 500 yeats ago. The police are not serving and protecting us
‘There is now way I should have left a protest bruised and battered for exercising my freedom
of speech...since then, my life has been threatened. I've received several hate messages” She
began to tear up and fellow organizers surrounded her hugging and giving support. She
continued sternly, “I will not be defamed by the media... lam not a criminal. [am not a
‘menace. I am not a rebel. Lam a dedicated freedom fighter who will always stand up for black
and brown people across America!”

‘The bronze statue on a cement slab, covered with a white drape resembling the kkk, was
rapidly cleaned of the art, surrounded by new fences, patrolled by security vehicles, and now
cameras are also facing it. A group of protesters gathered close by on the night of July 20 t0
show their continuing disgust for it, Police are stil protecting this non-living object, instead
of protecting people. Clearly this is their only goal, co protect Racism and serve Colonialism,
‘The Chicago Police Department was built for oppression and has shown time and again that
i can only do that. We need to be freed from these oppressors. CPD needs to be abolished,
Resources need to be re-allocated to communities of color; to schools, hospitals, social
services, to people directly, and not the Police State. Land must be given back to Native
peoples so they can teach us all how to care for and flourish with the Earth. The Black,
Indigenous, and Brown people of Chicago want freedom, and we are not going to back down!
Defund CPD! #Decolonize Zhigaagong!

‘hupss//twitter.com/hashtag/decolonizezhigaagoon,

hups://witter.com/hashtag/defundepd
(Other articles to check out

hups://thetribe,com/2020/07/gkme-organizer-miracle-boyd-and-other-organizers-stand-
firm-in-their-demands-to-defund-police-afier-decolonize-zhigaagoong-protest/

nupsi//www.injusticewatch.org/news/2020/youth-leader-miracle-boyd-attacked-by-chicago-

police-at-black-indigenous-solidarity-rally/

nxtps//crimethine.com/2020/07/2 1/accounts-from-the-battle-of-grant-park-how-<hicago-
demonstrators-pushed-back-the-police-and-nearlv-toppled-a-statue

Accounts from the Battle of Grant Park
How Chicago Demonstrators Pushed Back the Police and
Nearly Toppled a Statue

anonymous author, from crimethinc

(On July 17, 2020, following a rally in Grant Park—the site of horrific police violence during,
‘the Democratic National Convention of 1968—demonstrators outwitted and outfought
police officers, winning an opportunity to try to topple a hated statue of Christopher
Columbus. Inthe following accounts, participants explore the tactics and strategies of the
demonstrators and the lessons they learned in the process.

“That's not peaceful protest. That's anarchy—and we are going to put that down.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, threatening the demonstrators of July 17 for employing a
small amount of the force that Chicago police employ daily with impunity. She went on to
brag about Chicago's “long history of peaceful protest” urging people to “follow that
tradition and try to build bridges with others.”

If you're curious why people would want to tear down statues of Christopher Columbus,
start here. For an account of the toppling of a Confederate monument ahead of the current
wave of statue topplings, read this.

‘Aerial footage ofthe first half of the demonstration, Police have eagerly distributed.
recordings from the first part ofthe events, but appear to have suppressed footage of the
ensuing police brutality

‘The Battle of Grant Park

(On Friday, July 17, hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police in the course of
attempting to topple the Christopher Columbus Monument in Grant Park in downtown
(Chicago. The battle of Grant Park was one of the most confrontational and effective projectile
assaults on the Chicago Police Department in decades.
At 5 pm on Friday, a Black and Indigenous solidarity rally gathered at Buckingham Fountain
in Grant Park. In the course of an Indigenous ritual, rap performances, and impassioned
speeches calling for defunding and abolishing the police and decolonizing Zhigeagoong, the
crowd grew to at least a thousand, When the rally concluded, around 7 pm, people took the
streets. The crowd assembled into march formation on Columbus Avenue and began to
‘march toward the Christopher Columbus statue a few blocks south of the Fountain, The
‘march itself was unannounced, but the crowd immediately embraced it, while it appeared to
come asa surprise to the few officers present.

Headed largely by Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth, the march was supported by a
thunderous mobile sound system and surrounded by a series of large banners reinforced with
PVC pipes. Behind the banners and intermingled throughout the crowd, about 40 people
unfurled their umbrella. The march was joyous, raucous, and well organized

When the march approached the statue of Columbus, about 35 bike cops surrounded the
‘monument. This was not surprising, as the controversial colonial figure has been a recurring
target for demonstrators throughout the summer. Both of the Columbus statues in Chicago
have been repeatedly vandalized since the uprising in Minneapolis at the end of May. In
response, Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered city workers to wrap the statue in white plastic,
causing the already egregious symbol to resemble a klansman,

“The marchers seemed prepared for the police presence. Rather than approaching the statue
from the street, the crowd veered left off ofthe road and back into Grant Park, stopping at a
lightly wooded hilly area directly adjacent to the Columbus statue. Here, about 150 yards
north of the monument, the banner holders rearranged themselves into a “U" formation;
along with the mass of umbrella wielders, they surrounded a portion of the marchers,
shielding them from view. When the march started moving again, «wo minutes later, a sixty-
person black bloc had formed in broad daylight in the middle of the largest city in the
Midwest,

‘The march headed to the statue, the newly formed black bloc shielded by banners and
umbrellas,

As the bloc reached the statue and the crowd surrounded it, confrontation ensued. Police
grabbed at the banners, successfully stealing or breaking several of them; one officer used a
piece of a broken banner to attempt to beat demonstrators, They pepper-sprayed people and
hit them with batons. In response, from behind the umbrellas, hundreds of cans of La Croix
sparkling water began raining down on the police, striking some in the face.

Al sorts of people were grabbing La Croix cans left and right. A solitary critic yelled out,
“This is not the way,” but he seemed isolated in his perception of the situation, Everyone
clse appeared to understand that this moment was about working together toward the
‘common goal of taking down the statue. In the prevailing mood, no one attempted to
distinguish between “good” and “bad” protestors. It was as if everyone in attendance agreed
that peace police are simply-—polic.

‘The barrage of La Croix cans overwhelmed the police. When fireworks began to land among,
the officers alongside the La Croix cans, the police surrendered the statue and the crowd
overran the platform. People ripped the plastic wrap off the statue and threw up tags
including”BLM," “ACAB," “FTP,” and “La Croix the cops.” Others continued to push the
police further away from the statue. Those who were able to used their bikes a shields for
themselves and others. Some held the ground by putting their bodies on the line in spite of
‘unrelenting police violence

‘Meanwhile, on the statue platform, several attempts were made to secure a climbing rope
around the statue's outstretched arm, Once these had proved inadequate, a brave comrade
‘emerged from the crovid and free-climbed the statue, clenching the rope between their teeth
‘They ascended the colonialist idol and secured the ropes around its arm. The remaining.
banner assumed its fourth role of the day when friends stretched it out horizontally beneath
the climber in case they fll. Upon descending, the climber trust-fll the last few feet into the
safety net offered by the adoring banner-holders. The ropes now attached to the statue were
spread out and two teams formed to pull on them, While this was unfolding, people pushed
the police out of the area multiple times so that others could focus on pulling the ropes.

“The crowd secured the area for a considerable amount of time while people repeatedly
attempted to topple the statue. During this time, demonstrators sustained multiple injuries
as police continued to employ pepper spray and brutal force. The cops targeted people with
bicycles, stealing over 100 of them from the crowd. One young organizer, who had spoken at
the rally earlier, was filming the police beating a demonstrator when police attacked her and
knocked out her front teeth. Conflicting reports have circulated regarding how many cops
‘were hurt; supposedly, 45 were injured and 18 went to the hospital, hough we don’t know
how many of those were offensive injuries incurred as a consequence of attempting to injure
others.

‘When police backup arrived, they managed to recapture the area with the reinforcements and.
_massive amounts of pepper spray—causing everyone in the crowd to cough and choke.
Having sustained a number of injuries and realizing that they'd done all they could, the
crowd linked arms and withdrew to Buckingham Fountain, where they regrouped and safely
dispersed. According to reports, twelve demonstrators were arrested All of them were
released on Saturday.
Despite having failed to bring down the statue, the crowd demonstrated that they have
learned a number of lessons in the course ofthis movement. They moved together in a way
that allowed for various elements to act with trust inthe people around them, trust in the
‘moment, and trust inthe justice of their actions. At the end of the evening, the statue was
still standing, but the resolve that intially animated the group remained palpable. They
needed stronger ropes, better climbing gear, perhaps more explicit invitations to help pull
the ropes. But most importantly, they had made it clear that if people come prepared and
remain determined, they can face down the Chicago Police Department,

Decolonize Zhigaagoong: An Outsider's Inside Perspective

A truly effective protest is one that disrupts, disturbs, or damages the status quo. Those are
the sort of actions that get a response in the form of concessions from the state, reforms.
Although this is not a universal law—there may be outliersit isa broadly applicable theory.

Chicago, Illinois has a long history of truly effective protest. Recently, however, there have
‘mostly been less-than-effective demonstrations. Peaceful, in-line, working with the state as
‘opposed to against it; neither disturbing nor disrupting nor damaging. The George Floyd
flame roared here, too, but for the most part, the police seemed to have control over the flow
and ditection of the “effective” actions

Although organizers prepared routes, marshals, chants, speakers, performers, and so on, the
police ultimately directed traffic and both led and followed the demonstrations. At one point,
during one march, people attempted to march onto the highway. The demonstration involved
:many hundreds of people, whereas there were less than a dozen police officers. But the
officers said no, so the march continued past the highway. Another march, around city bal,
was led by an officer beckoning the demonstrators.

‘These demonstrations do not feel like actions against the state, they fel like aride at an
amusement park. A slow one.

Decolonize Zhigaagoong was the first demonstration of the year in Chicago, a least that 1
have seen personally, that was not only well-organized but also unexpected. It could have
accomplished something significant, ifnot for one small oversight.
‘The evening started around five inthe afternoon with a loose gathering of people. Some were
selling merchandise; a rabbi whom I have seen previously, involved with organizers or
organizing himself, was speaking to news cameras, People were milling around near the
Buckingham fountain, It was a beautiful day, if bit hot, but sunny and with little clouds
speckled in the blue background of the Chicago skyline. A performance from Native
‘Americans started and the whole crowd participated in minor ways. The crowd was growing:
would guess a few thousand,

‘Then speakers took the stand, two of whom I recognized from previous BLM and afiliated
‘organizations’ demonstrations, one of which I know isa leader of BLM Chi. The crowd
continued to grow throughout another musical performance followed by a final speaker.

[Now they call for the banners to move to the front. The banners ae large, maybe five fet tall
and very wide; there are afew different formats, but the largest two are made of PVC pipe
with a tarp stretched across it and taped to the rectangular pipe frame. The others are less
sturdy and large, but all the same they dominate one’s vision. The march begins with the
banners in the font. Directly behind the banners, demonstrators are walking with umbrellas,
This is not occurring anywhere else in the march. People point out a few drones in the sky
and diminish their range of vision with umbrella cover, There are several umbrellas to go.
around, as spares have been brought.

“The march reaches Grant Park and abruptly turns into it. Just pasta dip in the land is the
Columbus statue, wrapped in plastic to procect it. The banners list off to one side, taking a
group of marchers with them, and another banner appears, covering the back of the group.
Inside this space, people are changing into black clothes, trading oft holding banners and
‘umbrellas as they do. Three to four dozen people emerge in black blac dress code. They
_march pasta line of the other demonstrators.

The banners are atthe front; people bring umbrellas into position around them. This creates
a sort of phalanx that is initially very effective. The bloc moves towards the statue and the
limited number of officers there—maybe twenty. People launch soda cans, full water bottles,
fireworks, and other small items at the officers from behind the phalanx. The officers, unsure
of what to do and not presenting a front, grab at the umbrellas and spray past them before
‘withdrawing from the statue to wait for backup. Immediately, people begin stripping the
plastic covering from the statue while other demonstrators establish a perimeter. People
around the statue realize that they cannot strip all ofthe plastic from the statue, or else do
not know how to. They cover it again and some begin pulling out rope.
‘This is the first oversight. Up until now, the operation has been beautiful. The perimeter is
well-established, Peaceful demonstrators stand in deep lines between the bloc and police.
From the view on the far westside of the street across from the statue, there almost seems to
‘be mote riot cops than protestors. From the statue, the opposite seems true. The officers are
abusing the peaceful demonstrators but aren't making a concentrated effort to push through
them. They're using pepper spray, but not tear gas or rubber bullets

Unfortunately, the rope is far too thin, made of a material that stretches too easily when
pulled. If properly placed and properly pulled, it might still suffice to topple the statue. One
person tries over half a dozen times to throw it over the statue; then a young person fom
‘outside the bloc comes and climbs the statue, gripping the plastic covering, in order to loop
the rope around the extended arm of Columbus. The arm is near the top of the statue,
extending above the edge of the base. There is only one rope in place.

Police, sick of trying to wade through the peaceful protesters, maneuver around the south
side of the statue. Bloc’ers and peaceful protesters follow them, holding a line. The officers
do not meet the line; some people hu cans of soda and water bottles and pieces of the pipes
from the frames of the banners. The officers try to run around to the eastside, but the line
follows their movement again; frustrated, they begin beating people at random,

One officer strikes a young man in the head, opening a broad gash, Blood is pouring down
his face in multiple rivulets, dripping onto the young woman whois trying to pull him
behind the line. People are stll holding a tight formation, protecting the ropes from the
officers’ advance. The officers in their frustration, overextend themselves. A group of them is,
suddenly surrounded by a line of protesters. Cans and bottles are thrown; the officers strike
back and are beaten with pipes and signs. They are left an opening, away from the statue

People return to pulling on the rope, the wo sides pulling in unison. A person with a black
flag suggests that the people pulling ought to alternate and pull from opposite sides—the
two lines are almost parallel, ewenty yards apart or less—but none of the organizers hear
hhim. As the officers regroup, some people plan to wrap the statue with the rope to create
further leverage, but it's too late. The officers have assembled and, asthe bloc starts
‘wrapping, they move forward. There is a veritable cloud of pepper spray; the butfer of
peaceful protesters crumbles. Even from thirty or mote yards away, it reaches the eyes and
‘throat. Seeing the buffer of peaceful protesters melt away, the people around the statue drop
the ropes and retreat.


‘The officers reclaim the statue and, beating and spraying, force the demonstrators back down,
the hill—coughing, gagging, and shouting, some bleeding. They gather again and march back
to the fountain to disperse. Some of them change into different clothing on the way.

With proper equipment and organization, the statue would have been face-down on the
pavement in short order. Unfortunately, it stil stands.

Although the action was unsuccessful, that doesn’t mean it accomplished nothing. The
Chicago activist community showed that they will not accept their city’s brazen disregard for
hhuman life, human dignity, and human rights—that they are both willing tof

right and capable of it, too. Every success is preceded by failure, and every fllure is a lesson.
Chicago learned several lessons at Grant Park that evening. They learned a lesson about their
own power, their own agency. They learned a lesson about the vulnerability ofthe state

They learned a lesson about planning and organizing. They learned a lesson about failure:
that the smallest omission in the best-laid plans can spoil them,

for what is



‘Chicago is learning, not quitting,


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