Undoubtedly inspired by recent events in Greece, a protest of hundreds of people that took to the streets in response to the unprovoked police execution of an unarmed man at a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station in Oakland, California, turned rowdy Wednesday night.

The initial protest included many community organizers, as well as hip-hop artists and others, and was overwhelmingly non-violent, though numerous references to community self-defense were made throughout the speeches delivered at the rally. This atmosphere of pacified pacifism, however, was not to last.

Too many have for too long been tinged with the disillusioned resentment that accompanies fruitless and ineffectual protest and sanctioned, co-opted, disarmed and declawed activism. This time, the killing of an unarmed citizen by police, particularly a young person of color, would not go without an answer, and their response would be heard world-wide. In recognition of the fact that protests and inspirational speeches are an important component, but alone will not suffice, in ending abuses of power and the societal inequities that necessitate them, the people took their desires—unmediated—to the streets.

Riot police responded with massive presence and the deployment of chemical weapons such as tear-gas and pepper spray as protesters manifested their dignified rage in the streets of Oakland. Rioters attacked a McDonald’s, breaking its windows, smashed in the windows of several cars, some of which were lit ablaze, dragged dumpsters into roadways, lighting them aflame, and danced on at least one deserving gestapo-mobile.

Although police initially reported as few as 14 arrests, news chopper cameras caught at least one mass arrest that appeared to sweep up around 40-50 arrests. While Democracy Now! initially reported only 15 arrests, and update has now reported at least 105 arrests. As in Greece, we must stand and act in solidarity with those arrested, and demand their immediate release.

The rioting, of course, has not been without criticism from within “the movement.” A discourse has emerged, or rather resurfaced, surrounding the appropriate targets of insurrectionary rage and attack. As one commentator on Infoshop News, responding to another commentator who denounced the property destruction, put it:

Trying to prevent people from expressing their rage, however inappropriate the targets, is part and parcel of being an activist. Activists are politicians-in-training, specialists in organizing other people’s discontent. Part of organizing other people is telling them which windows are off-limits for their bricks. Remember those Global Exchange politicians who protected Niketown in Seattle? Same shit here. One of the best things I saw on TV was a guy who watched his car going up in flames. He put it into the context of police abuse, never losing sight of how outraged members of the black community are, and refusing to relativize his property loss. Good for him. There was also some petit-bourgeois store-owner complaining about his front window, whining that he is also against police brutality. Fuck him. If revolution is going to be real, the whole system that keeps police around to protect commodity relations must be abolished. From Niketown to Thriftown, it all has to come down.

From Oakland to Greece, from Augusta to France, we must resist police violence, brutality, and terrorism in all its forms, as well as the system that necessitates it. We must stand together in solidarity against the uniformed and armed thugs of the State, and in solidarity with those who choose to resist.

Most importantly, we must choose to resist and take action where we are, in our own communities and contexts. The abuses of authority, control, and power are everywhere. Take action today in your own community. Hold ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings, form a civilian review unit, or start a Copwatch chapter. Hold the police accountable for their actions and call them out on their crimes. Defend yourself, one another, and your neighborhoods. Cops, like the State they protect, are criminals and gangsters. They should be considered armed and dangerous.

Wherever the State and its thugs kill, we must be prepared to respond. The uniformed criminal gang members known as police must know that we are watching them. They must know that if they kill us, there will be consequences. Real consequences, in the streets. We recognize that their laws are not on our side.

But remember: whatever you do, don’t attack, vandalize, or occupy police stations. Certainly don’t vandalize or destroy cop cars or corporate property. After all, we wouldn’t want you to do anything that actually threatens the status quo, now would we? Forget what happened in Greece. Close your eyes and go back to sleep…*

^{*Note heavy tone of facetious sarcasm.}

¡Oscar Grant Presente!

¡Alexandros Grigoropoulos Presente!

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Meanwhile, a story has surfaced regarding the police shooting of a black man in New Orleans, making it the third high-profile police slaying of a young black male since the New Year. In Augusta, Georgia, a 23-year-old black man was killed by police in December, also sparking riots.

From Oakland to Greece,

FUCK THE POLICE!