Thank you to our comrades at SUNY Albany Young DSA for putting together the following resources.
As fascist activity heightens in our communities, keeping eyes on ICE and pigs and effectively communicating specific information is essential to carrying out our protection tactics as well as outplaying their harmful ones.
Prevention is key, protection is essential, and panic is our bodies telling that it knows these structures are unsafe. Being precise and accurate about when we see fascist activity is important to our community who is already experiencing heightened anxiety. Slowing ourselves down to understand how to effectively ICE/pig watch with specific language keeps our siblings safer.
Remember S.A.L.U.T.E.! Fear is a tool of the state. We can combat it by being informed~
S for Size
- Example: “There are 6 officers”
A for Action/activity
- Example: “Standing by the bus station near Walmart”
L for Location
- Example: “Crossgates Commons Plaza”
U for Uniform (clothes)
- Example: “Wearing a vest labeled ‘Department of Homeland Security’”
T for Time (date of observation)
- Example: “@ 4 PM 1/20”
E for Equipment (weapons)
- Example: “three of them have handcuffs on their belts”
Similarly A.L.E.R.T.A.!
A for Activities
- Example: “They are harassing an unhoused person”
L for Location (precise)
- Example: “They are outside the back exit of Walmart”
E for Equipment
- Example: “One has a baton on their waistband”
R for Response
- What should our comrades do?
T for Time (date of observation)
- Example: “@ 4 PM on 1/20”
A for Appearance
- Example: “They are wearing plain clothes but a colored shoulder band”
UNHELPFUL:
- “There are ICE vans in Albany!”
Where in Albany? At what time did you see them? How many? What were they doing?
HELPFUL:
- “About 6 cops with clipboards outside of Crossgates Mall. They are wearing vests that say ‘DHS. Saw at 4 PM 1/20.
Stay safe, intervene when possible, and update if you are in the area.
Building collective bravery is essential. For those of us with secure statuses and the privilege of not being initial targets, it is our duty to intervene and prevent our siblings from arrests, raids, and harassment. It is always important to inform our undocumented siblings of their rights, and at the same time the state is very ruthless. Those who facilitate raids often times violate these rights, break the law, and do not care for our undocumented siblings the way we do.
The best way to be there for your community is to BE in community with affected groups. Show up in a meaningful way for your community. When you’re invited to a new space, show up consistently and become a familiar face so impacted communities know you are a safe person. Teach yourself bravery and when you see ICE, focus on taking action to keep your community safe above berating pigs (as this might make a situation worse, but make your presence a force that lets agents of fascism know we love our family, and they have people who will fight for them).
Organize carpools with your undocumented coworkers, peers, friends, and stay close to them before ICE comes to your neighborhood. Report sightings in an effective way. Slow yourself down when you ICE Watch in order to be accurate about sightings, take photos if possible! Start groupchats. Sharpen up. Distract ICE + pigs. Don’t answer their questions if they ask about our siblings. Stay in contact and check in with our neighbors. Raise funds for Legal Aid + overall support. Be brave.
ICE WILL MELT, AND IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES’ WARMTH AND THE FLAMES WE SET ONTO THE SYSTEMS THAT NEVER SERVED US.
Helpful toolkits/sources: