March 17, 2012 

One Struggle, an autonomous, anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist collective in South Florida, condemns this past Tuesday’s Miami Police Department (MPD) raid on activists at the apartment complex at 540 NW 7th Avenue, aka Fort Peace.

Photo by Chris Mazorra

We express disbelief, at best, toward the claim, as reported in both Miami New Times and Huffington Post, that MPD had intelligence that Fort Peace occupiers possessed “‘long guns’ and were going to use them at [their] protest,” as occupier Thomas Parisi stated in these articles.

Furthermore, we vehemently condemn the implication that occupier Ramy Mahmoud, a committed Occupy activist and Muslim, warranted special treatment based on his religion. We abhor the official questioning of his religion and allegiance to the USA based on his religious orientation.

We also note – this is not verified in the news reports – from the observation shared with us by at least one Fort Peace occupier, that yesterday’s raid was jointly carried out by both local and federal agents.  This occupier told us that at least one personnel van at the scene was marked “Military Tactical Anti-Terrorism”.  Documentation of the raid shows a variety of personnel dressed in full military and others dressed in standard issue police uniforms.

Joint tactical operations have become the norm in the era of Homeland Security as joint tactical units and areas (JTAA’s) have proliferated across the country around major US cities.  Joint local/federal tactical exercises already have been engaged, including a recent operation in Los Angeles.

What could be the government’s intent but to terrorize the citizenry of the entire country?  Instead of succumbing to fear, we must rise up to courageously fight back for the true working class democracy in which we believe.

We, revolutionaries, progressives and lovers of democracy alike, assertively acknowledge the role of the Police in our capitalist society, both theoretically, and as it plays out in apartment complexes, neighborhoods and city streets from Miami to Seattle, as official defenders of the elite ownership class and official oppressors of the working class.  They are at once both traitors to, and members of, the so-called 99%.

We assert that any efforts by the political class and its law enforcement lapdogs at any level to divide the Occupy movement and the broader working class based on differences of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, age or any other criterion will be met with the unequivocal response: “We are One.”

We call on the People to stand united with our condemnation of this assault and to recognize its basis in the systemic priority of maintaining profits and power for those who oppress us every day. Unite to resist NOW, lest it be that the worst is yet to come.

One Struggle South Florida