On June 10 determined protesters in cities from New York to Seattle confronted fascist rallies. People carried placards with pictures of the three Portland heroes who stood up to defend two young women from a knife wielding fascist-Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, Ricky John Best, and Micah Fletcher, and of Rahma Warsame, a Muslim woman assaulted and beaten by a white supremacist in Columbus, Ohio. In Seattle, an anti-Muslim rally by about 75 fascists at Seattle City Hall was drowned out by over 1000 people protesting against it with constant noise from drums, air horns, whistles, bugles, pots and pans, and chants. In Santa Clara, California, a Refuse Fascism protest countering the fascists drew about 100 people. A report said the “protest was very boisterous, as its goal was to “drown out” the anti Muslim bigots. Chanting was vigorous and continuous, ‘No Hate, No Fear. Muslims Are Welcome Here!” “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA’”.
The fascist outpourings were organized by “Act for America,” the largest anti-Muslim hate group in the U.S., with direct connections to the Trump/Pence White House. Claiming they were protesting Sharia law, the rallies were in fact explicitly organized to attack all Muslims.1 In many cities in the South and Southwest, their ranks were openly armed to the teeth, including armed groups like the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, and others.
Refuse Fascism organized counter-protests in Austin; Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Houston (Deer Park); Lansing, Michigan; San Bernardino and Santa Clara California, and Seattle. Protest were held in about 20 cities, including Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Denvier. People from numerous organizations, as well as people not affiliated with an organization participated. The fascist rallies on June 10 represent, as Sunsara Taylor wrote, “a major leap in the normalization and acceleration of anti-Muslim bigotry, government persecution, and an atmosphere that fuels vigilante violence against Muslims and the consolidation of a fascist America.” The fact that they were met with spirited opposition is important, and must be built on, and made stronger, bigger, and more widespread. In particular, the determination that “The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!” must resonate throughout all society leading up to July 15.
Photos from some of the protests across the country on June 10.
ABC 6.10.17: Protests, counter-protests held over Shariah law in San Bernardino, across the country
Al Jazeera US 6.12.17: How the US anti-Muslim marches were defeated
In cities across the US, counterprotesters outnumbered ACT for America’s National March Against Sharia.