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Welcome, to This Is America, October 16th, 2019.

In this episode, we are lucky enough to be able to speak to an Assyrian anarchist living in Rojava, the autonomous region of Northern Syria. We speak about the unfolding crisis, the withdrawal of US troops, the ongoing Turkish invasion, the impact the bombings have had to the civilian population, the extent of the social and political revolution inside of the autonomous areas, and how anarchists are attempting to aid in the struggle.

We then switch to a discussion, where we take a break from discussing national news and touch on the topic of “left unity.”

All this and more, but first, let’s get to the news!

Living and Fighting

Soon after midnight on Saturday, October 12th, a 23 year old Portland based anarchist, Sean “Armenio” Kealiher was killed about a block away from Cider Riot, an antifascist bar, in what is being investigated as a homicide, although local antifascist groups have stated that it appears that the far-Right was not involved. Due to far-Right trolls spreading misinformation online, Sean’s family has asked friends and supporters to not discuss the case in the media and instead differ to them. Sean’s family is organizing a memorial in Portland on October 26th. Anarchists and antifascists in Portland converged on Sunday night in Portland at the scene of Sean’s murder to #LightTheSkyForSean, as did others in multiple cities across the US and the world.

Here’s a roundup of how people remembered Sean and lit up the night across the US and beyond.

Solidarity from SoCal ! Rest in power comrade! #LightTheSkyForSean pic.twitter.com/HLkcq32eJF — OC Antifa (@OCAntifa) October 15, 2019

From the East Coast to the West and Int'l. May our friend and comrade rest in power. May those in mourning find solace and comfort. May the work continue.#LightTheSkyForSean pic.twitter.com/fDaNBasnaQ — Street Medic (@RndmStreetMedic) October 15, 2019

#LightTheSkyForSean From Seattle to PDX, and international. An injury to one is an injury to all. Rest in power Sean Kealiher. Long live anarchy! We will inherit the earth! pic.twitter.com/9CBtWOyTv1 — radicalfern (@radicalfern1) October 14, 2019

“All the incivilities of the streets should become methodical and systematic, converging in a diffuse, effective guerrilla war that restores to us our ungovernability, our primordial unruliness.” (TCI) Rest in power. #LightTheSkyForSean pic.twitter.com/nzgnDKrKSw — B r e a k a w a y (@Breakaway_chi) October 14, 2019

for sean

for anarchy

for an end to capitalism

towards liberation

love your people tonight#LightTheSkyForSean pic.twitter.com/TcupnSlV8p — liv grace (@lollipop_bandit) October 14, 2019

To our friends,

We send our love & solidarity from the Twin Cities.

❤↙️❤↙️❤↙️#LightTheSkyForSean pic.twitter.com/jY1bbzcRe8 — MN United Against Fascism? (@MNUnitedAF) October 14, 2019

Oakland IWOC is reporting that a recent phone zap campaign has been a success, with inmates inside “Corcoran finally [getting] their food packages and commissary partially restored.” Inmates wrote in a statement:



“On behalf of 3C and their loved ones. We would like to say thank you to all who participated in the phonezap. CDCr staff took messages (or resorted to ignoring calls due to the number of people calling!) Trust they got our message though & our voices were heard! On Thursday in Old Corcoran, staff relented and passed out $55 store (finally) including food to Southern Mexicans. Let’s continue to work together and advocate against CDCr cruel & unusual punishment!! Lets look at this as a civil rights movement. No race, group, gender or religion is ever exempt from CDCr’s deliberate indifference, discrimination and corruption.

Please be aware “modified program” is just different terminology CDCr uses for “lockdown”. Its CDCr’s way of manipulating their way around court rulings and keeping our men on lockdown longer than 14 days. Lockdown is a type of torture in the form of sensory deprivation. We want CDCr to stop these indefinite lockdowns, to follow the law and their own rules & regulations, and stop the wordgames. You are fooling no one!!”

In Chicago, the Little Village Solidarity Network reports that hundreds came out to their recent action against child detention facilities located within the Little Village neighborhood. In a post on Facebook they wrote:

Several hundred people marched to both migrant child detention centers… we stopped to chant and sing our love and solidarity to the children held hostage inside. We then took to the streets to let our neighbors know that Heartland Alliance is jailing kids in our neighborhood for money. After we shut down Clark St and Morse Ave, police attacked us as we attempted to march down Sheridan Road, arresting two people before we were able to outmaneuver them and reach our final destination at Loyola station. Both individuals are now free and we will let everyone know if further support is needed. Now that we’ve gotten attention from the neighborhood, our next event will be a community teach-in where folks can come and learn more about Heartland’s detention centers and how to get involved in the movement to close them! We hope to see y’all there.

In Texas, protests took place following the horrific murder of Atatiana Jefferson inside her home by a police officer who came to her door to do a wellness check while she was playing video games with her nephew. The police officer behind the killing, Aaron Dean, how now been fired and faces murder charges.

***JUST IN*** Line outside city hall mobilizing into a protest. Things aren’t going smoothly inside city council either. Mayor Betsy Price has threatened to clear the chambers if she hears anymore outbursts. This is first council meeting since death of #AtatianaJefferson. pic.twitter.com/ocw5FPHmOv — Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) October 16, 2019

In Haiti, tens of thousands of people continued to take to the streets and march in affluent neighborhoods, while clashing with riot police and burning tires. Massive protests have continued daily over the rising cost of living and widespread government corruption, as demonstrators are pushing for the ouster of the current president. According to the Miami Herald: