8.28.2025
Many of us woke up this week to realize we have shifted and that fascism in the United States had escalated. Whether it was a feeling, an intuition, paying attention to what was going on, light bulbs are going off that the fascism barometer has moved.
As communities across the United States are preparing and watching National Guard being deployed to Red States, Washington DC and tested in Los Angeles California, remembering when you are researching tactics, history will be crucial.
I’ve always known John Brown was an abolitionist, but until recently I never new the extent of his role in the Civil War. John Brown dedicated his life to ending slavery. He reminds me of some of my white counter parts now. Standing with Black leaders, organizing and helping. Creating community defense networks and rapid response teams. We empathize with him because of how folks back then created the narrative that he was a lunatic and history books never mention him. We see that today when people just discard us in conversations as being radicals and too emotional. John Brown as heroic and brave as he was, he fucked up.
At a crucial moment during the battle of Harpers’ Ferry, he basically was arguing tactics with the white hostages he took. Debating and placating them he hesitated fleeing into the hills. His tactic was to strike and retreat. Except this time he hesitated. This proved to be the turning point for John Brown. Him and his comrades were captured and hanged. The Civil War raged on and instead of cultivating Black power in Black lead resistance and states, the union won and what we have now was created.
Learning from history and from John Brown himself is important. Make sure your small groups are Black/Feme/Trans led. Make sure you cultivate trust, community and solidarity. Make sure you keep your discourse with people who question your tactics to a minimum.
And never. Ever. Hesitate.
Solidarity