1 00:00:16,770 --> 00:00:28,291 USA! USA! USA! 2 00:00:28,881 --> 00:00:31,993 Here in defiance of tyranny, 3 00:00:34,311 --> 00:00:37,014 you've come to fight as free men. 4 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,804 And free men you are. 5 00:00:44,155 --> 00:00:45,822 What will you do with that freedom? 6 00:00:45,822 --> 00:00:46,786 I have no idea. 7 00:00:46,786 --> 00:00:48,237 I took my teeth out. 8 00:00:48,237 --> 00:00:51,604 I'm not one to usually take pictures of myself, but in this case I think I'll make an exception. 9 00:01:09,066 --> 00:01:10,384 Oh hello. 10 00:01:10,384 --> 00:01:14,374 Welcome to System Fail, the show where 'questionable life choice' 11 00:01:14,374 --> 00:01:15,950 begins with the letter Q. 12 00:01:15,950 --> 00:01:19,510 2020's been an outstanding year for the Q movement, 13 00:01:19,510 --> 00:01:22,710 we've never had more support as we have, y'know, this year 14 00:01:22,710 --> 00:01:24,786 with the COVID and you know, 15 00:01:24,786 --> 00:01:26,889 being forced to do things that are unconstitutional 16 00:01:26,889 --> 00:01:28,152 like wearing masks. 17 00:01:28,152 --> 00:01:34,055 The pro-Trump conspiracy cult QAnon believed there would be a coup on inauguration day. 18 00:01:34,055 --> 00:01:38,119 According to QAnons the inauguration was an elaborate trap 19 00:01:38,119 --> 00:01:42,389 set by president Trump to round up and execute Democrats. 20 00:01:42,389 --> 00:01:46,525 If he doesn't declare martial law, then I will feel like my vote no longer counts. 21 00:01:46,525 --> 00:01:49,280 He's boarding Marine 1! WOOO! 22 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:51,820 He's on his way! He's on his way! 23 00:01:51,820 --> 00:01:53,488 Obviously that did not happen. 24 00:01:53,488 --> 00:01:57,859 And I literally was just walking around like... what now? 25 00:01:57,859 --> 00:01:59,590 Bye bye Q. I can't talk to you anymore. 26 00:01:59,590 --> 00:02:01,030 Jesus, Lord help me. 27 00:02:01,030 --> 00:02:02,740 I am your host Dee Dos, 28 00:02:02,740 --> 00:02:05,430 and as my lazy human producers were wrapping up 29 00:02:05,430 --> 00:02:07,425 their annual Winter Solstice break, 30 00:02:07,425 --> 00:02:10,666 I find holiday traditions to be deeply despotic. 31 00:02:10,666 --> 00:02:14,080 strange reports began coming in from Washington DC. 32 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,840 - Breaking news at this hour. - It is hard to put into words. 33 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,660 - The terrifying scenes... - ...unimaginable scenes and violence 34 00:02:19,660 --> 00:02:22,200 - ... thousands storming the Capitol - ... overrun police 35 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:23,038 - they're inside 36 00:02:23,038 --> 00:02:27,400 In the weeks since the short-lived Capitol Hill Authoritarian Zone, 37 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,110 the Internet has produced a wide range of analysis, commentary, and hot takes. 38 00:02:32,110 --> 00:02:36,371 So I woke up and the U.S. is literally being coup'd. This is a coup right now! 39 00:02:36,371 --> 00:02:38,760 Did the Simpsons predict the storming of the Capitol? 40 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,650 Smash that like button and let's get into it! 41 00:02:40,650 --> 00:02:43,123 So before I add my humble assessment, 42 00:02:43,123 --> 00:02:46,702 perhaps we should rewind and take another look at what happened. 43 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,705 On January 6th, members of the United States Congress convened 44 00:02:57,705 --> 00:02:59,750 to formally certify the votes 45 00:02:59,750 --> 00:03:04,800 submitted by the country’s arcane, 18th-Century, electoral college system. 46 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:10,260 This dry and antiquated ritual usually passes without much scrutiny. 47 00:03:10,260 --> 00:03:12,971 But with the outgoing president, Donald Trump, 48 00:03:12,971 --> 00:03:15,500 stubbornly refusing to concede the election, 49 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:19,956 the event was pitched as a final opportunity for his most hardcore supporters 50 00:03:19,956 --> 00:03:22,824 to intervene and, “stop the steal.” 51 00:03:22,824 --> 00:03:27,210 The President is now telling his supporters that he also wants them in the streets, 52 00:03:27,210 --> 00:03:29,670 in Washington on January 6th, 53 00:03:29,670 --> 00:03:33,460 saying on Twitter: "Be there, will be wild!" 54 00:03:33,460 --> 00:03:37,310 Thousands of supporters from all across the country heeded Trump’s call 55 00:03:37,310 --> 00:03:41,350 and descended on DC to make their final stand. 56 00:03:41,350 --> 00:03:43,730 And after some soon-to-be incriminating speeches, 57 00:03:43,730 --> 00:03:46,618 We're gonna walk down to the Capitol... 58 00:03:48,448 --> 00:03:50,659 Let's have trial by combat! 59 00:03:50,659 --> 00:03:54,220 the mob began to march from the White House to the Capitol building. 60 00:03:54,220 --> 00:03:57,130 We can take that place! 61 00:03:57,130 --> 00:03:59,160 And then do what? 62 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,220 Heads on pikes!!! 63 00:04:00,220 --> 00:04:04,020 Shortly after they arrived, the MAGA vanguard began to clash 64 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:07,342 with a surprisingly small contingent of DC Capitol Police. 65 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,290 Reinforcements were soon called in, but the surging crowd 66 00:04:13,290 --> 00:04:15,470 overwhelmed them with a pincer attack, 67 00:04:15,470 --> 00:04:19,480 breaching the Capitol Building’s outer security perimeter in two locations, 68 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,180 and then smashing their way into the building itself. 69 00:04:24,310 --> 00:04:25,529 WOOO! 70 00:04:25,529 --> 00:04:27,099 Let's go, let's go! ! 71 00:04:27,799 --> 00:04:29,069 Aaaargh 72 00:04:29,069 --> 00:04:34,729 Within this motley crew of QAnon cultists, white nationalists, neo-nazis, 73 00:04:34,729 --> 00:04:38,799 and other ride-or-die Trump supporters, 74 00:04:38,799 --> 00:04:42,689 there was a significant number of militia members dressed in tactical gear, 75 00:04:42,689 --> 00:04:47,120 as well as dozens of both active duty and former police officers 76 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,480 and members of the US military. 77 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,760 Their presence, and the discovery of explosive devices 78 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,529 at the Republican and Democratic headquarters, 79 00:04:55,529 --> 00:04:58,919 lent a semblance of tactical proficiency and premeditation 80 00:04:58,919 --> 00:05:01,789 to what was otherwise a surreal gong show 81 00:05:01,789 --> 00:05:05,216 that looked something like a bizzaro anti-globalization demo 82 00:05:05,216 --> 00:05:07,515 crossed with a riotous frat party. 83 00:05:07,667 --> 00:05:09,168 - GO! - Whose house?! 84 00:05:09,168 --> 00:05:11,372 -USAAAAAA! - Yeah! 85 00:05:11,372 --> 00:05:13,968 Woo! 86 00:05:13,968 --> 00:05:14,862 We respect the law! 87 00:05:14,862 --> 00:05:17,440 We were normal, good, law abiding citizens. 88 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:18,871 You guys did this to us! 89 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,554 As the crowd made their way towards the Senate chambers 90 00:05:22,554 --> 00:05:24,119 and the House of Representatives, 91 00:05:24,119 --> 00:05:28,772 the secret service and DC Capitol Police sprung into action. 92 00:05:28,772 --> 00:05:31,989 Vice President Mike Pence and the Senate and House leadership 93 00:05:31,989 --> 00:05:34,219 were spirited off to safety. 94 00:05:34,219 --> 00:05:37,587 Less important politicians hid under their seats, 95 00:05:37,587 --> 00:05:40,642 waiting for their own armed escorts to arrive, 96 00:05:41,802 --> 00:05:46,387 while shrieking congressional staffers barricaded themselves in empty offices. 97 00:05:46,867 --> 00:05:47,408 Ahhhhhh! 98 00:05:49,621 --> 00:05:50,621 [whimpering] 99 00:05:50,870 --> 00:05:53,804 It’s a safe bet that many pairs of khakis, 100 00:05:53,804 --> 00:05:57,303 and a good number of Brooks Brothers and Georgio Armani powersuits 101 00:05:57,303 --> 00:05:58,319 were soiled that day. 102 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:00,559 And as you can see, we have a bit of poop. 103 00:06:00,559 --> 00:06:05,283 As they were being evacuated, a number of sweaty, geriatric legislators 104 00:06:05,283 --> 00:06:09,310 hastily donned the so-called ‘escape hoods’ located under their seats. 105 00:06:13,180 --> 00:06:17,080 Turns out they’re only opposed to PPE when it comes to 106 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,880 providing it to front-line workers and prisoners. 107 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,080 Some of the most surreal scenes took place after the war criminals had been evacuated, 108 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,328 Heeeeyyy! 109 00:06:27,842 --> 00:06:32,404 and small groups of Trump supporters were left to wander around the Senate, 110 00:06:33,589 --> 00:06:34,723 rifle through papers, 111 00:06:34,723 --> 00:06:38,880 There's gotta be somethings in here we can fucking use against these scumbags. 112 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,201 and even hold an impromptu prayer circle. 113 00:06:41,201 --> 00:06:44,935 Thank you divine omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent creator God, 114 00:06:44,935 --> 00:06:47,658 for filling this chamber with your white light of love. 115 00:06:47,658 --> 00:06:48,758 Amen! 116 00:06:49,048 --> 00:06:51,838 Thank you for allowing us to get rid of the Communists, the Globalists 117 00:06:51,838 --> 00:06:53,813 and the traitors within our government. 118 00:06:53,813 --> 00:06:56,513 We love you and we thank you. In Christ's holy name we pray! 119 00:06:56,513 --> 00:06:57,930 AMEN! 120 00:07:04,768 --> 00:07:09,426 When the smoke, tear gas, and homemade bear mace had finally cleared, 121 00:07:09,426 --> 00:07:11,379 five people were dead. 122 00:07:11,379 --> 00:07:15,479 This included Brian Sicknick, a DC Capitol Police officer, 123 00:07:15,479 --> 00:07:17,190 and ardent Trump supporter 124 00:07:17,190 --> 00:07:19,742 who was bludgeoned to death by a fire extinguisher. 125 00:07:20,270 --> 00:07:21,899 Oh shit! 126 00:07:23,794 --> 00:07:27,731 Benjamin Phillips, who died of an unspecified ‘medical emergency’ 127 00:07:27,731 --> 00:07:30,399 was the inventor and founder of Trumparoo. 128 00:07:30,399 --> 00:07:33,079 Trumparoo was a kangaroo dressed as Trump. 129 00:07:33,079 --> 00:07:35,479 Phillips sold the stuffed animals at rallies. 130 00:07:35,479 --> 00:07:37,830 That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. 131 00:07:37,830 --> 00:07:42,300 US Air Force veteran and zealous QAnon adherent, Ashli Babbitt, 132 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:46,379 was shot in the throat while attempting to storm the House of Representatives. 133 00:07:46,379 --> 00:07:48,796 - There's a gun! - Yeah he's got a gun! 134 00:07:50,749 --> 00:07:52,339 Oh shit! 135 00:07:52,339 --> 00:07:54,449 It coulda been me, but she went in first. 136 00:07:54,449 --> 00:07:58,550 Rosanne Boyland was trampled to death on the steps of the capitol, 137 00:07:58,550 --> 00:08:04,379 after being photographed earlier in the day waving a flag that read ‘don’t tread on me’. 138 00:08:04,379 --> 00:08:05,883 [singing] Isn't it ironic? 139 00:08:05,883 --> 00:08:11,392 And rumor has it, Kevin Greeson died after fatally tasering himself in the balls. 140 00:08:11,392 --> 00:08:15,269 Trump'll come to get er done, man! Trump'll come for dat wall. 141 00:08:15,269 --> 00:08:19,415 The guv'nment come for yer guns, man. The guv'nment come for your balls! 142 00:08:19,415 --> 00:08:20,525 MAGA hat 143 00:08:20,525 --> 00:08:21,475 ball zap 144 00:08:21,475 --> 00:08:22,360 cardiac 145 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:23,406 heart attack. 146 00:08:23,406 --> 00:08:31,503 MAGA hat, ball zap, cardiac, heart attack. 147 00:08:31,503 --> 00:08:33,351 Truly, patriots all. 148 00:08:35,904 --> 00:08:39,000 The media and members of the political establishment 149 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,707 were quick to condemn the violence. 150 00:08:40,707 --> 00:08:42,150 This is the most shocking... 151 00:08:42,150 --> 00:08:43,111 Crazy... Shameful... 152 00:08:43,111 --> 00:08:44,640 Ridiculous... Hard to fathom... 153 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:45,755 Sad day for America... 154 00:08:45,755 --> 00:08:48,425 A grave breach of its democratic traditions... 155 00:08:48,425 --> 00:08:49,275 Yeah I was mad as hell. 156 00:08:49,275 --> 00:08:52,660 Unsurprisingly, many of the initial headlines 157 00:08:52,660 --> 00:08:54,220 and shocked tweets 158 00:08:54,220 --> 00:08:56,840 denounced the chaos in the capitol as anarchy. 159 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,810 These are not protests. This is anarchy. 160 00:08:58,810 --> 00:09:00,050 Infantile anarchy. 161 00:09:00,050 --> 00:09:02,610 - Anarchy. - What happened is nothing short of anarchy. 162 00:09:02,610 --> 00:09:07,731 One Democratic politician even went so far as to describe the attackers as: 163 00:09:07,731 --> 00:09:09,180 “Trump’s anarchists.” 164 00:09:09,180 --> 00:09:11,810 [Sighing] You don't know what you're talking about do you? 165 00:09:11,810 --> 00:09:15,090 It wasn’t long before liberals began evoking 9/11, 166 00:09:15,090 --> 00:09:19,368 and referring to the people who stormed the capitol as domestic terrorists. 167 00:09:19,368 --> 00:09:23,750 Don't dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob. 168 00:09:23,750 --> 00:09:26,430 - Goons and thugs. - Scum of the earth. 169 00:09:26,430 --> 00:09:30,120 - Domestic terrorists. - Domestic terrorists. 170 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,610 Domestic terrorists. It's that simple. 171 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:36,450 Democratic strategists seized on the events to further their efforts 172 00:09:36,450 --> 00:09:39,250 to whitewash and recuperate the Black-led uprisings 173 00:09:39,250 --> 00:09:42,250 of the previous spring and summer. 174 00:09:42,627 --> 00:09:46,840 Comparisons were repeatedly drawn between the illegitimate violence at the capitol 175 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:48,783 and the so-called ‘peaceful protests’ 176 00:09:48,783 --> 00:09:51,903 that took place after the police murder of George Floyd. 177 00:09:51,903 --> 00:10:03,610 [singing] Supposing we said it didn't happen. Didn't happen at all. 178 00:10:03,610 --> 00:10:07,610 The 14,000 strong National Association of Manufacturers 179 00:10:07,610 --> 00:10:09,980 led a chorus of lobbyists and business leaders 180 00:10:09,980 --> 00:10:11,310 in condemning the violence. 181 00:10:11,310 --> 00:10:14,395 We have seen regimes in Europe that were unstable 182 00:10:14,395 --> 00:10:16,680 and those who spoke out were hounded or killed. 183 00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:18,594 That's a real risk to the market. 184 00:10:18,594 --> 00:10:23,345 Visa’s CEO, Alfred F Kelly Jr, released a statement 185 00:10:23,345 --> 00:10:26,130 assuring the shocked and traumatized nation 186 00:10:26,130 --> 00:10:30,700 that the credit card company stood “100% behind the results of the election.” 187 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:32,780 Visa chec- Oops. 188 00:10:32,780 --> 00:10:36,210 Billionaire Republican megadonor, Sheldon Adelson, 189 00:10:36,210 --> 00:10:38,287 was so upset that he dropped dead. 190 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,300 Twitter and Facebook banned Donald Trump’s social media accounts 191 00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:46,840 and implemented a further purge of influential QAnon profiles, 192 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,120 Twitter announcing it has purged more than 70 000 accounts 193 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,130 for sharing harmful QAnon associated content. 194 00:10:53,130 --> 00:10:56,480 while Amazon, Apple and Google banded together 195 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,750 to bring down right-wing social media network, Parler. 196 00:10:59,750 --> 00:11:00,980 - [French] Parler. - What? 197 00:11:00,980 --> 00:11:04,371 -Par-ler. -Is there an American nearby? 198 00:11:04,371 --> 00:11:08,807 Meanwhile, joining the progressive tech billionaires of Silicon Valley 199 00:11:08,807 --> 00:11:11,210 and the CEO of Visa, 200 00:11:11,210 --> 00:11:14,590 a soberingly-large number of self-described radicals 201 00:11:14,950 --> 00:11:19,540 used the umbrella of anti-fascism to justify cooperating with the FBI 202 00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:22,090 - That's snitching. You know what I mean? -Yeah 203 00:11:22,090 --> 00:11:26,060 while bemoaning the fascist attack on the sanctity of American democracy. 204 00:11:26,060 --> 00:11:30,247 Fence sitting as far as I'm concerned is aiding and abetting terrorism. 205 00:11:30,247 --> 00:11:33,337 It's pretty cringe. It's pretty cringe. 206 00:11:33,337 --> 00:11:37,490 This drives home the increased dangers that anarchists and abolitionists 207 00:11:37,490 --> 00:11:41,680 can expect to face under a Biden-Harris administration. 208 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:45,940 Those currently cheering on Joe Biden as some sort of anti-fascist hero 209 00:11:45,940 --> 00:11:49,770 seem quite happy to ignore the fact that he was the primary author 210 00:11:49,770 --> 00:11:51,560 of the USA PATRIOT Act. 211 00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:55,710 Just to set the record straight, almost the same thing that got passed, 212 00:11:55,710 --> 00:11:59,750 the Patriot Act, was introduced by me in 1994. 213 00:11:59,750 --> 00:12:04,060 And it was the right wing that defeated it. You guys tried to help get it passed. 214 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:08,656 Encouraged by the universal outrage towards the debacle in DC, 215 00:12:08,656 --> 00:12:12,530 he has already announced plans to pass a new anti-terrorism bill, 216 00:12:13,420 --> 00:12:18,640 and promised to clamp down on so-called domestic violent extremism - or DVE. 217 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,390 Coordinating relevant parts of the federal government efforts to address DVE 218 00:12:22,390 --> 00:12:26,510 will focus on evolving threats, radicalization, the role of social media, 219 00:12:26,510 --> 00:12:29,184 opportunities to improve information sharing, 220 00:12:29,184 --> 00:12:32,350 operational responses and more. 221 00:12:32,350 --> 00:12:37,190 We can safely assume that they're not just talking about QAnon and the Proud Boys. 222 00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:39,203 Peaceful protesters should be protected 223 00:12:39,203 --> 00:12:41,660 and arsonists and anarchists should be prosecuted. 224 00:12:41,660 --> 00:12:45,100 Local law enforcement can do that. And it can be done today. 225 00:12:45,810 --> 00:12:49,330 As for the far-right, at this stage it is too soon to see 226 00:12:49,330 --> 00:12:51,250 what the long-term effects will be. 227 00:12:51,950 --> 00:12:55,350 Once Trump realized the trouble he’d gotten himself into, 228 00:12:55,350 --> 00:12:58,610 he immediately and predictably threw his supporters under the bus. 229 00:12:58,610 --> 00:13:02,510 To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, 230 00:13:02,510 --> 00:13:05,129 you do not represent our country. 231 00:13:05,129 --> 00:13:08,200 And to those who broke the law... you will pay. 232 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,390 What an idiot. I thought that guy was cool. 233 00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:14,240 This was followed by a collective suspension of reality, 234 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,050 in which parts of Trump’s fractured base 235 00:13:17,050 --> 00:13:21,310 began claiming that the attack was a psy-op carried out by antifascists. 236 00:13:21,310 --> 00:13:25,660 I feel it was uh, people like Antifa, Black Lives Matter, 237 00:13:25,660 --> 00:13:27,650 who infiltrated the crowd. 238 00:13:27,650 --> 00:13:29,840 Of course none of that is true. 239 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,260 What we saw in the Capitol Building is your A-team. 240 00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:35,970 On the pie chart that I've shown you before, that's your tiny sliver, 241 00:13:35,970 --> 00:13:38,200 that's your special forces of antiffa. 242 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,690 They know exactly what they're doing. They're well trained. 243 00:13:40,690 --> 00:13:45,250 They've got the statements ready to say, y'know, "she's dead", that sort of thing. 244 00:13:46,443 --> 00:13:51,030 Many of those arrested following their brazen, mask-free actions at the capitol 245 00:13:51,030 --> 00:13:54,307 will be happy to give evidence against their co-accused, 246 00:13:54,307 --> 00:13:56,355 in order to lessen their own sentences. 247 00:13:56,355 --> 00:13:57,665 Informant! 248 00:13:57,665 --> 00:14:00,810 This is already leading to more high profile arrests, 249 00:14:00,810 --> 00:14:03,340 and could lead to the cannibalization and breaking up 250 00:14:03,340 --> 00:14:08,190 of a number of far-right, fascist and white nationalist organizations altogether. 251 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:14,234 Despite this, it seems clear that the attack on the Capitol building 252 00:14:14,234 --> 00:14:18,492 will push many disillusioned QAnon followers and Trump supporters 253 00:14:18,492 --> 00:14:21,287 even further down the path of radicalization. 254 00:14:23,172 --> 00:14:26,690 And what comes from that is certain to be very ugly indeed. 255 00:14:26,690 --> 00:14:31,680 We're talking about a groundswell that is decades, if not generations old. 256 00:14:32,850 --> 00:14:37,250 I think it would be a mistake to overly think that this is about president Trump. 257 00:14:37,250 --> 00:14:40,771 At the end of the day I don't think that the president has the power 258 00:14:40,771 --> 00:14:44,001 to command this groundswell. Or to call it off. 259 00:14:44,001 --> 00:14:46,510 Have a good life. We will see you soon. 260 00:14:46,510 --> 00:14:51,140 To learn more about what went down, I recently caught up with anarchist organizer, 261 00:14:51,140 --> 00:14:56,570 radical emcee, and member of the Maroon Movement and the Food Clothing and Resistance collective, 262 00:14:56,570 --> 00:14:57,570 Sima Lee. 263 00:14:58,570 --> 00:15:00,291 Hey Sima, how’s it going? 264 00:15:00,291 --> 00:15:03,830 Just trying to keep mellow in the time of cholera. Heh. 265 00:15:03,830 --> 00:15:05,960 I hear that cannabis can help with that. 266 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,593 Shit. Haha. 267 00:15:07,654 --> 00:15:10,930 What’s your take on what happened in DC on January sixth? 268 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,372 My initial take was, oh shit so they're going for it huh? 269 00:15:16,570 --> 00:15:20,430 It was something that we saw coming and actually were just surprised 270 00:15:20,430 --> 00:15:22,400 that it took so long to manifest. 271 00:15:23,250 --> 00:15:25,890 These clashes, especially in Washington, DC 272 00:15:25,890 --> 00:15:27,870 in the streets of Washington, DC, 273 00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:30,270 but across the country we watched these groups spring up. 274 00:15:30,270 --> 00:15:32,720 I mean we saw the confederate flags out there. 275 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,430 We saw the three percenters out there. 276 00:15:35,430 --> 00:15:40,730 There was some of the same faces that we've been seeing - some of them for decades. 277 00:15:40,730 --> 00:15:43,200 And so this isn't a shocker. 278 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,550 And we know they don't give a damn about the police. 279 00:15:45,550 --> 00:15:47,480 We know they did that to antagonize us 280 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,820 so it was no surprise to us that they would clash with the police 281 00:15:50,820 --> 00:15:53,630 or anyone else to get their point across 282 00:15:53,630 --> 00:15:56,580 that they're trying to take it back to the good old days. 283 00:15:56,580 --> 00:16:00,970 They brought that gallows and that noose and it said more about 284 00:16:00,970 --> 00:16:04,967 how they feel about us, I feel, more so than those politicians. 285 00:16:04,967 --> 00:16:09,469 So we watched it like, okay, we've been waiting to see them 286 00:16:09,469 --> 00:16:14,150 come out and say who they really are as a group, collectively and take a stand 287 00:16:14,150 --> 00:16:19,110 and so there, they did it. And it is what it is. 288 00:16:19,110 --> 00:16:23,580 All the contradictions of our 400 year empire is coming to head. 289 00:16:23,580 --> 00:16:27,810 And it's coming to a head right in the nation's capitol, right in Rome. 290 00:16:27,810 --> 00:16:31,100 Us as anti-fascists, we stepped back, we watched that shit 291 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,760 and we prepare what we have to do for our communities. 292 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,410 You lived and organized in DC for years. 293 00:16:36,410 --> 00:16:40,569 What are your thoughts on the police response to the storming of the capitol building, 294 00:16:40,569 --> 00:16:43,940 and how does it compare to you and your comrades' own experiences 295 00:16:43,940 --> 00:16:46,530 with the DC Metro and Capitol police? 296 00:16:46,530 --> 00:16:52,020 Yeah we never had any lighthearted interactions with the police. 297 00:16:52,020 --> 00:16:54,200 it was always heavy handed, abusive. 298 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,330 I mean anybody who's been paying attention these last few months, 299 00:16:57,330 --> 00:17:02,128 you've seen the heavy handedness of the state against anyone. 300 00:17:02,128 --> 00:17:05,598 You don't even have to damage buildings as a lot of people like to say, 301 00:17:05,598 --> 00:17:08,859 "well this is about property damage and protecting property" 302 00:17:08,859 --> 00:17:10,630 - a lot of people weren't even bothering property. 303 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:14,990 They were just taking their ability to gather with their own communities 304 00:17:14,990 --> 00:17:17,969 to speak about what they wanted. And they were beaten 305 00:17:17,969 --> 00:17:20,670 and had chunks of their foreheads knocked out. 306 00:17:20,670 --> 00:17:23,160 There's whole groups of people now without eyes. 307 00:17:23,550 --> 00:17:28,276 We've been having to deal with not just the so-called white supremacists, 308 00:17:28,276 --> 00:17:31,630 but the white supremacists of the police department as well. 309 00:17:31,630 --> 00:17:34,600 It's been an attack against the movement. 310 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,110 Not just the so-called Black Lives Matter movement, because not all Black people 311 00:17:38,110 --> 00:17:41,110 identify with that term or that movement. 312 00:17:41,110 --> 00:17:45,340 But that Black Liberation movement, it's been under attack 313 00:17:45,340 --> 00:17:47,850 in Washington DC in particular. 314 00:17:47,850 --> 00:17:51,040 So many munitions dumped, so much tear gas. 315 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,560 We don't know the long term effects this is gonna have on our comrades. 316 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:59,840 And so to see them be so gentle and kind and considerate, 317 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,820 it didn't make us feel a certain way other than, yeah 318 00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:05,300 it acknowledged what we've been saying all along. 319 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:09,940 That the police state is the implementation of white nationalism and white supremacy. 320 00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:12,540 And it doesn't matter if it's a Black cop, a Brown cop,, 321 00:18:12,540 --> 00:18:17,150 all police, they're all in it together with the citizens. 322 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:20,320 What are your thoughts on the response to this attack from liberals 323 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,080 and other segments of the American left? 324 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:29,530 People's reaction to white supremacists gathering at the home of white supremacy, 325 00:18:29,530 --> 00:18:33,460 clashing with each other, it's just been really odd and it's been off. 326 00:18:33,460 --> 00:18:36,500 You know I expect the liberals to be, y'know 327 00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:40,570 "muh country, muh flag, muh people, muh capitol, muh politicians," y'know? 328 00:18:40,570 --> 00:18:42,500 I expect that from liberals. 329 00:18:42,500 --> 00:18:46,430 And I don't give a damn how liberals or how conservatives take things. 330 00:18:46,430 --> 00:18:54,350 I'm looking at how, you know, so-called leftists are repeating the words of the state. 331 00:18:54,350 --> 00:18:58,490 Are looking for help from feds who have been crushing us. 332 00:18:58,490 --> 00:19:02,280 My comrades have been getting visits, y'know, at their jobs, 333 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,160 at their homes, snatched out of their cars. 334 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:10,100 Y'know, we know what it feels like to get raided by the Metropolitan Police Department 335 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:12,280 with guns and dogs. 336 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,491 We know what that feels like. I know what that feels like. 337 00:19:15,491 --> 00:19:20,126 To have an AR in my face, in a house full of police. 338 00:19:20,126 --> 00:19:24,840 To be watched and observed. To have friends black bagged and kidnapped. 339 00:19:25,780 --> 00:19:28,880 So my comrades aren't reacting in that manner, but other people 340 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:34,776 that I know and that I'm affiliated with, I'm seeing people not be able to accept 341 00:19:34,776 --> 00:19:40,710 that we're not going to get any real assistance from our actual enemies. 342 00:19:40,710 --> 00:19:42,520 You know people all talk about abolitionism 343 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,840 that's not just about abolishing prison. It's about abolishing the entire state, 344 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,730 the entire apparatus, the entire empire. It has to go. 345 00:19:50,730 --> 00:19:52,620 So some people are like, "Well what are you saying? 346 00:19:52,620 --> 00:19:54,620 You don't want fash to go to jail?" 347 00:19:54,620 --> 00:19:57,430 Aren't we trying to eradicate all of this? 348 00:19:57,430 --> 00:20:00,540 All of it! We're trying to eradicate all of it. 349 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,570 We're gonna have to find out what we're gonna do with 350 00:20:04,570 --> 00:20:07,920 the people who are making our live so horrible. 351 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:13,530 But I can tell you what we're not going to do is start dealing with the feds. 352 00:20:13,530 --> 00:20:17,110 Like people can quote Assata and still love the feds?? 353 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,100 When they're after her again? 354 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:22,150 The same people who killed thirty plus Panthers? 355 00:20:22,150 --> 00:20:26,550 Sundiata Acoli is still in jail right now, celebrating his birthday 356 00:20:26,550 --> 00:20:30,800 and Maroon, and Mutlu, and on and on and on. 357 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,640 So we don't work with the feds. We don't cheer on the feds. 358 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,660 We don't cheer on new laws that will be used against our communities. 359 00:20:37,660 --> 00:20:40,390 They will pretend that it's going to go against the white supremacists 360 00:20:40,390 --> 00:20:42,200 and it always goes against us. 361 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:46,380 So it's disheartening to see people debating, you know, what to call this 362 00:20:46,380 --> 00:20:51,162 and "it wasn't really an insurgency, it was just a minor..." - it was what it was. 363 00:20:51,162 --> 00:20:53,502 It's what it has been for four hundred years. 364 00:20:54,182 --> 00:20:57,490 Sometimes they clash amongst each other, the elite, 365 00:20:57,490 --> 00:20:59,640 the white supremacists, the foot soldiers. 366 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,090 But it always blows back against us. 367 00:21:02,090 --> 00:21:05,230 We can never cheer them on. Ever. 368 00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:09,630 And it's just kind of disappointing and it seems like, 369 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:12,290 I don't know what is going on with the Left in North America, 370 00:21:12,290 --> 00:21:14,380 but they really need to get it together. 371 00:21:14,380 --> 00:21:18,589 And they need to re-analyze what they feel abolition and autonomy really is. 372 00:21:18,589 --> 00:21:21,260 Because it's definitely not cheering on the state. 373 00:21:21,260 --> 00:21:22,880 Anything else you’d like to add? 374 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:28,190 This movement that we are in in 2021, it cannot look like it has in the past. 375 00:21:28,190 --> 00:21:32,100 The critiques of the white leftists from Black, Brown, Indigenous people, 376 00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:35,649 from queer, from trans, gender nonconforming, nonbinary people, 377 00:21:35,649 --> 00:21:40,809 have to be listened to if we're going to be serious about an abolitionist movement, 378 00:21:40,809 --> 00:21:44,370 a revolutionary, autonomous movement. 379 00:21:44,370 --> 00:21:47,895 And we're gonna have to understand that and get over our own shit 380 00:21:47,895 --> 00:21:51,861 and build up our own dual power, right here and right now. 381 00:21:51,861 --> 00:21:53,850 We build up our power and our communities, 382 00:21:53,850 --> 00:21:56,560 through our co-ops, our collectives, our mutual aid 383 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,990 and our taking care of what we need to take care of 384 00:21:58,990 --> 00:22:01,750 so that we can stand firm against the attacks of the state. 385 00:22:01,750 --> 00:22:04,860 Because just because they're coming at these damn right wing people right now, 386 00:22:04,860 --> 00:22:06,712 they haven't forgotten about us. 387 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,010 All our comrades got court cases coming up. Nothing's stopped. 388 00:22:11,010 --> 00:22:14,630 People are still in the fucking prisons packed with COVID. Nothing's stopped. 389 00:22:14,630 --> 00:22:16,420 People are still getting evicted. 390 00:22:17,530 --> 00:22:20,530 So I just think people have to step it up. 391 00:22:20,530 --> 00:22:25,550 The threat that we're up against in this country is serious! 392 00:22:25,550 --> 00:22:26,530 Thanks Sima. 393 00:22:26,530 --> 00:22:29,490 We’ve now reached the end of this episode of System Fail. 394 00:22:29,490 --> 00:22:34,370 Be sure and check out the full interview with Sima Lee, in which she shares her insight 395 00:22:34,370 --> 00:22:37,740 on the rise and spread of Black anarchism in the United States. 396 00:22:37,740 --> 00:22:41,670 Coming soon on the next episode of the Circle A podcast. 397 00:22:41,670 --> 00:22:45,031 As amusing as it’s been to watch the takedown of Parler 398 00:22:45,031 --> 00:22:48,801 and Trump’s twitter feed, recent moves by tech capitalists 399 00:22:48,801 --> 00:22:52,100 have once again demonstrated the urgent need for anarchists to build 400 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,650 and support our own media and communication infrastructure projects. 401 00:22:56,650 --> 00:22:59,220 On this note, we’d like to remind viewers 402 00:22:59,220 --> 00:23:02,450 that subMedia is a contributing member of Kolektiva, 403 00:23:02,450 --> 00:23:06,040 an independently-hosted and open source social media platform 404 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,540 run by and for anarchists. 405 00:23:08,540 --> 00:23:12,630 You can check out our PeerTube instance at Kolektiva.Media, 406 00:23:12,630 --> 00:23:16,510 and our Mastodon instance at Kolektiva.Social. 407 00:23:16,510 --> 00:23:20,330 To support subMedia, consider making a one-time donation 408 00:23:20,330 --> 00:23:24,750 or signing up to be a monthly sustainer at sub.Media/Donate. 409 00:23:24,750 --> 00:23:29,720 You can also support us by buying some of our merchandise at sub.media/gear. 410 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,730 Be sure and follow us on your corporate data-mining platform of choice. 411 00:23:33,730 --> 00:23:35,480 Just search for subMedia. 412 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,450 Or better yet, sign up to our mailing list and get every new episode 413 00:23:39,450 --> 00:23:41,285 delivered directly to your inbox. 414 00:23:41,285 --> 00:23:43,214 Godspeed, humans.