Tag: vandalism

An anonymous transmission

To our fellow San Martians,

We typically prefer that actions speak for themselves, but perhaps a few words are due. In the face of renewed genocide and mass deportations, all that is left is what must be done. Taking up the task of disruption, sabotage, and attack is not something we do lightly. The people of Gaza have repeatedly called for mass student escalation. We’ve witnessed targeted deportations of politicized students, workers, and teachers with legal status; a wave of student protests repressed and occupations torn down, and paltry concessions rescinded by university admin.

We ask: what did a protest of over 500 students last spring at the Stallions accomplish? We stood and chanted as fellow students at UT were teargassed. Last week, the Party for Socialism and Liberation hosted a small protest of barely a few dozen. Then everyone went home. Held on the square, this event made front cover of the University Star alongside an opinion piece by the Star’s editorial board advocating “proper avenues” of “political expression.” They even dared to invoke the expelled San Marcos 10 in an effort to downplay a little graffiti. Why? The university can better control every aspect of the narrative if we allow them to dictate proper political expression.

Our detractors have labeled us vandals, criminals, outside agitators, domestic terrorists, radicals/extremists. Though these titles are certainly an honor, we remain your humble neighbors, colleagues, & classmates. Living in the heart of US imperialism necessitates actions that disrupt business as usual. We do not fear political repression, but instead a return to normalcy.

Some students have bemoaned the defacing of their “beautiful” campus. Fuck you lol. This university is complicit in funding Israeli genocide and actively collaborating with ICE against the will of its student population. It was already an extension of an active warzone; our political act simply reminded people of that. It is students who make this campus beautiful, because it is our campus.

Others pointed out the inconvenienced sanitation workers forced to take such art down. For the first time, students recognized the existence and working conditions of underpaid, primarily immigrant workers who lack union representation on this campus. But rather than lay those concerns at the feet of a, frankly overpaid, administration whose campus is expanding unsustainably, these students prefer to weaponize said workers against a political movement. How often has the student body taken it upon themselves to guarantee the survival of these workers or their families?

UPD has claimed all its efforts are being concentrated on unveiling us while sexual harassment, assault, hazing, and homophobic and racist violence are still mainstays at this University. Perhaps it would be best if they concentrated on those, if they weren’t so often guilty of excesses of violence themselves.

Another point of interest was the overwhelming discussions held in the wake of our graffiti. Through Reddit, Instagram, and classrooms debates were held, photographs taken, interviews conducted, and statements released. The University Star would have you believe otherwise, that “many students have already ceased conversations surrounding it.” A boldface lie in an attempt to downplay an event the paper references in 3 different articles this week.

Our beloved University President, Kelly Damphouse, even took to the battlements of his own Instagram post responding to the flurry of negative comments he received from Texas State students, and liking messages such as “we stand with you Kelly.” Seems his public outreach coordinator needs to run some trainings with him, feeling the need to respond to each and every negative comment with hundreds of likes.

Funny thing that few people recall about Kelly: his doctorate is in counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and studying resistance movements. What that means, dear reader, is that the president of our university has a degree in stifling unrest. His position befits the degree as he has spoken wearily of anti-war student activists of the 60’s and compared them to today’s protests around Palestine. A fed for a president who needs to lay off the ‘gram lest he make a fool of himself. We are happy to report that the vast majority of student body responses on social media that we witnessed were positive 🙂

Finally, we come to the particular questions and answered that spurred this communique. Why did we do it? Should you do it? How? Was it easy?

We did it because it was a step, a small one, towards escalation. Graffiti carries a certain transgressive and sensationalist appeal that gets people talking. However, this was by no means a performative action designed only to create commotion. IT is part of a sustained national attempt to attack institutions responsible and hold them accountable. In the spirit of the Merrimack 4, we think it important to bring the war home. As parades, marches, protests, and community events have their place in revolutionary change, so too does direct action, disruption, and clandestine activity.

With minimal planning, some spray paint, and committed friends we reveal ways to strike back. It was easy. “stay tuned” and “you can do it too” were not just slogans but calls to action. Be bold. Be creative. Have fun, because it is fun to revolt. It’s the University’s responsibility to divest from genocide and keep ICE out. We can bleed their pockets. Material damages is money they cannot spend elsewhere. We take risks because we can, and once you realize it’s possible so can you.

Source: Austin Autonomedia