The following open letter comes from Internationalist Commune, and addresses those across the globe who took part in #WorldAfrinDay.
We, who are working here in Rojava as internationals, are part of the worldwide fight of the opressed against the reign of state, capital and pathriarchy.
– șehid Hêlîn Qercox
The #WorldAfrinDay has been a historical example of resistance and international solidarity. Thousands took to the streets and stood up against this war, giving their support to the resistance and values of this revolution.
Solidarity came from more than 50 cities from all around the world, and it proved how important what is happening here is for people. New groups and new people are organizing their solidarity, getting involved and defend the revolution. From Canada to Australia, from Mexico to Japan, the world has shown that Afrin is not alone.
For two months, the bombs of the Turkish army have been falling and killing people in Afrin. During these same two months, there have been worldwide actions against this occupation.
And they will continue. Afrin, as the western canton of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, will be defended as the beacon of hope that it became, as the source of inspiration that it is. The bottom-up democracy, with women at the forefront building social ecology, is what the capitalist system tries to keep locked up, claiming that ‘there is no alternative’, that utopia is not possible.
But here, we learned that another world is not only possible, but necessary, and it just depends on how much we believe in it, how determined we are to bring this utopia into existence.
Afrin is now under the occupation of the Turkish army. After these months of resistance, to see the occupation forces entering the city may seem like the utopia is going away once again; but no one said the revolution would come around easily.
It was something we had only imagined before coming to Rojava, and witnessing with our own eyes what’s going on here. Today, here, we are taking on several centuries of the capitalist system and nation-state model. We are challenging thousands of years of patriarchal oppression and male rule power. We are challenging the essence of how society itself is perceived and organized.
But today we also need to examine ourselves and assess what we have done. As the internationalist commune, we did not manage to develop the full potential that international solidarity can mean for this revolution.
We were not able to follow all the initiatives and actions that people shared with us, we were not able to give our perspectives and answers to all the ideas and proposals that were presented to us.
We were not able to give the right answer to the attacks that struck us. We were not able to understand the real dimensions of the revolution that is going on here and the importance of defending what today is being developed.
Defeated but defiant. Reports of massacres by Turkish troops and the mercenaries of FSA came from around Afrin
But we will reflect on that, and we will learn from our mistakes. When the next attack of the ruling powers strikes once again, we will be wiser and more experienced, and more capable of defending ourselves and the people around us.
We know that this can happen at any time, maybe tomorrow, and we know we can not do it alone. We need to be able to see the threats before they are too big to overcome.
We need to have better and deeper analysis of the situation we are in. We need all the hope and the international solidarity that this revolution is raising in people’s hearts. And that’s why we call on you to come here.
Come and see with your own eyes what is happening here. Come with an open mind and heart, ready to challenge what you believe humanity is able to accomplish. Come to learn, to support and to organize this revolution. Come and help us to create the international movement that will be able to change the capitalist drift that humanity is suffering.
But if you can’t come, there are still a thousand ways you can contribute to this resistance. We need to think how we can make this revolution successful, and what can be done in every place to achieve this aim.
As internationalists, we need to be able to act and interact with the society we are in. We need to learn from the past movements and analyze what are the best ways to face oppression. From mass mobilization, to civil disobedience.
From solidarity demonstrations, to direct actions. Yesterday, we showed the world that together we are strong. But the situation in Afrin today showed us that this is not enough. So now, we need to open a global debate about what should be the next step.
– This open letter is a call to all the people and groups who took an active role in the #WorldAfrinDay, and also to other initiatives in solidarity with the Afrin resistance. We want to open a public debate. We will be expecting your answers, your ideas, your proposals. We also call for your support to spread and translate this letter, you can find our email in our website.
see here …. Internationalist Commune of Rojava
Actions Across North America In Solidarity with Afrin
Across the world, actions took place in solidarity with Afrin and the Rojavan revolution. From Tokyo to Afghanistan, thousands marched, carried out actions, and showed the world that Rojava is not alone.
Along with the support rallies to defend Kobane, March 24th will go down in history as one of the largest public outpourings of solidarity with the evolving radical struggle in Kurdistan, and also marked a coming together of Kurdish, anarchist, anti-capitalist, and anti-authoritarian forces around the world.
What follows is a roundup of solidarity actions that took place across so-called North America. For a roundup and report backs of other actions, be sure to check out the amazing coverage being done at Insurrection News and Fight4Afrin.
This list is incomplete, SEE MUCH FULLER REPORT HERE …as many cities that planned actions have not released report backs or pictures. To share media and reports, email us at info [at] itsgoingdown [dot] org.
Vancouver
Toronto
Montreal
Chicoutimi
From the event page:
Saturday afternoon Portlanders marched in solidarity with the revolutionary fighters of Rojava and their current struggle with attacks from the Turkish state. At the rally, prior to the march, participants read statements expressing solidarity with the armed forces of Rojava, known as the YPG and YPJ, and Kurdish residents of the besieged town of Afrin. The march, which was organized by Rojava Solidarity Portland, ended with supporters writing letters to the Kurdish people under att
Ann Arbor, MI
Asheville, NC
IC Afrin Resist @ICafrinresistPeople in #Mexico participated in the Global Action Day for #Afrin with a protest action for the Turkish representation#BreakSilenceOnAfrin#StopAfrinGenocide#EverywhereAfrin
government name user @nickbiddle
MACC NYC @macc_nycWe’re out here in front of the Turkish Consulate in NYC with the Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement, Rojava Solidarity NYC and the American Kurdish Association to #DefendAfrin and the #Rojava Revolution. Turkey out of Afrin.
Always Antifascist @RoseCityAntifaSolidarity from Portland to Afrin. ///#Fight4Afrin
Demand
Utopia
@DemandUtopia
Big rally in Portland for #WorldAfrinDay
In Olympia we raised nearly $1000 for Hevya Sor and threw a kickass party.
Around the world comrades showed up for #Rojava
Community is the root of revolution. We are building it, where we are. Utopia is just the beginning. Demand more.
şaban kar @sabankar_Today in Boston, protestors stand for Afrin.
The protest took a place in front of Harvard College. #afrin #naka #boston
Image: Ezidi people under threat
International volunteers from the British state killed defending the direct-democratic Rojava Revolution in the fight against ISIS and Turkish terrorists
When #Afrin falls it will be too late! .. Direct Action Resistance Called against Fascism
BATTLE OF THE AFRIN IN RACO LASTED FOR 7 HOURS
Do Not Let Afrin Become Another Kobane: Urgent Statement by academics and activists
Turkey’s Support for Islamist Terrorism in Syria
Women’s Day Marches attacked by Turkish Fascist Police: 17 Arrested
Hands Off Afrin: Demos, Support, Appeal, News Updates
comments:
..’Erdogan is by now clearly mentally unfit to hold office. His worsening paranoid schizophrenic symptoms, linked to his extreme megalomania has led him to force a civil war with the 18 million Kurdish minority, who were well embarked on a process of peaceful integration. Gaining popularity and power in a controlled press by his xenophobic excesses his paranoid obsession with possible enemies has nevertheless let loose massive purges, torture, blackmail and invasions in Syria and Iraq that would make dictators like Pol Pot or Josef Stalin blush’.
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The Free 