As seen in the Twin Cities, filter blockades are barricades that turn intersections into roundabouts, crewed by rapid responders who check for ICE vehicles. The filter blockades function to slow or stop occupying forces; everyone else is waved through with a smile. In addition to this “filtering” function, they also serve as informal hubs for sharing food, meeting neighbors, creating art, performing music, making plans, and meeting other immediate needs for camaraderie and connection.
This tactic has provoked the ire of ICE and local police—an indicator of its effectiveness. In order that this model might proliferate, we present a how-to guide, a brief overview of the recent history of this tactic, and some lessons learned from prior filter blockades, illustrated with accounts from the past week’s experiments.
From the article. Make sure you contact people from the neighborhood and get buy in. Stay friendly, have a few people designated to handle counter protesters but keep the most people on the checkpoint.
Kindness and Community Are Everything
Community defense hinges on community consent. Especially when deploying more assertive strategies like checkpoints, organizers should be friendly and welcoming to drivers and passerby alike. Thus far, the filter blockades have been popular in the Twin Cities, receiving widespread support in the form of encouragement, food, and supplies. Groups seeking to set up filter blockades should do so with the broadest possible coalition of community support, taking every measure to ensure that the blockades don’t disrupt everyday life in ways that people don’t appreciate.
How to organize a rapid response from a very high level with further detailed resources. https://southerncoalition.org/resources/rapid-response-101/
Good general advice on organizing, also a good resource to find groups near you that are likely aligned. https://www.fiftyfifty.one/organizer-resources
Shit is going down in Minnesota but they’ve never been more organized than they are now. Only we keep us safe.
If you want to help you can donate to a few groups.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip-twin-cities-legal-observers-with-ppe
https://nlgmn.org/mass-defense/
https://www.wfmn.org/funds/immigrant-rapid-response/
More comprehensive list here https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
