Tuesday a New York base Antifa group released a video in which three masked people announce an event called F*** the Police 3 to be held today. The basic goal seems to be protesting the existence of subway fares by jumping and vandalizing turnstiles. The group is also protesting the MTA police who enforce the laws against doing this. The video says in part: “The mood for J31 is simple: F*** your $2.75. No cops on the MTA. Free transit, no harassment period and full accessibility.”
Yesterday the NY Police Benevolent Association tweeted out the same video with it’s own message in response: “New Yorkers should pay close attention: this is true endgame of the anti-police movement, an end of all policing & destruction of public order. Our members have spent their careers — and in some cases given their lives — to bring public safety back to NYC. We can’t go backwards.” Here’s the clip:
New Yorkers should pay close attention: this is true endgame of the anti-police movement, an end of all policing & destruction of public order. Our members have spent their careers — and in some cases given their lives — to bring public safety back to NYC. We can't go backwards pic.twitter.com/X72vVioCVi
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) January 30, 2020
If you think the PBA is exaggerating the anti-police sentiment, take a look at this flyer for today’s action:
NYPD KKK, HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU KILL TODAY?! ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ FTP 3 is a citywide day of action on January 31, 2020. How will you participate? #j31 #ftp3 pic.twitter.com/IOOeMZzC0E
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 18, 2020
Even before the today arrived the social media account connected to this began posting videos showing vandalism of the subway:
FUCK OMNY! ๐๐พ๐ The call to action against the MTA and NYPD has been answered by thousands over the past few months. What will you do for #FTP3 citywide day of action on #J31?? #decolonizethisplace pic.twitter.com/kWNKifMjV6
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 28, 2020
This morning the group put up a banner in Manhattan reading “F*** your $2.75 fare, strike today”
Video of the action๐๐ฝ pic.twitter.com/9oPByCgnaY
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 31, 2020
An exit gate chained open (that’s a FTP sticker on the door):
Happening everywhere in the city now. Hop. Hold. Chain. #FTP3 #J31 pic.twitter.com/fr3I7unt6o
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 31, 2020
Another one:
Zip tie power, door open, ride free๐๐ฝ https://t.co/c2LvOvkC7L
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 31, 2020
There was also a bit of chanting in some locations:
#swipeitforward action in progress in Queens as part of #FTP3 #J31๐๐ฝ๐ฑ https://t.co/kO6bRCTmzy
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 31, 2020
All of this is apparently stage 1 of utopia. Stage two involves “libertarian communism.”
https://twitter.com/InstSocEcology/status/1223277266026631168
But for now it’s just vandalism:
#J31 ALL DAY SPOTTED IN THE BX pic.twitter.com/zeknqmGi7P
— NYC Shut It Down (@NYC_ShutItDown) January 31, 2020
Today’s event is supposed to culminate at 5pm in Grand Central Terminal:
TODAY, 5PM. GRAND CENTRAL TO SAY #FUCKNYPD, FUCK YO 2.75, AND FUCK PIPELINES. WE'LL BE OUT. See ya soon. #J31 #decolonizethisplace
— Earth Strike NYC (@earthstrike_nyc) January 31, 2020
Conrads unite!
4. We can exercise our privilege by placing ourselves between the cops and our Black, Brown, and Indigenous conrads
5. If we spot a chud or someone filming peoplesโ faces, we can make ourselves their focus. Yell โALERTA!!!โ or blow a whistle, and other antifascists will appear
— ALERTA!!!NYC (@ALERTA_NYC) January 31, 2020
9. Fuck the police
10. All cops are bastards
11. Be powerful
— ALERTA!!!NYC (@ALERTA_NYC) January 31, 2020
That’s about it so far. I’ll update this post if there is additional vandalism or any arrests.
Update: More vandalism!
And more โ๐ฝ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/i5DGABrgvo
— DecolonizeThisPlace (@decolonize_this) January 31, 2020
And more:
Someone used a bike lock on an exit door to prevent it from closing. Respect to comrade u-lock for supporting todayโs fare strike as part of J31. Cops out of the subways and free public transportation! Follow @decolonize_this for updates today, and be at Grand Central at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/qQ1Wli5MPO
— Andy Ratto (@andyratto) January 31, 2020
The NY Daily News has more:
Protesters poured Gorilla Glue on subway turnstiles in Brooklyn and vandalized the walls of an Upper West Side station early Friday, as part of an rally against over-policing in city subways that was expected to gum up rush-hour traffic…
The turnstiles at the Borough Hall No. 2 station in Brooklyn were also glued shut to prevent people from swiping MetroCards, according to sources.
Still 2 hours to go until the big meetup at Grand Central. I’ll update this if anything happens.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member