Years ago, masked-up anarchists in DC came to the rescue of people being assaulted by police during a protest. We grabbed two sections of chain link fence and ran towards the police, scaring them away. I was the one pictured in my hastily thrown together bloc. A comrade in the crowd showed my how to turn my t-shirt into a mask and I wore my army surplus hat over it. On April 16, 2000, tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC to mobilize against the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. I was there that day, it was the first time I tasted tear gas, and for me, the protest was a moment of catharsis. I was barely out of high school and had already been the victim of police brutality on numerous occasions. I had guns drawn on me, been brutalized, and had been sexually assaulted by police. There had been no justice for the things I experienced. I was fed up with exploitation. I had been reading the writings of Bhagat Singh and Emma Goldman. I understood solidarity in that moment. Years later, we are still fighting the same fight. My advice is to be bold, be brave, do not let them divide us, and practice security culture.

Photo by Orin Langelle