Join an existing local organization that’s doing good work, or start a new one.

In recent months, we have seen a major surge of barrio resistance in every U.S. city. Unión del Barrio applauds the courage of our gente in standing up to challenge the current attacks against our communities. During these critical times, we must prioritize barrio self-defense while also helping grow this social movement.

Follow Online Reports of ICE/migra Operations:

There are many ways to get active, and you should be aware of the different types of activities. One way to get active is to follow online groups who keep track of ICE/migra operations in your area. If one does not already exist in your area, you can start one. Most working-class Raza use Facebook and WhatsApp, making those platforms a good place to start a community group. Here are some best practices we have learned about these platforms:

  • Every day, there are thousands of online reports about ICE/migra operations. While many of these reports are true, many also come from well-intentioned people using social media to communicate what they have heard from other well-meaning people. Others come from opportunistic “influencers” trying to get attention so they can brag about how many “followers” they have. And some, of course, are posted by malicious people who want to scare our communities. We recommend you use discretion when deciding whether a report is real or false.
  • If you find concerning information online, but it is anonymous and sounds like an irresponsible rumor, then it is best to seek a second/third confirmation of that information from other sources unrelated to the original message. Don’t let a message that doesn’t provide details, or that sounds like an exaggeration cause a panic. At this critical time, our community doesn’t need more fear, we need more organization to express our potential power.
  • The most reliable reports come from verified pages, accounts, groups, and posts you already know and trust. In our Community Patrols, we only inform the community when we have confirmation of the facts so as not to scare people without cause. Our reports come with key details:
    • The precise time and place of the events (city, community, streets, etc.).
    • The number of vehicles and officers present, with a description of their uniforms (color, words on the vests, etc.)
    • Sometimes, we share photos or videos.
    • We report if there were arrests.
    • We include a phone number so you can contact us immediately.

Start a Community Patrol in Your Area:

The best option is to join an active Community Patrol in your area. There are many groups who have been doing this type of work for a long time, and they will often know how to best carry out this type of resistance.

If your community does not already have an active Community Patrol, you can help establish one. You can start by gathering at least 10-15 additional people in your area who are also willing to volunteer. Once you have a solid group of people, email Unión del Barrio at info@uniondelbarrio.org and request support for an online training session.

If You Plan to Attend or Organize a Protest:

If you decide that you want to organize a protest or other similar event, it is best to contact a trusted organization to ask for their support or advice. This is not the time to be individualistic. The only power we have is in our unity and people power. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO ENSURE YOUR PROTEST IS SUCCESSFUL IS THAT YOU BELONG TO AN ORGANIZATION!

  • Attend protests with an organization’s name clearly posted on the announcements and flyers. An invitation to protest should also include some type of contact information to reach the organization calling for the protest. If they are organizations you already know, all the better.
  • Avoid protests or similar public actions that are “anonymous/spontaneous,” meaning they do not have any name of the organization calling for the protest. Without public leadership, these types of events will likely have no viable security to protect participants. Worse yet, anonymous/ spontaneous protests can easily be manipulated or derailed. We have already seen how acts of protest can turn into chaotic events, become unnecessarily dangerous, or end up inviting police repression. At worst, an anonymous/ spontaneous event itself could be the creation of the right wingers or government agents, intended to create divisions in a growing movement like this one.
  • Regarding the issue of whether children and young people should continue to go to classes, it is true that the federal government has approved ICE/migra raids at our schools. It is also true that schools are typically among the safest places in our communities for children and young people. We also know that most teachers are conscientious people, and are very aware of what is happening. Nationally, many teachers are organizing to protect their students from ICE/migra activities. The Association of Raza Educators (ARE) held a special information session on how teachers can best protect their students, and it was attended by hundreds of educators from across the U.S. Of course, parents have the last word over the safety and well being of their children.