The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/black-lives-matter/page/3)
Clio Ajana examines the numerological and astrological significance of the year 2020, and considers how the murder of George Floyd reflects the trajectory of life for black people in America.
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes: Statements from Pagan organizations about the death of George Floyd and supporting the demonstrators, Witches join protests, Antifa statement, Fireflies, and more!
TWH’s editor-in-chief, Manny Tejeda-Moreno, discusses the current wave of protests against police brutality in the United States, including his own family experiences with police and racism.
In 1940, Walter Benjamin wrote, “The tradition of the oppressed teaches us that the ’emergency situation’ in which we live is the rule. We must arrive at a concept of history which corresponds to this. Then it will become clear that the task before us is the introduction of a real state of emergency; and our position in the struggle against Fascism will thereby improve.” (thesis 8) It’s a good thing that Pagans and Polytheists have been talking about strengthening their communities and developing defense and solidarity networks, but black and brown people in America have long been living in an “emergency situation.” Obama has deported over 2.5 million undocumented immigrants while in office.
I write this as a devotee of war gods with the purpose of examining various theories about the State’s monopoly of violence, counter-insurgency and warriorship. This essay is written in the aftermath of the killing five police officers during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Dallas July 7 and the killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge July 17, the same city where Alton Sterling was killed July 5. These two targeted attacks have highlighted other incidents in which police officers have been shot. For instance, a man in Oakland is accused of shooting at a police officer July 23, “solely because she was a police sergeant in uniform.” Several law enforcement officers have also been shot and killed while attempting to transfer prisoners or detain individuals: for instance, two courthouse bailiffs in Michigan were killed by an inmate July 11, a Kansas City police captain was killed July 19, and a San Diego police officer was killed July 28.