Imperialism Abroad, Fascism at Home: GILEE, Cop City, & 1033 Program
Mar 13, 2024
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Discussion on GILEE Program and Cop City, militarization of police, Israel's involvement, Palestinian liberation movement, class contradictions in 'Black Mecca', and implications for future. Guests from Black Alliance for Peace explore complex interconnections and challenges faced by marginalized communities.
GILI Program facilitates deadly exchanges between US and Israeli law enforcement, maintaining settler colonial control.
COP City mirrors Israel's urban warfare tactics and the 1033 program leads to increased police militarization.
Repression against student activism opposing GILI and COP City reflects attempts to suppress dissent and maintain control.
Deep dives
Overview of GILI and its Impact
GILI, the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, facilitates deadly exchange programs where US law enforcement, including police, ICE, FBI, collaborate with Israeli occupying forces to train in tactics. This program focuses on maintaining settler colonial control. With over 1500 US law enforcement officials participating, it aims to reinforce oppressive practices. Founded in 1992 by Georgia State University professor Robert Friedman, GILI has deep ties with Georgia State University and is funded by various sources.
Implications of COP City and 1033 Program
COP City, a militarized police training facility in Atlanta, funded by corporations like Home Depot and Delta, showcases urban warfare tactics and tear gas testing. It mirrors Israel's urban warfare training center, known as 'mini Gaza,' reflecting oppressive strategies. Additionally, the 1033 program channels military gear at low costs to local police departments, leading to increased militarization. The expansion of COP City exemplifies how US police learn repressive techniques from Israeli forces and implement similar strategies domestically.
Challenges to Student Activism and Repression
Student activism against programs such as GILI faces significant repression, including militarized responses to campus protests. The crackdown on pro-Palestinian sentiment and anti-GILI movements reflects an attempt to quell dissent and intimidate protesters. The use of tear gas, tanks, and militarized gear during protests echoes imperialist tactics employed abroad. This repression signifies an effort to suppress opposition and maintain control amidst rising dissent and calls for change.
The 1033 Program and Militarization of Police Forces
The episode discusses the 1033 program, run by the US Department of Defense, which transfers excess military equipment to local police forces across the country. This includes militarized gear like armored vehicles, sound cannons, and assault rifles. Examples from events like Ferguson and Baltimore highlight the use of this equipment during uprisings, primarily impacting black and indigenous communities. The program is criticized for contributing to a heightened level of counterinsurgency and militarization, with billions of dollars worth of military gear dispersed to domestic agencies since the 1990s.
The Impact of Atlanta's COP City and Gilly Program
The conversation delves into the harmful effects of programs like COP City and Gilly in Atlanta. COP City, a proposed police training facility, and the Gilly program, involving military exchanges, draw attention to the militarization and surveillance present in the city. The Atlanta Community Press Collective and local organizations are portrayed as actively opposing these initiatives. The episode emphasizes the collusion between local black leadership and state/federal agencies in promoting these programs, highlighting the necessity for organized resistance and solidarity to combat militarization and oppressive structures.
Musa and Tunde from the ATL chapter of the Black Alliance for Peace join Breht to discuss the GILEE Program (Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange) and its implications, the construction of Cop City (and the plans for more), the militarization of police in an era of capitalist and liberal crisis, Israel and its connections to GILEE, the Palestinian Liberation movement, "Black Mecca" and its class contradictions, and what all this means for our near-future...
