,! ,SYRIAN ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,9 ?IS REPORT1 COMRADES BAS$ ON ! ,SYRIAN BORD] 9 ,TURKEY DESCRIBE H[ !Y ASSI/$ ,SYRIAN REFUGEES 9 ESCAP+ TO C5TRAL ,EUROPE & TEASE \T ! LESSONS = PEOPLE 5GAG$ 9 SIMIL> WORK 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,AL?\< ,SYRIANS !MSELVES L$ ! MAJORITY ( 9ITIATIVES TO RESPOND TO ! CRISIS1 PEOPLE ( ALL BACKGR\NDS CAN PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES 9 =M+ NETWORKS ( SUPPORT = ! T>GET$ & EXCLUD$4 ,AS ,I,C,E RAIDS 9T5SIFY >\ND ! ,U,S1 IT IS TIME TO SET UP \R [N EM]G5CY RESPONSE NETWORKS & UND]GR\ND RAILROADS4  
  

0,NATIONAL BORD]S >E A BLOODY /A9 ON ! FACE ( ! E>?4 ,BURN ALL NATIONS TO ! GR\ND40 -,*>LES ,JOHNSON  
  

,X5OPHOBIA & RACISM C\PL$ ) NATIONALI/ & FASCI/ POLITICS >E ON ! RISE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & MU* ( ! ,WE/]N WORLD4 ,?IS PUTS MANY DIFF]5T PEOPLE AT EXTREME RISK = A V>IETY ( REASONS4 ,ONE TIME-TE/$ ME?OD ( SURVIVAL & RESI/ANCE IS ! ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD--! SUPPORT$ ILLEGAL MOVEM5T ( T>GET$ PEOPLE FROM H>M TO RELATIVE SAFETY4 ,DEC5TRALIZ$ YET COORD9AT$ UND]GR\ND RAILROAD MOVEM5TS EXI/$ 9 ! ,AM]ICAN ,S\?1 ,NAZI ,G]MANY1 & ,EA/_/,WE/ ,G]MANY AT V>I\S PO9TS 9 HI/ORY4 ,H[EV]1 MU* HAS *ANG$ S9CE ! ,SECOND ,WORLD ,W> 9CLUD+ ! SURVEILLANCE & /RATEGIC L&SCAPES4 ,WE NE$ TO BE CREATIVE & BOLD TO ADAPT TO !SE *ANGES1 UTILIZ+ :ATEV] PO9TS ( LEV]AGE WE CAN4 

,9 #b#a#e1 WE E/ABLI%$ A PROJECT TO ASSI/ ! SAFE MOVEM5T ( ,SYRIAN REFUGEES 9TO =TRESS ,EUROPE4 ,WE LE>N$ ?AT ?IS WORK IS POSSIBLE1 MEAN+FUL1 DIFFICULT1 & COMPLEX4 ,?IS ESSAY S]VES AS A GUIDE TO ! H[ & :Y ( :AT WE DID1 9 HOPES ( CONTRIBUT+ TO ONGO+ DISC\RSE AB\T ?IS EVOLV+ T]RA9 ( RADICAL SOLID>ITY4 ,WE HAVE TO /& TOGE!R & TAKE ! NECESS>Y RISKS TO C\NT] ! WAVES ( VIOL5CE DIRECT$ AT MIGRANTS1 REFUGEES1 PEOPLE ( COLOR1 FOLKS ) DISABILITIES1 AN>*I/S1 ANTIFASCI/S1 CLIMATE *ANGE SCI5TI/S & ACTIVI/S1 REPRODUCTIVE HEAL? ADVOCATES & DOCTORS1 & ! BROAD] QUE] & TRANS COMMUNITIES4 ,SOME #de ,U,S *UR*ES HAVE ALREADY PROMIS$ TO 5GAGE 9 UND]GR\ND RAILROAD ACTIVITY UND] ,TRUMP1 & GR\PS ?AT HAVE BE5 DO+ SANCTU>Y & HUMANIT>IAN AID WORK ON ! ,U,S-,MEXICO BORD] = DECADES >E GE>+ UP = UNPREC$5T$ LEVELS ( RISK = ?OSE ATTEMPT+ TO CROSS4 ,IT'S TIME TO BUILD 9FRA/RUCTURE & NETWORKS = SAFETY & LIB]ATION4 

,H[ ,IT ,BEGAN444 

  

,ABBEY3 ,ONE NI<T1 ,QUAIL & ,I GOT A CALL FROM SOME ( \R CLOSE FRI5DS JU/ D[N ! /REET 9 ,S\!A/]N1 ,TURKEY1 NOR? ( ,ALEPPO1 ,SYRIA4 ,!Y'RE A ,SYRIAN C\PLE1 ONE A NEUROSURGEON & ONE AN 5G9E] & P>TICIPANT 9 ,CL[NS ,)\T ,BORD]S--BO? DETA9$ & TORTUR$ ACTIVI/S FROM ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION4 ,!Y TOLD US ?AT A GR\P ( !IR FRI5DS & FAMILY W]E TAK+ A RUBB] D+HY ACROSS ! ,AEGEAN ,SEA FROM ,IZMIR1 ,TURKEY TO ,LESVOS1 ,GREECE4 ,\R FRI5DS W]E T]RIFI$ = !IR SAFETY4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ,QUAIL & ,I HAD A FRI5D 9 ,A!NS :O C\LD HO/ !M4 ,LIKE MANY REASONABLE & DEC5T PEOPLE 9 ,EUROPE1 \R FRI5D 9 ,A!NS WAS CONC]N$ AB\T ! REFUGEE CRISIS4 ,QUAIL & ,I REA*$ \T TO H] & ASK$ H] IF %E C\LD HO/ !M 7AB\T SIX PEOPLE7 9 H] AP>TM5T 9 ,GREECE = A NI<T OR TWO AS !Y PASS$ ?R\<1 JU/ SO ?AT !Y C\LD HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP ) WIFI & A %[]4 ,%E DID1 & !Y >RIV$ AB\T A WEEK LAT]4 ,%E MADE COPI\S AM\NTS ( FOOD = !M1 HELP$ !M NAVIGATE ! COMPLICAT$ F]RY SY/EM1 GOT !M ,EUROPEAN ,UNION ,S,I,M C>DS = !IR PHONES1 & PASS$ ALONG PORTABLE PHONE *>G]S4 ,\R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS1 AL?\< COMPLETELY EXHAU/$ FROM !IR J\RNEY1 5D$ UP GETT+ ALONG WELL ) H]4 

,QUAIL3 ,IT WAS AN 9SPIR$ CONNECTION4 ,! GR\P ?AT /AY$ ) H] SCATT]$ AFT] ,A!NS4 ,ABBEY'S CLOSE/ FRI5D 9 ! GR\P HAD ! AUDACITY TO SECURE A FAKE ,ITALIAN PASSPORT & GET ON A PLANE FROM ,A!NS TO ,G]MANY1 :]E %E C\LD DECL>E ASYLUM 7674 ,ANO!R TWO1 NEWLYW$S1 CONT9U$ !IR J\RNEY ON FOOT1 PASS+ ?R\< ,HUNG>Y BE=E IT %UT D[N ITS BORD]S COMPLETELY4 ,I HAD SP5T A MON? 9 ,BUDAPE/1 ! CAPITAL ( ,HUNG>Y1 OV] A YE> PRIOR1 RESE>*+ AN >TICLE ON ! REACTIONS ( IMMIGRANTS1 ACTIVI/S1 & >TI/S TO ! 9CREAS+LY RACI/ & X5OPHOBIC POLITICAL CLIMATE4 ,9SPIR$ BY ,ABBEY'S E>LI] CONNECTION1 ,I RECALL$ ?AT ,I KNEW AT LEA/ A H&FUL ( ,HUNG>IANS & EXPATS 9 ,BUDAPE/ :O W\LD BE WILL+ TO TAKE ! RISK TO HELP !M4 ,A LA/-M9UTE ,A,B,P TO !SE FRI5DS SCOR$ !M A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP = ! NI<T 9 ,BUDAPE/1 A RIDE FUR!R D[N ! TRAIL1 & MADE UP ONE MORE /OP ON !IR ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL J\RNEY TO ,G]MANY4 ,IT WAS AN EASY FAVOR ,I HAD P]=M$ = MANY FRI5DS 9 ! PA/ 7SURE1 IF Y\'RE GO+ TO ?IS R&OM ,EUROPEAN CITY1 ,I HAVE A FRI5D ,I CAN REA* \T TO IF Y\ NE$ A PLACE TO CRA%7 BUT N[ ) MU*1 MU* HI<] /AKES = ALL 9VOLV$4 

,BO?3 ,FROM ?IS 9CID5T1 WE REALIZ$ ?AT ?R\< ,ABBEY'S CONNECTIONS 9 ,SYRIAN COMMUNITIES & ,QUAIL'S CONNECTIONS 9 ,EUROPE WE C\LD PROBABLY DO A LOT MORE ?AN N]V\SLY WAIT = ,FACEBOOK PO/S & ,:ATSAPP MESSAGES ANN\NC+ SAFE >RIVAL TO ,G]MANY4 ,QUAIL 9ITIALLY WANT$ TO ORGANIZE ?R\< ,C\*SURF+4COM1 :]E %E HAD ! MO/ EXP]I5CE CONNECT+ ) K9D & G5]\S =EIGN /RANG]S1 BUT ! PRIM>Y PLAT=M MO/ ,SYRIANS W]E US+ ON !IR MOBILE PHONES :ILE CROSS+ WAS ,FACEBOOK4 ,AS SOON AS WE REALIZ$ H[ MU* POT5TIAL SU* A GR\P MI<T HOLD1 WE LAUN*$ IT4 ,?US BEGAN ! ,SYRIAN ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD 7,S,U,R71 A WEB-BAS$ MUTUAL AID NETWORK BETWE5 ,U,S ,AM]ICANS1 ,EUROPEANS1 & MO/LY ,SYRIAN REFUGEES4 

,! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION1 ,MIGRATION1 & ,EUROPE 

  

,ABBEY3 ,BE=E ! ,REVOLUTION1 ,SYRIA WAS AN AU?ORIT>IAN POLICE /ATE RUN BY ! ,ASSAD FAMILY1 0,! ,FA!R & ! ,SON10 :O GA9$ P[] 9 A C\P 9 #a#i#g#a4 ,DESPITE SOME FULFILLM5T ( ,BAA?I/ 7MULTI-E?NIC & PAN-,>AB7 SOCIALI/ POLICIES1 SU* AS FREE COLLEGE & MOD]ATE HEAL?C>E1 ,SYRIANS LIV$ 9 FE>1 UNABLE TO HOLD ! RUL+ ELITES ACC\NTABLE4 ,PEOPLE FELT AS ?\< !Y C\LD NOT EV5 CRITICIZE ! ,REGIME TO !IR CLOSE/ FRI5DS )\T FE> ?AT ! ,MUKHAB>AT 7! SECRET POLICE7 & ! ,%ABIHA 7P>AMILIT>Y GR\PS 9 S]VICE TO ! REGIME7 W\LD KIDNAP1 TORTURE1 & DISAPPE> !M & !IR LOV$ ONES4 ,! POLITICAL SY/EM WAS RIFE ) CORRUPTION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM4 ,VICI\S LOCAL ELITES C\LD RULE ) IMPUNITY AS LONG AS !Y W]E LOYAL TO ! ,ALAWITE 7M9ORITY RELIGI\S GR\P7 REGIME 9 ,DAMASCUS1 /IFL+ CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION OR LOCAL GOV]NANCE4 ,! MANY T5SIONS & FRACTURES )9 ,SYRIAN SOCIETY 7E?NIC1 TRIBAL1 RELIGI\S1 & MORE7 W]E =CIBLY SUPPRESS$ ?R\< /RONGMAN AU?ORIT>IANISM4 

,9 E>LY #b#a#a1 :ILE ! ,>AB ,SPR+ TRANSPIR$ ELSE:]E 9 ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/ & ,NOR!RN ,AFRICA1 A TE5AGE BOY SPRAY$ ! WORDS 0,Y\R TURN1 ,DOCTOR10 ON ! SIDE ( A S*OOL 9 ,D>A'A--A TAUNT TO RUL] ,BA%> ,ASSAD1 :O WAS TRA9$ AS AN OPH?ALMOLOGI/4 ,! SUBSEQU5T JAIL+ & TORTURE ( TE5AG]S PROVOK$ MASSIVE PROTE/S1 & SO BEGAN ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION4 ,! REGIME KILL$ PROTE/]S 9 ,M>* 9 ,D>A'A1 FANN+ ! FLAMES ( DISCONT5T & 5C\RAG+ ! EXPON5TIAL GR[? ( A WIDE V>IETY ( =MS ( ANTI-GOV]NM5T RESI/ANCE4 

,BY #b#a#b1 ACTIVE >M$ CONFLICT HAD BEGUN TO SPREAD AS PEOPLE PU%$ TO \/ ! REGIME4 ,9 #b#a#c1 A CRUCIAL REGIME ALLY1 ,IRAN1 BEGAN FUNNEL+ 9 AID1 WEAPONS1 & COMBAT =CES ?R\< ,HEZBOLLAH & O!R P>AMILIT>Y =CES4 ,?IS 9ITIAL =EIGN COMBAT 9T]V5TION *ANG$ ! 5TIRE NATURE ( ! CONFLICT FROM AN 9T]NAL REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T TO AN 9T]NATIONAL PROXY W>4 ,LAT]1 9T]NATIONAL PRES5CES P>TICIPAT$ ON BO? REGIME & OPPOSITION SIDES ( ! W>1 ) ! ,U,S1 ,TURKEY1 & MANY ,WE/]N P[]S SID+ ) ! REBELS1 & ,RUSSIA1 ,*9A1 & ,IRAN SID+ ) ! REGIME4 ,9T]NATIONAL GEOPOLITICAL 9T]V5TIONS & NEOCOLONIAL SQUABBL+ 7FROM BO? 0,EA/0 & 0,WE/07 SET A TR5D ( :AT WAS TO TURN A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T 9TO ONE ( ! L>GE/ MOD]N MULT9ATIONAL W>S4 ,LAT]1 ,RUSSIA AB&ON$ ! *>ADE ( PROXY SUPPORT1 S5D+ 9 BOOTS ON ! GR\ND & EXT5SIVE WEAPONRY 9CLUD+ FI<T] JETS & BLA/+ ! CITIES & C\NTRYSIDE4 ,9 ?IS WAY1 ! NATIONS ?AT EV5TUALLY SET AB\T CLOS+ UP !IR BORD]S TO REFUGEES CONTRIBUT$ TO ! VIOL5CE ?AT CREAT$ ! REFUGEE CRISIS 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,9 ,AUGU/ #b#a#c1 ! REGIME C>RI$ \T ! FIR/ ( SEV]AL *EMICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS AGA9/ PROTE/]S & CIVILIANS ALIKE AS FI<T+ CONT9U$ TO ESCALATE & REBELS BEGAN MAK+ L>G] T]RITORIAL GA9S4 ,LAT]1 ! REGIME CONT9U$ TO USE *LOR9E GAS AFT] ! ,U,N ATTEMPT$ TO DISMANTLE ! REGIME'S *EMICAL WEAPONS >S5AL4 ,!SE >E BUT A FEW EXAMPLES ( ! CONSI/5T DISREG>D = CIVILIAN LIVES ?AT BECAME A COMMON OCCURR5CE 9 ! W>1 P]PETUAT$ BY MO/ SIDES1 BUT L>GELY ATTRIBUT$ TO ! REGIME & ITS ALLIES4 

,9 ,JUNE #b#a#d1 AMID MASSIVE 9T]NATIONAL 9FI<T+ = & AGA9/ ! ,SYRIAN GOV]NM5T & ITS TACTICS1 ,I,S,I,S MADE !IR FIR/ MAJOR APPE>ANCE 9 ,SYRIA & ,IRAQ1 CAPTUR+ L>GE SWA?S ( DES]T1 OIL FIELDS1 KEY RIV] T]RITORIES1 & SOME L>G] CITIES4 ,!SE MORE EXP]I5C$ FI<T]S1 COM+ FRE% \T ( FI<T+ ! ,U,S 9 ,IRAQ UND] OP]ATION ,5DUR+ ,FRE$OM1 JO9$ ! FI<T+ 9 ,SYRIA 5 MASSE1 =M+ !IR [N FACTIONS & TAK+ CONTROL ( MANY ( ! REBEL UNITS EV5TUALLY REPRES5T+ ,I,S,I,S1 ,JAHBAT AL-,NUSRA1 & O!R MILIT>Y FACTIONS4 ,?IS FUNDAM5TALI/ ,ISLAMICIZATION WAS 9 P>T A REACTION TO ONGO+ ,WE/]N IMP]IALISM ?R\<\T ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/1 :I* HAS RADICALIZ$1 >M$1 & MOBILIZ$ FASCI/ ELEM5TS )9 ,ISLAMIC SECTS4 

,?R\<\T ?IS TIME1 A MOVEM5T = AUTONOMY HAD CONT9U$ TO TAKE %APE 9 NOR!RN ,SYRIA 9 ! PR$OM9ANTLY ,KURDI%-CONTROLL$ >EAS KN[N =M]LY AS ,ROJAVA1 N[ DECL>$ ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,F$]AL ,SY/EM ( ,NOR!RN ,SYRIA 7,D,F,S,N,S74 ,!IR POLITICAL /RUCTURE IS BAS$ ON ! IDEAS ( ,AM]ICAN ,AN>*I/ ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 & ,TURKI% POLITICAL PRISON] ,ABDULLAH ,OCALAN1 C\PL$ ) !IR [N ATTEMPTS TO PRACTICE HORIZONTALISM & COOP]ATION ACROSS MULTIPLE L9ES ( G5D]1 E?NICITY1 & RELIGION4 ,! ,KURDI% FI<T+ GR\PS COM+ FROM ! ,NOR? W]E EXP]I5C$ SOLDI]S1 ESPECIALLY ! =M] ,P,K,K FI<T]S COM+ FROM ,TURKEY1 [+ TO A LONG HI/ORY ( RESI/ANCE AS A RESULT ( ,KURDI% /ATELESSNESS4 ,H[EV]1 ONE ( ! REASONS !Y W]E ABLE TO SU/A9 !MSELVES 9 ! MID/ ( A MASSIVE & MULTI-PRONG$ W> WAS ?AT !Y HAD MADE AN AGREEM5T E>LY ON ) ! ,ASSAD ,REGIME1 RECEIV+ AUTONOMY & >MAM5TS 9 EX*ANGE = AGREE+ NOT TO JO9 ! ANTI-,ASSAD RESI/ANCE4 ,?IS TRUCE CREAT$ A %>P DIVIDE BETWE5 !M & MU* ( ! OPPOSITION MOVEM5TS4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & O!R OPPOSITION-SUPPORT+ MOVEM5TS BEGAN TO HESITANTLY SUPPORT ,ROJAVA'S FI<T+ UNITS SU* AS ! ,Y,P,J & ,Y,P,G DUE TO !IR EFFECTIV5ESS AGA9/ ,I,S,I,S1 FUR!R COMPLICAT+ MATT]S ON ! GR\ND AB\T :O WAS SUPPORT+ :O1 AS ,TURKEY CONT9UES TO VIOL5TLY OPPOSE ,KURDI% AUTONOMY4 

,BY #bad & CONT9U+ 9TO #b#a#e1 IT WAS NO LONG] SO MU* A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T AS AN ALL-\T CIVIL & PROXY W> SU/A9$ BY GEOPOLITICAL P[] PLAYS FROM ! 9T]NATIONAL COMMUNITY4 ,! VICTIMS W]E PR$OM9ANTLY ,SYRIAN CIVILIANS2 :OLE CITIES W]E LEVEL$4 ,9TO #b#a#f1 ! REGIME CONT9U$ TO USE WEAPONS ?AT VIOLAT$ 9T]NATIONAL W> AGREEM5TS--9CLUD+ *EMICAL WEAPONS1 B>REL BOMBS1 & PHOSPHOR\S BOMBS--& T>GET+ CIVILIANS 79CLUD+ HOSPITALS74 ,?R\<\T MORE ?AN SIX YE>S ( W>1 NE>LY #e1 PEOPLE W]E KILL$1 NE>LY #e MILLION REFUGEES FL$1 & >\ND #f4#f MILLION W]E 9T]NALLY DISPLAC$4 

,QUAIL3 ,MILLIONS ( ,SYRIAN REFUGEES FL$ TO ,LEBANON1 ,TURKEY1 & ,JORDAN1 ! C\NTRIES BORD]+ ,SYRIA ?AT /ILL GRANT$ VISAS TO ,SYRIANS AT ! TIME2 ,TURKEY CURR5TLY HO/S ! GREATE/ NUMB]1 AT TWO MILLION REFUGEES & GR[+4 ,ONLY AB\T ONE MILLION ASYLUM APPLICATIONS W]E SUBMITT$ ACROSS ALL ( ,EUROPE FROM ,SYRIAN REFUGEES4 ,AS IS ! CASE ! WORLD OV]1 NON-CITIZ5S DISPLAC$ FROM !IR NATIVE C\NTRY 5T] 9TO A /ATE ( LIM9AL NON-P]SONHOOD :I* CAN TAKE YE>S ( BUREAUCRACY TO RESOLVE2 ,JOHN ,OLIV] DID AN EXCELL5T TAK$[N ( ,U,N & /ATE FAILURE TO BE RESPONSIVE 9 ALL[+ REFUGEES TO WORK1 GO TO S*OOL1 OR EV5 QUALIFY AS ASYLUM SEEK]S4 ,9 ,TURKEY 9 P>TICUL>1 ,SYRIANS FAC$ A LANGUAGE B>RI] & POLITICAL RESI/ANCE TO !IR EXI/5CE FROM BO? ! LEFT & ! RI<T 9 ! 9CREAS+LY AU?ORIT>IAN & ,ISLAMIC YET ANTI-,>AB & ANTI-,KURD ,TURKI% POLITICAL 5VIRONM5T4 ,9 ADDITION1 ,I,S,I,S C>RI$ \T SEV]AL HI< PR(ILE BOMB+S & DAYLI<T ASSASS9ATIONS 9 \R CITY & ITS NEI<BORS AGA9/ ,SYRIAN & ,KURDI% RADICALS2 \R FRI5DS1 ! NEUROSURGEON & ! 5G9E] CL[N1 LAT] BECAME T>GETS ( !SE4 

,! ,SYRIAN REFUGEE COMMUNITY 9 ,GAZIANTEP1 ,TURKEY WAS TRAUMATIZ$ & DISAFFECT$1 H>DLY ABLE TO F9D UN(FICIAL WORK ) NON-PR(ITS 9 ! >EA ?AT DESP]ATELY NE$$ !IR BIL+UAL SKILLS & LOCAL KN[L$GE4 ,?IS LABOR ONLY 9T5SIFI$ !IR ALI5ATION--!Y W]E WORK+ = ! C\NTRY !Y MISS$ & C\LD NEV] RETURN TO1 ALONGSIDE ,WE/]N EXPATS E>N+ DANG] PAY 7G5]ALLY TRIPLE ! ,SYRIAN OR 0LOCAL0 SAL>IES7 :O C\LD & DID LEAVE = !IR WEAL?Y NATIVE C\NTRY AT ! SLI<TE/ SIGN ( DANG] & TRAVEL$ 9 >MOR$ VEHICLES4 ,:5 WE W\LD HANG \T ) \R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS AS !Y *A9-SMOK$ & DRANK SUG>$ TEA1 !RE W]E TWO MA9 TOPICS ( CONV]SATION3 ,SYRIAN POLITICS1 REHA%$ ) ! FIXATION ( A TRAUMATIZ$ P]SON :O CANNOT ESCAPE HIS TORM5TOR1 & !IR MO/ REC5T PLANS = LEAV+--:I* EMBASSIES !Y HAD VISIT$ & BE5 TURN$ AWAY FROM1 H[ !IR APPO9TM5TS ) ! ,U,N,H,C,R HAD BE5 DELAY$1 &1 F9ALLY1 :5 !Y HAD F\ND A SMUGGL] TO TAKE !M TO ,GREECE4 ,ALL ( ?IS WAS FOLL[$ BY A DISCUSSION ( ! CO/S1 ! RISKS1 ! FE>S1 & ! GOAL3 ,G]MANY1 ! PROMIS$ L& = ASYLUM-SEEK]S4 

,! ,U,S,A WAS \T ( ! QUE/ION UNLESS !Y WON ! ,U,N,H,C,R LOTT]Y JACKPOT 7?\< ,TRUMP'S ANTI-,MUSLIM & ANTI-IMMIGRATION RHETORIC WAS AS YET A DI/ANT ?REAT71 & ,CANADA WAS ONLY POSSIBLE ?R\< (FICIAL MEANS1 :I* \R FRI5DS HAD NO REASON TO TRU/4 ,AMONG ! WEAL?I] ,E,U C\NTRIES1 ! ,U,K WAS SE5 AS A =TRESS1 ,FRANCE AS HORRIBLY RACI/1 & ,SC&9AVIA AS MORE OR LESS F9E--AL?\< NEWS TRAVEL$ FA/ :5 ,D5M>K />T$ TO MAKE CLE> ?AT REFUGEES W]E NOT WELCOME !RE1 MAK+ IT LEGAL TO /EAL FROM !M4 ,AL?\< WE HAD FRI5DS 5D UP 9 ALL ( !SE PLACES1 ,G]MANY WAS P]CEIV$ TO HAVE ! BE/ ECONOMY1 & TOOK MEASURES TO IMPROVE ASYLUM-SEEK] QUALITY ( LIFE1 SU* AS ALL[+ ASYLUM-SEEK]S TO OBTA9 LEGAL EMPLOYM5T A M]E ?REE MON?S AFT] 5TRY4 ,DESPITE ,G]MANY'S CULPABILITY 9 >M+ & PR(IT+ ON ! W> 9 ,SYRIA1 ! COMP>ATIVELY PRO-REFUGEE /ANCE ?AT ,ANGELA ,M]KEL1 ! ,*ANCELLOR ( ,G]MANY1 MA9TA9$ AT ! TIME1 MADE H] A H]O 9 MANY ,SYRIANS' EYES4 ,9 ADDITION1 ESPECIALLY LAT] ON1 ,G]MANY WAS :]E ALL ( !IR FRI5DS ALREADY W]E4 ,G]MANY BE+ ! MO/ DESIRABLE DE/9ATION1 \R FRI5DS MADE !IR >RANGEM5TS ) ! C\S9 ( A FRI5D ( A FRI5D ) A SMUGGL] CONTACT TO GET ON AN OV]LOAD$ D+HY & !N EMPLOY ! FREE PASSAGE GRANT$ BY ,S*5G5 TO CROSS ! 9T]NAL BORD]S ( ! ,E,U TO !IR DE/9ATION4 

,IT WAS A RACE AGA9/ ! CLOCK1 AS ! CON/ANT FL[ ( REFUGEES HAD BEGUN TO CRACK ! 9FRA/RUCTURE ( ,EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION1 SETT+ ! /AGE = X5OPHOBIC POLITICAL P>TIES TO SEIZE P[]4 ,\R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS FE>$ ?AT ! 9T]NAL BORD]S ( ! ,E,U W\LD CLOSE4 ,9 ! 5D1 !Y W]E RI<T4 

,:Y ,WE ,W]E ,!RE 

  

,ABBEY3 ,I'D BE5 FOLL[+ ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION FROM ! BEG9N+ AS A RESULT ( MY 9T]E/ 9 ! ,>AB ,SPR+ & REVOLUTION>Y POLITICAL MOVEM5TS 9 G5]AL4 ,?IS EV5TUALLY L$ TO ME MAK+ CONNECTIONS & OBTA9+ AN 9VITATION FROM A ,SYRIAN ORGANIZATION ) :I* ,I WORK$ = ! FOLL[+ EI<T MON?S4 ,9 ! BEG9N+1 ,I HAD NO IDEA H[ MU* WORSE ! W> W\LD GET4 ,I WANT$ TO HELP )\T 9TRUD+1 BUT ,I ALSO JU/ WANT$ TO UND]/&4 

,ASIDE FROM MY S5SE ( HORROR & P[]LESSNESS1 ,I ALSO FELT P>TICUL>LY DRAWN TO ! ,SYRIAN CONTEXT DUE TO ! NUM]\S P>ALLELS ,I SAW BETWE5 IT & ! FRACTI\S NATURE ( ,U,S POLITICS4 ,( C\RSE1 SO MU* ( ! VIOL5CE 9 ,SYRIA1 EV5 BE=E ! W>1 IS BEYOND :AT MO/ ,AM]ICANS CAN COMPREH5D4 ,I %UDD] N[ :5 PEOPLE CALL ! ,U,S A POLICE /ATE--,I KN[ FROM /ORIES H[ MU* WORSE IT CAN GET4 ,BUT ASIDE FROM ?IS1 !RE W]E C]TA9 SIMIL> CONTEXTS 9 ,SYRIA & ! ,U,S3 RELIGI\S T5SIONS1 URBAN_/RURAL DIVIDES1 LURK+ RACIAL & E?NIC 9JU/ICE1 REPRESSION 7ALBEIT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS 9 ! ,U,S71 & BURGEON+ RESI/ANCE MOVEM5TS REGUL>LY FL>+ UP 9 SPITE ( VIOL5T REPRISALS4 

,BE=E ,I LEFT1 ,I ALSO DEVELOP$ A /RONG 9T]E/ 9 ! REVOLUTION>Y DEMOCRATIC MOVEM5T 9 :AT WAS !N REF]R$ TO AS ,ROJAVA4 ,IT WAS NOT UNTIL ,I HAD BUILT COMPLEX RELATION%IPS ) ,KURDI% RADICALS FROM ! REGION ?AT MY CONCEPTION ( ! ,BOOK*9-9SPIR$ MULTIE?NIC AN>*I/ MOVEM5T FI<T+ ,I,S,I,S BECAME COMPLICAT$ ) ! E?ICAL REALITIES ( W> & P[]4 ,! P>T ( ME ?AT HAD CONSID]$ HEAD+ TO ,KOBANE 7:]E ,I WAS 9VIT$ TO A LAT] CANCEL$ W$D+71 ,EFR981 OR ,QAMISLO8 TO SUPPORT & WITNESS WAS OV]COME BY ! REALITY ( H[ RES\RCE-9T5SIVE IT WAS TO GET =EIGN]S 91 H[ DANG]\S IT ACTUALLY WAS1 & H[ MIX$ MY ,KURDI% FRI5DS' FEEL+S W]E AB\T ! MOVEM5T & ME GO+4 ,FUR!R1 :ATEV] D>K P>T ( ME WANT$ TO BE A W> T\RI/ WAS SQUA%$ BY MY DEBILITAT+ EMPA?IC RESPONSE TO EXTREME VIOL5CE4 

,QUAIL3 ,ABBEY & ,I WORK$ ALONGSIDE \R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS FROM ! SUMM] ( #bae TO E>LY #baf 9 V>I\S NON-GOV]NM5TAL ORGANIZATIONS4 ,WE BO? HAD ,MA/]S DEGREES 9 ,PEACEBUILD+ & HAD BE5 WORK+ FROM ! ,U,S BUT 9 9T]NATIONAL CONTEXTS4 ,WE KNEW ?AT \R ROLE AS :ITE \TSID]S WAS FRAU<T--ON ! MACRO LEVEL ) COLONIALISM1 IMP]IALISM1 & G5]AL ,U,S DOM9ATION1 & ON ! MICRO LEVEL ) ! PRIVILEGE ( \R NATIONALITIES & /ATUSES1 NATIVE LANGUAGE1 & $UCATION4 

,9 HOPES ( BE+ MORE A P>T ( ! SOLUTION ?AN ! PROBLEM1 WE FOLL[$ A R\< E?ICAL \TL9E3 WE ONLY TOOK ON WORK WE W]E 9VIT$ TO JO9 9 7?US1 !Y CONS5T$ TO \R PRES5CE71 WE ONLY WORK$ = ,SYRIAN ,N,G,OS 7DECREAS+ ! 9COME DISP>ITIES BETWE5 US & \R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS71 & WE S\<T TO SUPPORT !SE ,SYRIAN-L$ 9ITIATIVES BY LEV]AG+ ! PRIVILEGES WE HAD4 ,I C\LD WRITE 9 PROPOSAL-SPEAK ,5GLI%1 SO F\ND MYSELF AS ! ,GRANTS ,COORD9ATOR AT A ,KURDI% HUMANIT>IAN AID ORGANIZATION1 REPRES5T+ ! WORK TO O!R ,5GLI%-SPEAK+ DONORS4 ,ABBEY HAD EXPOSURE TO DATA WORK SO %E C\LD RUN REPORTS = ,SYRIAN GRASSROOTS PROGRAMM+ :ILE TRA9+ ! /AFF !RE TO DO ! SAME 9 ! FUTURE4 ,WE DID \R BE/4 

,\R ,MOTIVES = ,RUNN+ ! ,SYRIAN ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD 

  

,QUAIL3 ,FIR/ & =EMO/1 WE W]E TRY+ TO SUPPORT \R FRI5DS & !IR FRI5DS & FAMILIES4 ,I KN[ = ME1 P>T ( MY MOTIVATION WAS TO DO SOME?+1 ANY?+1 9 ! FACE ( ! REFUGEE CRISIS1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ,GREECE1 :]E ?\S&S W]E DY+ CROSS+ AN 9T]NATIONAL BORD] ,I C\LD EASILY CROSS VIA BOAT OR PLANE ) MY ,U,S PASSPORT4 ,!SE W]E S5SELESS DEA?S ( PEOPLE ALREADY FLEE+ MORTAL VIOL5CE4 ,! 9JU/ICE WAS PALPABLE4 

,! POLITICAL 5]GY SURR\ND+ ! CROSS+ ( ! REFUGEES WAS CRACKL+3 HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S PEOPLE BEAT+ ! ODDS AGA9/ !M--WOM5 CROSS+ :ILE PREGNANT1 :OLE EXT5D$ FAMILIES1 ! URBAN POOR1 F>M]S1 & PEOPLE FROM ! MIDDLE CLASS :O HAD NEV] SLEPT \TSIDE BE=E4 ,I C\LDN'T HELP BUT *E] ON SU* BRAZ5NESS4 ,! M$IA & ,FACEBOOK GR\PS ?AT POPP$ UP >\ND ! CRISIS W]E FULL ( %OCK+ &1 YES1 COMPELL+ /ORIES AB\T PEOPLE DODG+ CU/OMS (FIC]S & DUCK+ F5CES1 BE+ =C$ AT GUNPO9T TO PAY D\BLE AT ! LA/ M9UTE BY SMUGGL]S1 DRESS+ UP AS W$D+ P>TIES1 GETT+ \T ( BOATS & PU%+ :5 ! GAS RAN \T1 BABIES BORN ON ! BEA* UPON >RIVAL4 ,IT WAS ! UNFAMILI> ?AT ,I'D BE5 PRIVILEG$ NOT TO KN[ 7NAMELY1 W>--AT LEA/1 ,I HADN'T BE5 ON ! RECEIV+ 5D71 BR\<T TO ! SAME BEA*ES :]E ,I'D SP5T A SUNNY SPR+ BREAK 9 HI< S*OOL4 ,I ?9K IT WAS ?IS JUXTAPOSITION ?AT GR\ND$ MY DESIRE TO C\NT]BALANCE ! PRIVILEGE ,I KNEW MYSELF TO HAVE & TO SUPPORT ?OSE WILL+ TO TAKE ON SU* AN IMPOSSIBLE J\RNEY = ! SAKE ( !IR *ILDR54 ,IT WASN'T UNTIL WELL 9TO ! WORK ?AT ,I LE>N$ !RE W]E WORDS = ?IS3 MUTUAL AID & OP5 BORD]S4 

,ABBEY3 ,I AM 9VE/$ 9 OP5 BORD]S AS ! RESULT ( DILIG5T RESE>* 9TO ! E?ICS1 ECONOMICS1 & NET HUMAN B5EFIT ?AT !Y CREATE 7SEE ,APP5DIX BEL[74 ,I SAW ! ,SYRIAN CRISIS & ! PLI<TS ( MY FRI5DS & !IR COMMUNITIES AS A *ANCE TO PUT ?OSE VALUES 9TO PRACTICE4 

,! ,NETWORK 

  

,ABBEY3 ,IT WAS SOME TIME 9TO WORK+ 9 ! REGION ?AT WE F\ND$ ! ,SYRIAN ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD4 ,WE CREAT$ IT AS A SECRET ,FACEBOOK GR\P1 SO A P]SON C\LD ONLY GET ADD$ BY SOMEONE :O KNEW !M2 ?AT WAY1 IT WASN'T O!RWISE SE>*ABLE4 ,?IS WAS \R ATTEMPT TO 5SURE ?AT ONLY PEOPLE ) AT LEA/ ONE P]SON :O C\LD V\* = !M 5T]$ ! SPACE4 ,BECAUSE ( ?IS LIMIT+ FACTOR1 WE KNEW ?AT ! GR\P W\LD HAVE LESS F>-REA*+ IMPACT ?AN O!R RES\RCES--!RE W]E O!R GR\PS ) ?\S&S ( MEMB]S--BUT ALSO LESS *ANCE ( DRAW+ ! ATT5TION ( RACI/ TROLLS OR LAW 5=CEM5T4 

,!N WE ADD$ EV]Y ,EUROPEAN & ,SYRIAN FRI5D WE C\LD ?9K ( :O W\LD BE 9T]E/$ & 5C\RAG$ !M TO ADD O!RS ?AT !Y TRU/$4 ,OV]NI<T1 !RE W]E OV] #b PEOPLE & IT KEPT GR[+ EV]Y DAY4 ,WE 5C\RAG$ ! ,SYRIAN MEMB]S 9 TRANSIT TO PO/ AB\T :AT !Y NE$$ & = ! ,EUROPEAN MEMB]S TO (F] :AT !Y C\LD4 ,WE SET ! GR\P'S CORE VALUES AS MUTUAL AID1 SOLID>ITY1 RESPECT1 & K9DNESS4 ,IT WASN'T LONG BE=E REQUE/S = V>I\S ?+S />T$ P\R+ 94 ,! PROCESS IMM$IATELY BECAME OV]:ELM+LY DISORGANIZ$4 

,QUAIL3 ,IT WAS BO? A BLESS+ & A CURSE ?AT WE W]E ABLE TO LAUN* SOME?+ IMM$IATELY4 ,WE MADE CONNECTIONS ( POT5TIAL MUTUAL AID1 BUT WE HAD TO NAVIGATE SEV]AL HUNDR$ PEOPLE ON A FIX$ PLAT=M4 ,! LEGAL CONC]NS W]E REAL4 ,WE FELT EXPOS$ RUNN+ ! GR\P ON ,FACEBOOK ACC\NTS4 ,WE TRI$ CONSULT+ ) A FRI5D ( M9E 9VOLV$ ) IMMIGRATION LAW2 GIV5 ! DOZ5S ( C\NTRIES 9VOLV$1 %E DIDN'T KN[ :]E TO />T 9 ADVIS+ US1 ?\< %E WAS 5?USIA/ICALLY 9 FAVOR ( ! WORK WE W]E DO+4 ,ULTIMATELY1 WE 5D$ UP SETT+ UP ! BE/ /OP-GAP WE C\LD AGA9/ ! K9D ( ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WE BELIEV$ W\LD BE MO/ DANG]\S4 ,?IS WAS AN ADM9 /ATEM5T READ+3 

0,! ADM9S ( ?IS PAGE CANNOT (F] ANY?+ ?AT 9VOLVES ! EX*ANGE ( MONEY & ADDITIONALLY DO NOT SUPPORT PAID 0FIX]S10 SMUGGL]S1 & ! LIKE4 ,ANY PAID S]VICES SU* AS !SE WILL BE DELET$ OR BLOCK$ = SECURITY REASONS4 ,?IS PAGE IS A FREE MUTUAL AID SUPPORT NETWORK4 ,! ADM9S ( ?IS PAGE CANNOT SUPPORT OR CONDONE ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES1 NOR CAN WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = POT5TIALLY DANG]\S DECISIONS MEMB]S ( ! GR\P MI<T TAKE4 ,WE DO1 H[EV]1 BELIEVE SUPPORT+ REFUGEES 9 ! WAY WE >E WILL PROVE TO BE ON ! RI<T SIDE ( HI/ORY40 

,WE HOP$ ?AT ?IS W\LD BE SUFFICI5T4 

,ABBEY3 ,WE BRA9/ORM$ WAYS TO KEEP ?+S AS US]-FRI5DLY AS POSSIBLE = \RSELVES & = ?OSE SEEK+ AID4 ,I COMPIL$ A SPREAD%EET ( ?OSE (F]+ HELP3 !IR CONTACT 9=MATION1 :]E !Y LIV$1 & :AT !Y W]E WILL+ TO (F]4 ,ONCE WE HAD ?IS1 IT WAS EASI] TO REF] OR TAG PEOPLE AS NECESS>Y4 ,FROM ! LI/ ( ?OSE WILL+ TO HELP EM]G$ A CORE GR\P ( ?REE PEOPLE :O HAD EXTRAORD9>Y WILL+NESS & CAPABILITIES & W]E ESPECIALLY RESPONSIVE TO REQUE/S4 ,WE MADE !M 9TO ADM9S ON ! PAGE4 ,ONE WAS A TE* :IZ LIV+ 9 ,G]MANY1 ONE WAS AN ASYLUM EXP]T 9 ,EUROPE1 & ONE WAS A BIL+UAL ,SYRIAN MO!R /ILL 9 ,ALEPPO4 ,%E 5D$ UP 5?USIA/ICALLY TRANSLAT+ ALL \R ,5GLI% MAT]IALS 9TO ,>ABIC & HELP+ ) O!R ?+S AS NE$$--AMAZ+1 CONSID]+ ! FRAGILITY ( H] [N SITUATION4 ,?IS 5ABL$ \R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS TO PO/ 9 ,>ABIC IF IT WAS MORE COM=TABLE = !M4 

,ADDITIONAL CONC]NS 9CLUD$ SECURITY & ACCESSIBILITY4 ,WE SET UP ! 9ITIAL VIDEO MEET+S ?R\< SOME:AT SECURE M$IUMS SU* AS ,JITSI1 AT :I* WE DISCUSS$ \R %ORT- & LONG-T]M GOALS1 SECURITY1 & CAPABILITIES4 ,WE !N CREAT$ A RISEUP4NET EMAIL ACC\NT TO H&LE :ATEV] SECURE EMAIL DEAL+S WE NE$$1 ?\< IT WAS LITTLE US$--QUITE A BIT MORE HAPP5$ OV] ,FACEBOOK MESS5G]1 DESPITE ! SECURITY RISKS4 ,?IS WAS JU/ BECAUSE SO MANY ,SYRIANS >E FLU5T 9 ,FACEBOOK1 :ILE O!R TOOLS >E NOT ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE4 ,AT ?AT TIME1 ,:ATSAPP DID NOT EV5 HAVE ! ,:ISP] ,SY/EMS 5D-TO-5D 5CRYPTION YET1 :I* W\LD'VE BE5 IDEAL AS ,:ATSAPP WAS ! TEXT+ M$IUM ( *OICE = \R ,SYRIAN FRI5DS4 ,WE ALSO US$ ,SIGNAL OR ,TELEGRAM 7SECRET *ATS7 = 9T]NATIONAL TEXT+ :]E POSSIBLE1 TEA*+ MEMB]S ( ! GR\P TO USE !M = MESSAGES ?AT MI<T BE ILLEGAL OR CA/ UNDUE SUSPICION4 

,QUAIL3 ,S9CE MO/ MIGRAT+ REFUGEES W]E OP]AT+ 5TIRELY ON ,FACEBOOK1 ,I SOLICIT$1 RESE>*$1 & COMPIL$ ALL ( ! RELEVANT ,FACEBOOK-BAS$ RES\RCES = MAK+ ! J\RNEY1 ORGANIZ$ BY LOCATION 7:I* ,GREEK ISL&1 :I* C\NTRY71 AFF9ITY 7AN>*I/ GR\PS1 APOLITICAL GR\PS71 & PURPOSE 7TO ORGANIZE & 9=M VOLUNTE]S1 TO UPDATE EV]YONE AB\T SPECIFIC NE$S & SITUATIONS74 ,ALONGSIDE ?IS RES\RCE PAGE1 ,I KEPT A LI/ ( REPUTABLE PLACES ASK+ = VOLUNTE]S & DONATIONS1 = \R FRI5DS & FAMILY :O WANT$ TO HELP4 ,BE=E WE KNEW IT1 ! GR\P HAD OV] #e MEMB]S1 ) MULTIPLE PO/S A DAY & SEV]AL RESPONSES TO EA* PO/4 ,AL?\< AT ! BEG9N+ WE W]E SCRAMBL+ TO PLUG EV]Y LEAK 9 ! SY/EMS AS WE DEVELOP$ !M1 :AT WE W]E DO+ WAS />T+ TO WORK4 ,WE ALSO BEGAN TO CONNECT ) O!R AUTONOM\S GR\PS DO+ SIMIL> ?+S1 & TO EX*ANGE RES\RCES & S]VICES4 

,RESULTS3 ,! ,WORK ,ITSELF 

  

,BO?3 ,?R\< 5DLESS PO/+1 MESSAG+1 CONTACT+1 & NETWORK+1 ?\< LIMIT$ BY \R DESIRE TO REMA9 ON ! LEGAL7]7 SIDE ( A *AOTIC SITUATION & BY \R MEANS1 TIME1 & CONTACTS1 WE DIRECTLY SUPPORT$ DOZ5S ( ,SYRIANS 9 A*IEV+ !IR GOALS ( MIGRATION & ASYLUM4 ,WE RECOGNIZE ?AT 9 ! FACE ( A MULTI-MILLION-P]SON REFUGEE CRISIS1 ?IS ACC\NTS = V]Y LITTLE--WE W]E ONE T9Y FACET ( A TRULY REM>KABLE SPONTANE\SLY EM]G+ NETWORK ( ?\S&S ( 9ITIATIVES ?AT RESPOND$ TO ! CRISIS 9 ! BE/ WAYS !Y C\LD4 ,!RE W]E MANY O!R GR\PS LIKE US4 ,) ?AT S5SE ( SCALE 9 M9D1 H]E IS :AT WE A*IEV$3 

- 

,FACILITAT$ ! MONEY TRANSF] ?AT GOT A W\ND$ CIVILIAN \T ( ,Y>M\K 7A ,PALE/9IAN REFUGEE CAMP 9 ,SYRIA7 & 9TO ,LEBANON = EM]G5CY M$ICAL C>E 

,ABBEY3 ,I WAS ABLE TO L9K SOMEONE 9 ! ,U,S :O HAD ACCESS TO MONEY & A PREF]5CE = DIRECT TRANSF]S TO A FRI5D :O WAS CONNECT$ ) ! W\ND$ MAN 9 ,Y>M\K4 ,BECAUSE ( NUM]\S LEGAL RE/RICTIONS 9 MOV+ MONEY TO ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/ & ! CORRUPTION 9 ,SYRIAN MONEY TRANSF] S]VICES1 ! MONEY WAS S5T TO ME FIR/4 ,!N ,I PASS$ IT ON TO A FRI5D :O HAD A BANK ACC\NT 9 ,DAMASCUS ?AT HE C\LD DEPOSIT 9TO FROM ABROAD4 ,9 ,DAMASCUS1 SOMEONE )DREW ! MONEY & GAVE IT TO ! P]SON1 :O WAS ALMO/ IMM$IATELY ABLE TO LEAVE4 ,HE C\LD C]TA9LY HAVE DI$ )\T ! C>E4 

- 

,HELP$ ONE MEMB] TO REUNITE ) HIS WIFE 9 ,FRANCE1 CONNECT+ HIM ) CONTACTS 9 ! LOCAL MAYOR'S (FICE TO FACILITATE HIS ASYLUM PROCESS 

,QUAIL3 ,A C[ORK]'S WIFE HAD F\ND ASYLUM 9 A SMALL T[N 9 ,FRANCE4 ,! FRI5D WAS TRY+ TO GA9 ASYLUM LEGALLY1 BUT NE$$ SOME POLITICAL HEFT TO SUCCE$4 ,ABBEY REA*$ \T TO A ,FR5* AN>*I/ GR\P1 P>T ( ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,AN>*I/ ,F$]ATION2 )9 A FEW DAYS1 %E HAD SECUR$ ! PHONE NUMB]S & EMAILS ( ! PEOPLE HE NE$$ TO SPEAK )4 ,HE & ,I UNSUCCESSFULLY TRI$ TO ,SKYPE 9 ) !SE PEOPLE = SEV]AL DAYS1 UNTIL HE DECID$ TO TAKE ! SITUATION 9TO HIS [N H&S & GET ON A BOAT4 ,ONCE HE >RIV$ ON A SMALL ,GREEK ISL&1 HE MESSAG$ US = HELP2 ,ABBEY WAS ABLE TO GET HIM AN ,AIRBNB ) AN APP>5TLY PRO-REFUGEE HO/ 7AS HO/+ UNDOCUM5T$ REFUGEES IS ILLEGAL & PUNI%ABLE BY JAIL TIME71 GA9+ HIM A NI<T ( GOOD SLEEP & A %[] BE=E HIS LONG J\RNEY TO ,FRANCE4 ,:5 HE EV5TUALLY >RIV$ 9 ,FRANCE1 HE WAS ABLE TO USE ! CONTACTS WE HAD PROCUR$ TO PU% =W>D HIS DIFFICULT ASYLUM PROCESS4 

- 

,HELP$ DOZ5S ( PEOPLE F9D H\S+1 A %[]1 9T]NET1 PHONE ACCESS1 WAT]1 & FOOD ALONG !IR TRAVELS FROM ,SYRIA TO ,EUROPE 

,ABBEY3 ,! NUMB]S = ?IS >E DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE W]E MORE CONC]N$ ) DO+ !SE ?+S ?AN DOCUM5T+ !M1 BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY KN[ ! FULL EXT5T ( H[ MANY CONNECTIONS OCCURR$ ?R\< ! GR\P (F ! MA9 FE$S4 ,LOTS ( PEOPLE TOLD US H[ ESS5TIAL !SE LITTLE 0COM=TS0 C\LD BE4 ,A %[] C\LD HELP ONE APPE> LESS LIKE A HAGG>D TRAVEL]1 MAK+ ONE LESS SUSPICI\S TO PR[L+ POLICE OR ANTI-IMMIGRANT GR\PS4 ,A %ORT WIFI CONNECTION ALL[S A P]SON TO TELL H] FAMILY ?AT %E SURVIV$ ! BOATS4 ,FOOD & WAT] >E HEAVY & EXP5SIVE1 & ,HALAL IS DIFFICULT TO F9D 9 PREP>$ FOOD RE/AURANTS4 ,A HOME-COOK$ MEAL DOES WOND]S = NUTRITION & MORALE4 

- 

,PROVID$ EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO C\NTLESS PEOPLE /RUGGL+ ) ! MANY DILEMMAS ( MIGRATION 

,QUAIL3 ,MANY TIMES1 ADMITT$LY1 WE W]E P[]LESS4 ,A ,SYRIAN REFUGEE PO/$ FROM A LIT]ALLY MILES-LONG QUEUE \TSIDE ( A REFUGEE CAMP 9 ,G]MANY 9 A PANIC3 HE WAS BE+ RA9$ ON1 HE WAS V]Y HUNGRY1 & HE WAS AFRAID ?AT HE W\LDN'T MAKE IT 9SIDE BY NI<TFALL4 ,I TAGG$ \R ,G]MAN CONTACTS ON ! PO/1 BUT IT WAS ALREADY LATE EV5+4 ,A FEW O!RS TAGG$ !IR [N FRI5DS4 ,IF NO?+ ELSE1 PEOPLE (F]$ !IR EMPA?Y--0,?AT S\NDS SO T]RIBLE1 ,I'M SO SORRY40 ,EV5TUALLY1 HE MADE IT 9SIDE 7SNUCK 91 IF ,I REMEMB] CORRECTLY71 FROM :I* HE REPORT$ TRIUMPHANTLY & GRATEFULLY = ALL ( ! SUPPORT WE HAD (F]$4 ,SU* SUPPORT YIELD$ NO?+ TANGIBLE1 YET IT HAD HE>T5$ HIM4 ,?AT C\NTS = SOME?+4 

,ABBEY3 ,WE SP5T MANY LONG NI<TS JU/ HELP+ PEOPLE SORT ?R\< ALL ( !IR COMPLEX CONSID]ATIONS1 DILEMMAS1 FE>S1 & HOPES4 ,BUT :5 !RE WAS NO?+ FRUITFUL TO BE SAID1 EV5 JU/ LI/5+ WAS W>MLY WELCOM$4 ,I REMEMB] RECEIV+ FRANTIC ,:ATSAPP MESSAGES FROM A FRI5D :O WAS TRY+ TO GET ?R\< ! CLOS$ ,MAC$ONIAN BORD] & WAS /UCK 9 ! P\R+ RA9 )\T FOOD ALONG ) ?\S&S MORE PEOPLE1 MANY ( :OM W]E 9JUR$1 PREGNANT1 SICK1 ELD]LY1 OR Y\NG1 ) NO IDEA :]E !Y C\LD GO4 ,HE CALL$ US1 PANICK+1 AS HEAVILY MILIT>IZ$ SOLDI]S BEGAN H]D+ !M TO UNKN[N DE/9ATIONS4 ,HE FE>$ ?AT !Y W]E BE+ L$ TO ! SLAU<T]4 ,9 SITUATIONS LIKE ?IS1 (T5 ! BE/ WE C\LD DO WAS TO CALL ! ,R$ ,CROSS1 BORD] PATROL AG5CIES1 & O!R LOCAL ,N,G,OS TO TRY TO GET A S5SE ( ! SITUATION & AL]T ANYONE :O C\LD POSSIBLY HELP4 ,MANY TIMES1 ?IS WAS FRUITLESS3 EV]YONE1 AT EV]Y /EP1 SEEM$ OV]:ELM$1 & EI!R NUMB OR HO/ILE TO ! PLI<T ( ! LO/ REFUGEES4 ,H[EV]1 WE W]E ABLE TO CONFIRM ?AT ! LOCATION !Y W]E BE+ L$ TO WAS A DIFF]5T MIGRATION R\TE1 & 9=M \R FRI5D SO ?AT HE C\LD !N 9=M O!RS 9 ! CR[D 9 ,>ABIC--MANY TIMES1 GR\PS ( SOLDI]S W\LD NOT EV5 HAVE TRANSLATORS1 ONLY GUNS & DOGS4 ,?R\<\T !SE T5SE MOM5TS1 EV5 9 \R HELPLESSNESS1 MANY PEOPLE REPORT$ H[ MU* BETT] !Y FELT JU/ TO KN[ ?AT SOMEONE1 SOME:]E1 KNEW :]E !Y W]E & :AT WAS GO+ ON--& C>$4 

,ULTIMATELY1 WE AID$ MIGRATION \T ( ,SYRIA 9TO ,EUROPE 9 OV] #d KN[N 9/ANCES4 

,E?ICAL ,COMPLEXITY 

  

,QUAIL3 ,!RE WAS GREAT POT5TIAL = US & \R MORE PRIVILEG$ FRI5DS TO TOK5IZE1 FETI%IZE1 & 9 O!R WAYS EXPRESS RACISM1 X5OPHOBIA1 & :ITE SAVIOR M5TALITY 9 \R RELATIONS ) \R ,SYRIAN COLLEAGUES4 ,:]EV] POSSIBLE1 \R NETWORK ATTEMPT$ TO CULTIVATE A SPIRIT ( SOLID>ITY1 NOT *>ITY4 ,WE TRI$ TO BE VIGILANT AB\T ! RISKS AT PLAY 9 \R DYNAMICS1 ?\< WE DIDN'T LET ?AT FE> P>ALYZE US4 ,WE ULTIMATELY HAD TO TRU/ \RSELVES TO DO \R BE/ & BE ACC\NTABLE4 ,FROM /AY+ 9 T\* ) MANY ( ! PEOPLE :O ACCESS$ \R S]VICES1 IT SEEM$ ?AT ! BULK ( RELATION%IPS BETWE5 HO/S & REFUGEES W]E SUB/ANTIVE & RESPECTFUL4 ,MANY REMA9 FRI5DS TO ?IS DAY4 

,ABBEY3 ,ONE CRITIQUE LEVEL$ AGA9/ AN ORGANIZATION ?AT WAS DO+ SIMIL> WORK WAS ?AT1 9 AID+ MIGRATION1 !Y W]E 5C\RAG+ PEOPLE TO RUN ! RISKS ASSOCIAT$ ) ! J\RNEY4 ,?IS CRITIQUE C\LD C]TA9LY HAVE BE5 LEVEL$ AT US2 IT'S SOME?+ WE ?\<T AB\T A LOT4 ,IT IMPLIES ?AT REFUGEES >E SOMEH[ 9CAPABLE ( MAK+ DECISIONS = !MSELVES1 :I* IS CONDESC5D+4 ,H[EV]1 \R P]SPECTIVE ON ! RISKS DID *ANGE 9 ! C\RSE ( ! WORK4 ,9 ! BEG9N+1 WE HAD A MORE HOPEFUL \TLOOK ON ! MIGRATION PROCESS1 BECAUSE 9 G5]AL1 ! RISKS & CO/S W]E L[] & PEOPLE W]E FREQU5TLY SUCCE$+4 ,9 ADDITION1 WE FELT ?AT IF PEOPLE W]E ALREADY DECID+ TO MIGRATE1 !Y DES]V$ TO BE SUPPORT$ 9 M9IMIZ+ !IR [N RISKS4 ,IT IS POSSIBLE ?AT \R TRU/ 9 ! PROCESS 9FLU5C$ PEOPLE1 BUT =TUNATELY NONE ( ! PEOPLE WE SPOKE ) W]E H>M$ BEYOND RECEIV+ PHYSICAL ABUSE FROM BORD] POLICE--:I*1 T]RIBLE AS IT WAS1 WASN'T COMP>ABLE TO DR[N+ 9 ! ,AEGEAN4 ,AS TIME W5T ON & ! SITUATION BECAME MORE & MORE DEVA/AT+1 H[EV]1 WE BEGAN TO GR[ PESSIMI/IC AB\T ! RISKS ( 5T]+ ,EUROPE & BEGAN TRY+ TO FOCUS ON ASYLUM PROCESSES :]EV] POSSIBLE4 ,QUAIL'S DESIRE TO DO ?IS WORK BEYOND ! COMPUT] L$ H] TO VOLUNTE] ON ,LESVOS4 ,ON ?AT ISL&1 %E WITNESS$ SOME ( ! ATROCITIES ?AT BECAME COMMON4 ,AS WE GREW BITT] AB\T ! PROCESS1 WE BEGAN TO DISC\RAGE PEOPLE MORE1 ?\< /ILL ULTIMATELY SUPPORT+ !IR DECISIONS REG>DLESS4 ,?R\<\T !SE %IFTS 9 P]SPECTIVE1 \R GOAL WAS SIMPLY TO PROVIDE PEOPLE ) ! MO/ ACCURATE 9=MATION WE C\LD & TO SUPPORT !IR DECISIONS4 

,QUAIL3 ,9=MATION-%>+ NETWORKS CONNECT+ SETTL$ REFUGEES & FLEE+ REFUGEES W]E FULLY OP]ATIONAL AT EV]Y JUNCTURE ( ! REFUGEES' J\RNEY1 MO/LY 9 ! =M ( EXT5D$ NETWORKS ( FAMILY & FRI5DS COMMUNICAT+ UPDATES VIA ,:ATSAPP4 ,SU* NETWORKS W]E MORE LIKELY TO AVOID ! PITFALLS WE NAVIGAT$ AS :ITE ,U,S CITIZ5S4 ,BUT ! D[NSIDE ( ,SYRIAN-ONLY SUPPORT NETWORKS WAS ?AT1 )\T MANY L+UI/IC & CULTURAL TRANSLATORS ABLE TO ACCESS ! CONTEXTS 9 :I* !Y W]E TRAVEL+1 RUMORS CALCIFI$ 9TO FACT1 FUEL+ & MISDIRECT+ ! TRAVEL]S' ALREADY OV]:ELM+ HYP]-VIGILANCE4 ,SMUGGL]S TRY+ TO MAKE A SALE1 FRI5DS & M$IA EXAGG]AT+1 ! REFUGEES' [N IDEALISM & DESP]ATION--ALL !SE CAME TOGE!R TO CRAFT A DI/ORT$ PICTURE ( ! J\RNEY4 ,WE TRI$ TO KEEP UPDAT$ RES\RCES ON ALL ! DIFF]5T SITUATIONS ALONG ! V>I\S PA?S4 ,:ILE ,I WAS 9 ,LESVOS1 ,I CONNECT$ AN ,>ABIC-SPEAK+ VOLUNTE] TO A RADICAL ,SYRIAN PRESS TO ADDRESS SOME ( ! RUMORS & MISCONCEPTIONS1 MO/LY 9 HOPES ( SPREAD+ 9=MATION AB\T H[ DANG]\S ! J\RNEY WAS4 ,9T]NEWS ALSO />T$ A ,R,U,M,O,R,S PROJECT 9 ,>ABIC1 ,F>SI1 ,5GLI%1 & ,GREEK1 ADDRESS+ SOME ( ! MO/ REC5T RUMORS ?AT HAD BE5 REPEAT$ BY >RIV+ REFUGEES4 ,A MEMB] PO/$ !SE REGUL>LY ON ! ,FACEBOOK GR\P4 ,?IS 9T]*ANGE BETWE5 ,EUROPEANS1 ,SYRIANS1 & O!R REFUGEES WAS VITAL TO CONFIRM+ ! VALIDITY ( 9=MATION PASS+ ?R\< MIGRANT NETWORKS4 

,BO?3 ,PROBABLY ! BIGGE/ E?ICAL ISSUES HAPP5$ 9 SITUATIONS :]E WE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANY MEANS ( HELP+ PEOPLE 9 EXTREME NE$ OR WE W]E JU/ SO TRAUMATIZ$ & EXHAU/$ ?AT WE C\LDN'T DO IT ANYMORE4 ,?OSE W]E ! MO/ HE>TBREAK+ MOM5TS4 ,IT BECAME CLE> 9 ?OSE MOM5TS H[ MANY VOLUNTE]S W]E FRANTICALLY SCRAMBL+1 JU/ LIKE US1 YET UNABLE TO MEET ALL ! NE$S4 ,WE DID \R BE/1 BUILD+ NETWORKS ( TRU/ :]E DUTIES C\LD BE DI/RIBUT$ ACCORD+ TO ABILITY & CAPACITY TO 5SURE SU/A9ABILITY4 ,BUT ?IS WAS AN 9T]NATIONAL CRISIS & WE W]E ONLY A H&FUL 9DIVIDUALS1 CONNECT$ & RES\RCEFUL ?\< WE W]E4 ,\R (F]S ( HELP MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE L9$ UP ) \R CAPABILITIES4 ,WE W]E NOT ! ,U,N,H,C,R1 ! ,I,R,C1 OR ANY SORT ( (FICIAL GR\P ) A BUDGET & 9FLU5CE1 AL?\< VOLUNTE]-DRIV5 GR\PS CONSI/5TLY PROV$ MORE RESPONSIVE1 PR9CIPL$1 & EFFECTIVE4 ,TO P>APHRASE ! WORK+ DEF9ITION ( DISA/] US$ BY EM]G5CY PR(ESSIONALS--DISA/]S FUNDAM5TALLY OV]:ELM A COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO TAKE C>E ( ITSELF4 ,IF EV]Y NE$ C\LD BE ADDRESS$1 A SITUATION W\LD NOT BE A DISA/]4 ,! SO-CALL$ MIGRANT CRISIS WAS A MAN-MADE DISA/]--& WE C\LD NOT BEG9 TO MEET EV]Y NE$1 LET ALONE ADDRESS ! CAUSES4 

,ALT]NATIVE ,/RATEGIES 

  

,BO?3 ,! WILL TO SUPPORT T>GET$ PEOPLE ?R\< LESS-?AN-LEGAL MEANS CAN TAKE MANY =MS BEYOND A WEB-BAS$ MUTUAL AID NETWORK4 ,H]E >E SOME ( \R FAVORITE EXAMPLES FROM ?R\<\T HI/ORY1 ORGANIZ$ BO? BY ?OSE AFFECT$ & BY PEOPLE ACT+ 9 SOLID>ITY4 ,HOPEFULLY1 !Y CAN PROVIDE Y\ ) FUR!R 9SPIRATION AS Y\ DET]M9E ! BE/ =M = Y\R RESI/ANCE TO TAKE4 

,LESVOS--,/>FI% ,CAMP 

  

,AS M5TION$ ?R\<\T ?IS ESSAY1 ,QUAIL SP5T SEV]AL WEEKS ON ,LESVOS ,ISL& 9 ! ,AEGEAN ,SEA1 ONE ( ! MAJOR BOAT >RIVAL PO9TS = ,SYRIANS & O!R REFUGEES4 ,!RE1 %E WORK$ ) ! ,/>FI% ,F\NDATION TO HELP WELCOME REFUGEES >RIV+ BY BOAT & TRANSPORT !M TO ! O!R SIDE ( ! ISL& SO !Y C\LD MOVE ON TO ,A!NS4 ,!RE >E MANY MORE VOLUNTE] REFLECTIONS ( ! EXP]I5CE1 AS ! UNTRA9$ #b-SOME?+S :O HAD ! FREE TIME & ! GUMPTION TO JO9 9 ! WORK CONFRONT$ ! H>% REALITIES ( A HUMANIT>IAN DISA/]4 ,! SPONTANE\S EM]G5CE ( LOCAL-L$ VOLUNTE] 9ITIATIVES (F]$ HOPE1 EV5 AS !Y 9CLUD$ !IR %>E ( FRU/RATIONS & %ORTFALLS4 ,WE U%]$ REFUGEES (F !IR BOATS1 GOT !M TO A TRANSIT CAMP PIT*$ ON ! P>K+ LOT ( A NI<TCLUB :]E !RE WAS WAT]1 GAVE EA* ( !M A S&WI* &1 HOPEFULLY1 %ELT]1 & COORD9AT$ BUSS+ ?\S&S ( !M DAILY TO ! NEXT CAMP1 :]E !Y C\LD BE REGI/]$ SO AS TO LEGALLY TAKE A F]RY TO !IR NEXT DE/9ATION4 ,/>FI%1 LIKE ! O!R ORGANIZATIONS ON ! ISL&1 WAS SEMI(FICIAL1 WORK+ 9 CONJUNCTION ) ! ,U,N,H,C,R & ! ,GREEK GOV]NM5T4 ,H[EV]1 \R WORK WAS ONLY LEGAL BECAUSE ! LAW HAD YET TO CAT* UP TO ! CRISIS4 ,ONCE IT DID1 ,SPANI% LIFEGU>DS & O!R VOLUNTE]S W]E >RE/$ & REFUGEES W]E IMPRISON$ :ILE AWAIT+ ASYLUM PROCESS+--:]E !Y REMA9 TO ?IS DAY1 )/&+ REGUL> RIOTS & A L>GE-SCALE FIRE4 

,BORD] ,C>AVANS 

  

,BORD] C>AVANS >E A TIME-HONOR$ ME?OD ( MOV+ PEOPLE ?R\< MILIT>IZ$ BORD] >EAS 9 A PROTECTIVE CLU/] ( TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES4 ,! BASIC TACTIC IS TO GA!R A L>GE GR\P ( DOCUM5T$ PEOPLE ) UNDOCUM5T$ PEOPLE PROTECTIVELY 9T]SP]S$ ?R\<\T & !N RU% A BORD]1 CROSS+ ALL AT ONCE SO AS TO OV]:ELM ANY SORT ( BORD] PROTECTION 9 ORD] ?AT ! UNDOCUM5T$ PEOPLE CANNOT BE CAPTUR$4 ,! R\TE MANY REFUGEES TOOK 9 !IR TRIP T[>DS C5TRAL ,EUROPE CON/ITUT$ A SORT ( C>AVAN2 ?ANKS TO %E] NUMB]S1 REFUGEES W]E ABLE TO OV]:ELM BORD] CONTROL AG5TS1 ESPECIALLY ?OSE ) UNCLE> ORD]S4 ,SOLID>ITY C>AVANS ALSO TOOK PLACE ?R\<\T ! CRISIS1 9CLUD+ 9 ! ,BALKANS & ,G]MANY4 ,!RE >E ALSO MANY V>IANTS TO BORD] C>AVANS4 ,! ,S*OOL ( ! ,AM]ICAS ,WAT* ,CONV]G5CE :I* TOOK PLACE 9 ,NOGALES1 ,>IZONA & ,NOGALES1 ,SONORA 7,MEXICO7 CULM9AT$ 9 A *ECKPO9T %UTD[N4 ,TWO HUNDR$ PEOPLE OB/RUCT$ ! FUNCTION+ ( ! *ECKPO9T1 FACILITAT+ ! FREE PASSAGE ( ! HUNDR$S ( C>S ?AT PASS$ ALONG ,I-#a#i ?AT DAY TRAVEL+ ,NOR?4 ,?IS BORD] *ECKPO9T HAS ! BLOOD ( C\NTLESS DEAD ON ITS H&S1 AS MANY MIGRANTS DIE 9 ! SURR\ND+ DES]T TRY+ TO CIRCUMV5T IT4 ,ANO!R CREATIVE & FUNNY EXAMPLE WAS ! GR\P ?AT DRESS$ UP AS A W$D+ P>TY TO PU% ?R\< *ECKPO9TS ) MIGRANTS HIDD5 AMID !M4 

,AN>*I/ ,SQUATS 

  

,AS ?\S&S ( REFUGEES >RIV$ ON ! %ORES ( ,GREEK ISL&S1 MANY BEGAN TO REALIZE ?AT ! MO/ DIFFICULT P]IOD ( TRAVEL WAS /ILL AHEAD ( !M4 ,! DIFFICULTIES W]E MYRIAD1 RANG+ FROM LOGI/ICAL 7,:]E AM ,I GO+ TO SLEEP TONI<T IF IT'S ILLEGAL = ME TO /AY 9 A HOTEL & ! TRANSIT CAMP IS AB\T A ?\S& PEOPLE PA/ ITS #b-P]SON CAPACITY87 TO CULTURAL 7,:AT LANGUAGE IS BE+ SPOK5 H]E8 ,IS ?IS FOOD HALAL8 ,IS ?AT P]SON GL>+ AT ME BECAUSE ,I'M WE>+ A HIJAB874 ,MANY AN>*I/S /EPP$ UP TO ADDRESS !SE DIFFICULTIES1 ORGANIZ+ HE>TW>M+ PRO-REFUGEE RALLIES4 ,AN>*I/S OP5$ SEV]AL SQUATS1 NOTABLY 9 ,GREECE1 TO H\SE MIGRANTS PASS+ ?R\<4 ,9 ,TUCSON1 ,>IZONA1 SEV]AL COMMUNALLY-ORGANIZ$ HOMES S]VE AS L&+ SPOTS = MIGRANTS :O HAVE BE5 REC5TLY RELEAS$ FROM ,BORD] ,PATROL_/,I,C,E CU/ODY4 ,PROVID+ REGUL> H\S+ TO MIGRANTS IS NOT )\T RISK3 ONE SQUAT 9 ,A!NS )/OOD A S]I\S >SON ATTEMPT4 ,=TUNATELY1 NO ONE WAS HURT4 

,! ,GREAT ,DISMAL ,SWAMP 

  

,GO+ BACK 9 HI/ORY1 9 ! ,GREAT ,DISMAL ,SWAMP SPANN+ ,VIRG9IA & ,NOR? ,C>OL9A1 0M>OONS10 OR FUGITIVE SLAVES1 MA9TA9$ HORIZONTAL COMMUNITIES 9 LOCATIONS SO 9ACCESSIBLE ?AT !Y C\LD LIVE FREE4 ,!SE /ORIES >E (T5 ]AS$ 9 ! :ITEWA%$ HI/ORY ( SLAV]Y RESI/ANCE ?AT FOCUSES ON :ITE ABOLITIONI/S & M9IMIZES BLACK-L$ RESI/ANCE EF=TS ?R\<\T ! ,U,S4 ,YET AS E>LY AS ! E>LY #a#gS1 COMMUNITIES ( RUNAWAY SLAVES1 ,NATIVE ,AM]ICANS1 & ESCAP$ :ITE 9D5TUR$ S]VANTS W]E RAID+ NE>BY SWAMPS = FOOD & LIVE/OCK1 & E/ABLI%+ MORE OR LESS P]MAN5T SETTLEM5TS ?AT LA/$ UNTIL ! ,U,S ,CIVIL ,W>4 ,TODAY1 WE MI<T CONSID] E/ABLI%+ SIMIL> COMMUNITIES BAS$ 9 MUTUAL AID & MUTUAL PROTECTION1 AL?\< MU* HAS *ANG$ S9CE SLAV]Y :5 IT COMES TO LIV+ (F ! GRID4 

,G]MAN 0,ESCAPE ,AG5TS0 

  

,AMONG ! MANY AMAZ+ TALES ( PEOPLE ESCAP+ FROM ,EA/ TO ,WE/ ,G]MANY DUR+ ! ,B]L9 ,WALL ]A >E ! /ORIES ( ! ESCAPE AG5TS4 ,SOMETIMES PR(ESSIONALS & SOMETIMES CONC]N$ CITIZ5S1 ESCAPE AG5TS W\LD FACILITATE ! PASSAGE TO FRE$OM1 \TFITT+ C>S & TRUCKS TO SMUGGLE PEOPLE1 ASSEMBL+ SMALL AIRCRAFT1 & FALSIFY+ PASSPORTS4 ,AL?\< ! ]ECTION ( ! ,B]L9 ,WALL DET]R$ A GREAT DEAL ( MIGRATION1 IT NEV] FULLY PREV5T$ IT4 ,?IS HI/ORY LESSON %\LD BE USEFUL UND] ! NEW ,U,S REGIME3 WALLS CAN /AUN* BUT NEV] COMPLETELY BLOCK ! FREE MOVEM5T ( HUMAN BE+S4 ,HUMAN +5UITY IS B\NDLESS1 P>TICUL>LY :5 PEOPLE CONFRONT SEEM+LY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS4 ,! ,G]MAN ORGANIZ+ SITE FLU*!LF]49 L9K$ ! WORK GO+ ON DUR+ ! ,SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS TO ?IS H]ITAGE ?AT !IR C\NTRY N[ IS PR\D (1 9 SPITE ( ! FACT ?AT IT WAS ILLEGAL AT ! TIME4 ,!Y SET UP UND]GR\ND NETWORKS ( TRANSPORTATION SY/EMS = REFUGEES & TRA9$ PEOPLE ON H[ TO DO ! WORK4 

,TOHONO ,O'ODHAM ,RES]VATION & ,9DIG5\S ,BORD] ,RESI/ANCE 

  

,AS LONG AS !RE HAVE BE5 IMP]IAL NATION-/ATE BORD]S1 !RE HAS BE5 9DIG5\S RESI/ANCE4 ,NATIONAL BORD]S >E 9H]5TLY COLONIAL1 & !Y (T5 CUT ?R\< TRADITIONAL TRIBAL T]RITORIES4 ,! ,TOHONO ,O'ODHAM TRIBAL RES]VATION 9 ,>IZONA 7& ,SONORA7 WAS DIVID$ BY ! VIOL5T ACQUISITION ( :AT HAD BE5 ,MEXICO & ! CREATION ( ! CONTEMPOR>Y ,U,S_/,MEXICO BORD]4 ,NOT LONG AGO1 9 #a#i#i#d1 MIGRATION BETWE5 ,MEXICO & ! ,U,S WAS %UT D[N AMID FE>S ( MASS MIGRATIONS AS A RESULT ( ,N,A,F,T,A4 ,RESI/ANCE TO ! BORD]S CONT9UES TO ?IS DAY4 ,MEMB]S ( ! ,O'OHDAM TRIBE CONT9UE A LONG TRADITION ( PROVID+ HOSPITALITY T[>DS MIGRANTS CROSS+ 9TO !IR L&S1 9CLUD+ SIMPLY PROVID+ AID FROM !IR BACK POR*ES4 ,DESPITE SOME PRO-,BORD] ,PATROL & ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLITICAL /ANCES FROM RES]VATION GOV]NM5T1 MU* ( ! ,O'OHDAM LEAD]%IP HAS /OOD BY !IR LONG/&+ RESI/ANCE TO BORD] MILIT>IZATION & DECL>$ ?AT A WALL WILL NEV] BE BUILT ON ! #ge MILES ( ! BORD] ?AT !Y CONTROL4 ,! TRIBAL ,VICE ,*AIRMAN HAS /AT$ ?AT ,TRUMP'S WALL WILL BE BUILT OV] HIS DEAD BODY4 ,?IS /& MIRRORS O!R ,9DIG5\S1 ,*ICANX1 & UNDOCUM5T$ RESI/ANCE TO COLONIALISM 7SEE ,APP5DIX74 

,NO ,MAS ,MU]TES 

  

,NO ,MAS ,MU]TES_/,NO ,MORE ,DEA?S IS A SOLID>ITY HUMANIT>IAN AID ORGANIZATION ?AT CAME \T ( ! SANCTU>Y MOVEM5T ( ! #a#i#hS 9 ,S\!RN ,>IZONA4 ,IT RUNS AN AID CAMP S\? ( ! 9T]NAL ,CU/OMS & ,BORD] ,PATROL *ECKPO9TS ?AT LITT] ! ROADS UP TO #a MILES NOR? ( ! BORD]1 PROVID+ FOOD & %ELT] TO MIGRANTS =C$ TO CROSS ! DEADLY ,SONORAN DES]T4 ,IT ALSO MA9TA9S A NETWORK ( WAT] & FOOD CA*ES ALONG ! V>I\S MIGRANT TRAILS 9 ! >EA1 SUPPORTS %ELT]S S\? ( ! BORD] = MIGRANTS & DEPORTEES1 DOCUM5TS ABUSES ?AT ! ,BORD] ,PATROL P]PETRATES AGA9/ MIGRANTS & AID WORK]S1 & SUPPORTS A LEGAL CL9IC = UNDOCUM5T$ PEOPLE 9 ,TUCSON4 ,! WORK 9VOLVES LEGAL *ALL5GES ( ITS [N2 9 #b#e1 TWO VOLUNTE]S TRANSPORT+ UNDOCUM5T$ PATI5TS TO A HOSPITAL RECEIV$ A FELONY *>GE ( AID+ & ABETT+1 :I* WAS ULTIMATELY DROPP$ ?ANKS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZ+ >\ND ! CAMPAIGN 0,HUMANIT>IAN ,AID IS ,NEV] A ,CRIME40 ,NO ,MORE ,DEA?S VOLUNTE]S REMA9 ON ! FRONTL9ES ( A HI<LY POLITICIZ$ BORD] /RUGGLE1 ESPECIALLY N[ ?AT ,TRUMP IS MOV+ =W>D ) HIS PLANS TO BUILD A WALL4 

,RELEVANCE TO ! ,SITUATION 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES 

  

,ABBEY3 ,! ,SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS ACROSS ,EUROPE & ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/ IS NOT UNIQUE 9 ! GLOBAL L&SCAPE4 ,! ,U,S ,S\?WE/ HAS A P>ALLEL SITUATION1 ) FOLKS CROSS+ 9TO ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES PR$OM9ANTLY FROM ,MEXICO & ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA4 ,AS X5OPHOBIC1 ,ISLAMOPHOBIC1 RACI/1 & SEXI/ S5TIM5TS & LEGISLATION PROLIF]ATE1 WE MAY NE$ TO RESURRECT ! UND]GR\ND RAILROAD AS A MEANS ( RESI/ANCE & SUPPORT+ T>GET$ P]SONS--:E!R ?AT MEANS ESCAP+ 9TO1 )91 OR FROM ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 

,= UNDOCUM5T$ P]SONS 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 AN UND]GR\ND RAILROAD MI<T LOOK LIKE DEC5TRALIZ$ NETWORKS ( SAFE H\SES1 AID1 OR TRANSPORTATION 9CLUD+ EM]G5CY RESPONSE NETWORKS4 ,= ACTIVI/S & ANTIFASCI/S1 !RE WILL LIKELY BE A NE$ NOT ONLY = SAFE H\SES & GO-BAGS_/BUG\T-BAGS 7TAILOR$ TO ! NE$S & ?REAT MODEL ( ! 9DIVIDUALS71 BUT ALSO = PA?S \T ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 SU* AS TO ,MEXICO OR A NON-EXTRADITION C\NTRY4 ,ANYONE :O MI<T BE T>GET$ BY ! /ATE 7OR O!R ORGANIZATIONS ?AT ACT 9 T&EM ) & SOMETIMES MORE OV]TLY ?AN ! /ATE7 %\LD HAVE A PLAN FIGUR$ \T AHEAD ( TIME4 ,TO >RANGE A SAFE H\SE1 ?9K ( A FRI5D ?AT Y\ TRU/ BUT >E NOT REGUL>LY CONNECT+ ) OV] ,FACEBOOK1 EMAIL1 OR ANY REGUL> CONTACT ?AT C\LD BE MONITOR$--SOMEONE Y\ CAN TRU/1 BUT ?AT Y\R PURSU]S W\LD NEV] ?9K TO 9VE/IGATE4 

,9 ,SYRIA & ,EUROPE1 ) A MILLION REFUGEES 9 TRANSIT1 \R GR\P ( LESS ?AN #e PEOPLE WAS SU* A SMALL DROP 9 ! BUCKET ?AT EV5 ?R\< A M$IUM AS 9T5SELY MONITOR$ AS ,FACEBOOK1 WE SEEM TO HAVE BE5 ABLE TO FLY UND] ! RAD>4 ,9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES RI<T N[1 Y\ %\LD ASSUME ?AT ANY?+ Y\ TYPE OR LIKE ON ANY SOCIAL M$IA OR UN5CRYPT$ M$IA IS BE+ H&$ DIRECTLY TO GOV]NM5T SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS & BE+ MONITOR$ ACCORD+ TO ! 9T]E/S ( ! CURR5T REGIME4 ,! RISK 9 ! ,U,S IS MU* HI<]1 EV5 = SMALL] GR\PS4 ,H[EV]1 Y\ CAN /ILL ACCOMPLI% SOME ?+S ON ,FACEBOOK IF NE$ BE4 ,JU/ TAKE PRECAUTIONS3 KEEP ?+S ON A SMALL] SCALE1 EMPLOY COD$ LANGUAGE 7>RANG$ (FL9E71 & USE SECRET GR\PS TO 9CREASE ! LIKELIHOOD ( GR\P MEMB] ACC\NTABILITY4 ,= CONV]SATIONS OV] ,FACEBOOK1 ! 5D-TO-5D ,:ISP] ,SY/EMS 5CRYPTION FUNCTION ( ,FACEBOOK MESS5G] IS LIVE1 AL?\< IT REMA9S IMP]FECT1 AS ,FACEBOOK /ILL COLLECTS & USES METADATA FROM ?OSE 5CRYPT$ CONV]SATIONS1 UNLIKE ,SIGNAL4 

,IF WE >E TO EMPLOY UND]GR\ND RAILROADS 9 ! CURR5T ,U,S SURVEILLANCE L&SCAPE1 !SE EF=TS \<T TO BE DEC5TRALIZ$1 BAS$ 9 AFF9ITY GR\PS1 CELLS1 NEI<BORHOODS1 & HORIZONTAL NETWORKS4 ,)\T LEAD]S1 \R MOVEM5TS PRES5T NO EASY T>GETS1 SO IT WON'T DISABLE US IF ONE P]SON IS CAU<T4 ,! FEW] FIGUREHEADS1 ! LESS HI]>*ICAL BUREAUCRACY1 ! MORE /IGM]GIC1 ADAPTIVE1 EFFICI5T1 & COMPLEX \R ORGANIZ+ CAN BE4 ,COMPLEXITY CAN BE \R SAV+ GRACE 9 A POLITICAL CLIMATE ( GREAT PRESSURE4 ,WE NE$ TO BE CREATIVE1 C>EFUL1 & FLEXIBLE 9 *OOS+ PLAT=MS & ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS4 ,! =?COM+ CRACKD[NS 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES WILL BE 9T5SE1 BUT IF WE BUILD NETWORKS ( TRU/1 PLAN AHEAD1 & PRACTICE /RONG SECURITY CULTURE BY US+ ACCESSIBLE ANTI-SURVEILLANCE TOOLS1 WE CAN MAKE ?IS WORK SU/A9ABLE4 

,CONCLUSION 

  

,ABBEY3 ,?IS WORK WAS NOT JU/ A RESPONSIBILITY--IT WAS ALSO A %E] DELI<T4 ,BY & L>GE1 REFUGEES >E JU/ PEOPLE FLEE+ EXTREME DIFFICULTY1 G5U9ELY GRATEFUL = :ATEV] SUPPORT WAS (F]$ )\T PRET5SE OR CONDESC5SION4 ,I CAN'T TELL Y\ H[ MANY TIMES ,SYRIAN REFUGEES MADE ME D9N] OR (F]$ TO HAVE ME /AY 9 !IR H\SES4 ,SYRIAN CULTURE EMPHASIZES HOSPITALITY1 & ?AT L5T ITSELF NATURALLY TO MUTUAL AID & DEEP FRI5D%IPS4 ,SOLID>ITY1 EV5 ACROSS B\ND>IES ( P[] & PRIVILEGE1 CAN BE A =M ( MUTUAL AID 9 ?AT ! B5EFIT IS MUTUAL4 ,\R LIB]ATION IS 9T]DEP5D5T4 ,WE CANNOT BE FREE OR GET FREE )\T EA* O!R4 ,I HAVE ,SYRIAN FRI5DS :O ,I C\NT ON TO BE !RE = ME4 ,WE DIDN'T E>N EA* O!RS' TRU/ ) EMPTY WORDS OR RHETORIC AB\T 0ALLY%IP40 ,WE E>N$ MUTUAL TRU/ ?R\< ACTIONS4 ,I E>N$ !IRS BY BE+ AN ACCOMPLICE4 

,BO?3 ,TO CREATE A NETWORK LIKE ,S,U,R1 ALL IT TOOK W]E A FEW PEOPLE ) CONNECTIONS ON BO? SIDES ( ! BORD]1 9 MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES 9 ! T>GET >EA1 :O C\LD CROSS ! DIVIDES BETWE5 CULTURES4 ,?OSE ( US POSITION$ 9 WEAL?Y ,WE/]N NATIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ?OSE EXPLOIT$ BY \R MILIT>Y1 GOV]NM5T1 & CORPORATIONS4 ,SOLID>ITY JU/ REQUIRES ! EXPLICIT CONS5T & 9T]E/ ( ?OSE 9VOLV$1 ! WILL+NESS TO RUN A C]TA9 AM\NT ( RISK1 & ! 9TELLECTUAL & EMOTIONAL DILIG5CE TO RESI/ CA/+ ONESELF 9 ! ROLE ( SAVIOR4 ,IT CAN />T SMALL1 EV5 /AY SMALL1 & ! IMPACT CAN /ILL BE MEAN+FUL4 ,BUILD OR JO9 A COMMUNITY ?AT R$I/RIBUTES P[] & ACCESS TO RES\RCES4 ,!RE >E MYRIAD WAYS ?AT WE CAN MAKE ,TRUMP'S ,AM]ICA SAF] = ?OSE AT RISK4 

,ALT]NATIVELY1 IF Y\'RE READ+ ?IS AS A MIGRANT1 KEEP ?AT HU/LE GAME /RONG4 ,WE'LL TRY TO HAVE Y\R BACK4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #b#bND ,APRIL #bba FROM CRIME?9C4COM47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,! ,SYRIAN ,UND]GR\ND ,RAILROAD -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/