50501 NC Emergency Statement

Why We Are Mobilizing Now

June 8th, 2025

A federal chain of command is being weaponized against us—military muscle and federal enforcement used not to protect, but to silence.

On June 6th, ICE launched sweeping raids across Los Angeles, arresting dozens in coordinated operations at workplaces, homes, and public spaces. Families were torn apart. Workers were taken in broad daylight. These raids were not random, they were planned, brutal, and deeply strategic. They sent a message: no one is safe, not even in sanctuary cities.

Just a day later, Trump escalated. Over 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles under Title 10 authority, removing local control and militarizing entire neighborhoods. Protesters were met not with dialogue, but with riot shields and tear gas. It was not about the law. It was about fear. And it was meant to show every other city what happens when communities dare to resist.

This is not about public safety. This is the infrastructure of repression being put to use—boldly, publicly, and unapologetically. And it’s not just happening in California.

Here in North Carolina, FEMA withdrew critical disaster aid from Western North Carolina just two weeks ago, leaving flood survivors without relief and answers. Families are still cleaning mud from their floors while Trump redirects those same resources toward political crackdowns. Our tax dollars are not going to help our people—they're going to punish our communities for organizing.

The National Guard was created to provide support during domestic emergencies, under the guidance of the governor, to help communities recover. But Trump won’t even authorize FEMA to assist Western NC. Instead, he’s mobilizing the National Guard to suppress American dissent. Our tax dollars are not being used to help our people—they're being weaponized against us.

We are watching a playbook unfold: abandon the vulnerable, militarize resistance, and try to break the will of the people. We will not let that stand. This is why we are mobilizing.

What is happening in Los Angeles is not an isolated incident. It is the most visible flashpoint of a much broader strategy—one rooted in fear, fueled by white supremacy, and enforced by militarized power.

50501 is joining a national wave of resistance to that strategy. But here in North Carolina, our fight is different—not smaller, not quieter, but local, strategic, and rooted in real relationships and lived survival.

Our response isn’t just to protest, it’s to organize. It’s to build. It’s to protect our people.

And that begins with throwing our full weight behind Siembra NC.

Siembra NC is more than a nonprofit. It is a lifeline. A defense network. A home for organizing and healing in the face of constant threats. It is led by directly impacted people—undocumented workers, Latine youth, immigrant mothers—who are not waiting for permission to fight for their future.

Siembra trains neighbors to stand against ICE raids. They intervene when families are evicted, when wages are stolen, when loved ones are detained. They help people access legal aid when no one else will. They teach community members how to organize for themselves—how to speak, how to resist, and how to stay safe while doing it.

In towns and counties where no elected official is stepping up, Siembra is showing up. Where there is silence from those in power, Siembra speaks out.

Where there is fear, Siembra brings protection, strategy, and courage. And in this moment, when the federal government is proving just how far it will go to suppress dissent, this is exactly the kind of organizing we need to defend.

We are not just standing in solidarity with LA. We are standing in defense of North Carolina’s frontline resistance—and we are calling on everyone in our network to do the same.

Here's how you can take action today:

1. Volunteer with Siembra NC

Plug into campaigns, mutual aid, legal support, and more.

Volunteer signup: https://www.siembranc.org/volunteer

2. Attend Siembra’s Political Education & Organizing Trainings

Siembra offers regular training seminars for those who want to organize more

effectively, build community power, and stay safe in this climate of rising state

violence. Whether you're new to the movement or looking to deepen your role,

these sessions are essential.

Training info and signup: https://defendandrecruit.org/events/

We do not meet repression with fear. We meet it with organization, with solidarity, and with resolve. From North Carolina to Los Angeles, we will protect each other.