On Saturday, Sept. 16, 2 p.m. EST, Juggalos – fans of the hip-hop duo the Insane Clown Posse – from across the country will descend upon the National Mall. And they’re driven to a cause: To protest that the FBI and Department of Justice have labeled them “gang members.”
The designation has caused Juggalos, according to the Juggalo March events website, to lose jobs, be denied the chance to serve in the military, and even lose custody of their children. Furthermore, the “gang member” designation has led to unwarranted monitoring and additional harassment from law enforcement.
Other Left-Leaning Groups Show Solidarity
Progressive and pro-union organizations have taken notice of the Juggalo March partly because they recognize and have experienced similar injustices. Using this commonality as a starting point, progressive allies hope to build upon this and create a lasting relationship and model for what solidarity looks like.
The march has also generated attention because it occurs on the same day as a pro-Trump rally in DC. Thus, the injustices the gang designation created in conjunction with the marches timing has garnered the Juggalo march a lot of attention on the internet.
The Juggalo March is this Saturday! Metro DC DSA is proud to stand with our clown comrades against state repression https://t.co/jp1sbekKiL pic.twitter.com/eZlR3LmWaK
— Metro DC DSA (@dc_dsa) September 13, 2017
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) released a statement, outlining why we should support the march:
With recent events raising the profile of the Juggalo community, many activists are beginning to realize how the government’s being capable of labeling a group a “gang” without any accountability or due process is an important issue for revolutionaries to engage in.
Most Juggalos identify as apolitical. Some lean left, others right. We still believe that the March on Washington to protest the gang designation is an issue we should support. Repression targeting a working-class subculture, and setting a dangerous precedent of casting wide nets, has to be challenged. An injury to one is an injury to all.
Marching with the Juggalos is a way we can demonstrate our solidarity with fellow working class people. It creates a bridge to support Juggalos in other issues that we hold dear, such as workplace organizing, community organizing, and fighting the prison-industrial complex. Juggalos have had reasons to stick together and “circle the wagons,” being wary of people outside of “the Family.” But we believe by standing with them now, we can begin to build bridges of trust and cooperation. We recognize that trust is earned, and we are dedicated to showing that support through our actions.
The Juggalo Avatar
If you don’t live in the DC metro area or otherwise can’t make the Juggalo March in person you can still show solidarity, albeit online, by getting your avatar “juggaloed”.
A month ago I was: Juggawhat?#JuggaloMarch mid Sept hit radar. Juggalos are effing comrades, comrades.@IPM_Tweets will juggalo you! RQST pic.twitter.com/WagpxGo7yb
— #juggaMOCKracy😎🌈💕 (@BernieUpstateNY) September 12, 2017
If you’re looking to get juggaloed, the folks at The Institute for Progressive Memetics (IPM) can make your dreams a reality:
Since the NY Times fired you for bullying, we thought being a juggalo would be a perfect fit as the Minister of Propaganda @historyinflicks pic.twitter.com/gZG6mFnMvb
— 🌐IPM 💯🏧💍🌈🚀🚩 (@IPM_Tweets) August 30, 2017
Because every internet treasure should be a juggalo, we’ve made this for you @KrangTNelson. pic.twitter.com/tzaW6NkXu8
— 🌐IPM 💯🏧💍🌈🚀🚩 (@IPM_Tweets) August 30, 2017
#Family pic.twitter.com/qFTzWu2ggI
— 🌐IPM 💯🏧💍🌈🚀🚩 (@IPM_Tweets) August 31, 2017
It looks like… *squints*
yes, @pixelatedboat has also darkened select pixels in solidarity with the #JuggaloMarch! pic.twitter.com/9IyUymSBa9— A. Marmot Solidarity (@_Anunnery) September 14, 2017
.@UweBollocks Whoop WHOOP! #JuggaloMarch #Juggalocialism 🎡🤡🎟 pic.twitter.com/qwXijbi2rn
— 🌐IPM 💯🏧💍🌈🚀🚩 (@IPM_Tweets) September 2, 2017
Not limiting themselves to meme making, IPM public relations director Brittany Sneers tells Progressive Army:
At IPM, we’re a collective of people with varying views across the left spectrum, but we all believe in the same basic principles of humanity. We all strive for equality. We all fight for the 99%. We all stand against racism and fascism. And much like the Juggalos, we’re a family. We’re down with the clown. We’re brothers in struggalo. When one of us is maligned, we’re all maligned. So we stand with them in this march, and we defend their right to exist without offensive, incorrect, and detrimental labels. Show your solidarity with us in this fight against all the evils in this world. Get down with the clown.
Whoop whoop!