Woody Poulard, a Meshtastic proponent based in New York City, who engages with the NYC Resistor hacker space and has circulated a booklet detailing the operation of mesh routers, states he has partnered with ICE watch volunteers to set up a wider network for mesh communications throughout New York. In January, he took part in a workshop for individuals embedding compact router nodes into their phone cases, ensuring they would have an instantly usable access point no matter where they traveled.
Poulard remarks, “In the event of a natural catastrophe, this technology also proves beneficial.” He adds, “However, it’s ideal for our current circumstances, especially when there are individuals you might prefer not to engage in a discussion.”
Apart from the innovators addressing current challenges, there are others who are anticipating what future scenarios may bring.
Claire Danielle Cassidy, an artisan, has been involved in the realm of protest art for an extended period in Portland, Oregon—a city presently pursuing legal action against ICE concerning its deployment of tear gas. She constructs photovoltaic charging units to replenish individuals’ electronic gadgets at rallies and public outcries, and she champions delight and “weaponized cuteness,” asserting that “girly culture is going to rescue us, as it customarily does.”
From her vividly illuminated residence in Portland, she conversed with me, sporting a pair of her distinct laser-cut earrings that boldly expressed “FUCK ICE.” (The design file is available for download, allowing you to craft your own.)
Cassidy asserts, “To be impactful in advocacy, one doesn’t need to be distressed, overwhelmed, or experiencing an adrenaline surge simply to be compassionate.” She continues, “This constitutes the very progression of fascism: drawing individuals into spirals of shame and apprehension, and attempting to seize control of the circumstances. Things can remain gentle even amidst all this turmoil. And you can still be impactful.”
Cassidy reveals that the key to achieving this is to integrate it into one’s routine. She manages a temporary workshop named There U Glow, a seminar guided by queer and femme individuals that seeks to instruct people on customizing LED lights as an enjoyable method to engage participants in practical electronics work.
“Should you comprehend how to configure an illuminated garment, you inherently grasp approximately 75 percent of the knowledge required to assemble a self-sufficient photovoltaic system,” Cassidy explains. She adds, “I can connect those concepts for individuals.”
Notwithstanding the Trump administration’s progressively assertive encroachment into urban and local areas nationwide, Cassidy states that artisans and creators are bracing for adverse outcomes without relinquishing their intrinsic humanity.
“We are no longer dallying in the realm of idealism,” Cassidy asserts. “This is an exceptionally fucking perilous era. Nonetheless, we intend to continue living our lives.”
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