The Industrial Workers of the World Union Shares Lengthy Statement in Support of Insane Clown Posse's Juggalo March

"Repression targeting a working-class subculture, and setting a dangerous precedent of casting wide nets, has to be challenged"

BY Josiah HughesPublished Sep 1, 2017

Later this month, on September 16, the Insane Clown Posse will lead the Juggalo March on Washington. Spurred on by the FBI's classification of juggalos as a gang, the rally is intended to change perceptions about the subculture. Now, they've received support from one of the world's most legendary unions.

Founded in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World is a global labour movement commonly referred to as "One Big Union." In a lengthy statement, they've expressed their support for juggalos' right to exist without discrimination. On Twitter, they also shared the above juggalo-themed edit of their own logo.

The statement opens by pointing out the classist undertones behind mockery of juggalos:

While a diverse range of people enjoy the music and fandom of ICP, Juggalos are typically working class people living in poverty. Cultural treatment of Juggalos has ranged from mocking to fearful, leading many people to assume Juggalos are undereducated, and possibly dangerous. In part because of this, and in part because of mainstream media's lack of representation, the gang designation of the Juggalos was not really picked up as an issue for left-leaning activists until fairly recently. This is a particularly personal matter within the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), as we have members who are Juggalos. Juggalos are often mocked by mainstream society; however, we value our fellow workers and take each others' struggles seriously.

They added that the juggalos' gang designation was "nothing short of state terrorism," saying, "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."

The statement pointed out that the I.W.W. does not support the misogyny and homophobia found in the Insane Clown Posse's lyrics, but they do endorse the band's themes of anti-racism, anti-elitism and anti-classism.

As such, they've decided to march in solidarity with the juggalos. Further, juggalos, members of the I.W.W. and members of leftist groups like the Democratic Socialists of America, the Degenderettes, Stand Up for Racial Justice have formed a coalition called Struggalo Circus.

Read the I.W.W.'s full statement endorsing the juggalos here.
 

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