(This article was written by a participant of Tent State University at Rutgers and is posted here so that the brave students facing off against police violence in Santa Cruz know the real story. It was written with admiration of those TUSC students who were willing to stand by their principles even when facing the state's crackdown. If only their courage was emulated by others. Names have been changed. If you don't like what is written here, too bad, because it is what happened.)

When told by a white staff organizer of TSU Rutgers that he should not feel threantened by the presence of right-wing counter-protesters, 21 year old Eric responded, "I'm a queer person of color! How can I not feel threatened by them? They're being given a space to promote racist, homophobic and sexist views at Tent State. Matthew Shephard didn't have to be tied to a fence and beaten to death, but if we don't confront them, that is what happens. Yes, I feel threatened by them and you have no right to tell me that I'm not allowed to defend myself or to confront them."

Before Tent State University kicked off for the third time at Rutgers University, right-wing organizations planned to counter-protest, to disrupt and to heckle the event. They set up a canopy tent at the far end of the lawn where the camp is and proceeded to distribute anti-choice literature and berate passers-by.

Sometimes the attempts have been comical, like the sight of two Republicans with Support Our Troops signs facing off against six Iraq Vets Against the War. Others have been far more personal: two Republicans have already been banned from Tent State for harassing and threatening women, queers and people of color at the event. One member of the college Republicans was confronted by anti-fascists and forced to leave after distributing neo-nazi literature. The Rutgers Centurion, a right wing campus publication, held an affirmative action bake sale where the cost of baked goods was adjusted for the person's race. Others have attempted to infiltrate and disrupt events, one even setting off an M80 near the camp site and pulling a fire alarm in a nearby dorm.

Despite this, key organizers of TSU Rutgers have repeatedly and stubbornly blocked any moves by rank-and-file campers to put a stop to this continuing and coordinated harassment.

The reasoning they gave was that confronting the provacateurs played into their hands; they argued it would be seen in a bad light by the administration and media and would cause Tent State to be shut down. This same reasoning was given when a march to the ROTC buildings on campus was proposed, or when a building occupation was proposed, or counter-recruitment, etc. It seems that whenever any form of direct action is planned, TSU organizers swarm the individuals planning it and badger them until they drop the issue, accusing those considering direct action of "fractionalizing the progressive communtity."

Invariably, this has lead to the increasing alienation of anarchists, anti-fascists, radical feminists and anarchist people of color present. The fact remains that the decisions of how to approach contentious issues are in the hands of small, select group of organizers; there is no functioning democratic process. A general assembly meeting was held on Monday, April 18, but not since, and even that was sparsely attended due to timing. Outside of this process, the only alternative is autonomous action, yet whenever such an action occurs, staff organizers end up berating anyone dressed in black.

This is hardly the prevailing view of students camping out at Tent State. On the night of April 20, several anti-fascists decided to confront the counter-protesters and call them on their racist, homophobic bullshit. The anti-fascists had been masked up and when many campers saw this, they gave a thumbs up and donned masks themselves. Others were uneasy at first, but after the situation was explained that it was part of confronting the counter-protesters, they agreed. "We love our ninjas!" one called out.

However, when staff organizers realized that an autonomous action was occurring, they surrounded the anti-fascists and told the right wingers present: "Don't worry. We'll handle this." Several anti-fascists were accused of punching Republicans when the only physical contact had been when a neo-con shoved and threatened to punch one of the anti-fascists. One staff organizer even stated that these confrontations cannot happen, or "What happened in Santa Cruz will happen here."

It is this hypocritcal and spineless support of the proto-fascist Protest Warriors by Tent State staff organizers, not anti-fascist action, which has caused fractionalization. Upon hearing about the events, one Iraq Veteran Against the War shook his head and said, "They have to understand, you can't just throw incense and hugs at fascists."

Anarchists, anti-fascists, radical feminists and anarchist people of color have been systematically marginalized at Tent State Rutgers and an invisible hierarchy has asserted itself. When a staff organizer was asked whether the anti-fascists' concerns were valid, she replied, "No, they're not."

It may only be a symptom of something else. With its current methods and direction, the event has reached a peak where no matter how many more tents appear, it will never be more effective than it is now. When the only action allowed is camping out with tacit administration approval, holding teach-ins and phoning legislators, then it will never be effective.

While only in its first year, TUSC organizers have much they can and should teach other university campuses considering the Tent State idea. That includes the organizers of Tent State Rutgers.

As for 21-year old Eric, the experience has been a disheartening one.

"What did you expect?" his friend asked.

"Fucking fascist, racist, homophobic bullshit." Eric continued, shaking his head, "Fucking hippie bullshit."