Social Activism in the Age of Trump: What To Do and What We Are Doing

Lee Fang ‏@lhfang 4. dec.
From the conservative turned BLM activist who crashed Bernie's Seattle rally then lied about it: a whole new scam: http://safetypinbox.com

Everyone is trying to figure out what to do, but something not to? Tweet libelous lies about black women trying to make performative white wokeness work directly for Black women. Especially if your beef is that they once criticized Bernie Sanders. Sites like TheIntercept needs to cut ties with cyberbullies like Lee Fang.

a thought for today for any technophiles.

i think we can all acknowledge at this point that the internet is basically a teenage nazi chatbot at this point. so any activity that disrupts normal - i.e. fascist - internet discourse is of greater than ordinary utility in resisting fascism.

this need not take the form of sabotage! the internet in general is very insecure and totally vulnerable to attack, so vulnerable that most of these attacks have evolved to be parasitic rather than directly destructive as they were in the old days, but there are plenty of completely legal and effective ways for technophiles to sever the host/parasite relationship.

my impression is that most people, and certainly most trump supporters, have no very clear notion of how to use or maintain an internet connection. refusing to assist others with internet connectivity issues would, at bare minimum, significantly raise the cost of staying connected to the internet. the weak part of any state is its reliance on technocracy, and disrupting technocratic communication through noncompliance is a relatively simple and effective matter.

My experience with various kinds of social justice-y organizations in the last few years has been that a top-down organization is not for me. I tried being in a "money out of politics" org that does state govt-level maneuvering and mostly only gathers people together under their banner for the purpose of giving the org more visibility and their leaders a slightly bigger bargaining chip. Most of the members don't do much on the ground when it's not election season. My heart wasn't in it.

At this point in life my job is sjw-y and I work with frontline communities, but if you don't have this advantage then my advice is pick an issue area where you are passionate, look around online at the landscape of orgs, and reach out to organizations of affected minorities, immigrants, LGTBQ ppl, unsheltered/housing insecure ppl, etc and ask what they need and then do it in whatever way you are asked for. Let the people from that affected community lead, and support them. Learn not to talk at meetings even when you think you know the answer (I'm so bad at this). Ask one person later in confidence if your idea has merit, and let someone else advance it.

If you want to get involved in local govt by all means do it! PTA leadership, school board, zoning committee, idk what is out there but frankly I suspect a lot of it is pretty boring and actually a lot of work. Make the casseroles, sit through the meetings, keep your eye on the ball so when someone tries to ban a book or remove sex ed or w/e you are at the meeting and not reading about it in the paper the next day thinking "Jeez why didn't anyone say anything??"

Giving money is not a cop out! Grassroots orgs always need money. Economic inequality is super real and your dollar can do a lot for a community org. Whatever values you admire, whatever resources you consume, fund them. When you read an article and you think, "That kids' mentoring thing with the free books is cool and made me have hope for humanity for at least 10 seconds" throw them $10. I pay $5 a month or $10 a month to a handful of orgs, just using low level continued giving so I don't even really notice it.

The specifics of what you can do will be mostly about your situation! Where you are, how much time you have. Generally I think it's most sustainable for ppl, in terms of time and emotional commitment, to act in their existing circles more or less rather than make the rare big gesture.

Great post, in orbit. That mirrors a lot of things I've been thinking about and provides some solid advice. I want to focus as much personal attention as possible on my local community while throwing small but steady amounts of money at some worthwhile national orgs.

I'm sorry for every place that isn't Minneapolis because you just aren't this cool, but here's an example of a local good thing to support: http://appetiteforchangemn.org

Appetite For Change uses food as a tool building health, wealth, and social change in North Minneapolis. AFC is a community-led organization that strengthens families, creates economic prosperity, and encourages healthy living.

http://watchtheyard.com/activism/these-black-kids-rapping-about-urban-farming-is-the-dopest-thing-youll-see-all-week/

*Giving money is not a cop out! Grassroots orgs always need money. Economic inequality is super real and your dollar can do a lot for a community org. Whatever values you admire, whatever resources you consume, fund them. When you read an article and you think, "That kids' mentoring thing with the free books is cool and made me have hope for humanity for at least 10 seconds" throw them $10. I pay $5 a month or $10 a month to a handful of orgs, just using low level continued giving so I don't even really notice it.*

^^^this. a friend of mine founded a non-profit in NM for immigrants (which i will shamelessly plug: http://www.santafedreamersproject.org/what-we-do/) and after Trump got elected she was approached by all kinds of folks who wanted to help, like, stuff envelopes and make coffee and what-not. all of which she appreciated but what she really needed was money, because money pays lawyers to do the actual work. getting involved in organizations by showing up and being visible and doing what's asked is def Right and Good, but if, as Laurel says, economic inequality is real and you happen to be on the "haves" end of the curve, then you are probably most useful as a source of dollars. some folks can feel like its a cop-out, and others want the validation of being in the trenches, but for real: just write a check

I guess basically if you aren't leading the charge, letting communities and organizations tell you what they need from you is the best way to go.

Yep!!

Also you can do more than one thing, so if you keep a low profile in one space as a personal policy to support others, maybe find another space where you can express yourself openly just for balance. I'm practically allergic to shutting up so I need both.

injustice boycott sounds good but i've read some very pointed critiques of sean king, how close is he to the leadership of it? he's all over their FB page

He's involved in the organization and he's the public face, but it's unclear who exactly is involved because they're intentionally keeping a lid on the details. Watch the video I linked to yesterday for more info.

I'm not sure what the critiques of King are about but if the targets and the motive seem sound to me, I'm generally unconcerned with who's spearheading the endeavor.

I signed up but am waiting to see what the targeted companies are. I'm not very interested in nitpicking this or that person's exact righteousness unless it comes to my attention from a trusted source that they did something fucked up or their analysis is secretly terrible or something, I can't even really imagine an example right now. A boycott that keeps my resources out of the hands of companies who will use them for things I disagree with seems like a win-win regardless.

this was the article. that said, this injustice boycott seems really organized and thought-out so i am gonna participate probably when more details come out

http://www.complex.com/life/2016/01/shaun-king-black-lives-matter/

The announcement of their intended targets is supposed to be noon today.

As I see it, there are two parts to the criticism of Shaun King 1) He does seem quite disorganized, and keeps putting himself at the center of events and happenings. And while that's kinda good, he's a good writer and a smart thinker and a good promoter, he does seem to bite off more than he can chew. 2) He's a leftist black man, so every little misstep is magnified into enormous proportions. 99% of everything written about him is probably untrue. That does not mean he will be good at organizing a boycott, though...

Guess I'll post this here since a search turned up no results. Shaun King is spearheading an Injustice Boycott that starts Monday.

― i need microsoft installed on my desktop, can you help (Old Lunch), Friday, December 2, 2016 7:09 PM (three days ago) Bookmark Flag Post

I'm in

― El Tomboto, Friday, December 2, 2016 7:15 PM (three days ago)

and I'm out. Terrible targeting, no clear idea what specific policies I would be supporting, and not at all clear what exactly I'd be doing differently. Dumb on all the counts that boycotts are usually dumb, PLUS no details on what is going on other than a date in January.

We're screwed.

San Francisco and New York are two cities that are all but impossible to boycott for most of the people you've gotten the attention of. Profoundly, profoundly stupid.

poll the boycott list lol

For reference, I'm talking about this:

https://medium.com/@ShaunKing/today-we-launch-the-injustice-boycott-against-racial-injustice-police-brutality-in-standing-rock-b1bb18da1f4f#.upyjzpi9s

yeah ummmm 'boycott all businesses headquartered in NYC or SF' seems a bit nebulous

Especially for people who live there

starting with new york and san francisco, huh? that's... bold. particularly when the email comes from a new york daily news email account...

i see the justification for it. if you don't have justice in cities like new york and san francisco - and you don't - then how can one reasonably act in support of justice anywhere? shouldn't boycotts take place in the areas most affected by them? you know, the third city... boycotting standing rock is not going to make fuck-all difference to anybody, and we have to recognize this.

that said, the lack of a clearly defined end state for these boycotts is problematic. i get the feeling like king or whoever had planned for so long he didn't want to waste all that effort. the most important part of a boycott is _ending_ it; if it's nothing more than "fuck you forever" it's hard to expect meaningful results.

i also think that a key part of a successful boycott is _doing without_. i just don't see how simply re-balancing one's expenditures can accomplish much. so my question is, if i'm boycotting new york, if i'm boycotting san francisco - what am i _doing without_? what's my equivalent of getting up at five in the morning and walking to work for a year straight?

Everyone is trying to figure out what to do, but something not to? Tweet libelous lies about black women trying to make performative white wokeness work directly for Black women. Especially if your beef is that they once criticized Bernie Sanders. Sites like TheIntercept needs to cut ties with cyberbullies like Lee Fang.

― Frederik B, Sunday, December 4, 2016 7:41 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

hardworking catholic bishops trying to make the desire of people to pay for indulgences work directly for catholic bishops

It's not all businesses headquartered in NYC or SF, but only those involved in police brutality and systematic racism, right? But, um, would probably have been a good idea to have a partial list up already...

I'm almost positively surprised because my suspicions were so low, but, this needs to become a lot better in the next 43 days for it to work at all.

It's not all businesses headquartered in NYC or SF, but only those involved in police brutality and systematic racism, right? But, um, would probably have been a good idea to have a partial list up already...

― Frederik B, Monday, December 5, 2016 12:47 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

so glad that twitter activists will be refusing to shop at Joe Mook's Billyclub and Taser Emporium and "Heeeeeyy, I'm being Systematically Racist Here, Inc." and, uh, the policeman's ball.

s.clover, you can't seriously think black women play an equivalent part to what catholic bishops did in the indulgence system?

Like, you seem dumb as fuck, but clearly not even you are that dumb?

I tend to think the most important "activism" right now is actually rebuilding local and state democratic parties (or third parties like Working Families that will still support democrats when necessary). The only check on Trump's power will come from congress and from state governments.

Sorry, not "the only" check, but one of the most important checks.

yes i think they are exactly equivalent because i have never been introduced to the concept of an analogy

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CyzkgfxVEAA0AIw.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy3Oc-8WIAAzceP.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cy3Oc-8WIAAzceP.jpg

A Box of __________ Shipped to Your House Each Month

Everyone already commodifies activism, these people just try to make that work for black women especially. Go fuck yourself.

Why the fuck are you so angry at activist black women getting paid? What's wrong with you?

"for black women especially" -- by which they mean two black women in particular and nobody else.

i'm not angry this is funny to me actually

Guys, again, if you haven't, watch Shaun King's video about the boycott. It addresses some of your concerns. It's intentionally nebulous at this point because they only want to drop the where/how/when specifics of the boycotts just before they happen.

s.clover, why are you lying about it?

Can I please please please ask that we keep the squabbling to a minimum itt? I don't do much thread policing but I would personally prefer that this thread remain a repository for information and ideas and anecdotes and that we can avoid seeing this pop up in the clusterfuck summary thread. Thank you, sincerely.

i don't want to be armchair activism critic but the injustice boycott's self-comparisons to montgomery are imo confused or even disingenuous. that was a local, narrowly targeted, almost total, and extremely visible boycott, reinforced every night at mass meetings, supported by movement-organized alternative transportation, which was required because for many what was being boycotted was a necessity. w respect to the truth that the internet has since complicated the idea of "local" and the idea of a "meeting" i don't think you can expect anything like the results of the montgomery boycott from something this diffuse and general.

in fact i think comparing a virtuous change in one's consumption to getting up in the dark every morning to walk to work in deep winter while hoping nobody kills you for it is missing something. not just because They Endured More -- those sorts of comparisons not partic useful -- but because when there are that many actual bodies in the actual streets actually demonstrating their lack of dependence on their rulers i start to suspect some form of power is being exercised beyond the neatly economic. on the other hand, capitalism has assured me there's no better way to change the world than to buy a different soda.

don't mean to reject people's energy and action tho, by all means do this, do everything. and maybe when the secret plans are revealed i will feel differently. idk what those secret plans are gonna be tho besides some company names.

i support the woke of the month club as long as fred becomes a platinum member.

I tend to think the most important "activism" right now is actually rebuilding local and state democratic parties (or third parties like Working Families that will still support democrats when necessary). The only check on Trump's power will come from congress and from state governments.

― the last famous person you were surprised to discover was actually (man alive)

you're right that rebuilding local and state political organizations to defend human rights is one of the, if not the, most important thing people in general can do.

i think everybody has different skill sets, though, and not everybody can assist in every area. when i look at how the political system is run right now, you know, it's almost entirely populist. the local democratic party simply would not benefit from the support of a woefully uncharismatic wonk like me, because it already has the "benefit" of far too many of those. the best way to help the democratic party right now, for most of us, is to find the most charismatic person you know and persuade them to join up with the local party.

dlh, I would agree, but Shaun King wrote a bit about how much the boycott of North Carolina following the bathroom bill, and that does complicate the picture. This can of course work both ways - see: GamerGate - but a pointed, organized boycott could work if it was broad enough, and the news stories bad enough. We still don't have any particulars about the Injustice Boycott, which is bad in and of itself.

Old Lunch, I agree, and I've already asked s.clover to step away from the thread to self-copulate. I posted the tweet exactly for informational purposes, an example of social activism I find problematic as well, and a response that is nonetheless beyond the pale awful. Don't do this, and def don't do that.

xpost I walk by our local dem party office every day, and kinda feel like my personal skill set should be employed in making that place look like less of a depressive's nightmare. And maybe volunteer to park my ass behind the desk so that it doesn't perpetually look like they've given up completely.

I posted the tweet exactly for informational purposes, an example of social activism I find problematic as well, and a response that is nonetheless beyond the pale awful. Don't do this, and def don't do that.

this isn't "informational" it's prescriptive

One small thing I thought to do this weekend: I've been having a hell of a time finding information on formal and informal local government events (e.g. an upcoming meet and greet with the candidates being held at a church down the street and which, as far as I can tell, is only listed on the church's website), so I think I'm going to try to figure out who organizes this stuff so that I can keep in touch with them and maintain (or, if one exists already, help raise the profile of) a government-specific community calendar.

wins, this is a thread about activism. The idea that people might act on information is kinda baked into the premise...

One small thing I thought to do this weekend: I've been having a hell of a time finding information on formal and informal local government events (e.g. an upcoming meet and greet with the candidates being held at a church down the street and which, as far as I can tell, is only listed on the church's website), so I think I'm going to try to figure out who organizes this stuff so that I can keep in touch with them and maintain (or, if one exists already, help raise the profile of) a government-specific community calendar.

― i need microsoft installed on my desktop, can you help (Old Lunch), Monday, December 5, 2016 6:27 PM (twelve minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This may not be the same thing but from experience I can tell you that the NYC City Council does stuff like this all the time--hold poorly publicized "public comment"-type meetings DURING THE WORK DAY when no one can come except other people who also work in politics/advocacy. If you suggest that they should hold them at night and advertise widely they look at you like you're crazy. I mean SURE, start going to things and see if you find them useful? You can learn a lot about different parties' agendas from sitting in a few strategic procedural mtgs.

I mean even if they're just theater, what you can tell is that the actual work is getting done somewhere else and that it benefits someone to have the theater continue, which gives you new avenues to explore.

Oh yeah and in relation to the electoral politics thread's mention of the Moral Mondays movement in NC, if you belong to a faith community, try to advance the idea of sponsoring a family or non-profit. Either with time, if it's service oriented like a food pantry or soup kitchen, or with member tithing/donations? In terms of reaching the people who can be swayed by red-state kinda BS, I figure totally righteous churches and faith-based groups that muscle up for justice can really move a lot of ppl with the presumed legitimacy of the church (or the Church, as it may be).

In the part of Brooklyn where I work a lot of churches do have food pantries or community closets for donated clothes, but afaict they don't publicize widely. Plus you have to go into a church to access the resource and a lot of the incoming community members are from other faiths so they just never find out that the pantries exist or are available to them. It's bullshit. Don't participate in bullshit.

Yeah now that you mention it there was one BLM protest when Selma, the movie, had just come out, and we walked through Harlem (iirc) while someone pulled speakers playing "Glory" and it was one of the most powerful moments I can remember having at a movement event. I also hate yelling and the performative anger & conviction that you're somehow supposed to telegraph for 5 hours straight in the cold.

Anyway a clean Dream Act, very important. One thing I don't get, maybe Hoos does, is people on my timeline saying "They called ICE :( :( :(" because once you purposefully make headlines as undocumented people getting arrested, doesn't ICE pretty much just know where to find you? Rally in support of the 7 tonight in Union Square.

i think there are a lot of people who don't enjoy yelling

it's not a future i hope for us, but i can imagine hilarious scenarios of thousands of people singing "war pigs" in unison

yeah like man in the last year i have just fuckin lost it during songs happening at high-strung moments

right after the election we got up one morning and sang "eyes on the prize" and i was just a mess

that's what this is all about imo
it helps you gather strength and also express emotion
sorry (not sorry) to be a cheese

i'd be way into being in a drum corps with some horns playing some uplifting tunes
even in the cold! idk i have the wherewithal to organize it, but i would accept an invitation for sure

once you purposefully make headlines as undocumented people getting arrested, doesn't ICE pretty much just know where to find you?

― Conic section rebellion 44 (in orbit), Monday, December 18, 2017 10:46 PM (nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yes and no--jail solidarity is a way to stall that process out, as is deliberately planning actions in ostensible sanctuary cities that won't cooperate with ICE.

pro-Dreamer action for NYC tonight

Event Name: #CleanDREAMActNow Rally
What: Rally
When: Tues., Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Sen. Chuck Schumer's Home, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215

This morning, ICE detained Ravi Ragbir, Executive Director of New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City, prominent immigrant rights activist and father, despite having pending legal challenges.

Call ICE:
NYC ICE Field Office Director: 212-238-4530
NYC ICE Field Office: 212-264-4213
ICE Office of Policy: 202-732-4292

Script: “Hello, my name is_____, and I am requesting that ICE release Ravi Ragbir, A Number: 044-248-862. Ravi was detained today in New York City. Ravi is a husband, father, and cherished community leader, and we need him here in the United States. I respectfully ask you to release him from detention and grant him a new stay of removal. Thank you.”

Sunrise is a group of good young people doing some of the most important work going this year. This speaking tour is intended to absorb new members that will be the footsoldiers first in bird-dogging efforts through the summer town halls, and then form part of the volunteer base for climate champion candidates across the country. Having a Sunrise leader speak in your community--at your church, your campus, your community center--is just the first step in their longer haul plan, and I'm really excited to be a part of it. You can sign up at the link below.

Sunrise is building an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We unite to make climate change an urgent priority across this country, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people. In February, we’re sending teams of Sunrise Speakers on tour to host community events about climate change, why it’s happening, and what we can do together right now to make 2018 a watershed moment in the fight to stop climate change.

Our presentation covers the impacts of climate change today, why it’s happening, and share what young people across the United States are doing to stop climate change and strengthen our communities in the process. For high school audiences, our presentation meets Next Generation Science Standards and will leave students with tangible next steps to make climate change a visible and urgent issue in their community.

If you are interested in hosting an event, fill out the form below and we will be in touch!

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/host-a-sunrise-event-this-spring-2?link_id=1&can_id=c92e434a820194b0a5d86c4da21346cf&source=email-9-speakers-5-states-12000-young-people-2&email_referrer=email_288097&email_subject=9-speakers-5-states-12000-young-people

Women ‘s marches and events this weekend

The right hates politically active college students—especially those of color—above all b/c it’s the only time in many peoples lives they’re not 60k in debt and arent paranoid of their bosses and can ask deeper questions about society e.g. the ultimate sin in capitalism.

— Adam H. Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) February 20, 2018

DSA Refoundation makes their pitch for not endorsing Nixon and co.

https://medium.com/@NBKNoOnNixon/the-case-against-endorsing-cynthia-nixon-and-jumaane-williams-21a94bbb7b18

imo this is good

*reflexively tightens message board armor*

The Medium piece makes many extremely good arguments -- agree.

Even more in-depth stuff from Ackerman on electoral strategy and the peculiarities of US electoral politics

https://jacobinmag.com/2018/07/electoral-rules-third-party-ballot-line-ocasio-cortez-dsa

I really appreciate Ackerman contending with the realities of first past the post voting and the degree to which the two parties have a structurally enforced monopoly on power at the federal level--not enough people who think about the viability of "third parties" take these structural problems into account. I also think he's right that we need a party-like structure, but I'm with Refoundation in believing it's got to be a party in the "mass" sense of the term; what he describes here for his (uh) party-like sounds more like Corbyn's Momentum or even Bernie's Our Rev, a membership org with a line whose main political gesture is working to hold its ostensible elected champions to account. As my gf likes to say "that's what Our Rev is for."

Do you know of any existing models to base such a party on (or at least derive inspiration)?

The Labor Party in the US provides an interesting and relatively recent example:

https://socialistrevolution.org/the-fight-for-socialism-and-the-lessons-of-the-labor-party

Ultimately what I think is to be done is build an organization capable of doing what Ackerman describes _along with_ a primary capacity of mass action, study, agitation, and organizing--which is to say, something like a fusion of DSA and Our Rev, whether through a strategic popular front alliance or a literal fusion.

Also a good historical dive on the distinctions between the two here: https://rtuc.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/the-concept-of-a-mass-party/

oh duh also Syriza

they and others are favorably cited here: http://socialistnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Socialists-and-the-Mass-Organisations-Ver-2.pdf

cheers HOOS

Last pushes?

Really shocked to canvass for Max Rose yesterday in Bay Ridge and see literally zero Donovan canvassers in the area (and heard that it was similar in Staten Island), and equally as shocked to get so many enthusiastic responses while textbanking for Indiana today.

Have to say, textbanking has been really gratifying, esp. as someone who haaaaaaates phonebanking and generally talking on the phone to strangers. Folks have been really responsive, and have already had a few long texts helping random people figure out where they need to be or what they'll need.

The GOTV push will not end until Tuesday evening, so if you can contact a local campaign you support, they ought to be able to slot you in still.

This year has been too crazy at home to do any volunteering. We did increase our donations to nine different politically active organizations in 2017 and maintained that level again this year. We also gave $100 to the Blue Wave PAC founded by Sen. Merkeley and another $100 to the Oregon's Democratic governor's campaign. It's what we could do.

We went out (with kids!) to Tracy, CA (~1.5hrs from our home in SF) to support Josh Harder for the House yesterday. The volunteer office was buzzing, I saw a former co-worker. We went to a Democrat-friendly neighborhood in Tracy proper. Probably didn't help that much but good to do something.

In retrospect I wish we had driven further and gone to help out Jessica Morse, who we also like but who has less of a supply of volunteers to draw from.

VOTE HARDER

Contacting Iowa Dems this morning out of pure spite, very encouraging amount of responses. Less than a day left to vengefully GOTV!

I recommend this program to support people in ICE detention, if you're in California:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MOIfwwLrGcgJf15sv_eqW_38FCKfv4Pgdq4UOhA2Fnk/edit#

in light of recent Border Patrol/ICE coordination threat, worth bearing in mind:

Many ICE agents say their jobs have become increasingly difficult, three years into Trump’s presidency, because of robust campaigns by immigrant advocacy organizations seeking to safeguard immigrants living in the country illegally by educating them on the legal limitations that ICE officers face. As a result, in many communities where immigrants living in the country illegally reside, when ICE agents are spotted, people now turn immediately to their phones to alert neighbors that they should stay inside.

support/participate in these types of activities, people

Gee, ICE agents say their jobs are more "difficult" when immigrants know the "legal limitations ICE officers face". Fuck them. Fuck them royally, for being nostalgic for when they were more easily able to exceed their fucking legal limitations.

as far as I can tell a lot of those limitations are because they are enforcing *civil* infractions with these sweeps, which places significant restraints on what level of force/tactics they are allowed to use

did some canvassing for jessica cisneros again (progressive house candidate running against conservative dem henry cuellar) and her stafffer told me today that their polls show a tied race, so here's hoping she pulls off the upset

So - admitting I'm far too much of a coward to throw myself in front of bullets - what can be done to fight the inherent dead-ender shitstorm that's coming this week?