I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I’m sure a lot of you have. For my part, I’ve been finally writing down my political experience, what I saw, etc…in a way that I think might be able to move some people on the right. But I also agree with this post. People always talk/write, etc…and rarely actually take action.
So, with that in mind, can we talk about what that looks like? Very specifically?
I suppose I’m hoping we can go a step beyond “go protest,” having unanimously agreed that we should all be out en masse to make it clear we’re pissed about…well…kinda everything.
But this is a fairly radical bunch. So, what do you all know about this? What concrete advice/tips/plans/ideas can we dumbass individual Americans learn from historic examples, political movements, etc…? Indeed, one of those questions might be: is this even the place to talk about this? If not, where? Does that already exist somewhere in the aether out there? Communications is always an interesting to me (I’ve wondered whether something like LoRa could be useful to setup in my area).
If I want to start a group locally, are there things I should think about? Practical tips beyond “talk to everyone you know?” Books to read? Etc…? Even if you get a group, it’s easy for it to mean nothing. How do you make it not mean nothing?
I’m a software developer. I’ve done a bunch of volunteering with protest/political groups. They rarely need my software skills
Instead: join a group, listen, figure out what they need, and do that.
Are they bad at organizing? Take minutes and set dates.
Are they trying to take donations? Offer to set up the bank account and track expenses.
Do they need a place to meet? Offer to schedule a room at the local library.
Find people in your area. Do tangible organizational things in real life.
Don’t waste time making solutions in search of problems. Some doodad isn’t going to help anyone. Nobody is wiring up an arduino lora whatever gadget. ‘B-but just buy the modules and conn…’ Stop. It’s useless. Doesn’t help anyone. No on is fidgeting with an Arduino sketch and some antenna wires and checking the 18650 battery while trying send packets to a guy over there. None of this matters when you’re all getting pepper sprayed with boots on your neck.
You can pull out the RF gear when the nukes have sent us back to the stone age.
I think you’re right. Good call. I shouldn’t have even mentioned the LoRa thing. It’s one of those romantic notions I’ve had in the back of my head and I don’t even know enough about it to suggest it as a practical solution to anything, much less here. I guess I was just getting at, “ARE there communications tools/platforms/organizational structures worth considering for an effort of this sort?”
Probably should have asked that instead of, “How to La Resistance!?”
There’s all sorts of action that we can take, but the challenges in prescribing a national plan of action is simply too much without a national organizing committee. One of the most important aspects of successful mass movements requires the participation of labor/unions. That’s why, when asked a question like this, I always start by recommending that you form a union at your workplace. Organizing is a skill just like any other, and you can develop it by actively learning in a real campaign. It will give you the toolset and connections necessary to learn how to start political and community organizing. CWA offers a union organizer course every weekend, which is a fantastic starting point to learn how it’s done.
Thanks for linking to an actual resource. That’s cool and I’ll check it out.
Number 1 priority: secure communications. Always assume that every single letter you send that isn’t end to end encrypted WILL be read by your adversary.
USA already reached “TIA”(total informational awareness) around 2013, cfr. Snowden leaks.
One can only assume that they have since gained the ability to decypher and map all communications sent over the clearnet bar none. Disregard this advice at your own peril.
For a small group that isn’t planning to break laws, this can be a pain in the butt. If the group is organizing a public protest or boycott, this is a barrier to entry for other participants.
An alternative is open communications: as a group, agree not to break any laws, agree not to joke about breaking laws, and then use whatever works for everybody.
If you are planning to break laws, give’r.
This is exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about. To generalize: you can post an event on Facebook/X. You can post it on Lemmy. You can post it on Signal and be totally invite-only.
Sort of different “levels,” each with pros/cons, the most “secure” level being the most-difficult to grow.
For a large organization, maybe. For small scale organizing where the group is obeying laws, it probably isn’t worth the effort. Adding technical hurdles for little or no benefit weakens the group.
Perhaps it’s a both/and. You advertise broadly AND then also create a secure platform, if needed. Probably the same thing you’re saying, actually.
I’ve been reading quite a bit on the history of tax revolt. Safer than taking to the streets or outgrown a mass strike. Has a direct impact on the federal government if a relatively small percentage of citizens participate. Add in how the current administration has kicked the IRS in the teeth and reduced their numbers. I bought some domains to put information up that people can share with others. I’m hoping it might have some impact. I feel desperately that I have to try SOMETHING, as it’s clear that the “guardrails” that are supposed to protect us don’t seem to exist anymore.
Got any specific sources you can recommend?
You may like the book Why Civil Resistance Works by Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan. It includes three indepth cases studies of tactics used by resistance movements.
Yes, perfect, thank you!
Couldn’t be more correct. The absolute best thing you can do is create a support group around yourself, and the best/easiest way to do that is unionizing. Your coworkers are people who you relate to and have similar issues with - same asshole boss, same shitty workplace, similar shitty wages. You don’t have to be friends, but you do need to be teammates and stand together against people who want to prevent you from working together both at and outside of work.
Join a union if you haven’t already. This is the absolute best way to meet organised activists.
How does this post not contravene rule #6? Is there any moderation here?
Seriously, it’s a good subject but there must be a more appropriate place for it.
Organizing resistance to oppression applies in any country, not just the US
Indeed, one of those questions might be: is this even the place to talk about this? If not, where? Does that already exist somewhere in the aether out there?
That’s why I said this. It may well break the rules, but…that does feel a little fitting, I guess. I’ll consider it my first act of sticking it to the man.
