protesting was second phase not fourth phase as you said. what you’re currently engaging in is called “antactivism” and it’s unhelpful to everyone. the post is giving guidance that protesting is how you get out of your house and meet people who will help you organize direct action
I don’t think you understood the meme. They were not implying the protesting was the direct action.
I just assisted organizing a union at my workplace, at some point we protested unfair labor practices at our workplace, that was not the direct action. Meeting twice a week, talking with co-workers face to face, building a coalition, creating Q and A’s to combat disinformation, communicating with news media, filing with the NLRB, voting, and now negotiating is all the direct action. Over the next 10 years our lowest paid employees are likely to see a 15-30% increase in total compensation beyond what they would have.
We also now have a solidified network of people ready to react instantly. If ICE shows up 100 other people may materialize in minutes. If someone in the community experiences an emergency or trauma, there is a whole built community ready to assist. Direct action always helps improve society, it doesn’t have to be a magic wand that fixes everything for it to make things a little better.
You want to lean into despair because being physically and mentally lazy is easier. Your life won’t be easier if fascism keeps getting worse and worse, always take action.
Protesting isn’t direct action. It’s theater. If it did anything meaningful we wouldn’t be allowed to do it.
protesting was second phase not fourth phase as you said. what you’re currently engaging in is called “antactivism” and it’s unhelpful to everyone. the post is giving guidance that protesting is how you get out of your house and meet people who will help you organize direct action
Riots and property destruction are a form of protest.
Strikes are a form of protest.
Boycotts are a form of protest.
I don’t think you understood the meme. They were not implying the protesting was the direct action.
I just assisted organizing a union at my workplace, at some point we protested unfair labor practices at our workplace, that was not the direct action. Meeting twice a week, talking with co-workers face to face, building a coalition, creating Q and A’s to combat disinformation, communicating with news media, filing with the NLRB, voting, and now negotiating is all the direct action. Over the next 10 years our lowest paid employees are likely to see a 15-30% increase in total compensation beyond what they would have.
We also now have a solidified network of people ready to react instantly. If ICE shows up 100 other people may materialize in minutes. If someone in the community experiences an emergency or trauma, there is a whole built community ready to assist. Direct action always helps improve society, it doesn’t have to be a magic wand that fixes everything for it to make things a little better.
You want to lean into despair because being physically and mentally lazy is easier. Your life won’t be easier if fascism keeps getting worse and worse, always take action.
What a stupid thing to say. Voting, speech and association can all be meaningful and we can do those.