Hong Kong 'umbrella movement' marks first anniversary and vows to fight on | Hong Kong | The Guardian

Hong Kong 2014 Umbrella Movement

2011-Present, Authority, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Urban Spaces, Workers

“The conflicts between the protesters and the established rulers during the crisis allowed news media to adopt a variety of frames congruent with their political and
social values.”

Y. Roselyn Du

In 2014 in Hong Kong, the Umbrella movement began after Beijing ruled against universal suffrage, prompting tens of thousands of activists to occupy main roads in the city for weeks on end. Protesters built barricades, set up tents, and shut down necessary districts, which disrupted traffic, businesses, and daily life, as well as created huge transportation delays. Police responded with arrests and clearance operations, which increased tension in the city as opposed to restoring order. The yellow umbrellas were used to shield themselves from pepper spray and tear gas, which was politically symbolic as it challenged China’s authority and exposed the deeply rooted divisions within Hong Kong’s society. This also produced polarized media narratives worldwide, with state-controlled media portraying the protests as chaos, while Western outlets framed the protests as promoting democracy. This document is a journal article describing the divide in media coverage from different regions and how this framing creates different interpretations of the occupation.

ojsadmin7635-26605-13-EDDownload

Audre Lorde’s “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” (1979)

1946-1989, Black, Date, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Queer, Subjectives of Refusal, White Supremacy, Women

Audre Lorde challenges dominant White feminist frameworks by insisting that race, class, and sexuality are essential intersectional perspectives for disrupting enduring patriarchal structures. The American feminist agenda has historically dismissed the voices of marginalized women, and these exclusions erase any possibility of genuine collective struggle. Lorde critiques the contradiction of analyzing a racist patriarchy through the very tools produced by that same racist patriarchy, highlighting how such approaches only reinforce existing power relations. To counter this, she calls for the active participation and leadership of lesbian women and Third World women, whose experiences and perspectives offer the foundations necessary for building a form of feminism that is truly transformative.

“I urge each one of us here to reach down into that deep place of knowledge inside herself and touch that terror and loathing of any difference that lives there. See whose face it wears. Then the personal as the political can begin to illuminate all our choices.”
The-Masters-Tools-Will-Never-Dismantle-the-Masters-HouseDownload

Fadwa El Guindi’s “Veiling Resistance” (1999)

1990-2010, Colonized, Date, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

El Guindi argues that contemporary veiling is not simply a result of patriarchal structures, but a conscious rejection of Western ideologies and colonial legacies. Historically, veiling has signified honor, status, and social identity, resisting Western narratives that depict the practice as strictly oppressive. Western thinkers have distorted Islamic understandings of gender, often portraying Islamic societies as culturally inferior. For many women, veiling becomes a way to negotiate privacy and create an identity that is religious, cultural, and modern. Muslim women activists who have advocated for women’s rights from within Islamic frameworks further challenge the Western assumption that Islam is inherently antifeminist and undermine universalizing Western feminist conceptions of “women’s rights.” This essay disrupts existing Western perceptions of Islamic culture and gender norms.

Veiling-ResistanceDownload

Ania Loomba’s “Dead Women Tell No Tales”

1990-2010, Colonized, Date, Defining the Enemy, Imperialism, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

Loomba’s essay traces how the sati-widow has been represented from the colonial period through postcolonial debates. Sati is a historical Hindu practice in which a widow is burned alive on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre, either voluntarily or by coercion. Loomba explains how the very societal systems that have attempted to define her—colonial, patriarchal, nationalist, and feminist—are disrupted by the sati-widow figure. Each of these systems relied on the widow as a symbolic figure, but simultaneously erased her subjectivity. This erasure forces a rethinking of these prevailing narratives, proving the instability of the social, cultural, and epistemic frameworks that sought to confine her.

Dead-Women-Tell-No-TalesDownload

Surrounding the Spanish Parliament: Occupy Congress & The M15 Movements

2011-Present, Authority, Blockade/Barricade, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Workplace, Uncategorized, Urban Spaces, Workers

The Occupy movements in Spain escalated quickly due to the deep economic crisis the country faced. protestors physically surrounded the national parliament, confronting the government about the widening gap between the general population of Spanish citizens and the elected officials in Congress. This occupation was incredibly disruptive as it halted the normal flow of political life and forced politicians to acknowledge and visibly see the public withdrawing their trust and faith. Over 1,400 police officers quickly became involved, and the scene escalated with dozens of arrests, rubber bullets, and baton charges, intensifying the situation drastically. Protestors in this occupation were charged with treason and crimes against the nation, even though they were surrounding rather than occupying the government offices. Protesters were organized by M15, which was incredibly efficient and effective at organizing creative protests and demonstrations within banks and parliament. In this video, Maria Carrion reports live from Madrid on the increased anger of Spaniards as they’re driven to hunger and poverty due to the bank repossessing their homes, while the tenants still have to pay the debt, while homeless. These protestors disrupted the political order of the nation and exposed the crisis and tension between the public and the austerity-driven state.

Occupation of St. Paul’s Cathedral (London)

2011-Present, Blockade/Barricade, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Urban Spaces, Workers

“Mr. Cottam said that incidents of urination and defecation on the land outside the cathedral had continued. This was harmful to the life of the cathedral. Employees were now often engaged in cleaning up after these incidents, which, said Mr. Cottam, are “detrimental to the operation of the cathedral as a place of worship…” Graffiti was still appearing on the cathedral. Disruption to services was also continuing.”

Mr. Justice Lindblom

The Occupy encampment at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London was immensely disruptive. The camps and people involved transformed this religious & public gathering place into grounds for protest, disrupting the daily lives of those attending worship, tourists, employees, and pedestrians. The camp created significant issues with noise, sanitation, and safety. Many problems arose from urination and defecation on and around the cathedral, as well as many noise complaints from persistent noise–disrupting religious services and daily operations. The conditions here damaged the calm historic setting of the cathedral and discouraged visitors and religious people from entering, causing a notable drop in attendance and revenue for St. Paul’s.

cityoflondon-v-samedeDownload

The Zapatista Women’s Revolutionary Law (1994)

1990-2010, Date, Defining the Enemy, Indigenous, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

The Zapatista Women’s Revolutionary Law establishes women’s rights within the context of the Zapatista armed indigenous uprising. It guarantees women the right to participate in the revolutionary struggle, access work with equal pay, exercise reproductive autonomy, participate in community decision-making, and receive equal social rights. The law frames women’s liberation as inseparable from broader social and indigenous resistance, linking gender equality directly to the fight against oppression.

The-Zapatista-Womens-Revolutionary-LawDownload

Manifesto of Female Revolt (Rivolta Femminile) (1970)

1946-1989, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

The Manifesto of Rivolta Femminile disrupted societal norms in Italy by openly rejecting the foundations of the country’s patriarchal social order during a time when rigid gender roles remained largely unquestioned. It describes marriage, motherhood, and women’s unpaid domestic labor as instruments used to suppress women. The manifesto challenges not only the domestic sphere but also the moral authority of the Church and the political agenda of the male-dominated Left, including Marxist ideals, and it calls for the dismantling of established political movements that had previously expected feminist demands to be absorbed into broader class-based struggles.

“Liberation for woman does not mean accepting the life man leads, because it is unlivable; on the contrary, it means expressing her own sense of existence.”

Manifesto-Female-RevoltDownload

Darkness Before Dawn: Occupy Movements of Bahrain

1990-2010, Authority, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Occupation, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Uncategorized, Urban Spaces, Workers

“Every minute of the day, I think about what I need to be doing next to sustain the battle to gain freedom, not just for my husband but for myself and for others. None of us are free. We have been living off the whim of an autocrat who decided our fate with a stroke of the pen.”

– Dr. Ala’a Shehabi

The uprisings in Bahrain were demonstrations that challenged the internal power of the nation as well as its external relations. People gathered in masses at the Pearl Roundabout, with many series of anti-government protests led mainly by the Shia and some Sunni Bahraini opposition. The Pearl Roundabout was initially a symbol of modernization as well as the formation of the GCC, Gulf Cooperation Council; however became more commonly associated with the 2011 democracy protests and was demolished soon after as an attempt to quell the movement as well as its significance. Similar to global Occupy movements, thousands of people occupied this space, showcasing collective resistance and disrupting daily life. The movement threatened the GCC’s commitment to preserving Bahrain’s rule by ordering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to deploy troops over the border. In the end, this uprising not only disrupted the authoritarian rule of Bahrain but also the idea that the Arab Spring would not impact nations with substantial oil wealth in the Gulf.

Bahrain-1Download

Flaming Fury: Tunisian Occupy Movements

1990-2010, Alternative Spaces, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Subjectives of Refusal, The Workplace, Uncategorized, Urban Spaces, Workers

“Within days of Bouazizi setting himself on fire, Tunisians began filling the streets of their cities with largely peaceful protests… this display of mass nonviolent action to effect rapid change would have been stunning anywhere, but was especially remarkable in a region that had grown notorious for its seeming inability to change peacefully, if at all.”

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Mohammad Bouazizi, setting himself on fire in Tunisia during the series of Occupy movements, was immensely disruptive. This act emphasized the need for drastic change, as this man was willing to sacrifice his life and body to disrupt the cycle that many had become complacent with. This action symbolized how deeply disenfranchised people were under Tunisia’s authoritarian rule, and that the people would no longer stand for this. His igniting exposed the brutality of the economic and political system that had become incredibly exclusive, often leaving behind the lower classes. The youth were angry- they were consistently repressed under their government, and desperately wanted new rules, yet their internet connections and communication with others about their widespread dissatisfaction yielded few results. Following Bouazizi’s decision to set himself on fire, protests ignited around police abuse, corruption, and high unemployment rates across the nation. Ultimately, this resulted in President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fleeing the country less than a month later, opening space for new political leaders and freedoms and the establishment of a more open civil society through a newly constructed constitution. This act also sparked the Arab Spring- uprisings in Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen, demonstrating that this single act of disruption-when other methods are unheard, can transform political and economic landscapes, opening the conversation globally.

From Cairo to Wall Street :TunisiaDownload

First International Conference of Socialist Women (1907) and Second International Conference of Socialist Women (1910)

1840-1945, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, The Bourgeoisie, Women, Workers

The First (1907) and Second (1910) International Conferences of Socialist Women manifestos directly challenged the political, economic, and gender structures that existed during these times. Instead of seeking incremental reforms or aligning with the ideals of mainstream middle-class feminism, they redefine women’s liberation as inseparable from a working-class revolution. They reject “bourgeois” feminist agendas that ignored the material realities of laboring women. They demanded universal suffrage as a tool of class struggle, declared capitalism to be the root of women’s exploitation, and insisted that women enter unions, strikes, and political organizations. These manifestos disrupted both traditional gender norms and the preexisting economic order. Their creation of international coordination further unsettles national boundaries and portrays women as a global political force. Through asserting that true emancipation requires fundamental restructuring of society, not mere reform, these documents articulate a bold and disruptive display of feminist politics that threatened the stability of existing power systems.

Feminist-manifestosDownload

Hawon Jung’s Flowers of Fire (2023)

2011-Present, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

Hawon Jung draws attention to the personal testimonies and protests that have unfolded in South Korea as a result of persistent gender-based violence. She shows how women’s collective voices have shattered long-standing norms of silence and obedience deeply rooted in the country’s entrenched patriarchy. This activism has challenged not only individuals but also the institutions that have historically protected male authority. The women who participate in this resistance disrupt generational continuity, redefining womanhood in ways that no longer revolve solely around family life and men.

“Wake up! Your Miss Saigon was dead and gone a long time ago. She’s not here anymore.”

Flowers-of-fireDownload

Occupy Egypt: From Cairo to Wall Street

2011-Present, Authority, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Workplace, Uncategorized, Urban Spaces, Workers

“The balance tipped. Going down to protest became acceptable Before then, people like members of my family would have said, ‘No way, how could you protest? It is not something people like us do.’ Then it became normal to protest. It became something we could do.”

Jawad Nabulsi

Jawad Nabulsi tells his personal experience of the Occupy movements in Egypt, taking place in Tahrir Square. Nabulsi’s narrative is particularly impactful as he was from a fairly wealthy family, and he recounts times where he was privileged enough to not follow certain procedures, like taking his driver’s license test, because his family had connections everywhere. He frames himself as well as his brother as people who did not need to partake in the movement, but were capable of doing so to benefit others. The tactics of “occupation” challenged the normal flow of everyday life and infrastructure, through taking over public space like Tahrir Square, a major public square in the heart of downtown Cairo, Egypt. The occupation undermined the regimes claim to order and complacency, especially when large numbers of people camped in central Cairo. The tactics of occupation allowed a wide cross-section of society from students, workers, unemployed graduates, young women—to participate, not just in short demonstrations but in extended presence. This broadened social disruption. The disruption can also be seen through Nabilsis personal story as he took part in the occupations regardless of the fact that his family was very well off, showcasing a reframing of whos involved, demonstrating the strong desire for change, even from those benefitting from this system. The tactics of occupation in Cairo were highly disruptive: they rewrote the rules of protest, challenged the state’s control of space, mobilised and organized large groups of society, and created a model for global protest movements.

From-Cairo-to-Wall-StreetDownload

Resistance Through No Sex: The 4B Movement in South Korea

2011-Present, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Uncategorized, Women

Women in South Korea have continuously been treated as inferior under a deeply ingrained patriarchal system. In 2016, after a young woman was murdered in a misogynistic hate crime, the country reacted with outrage over the poor handling of her case. Misogynistic crimes like this, combined with systemic gender inequality and intense societal pressures, helped spark a collective rejection of men and patriarchal norms. Although often described as a “sex strike,” that is not the sole purpose of the 4B movement. Women in South Korea also place greater emphasis on engaging with and supporting one another rather than conforming to traditional relationships with men.

”The 4B thing is a very Korean, feministic lifestyle, and it is irreversible. We cannot be taken back again!”

Life Without Men: The 4B Movement

2011-Present, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Uncategorized, Women

After a history of oppression, rigid gender roles, pervasive misogyny, and gendered violence, many South Korean women have collectively decided to reject traditional patriarchal structures. These women follow the principles of the “4Bs”: bihon (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyeonae (no dating men), and bisekseu (no sex with men). Through these rejections, they are not only resisting gender discrimination but also destabilizing societal expectations—with no clear desire to return to traditional roles, even in the aftermath of mass protests. This social disruption has begun to expand westward, reaching beyond Korea’s borders.

Valerie Solanas’s S.C.U.M. Manifesto (1967)

1946-1989, Date, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Women

The S.C.U.M. Manifesto is an account of Valerie Solanas’s radical feminist views. She argues that men are incomplete women who spend their lives attempting to become female. Through this pursuit, men have corrupted the world by forming harmful systems that give them a false sense of purpose. To relieve society of this corruption, women must recognize the damage caused by men and tear apart the systems that are ruining the nation. Ultimately, Solanas advocates the eradication of men.

“To be male is to be deficient, emotionally limited; maleness is a deficiency disease and males are emotional cripples.”

SCUM-ManifestoDownload

SCUM Manifesto (1967)

1946-1989, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Patriarchy, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Workplace, Women, Workers

“So he… proceeds to define everyone in terms of his or her function or use, assigning himself, of course the most important functions-doctor, president, scientist- therefore providing himself with an identity, if not individuality, and tries to convince himself and women that the female function is to bear and raise children and to relax, comfort and boost the ego of the male”

Valerie Solanas

Valerie Solanas publishes the SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men) Manifesto in 1967, with the intent to describe the flaws of men and the society they’ve established. Men are described as egocentric, sexually driven animals who are incapable of mental interaction and are far inferior to women in all aspects. The manifesto uses sexual and vulgar language to describe men’s (lack of) purpose and how unfit and incompetent they are in filling all duties and roles in society. It is described that men created a society that functions through a work-money system, made to give men a sense of individuality, (doctor, president or scientist), to give them some sort of false value or identity to boost their ego. As the thesis of the SCUM Manifesto is to rebuild society without men, Solanas describes men as only being useful to reproduce, but with the existence of sperm banks, the existence of men is no longer necessary.

SCUM MANIFESTO (1967)

1946-1989, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Patriarchy, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Workplace, Uncategorized, Women

“SCUM is against the entire system, the very idea of law and government. SCUM is out to destroy the system, not attain certain rights within it.”

Valerie Solanas

Valerie Solanas, an American radical feminist, published The SCUM Manifesto in 1967, advocating for the dismantling of patriarchal structures established by men and the creation of a female-led society. Solanas critiques male dominance and systemic gender inequality, arguing that these societal flaws stem from male control. The manifesto calls upon “thrill-seeking females to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation, and destroy the male sex,” framing men as the root of societal instability and inefficiency, justifying the radical restructuring of society in favor of women, by women.

SCUM-MANIFESTODownload

BUT WE HAVE TO, SO WE DO IT REAL SLOW – Noche (2016)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Privatization, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

This collection of texts primarily features an essay titled “BUT WE HAVE TO, SO WE DO IT REAL SLOW” by Noche, which explores the concept of anti-work within the context of Mexican and Mexican-American identity in the United States. The author challenges the prevailing pro-work sentiment, even within radical circles, arguing that elements of labor refusal and resistance are already present in Mexican-American culture, often in subtle or playful forms. The essay contrasts the traditional labor movement’s focus on better working conditions with a call for the abolition of work itself, linking this idea to historical anti-work movements and the critique of capitalism. Noche suggests that everyday acts of slacking, stealing, and working slowly can be seen as forms of resistance, and ultimately advocates for a world free from the constraints of wage labor, the state, and capitalist structures. 

Half-Page-But-We-Have-To-UpdatedDownload

Revolution: Program or Communization? – Agitations (n.d.)

Authority, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Privatization, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

This translated text explores the concept of “communization” as a revolutionary strategy, contrasting it with what it labels “programmatism,” the earlier 20th-century approach focused on the proletariat seizing state power. The source argues that programmatism, which aimed to manage the means of production, ultimately failed because it did not challenge the core of capitalist exploitation: the law of value and commodity production. Instead, communization proposes the immediate abolition of capitalist categories like value, wage labor, and social divisions through the self-negation of the proletariat. The authors suggest that the failure of past revolutionary attempts and the restructuring of capitalism in the 1970s necessitate this new approach, one that emphasizes practical, non-commodified actions over predetermined programs or theories.

Program-or-CommunizationDownload

Mothering Against Motherhood: doula work, xenohospitality and the idea of the comrade – Sophie Lewis (2022)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Patriarchy, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, Tactics of Disruption, The Home, White Supremacy, Women

This essay, titled “Mothering Against Motherhood: doula work, xenohospitality and the idea of the momrade” by Sophie Lewis, explores the concept of “mothering against motherhood” and “family abolition.” She argues for a communist horizon where care work is collectivized and relationships are based on chosen solidarity rather than biological ties, challenging the capitalist and patriarchal norms embedded in the traditional family.

Mothering-AgainstDownload

Be Gay Do Crime – Mary Nardini Gang (2019)

2011-Present, Authority, Blockade/Barricade, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Infrastructure/Data, Institutions, Occupation, Queer, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The 'Natural World', The Bourgeoisie, The Home, The Workplace, Urban Spaces, White Supremacy

This excerpt, from the introduction of a book titled “Be Gay Do Crime” by Mary Nardini Gang, reflects on ten years of queer, anarchist, criminal, and mystical resistance. It details the origins of their movement in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, inspired by insurrections elsewhere and a commitment to a “criminal queer association.” The text emphasizes living a life outside societal norms, viewing normalcy as an enemy, and engaging in direct actions ranging from looting and blockades to caring for comrades and practicing various forms of magic and healing.

Be-Gay-Do-CrimeDownload

The Billboard Liberation Front Manifesto (1992)

1990-2010, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Infrastructure/Data, Sabotage/Ecotage, Tactics of Disruption

This manifesto argues that in contemporary society, advertising has become the dominant force shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves, displacing older forms of culture like art, science, and spirituality. It posits that media primarily serves to deliver advertisements, and even artistic expression is now largely treated as a commodity influenced by market trends. Ultimately, the document declares that existence is intertwined with advertising and encourages individuals to use any means necessary to reclaim and alter advertising messages as a form of personal expression and communication.

The-BLF-ManifestoDownload

Interview with Jack Napier from the Billboard Liberation Front – Brian Gonnella (2009)

1990-2010, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Infrastructure/Data, Sabotage/Ecotage, Tactics of Disruption

This piece presents an interview with Jack Napier, a representative of the Billboard Liberation Front (BLF), a group that modifies outdoor advertisements. The author, Brian Gonnella, explores the connection between the BLF’s work and graffiti culture, initially through the lens of culture jamming, a concept Napier distances the BLF from, associating it more with Adbusters. Napier discusses the BLF’s history, motivation as a continuation of individualistic resistance, and their stance on the role of art versus marketing in their actions, while also reflecting on the impact and meaning of both billboard modification and different forms of graffiti. 

BILLBOARD-LIBERATION-FRONTDownload

The Art and Science of Billboard Improvement: A Comprehensive Guide to the Alteration of Outdoor Advertising – Billboard Liberation Front (2008)

1990-2010, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Infrastructure/Data, Sabotage/Ecotage, Tactics of Disruption

This guide, published by the Billboard Liberation Front, offers a comprehensive, step-by-step manual for altering outdoor advertising. It details the various types of billboards, methods for choosing suitable targets, strategies for planning and executing “improvements,” including techniques for producing graphic overlays and ensuring security and safety.

art_science_blf-2008-SCREENDownload

16 Things You Can Do to Be Ungovernable – Indigenous Action Media (2020)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Indigenous, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

This excerpt, published shortly after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, presents a perspective rejecting both major political parties, arguing that neither offers genuine liberation from colonial oppression. Instead of relying on electoral politics, the text proposes a path towards being “ungovernable” through direct action and building alternative community structures. It outlines sixteen specific actions individuals and groups can take, such as forming affinity groups, developing practical skills, practicing mutual aid and defense, and challenging oppressive systems like capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy. Ultimately, the document advocates for building autonomous organizing and resisting colonial authority on stolen land.

16-Things-You-Can-Do-To-Be-UngovernableDownload

Rethinking the Apocalypse: An Indigenous Anti-Futurist Manifesto (n.d.)

Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Indigenous, Infrastructure/Data, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie

The source presents a powerful critique of the colonial and capitalist systems, arguing they represent an ongoing, destructive “apocalypse” built on violence, exploitation, and the suppression of Indigenous ways of being. It contrasts this linear, destructive trajectory with an Indigenous perspective of time and existence that is cyclical and rooted in ancestral knowledge and connection to the Earth. The text rejects the notion of seeking solutions within the existing colonial framework, instead calling for a return to ceremony, collective dreaming, and disruptive action as forms of resistance and liberation. Ultimately, it posits that the survival and flourishing of Indigenous worlds are contingent upon the dismantling of the colonial “dead world.”

rethinking-the-apocalypse-readDownload

You Cannot Profit off Our People’s Blood and Think Students Will Not Come for Your Money – Hammer & Hope (2024)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Occupation, Students, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

This source presents conversations with five college student groups actively organizing for Palestine solidarity at various universities in the United States. The students discuss their strategies and tactics for raising awareness and demanding institutional change, including protests, sit-ins, teach-ins, and divestment campaigns. They focus on disrupting the flow of capital tied to what they perceive as Israeli occupation.

YOU-CANNOT-PROFIT-OFF-OUR-PEOPLES-BLOOD-AND-THINK-STUDENTS-WILL-NOT-COME-FOR-YOUR-MONEYDownload

Statement on Palestine and Student Protests – University of Maryland, Baltimore Macro Student Union of the School of Social Work (2024)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Students, Subjectives of Refusal

This statement from the SSW Macro Student Union critiques the University of Maryland Baltimore and its School of Social Work for their handling of the genocide in Palestine, arguing that the institutions prioritize profit over student well-being and uphold oppressive power structures. The student union emphasizes that social work ethics necessitate advocating for Palestinian liberation and demands that the university disclose and divest from companies contributing to the genocide, issue a statement acknowledging the genocide and scholasticide, reconsider their commencement speaker choice due to his pro-Israel stance, among other demands. The statement concludes by aligning their efforts with historical student movements advocating for social change and commemorating the 76th anniversary of al-Nakba.

SSW-Macro-Student-Union-Statement-on-Palestine-Student-ProtestsDownload

Open Letter – Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine and Columbia Jewish Voice for Peace (2023)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Students, Subjectives of Refusal

This document is an open letter authored by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine and Columbia Jewish Voice for Peace condemning Israel’s actions as settler-colonialism and apartheid, while expressing solidarity with Palestinian resistance. The authors criticize Columbia University’s administration for biased communications that favor Israel and disregard Palestinian suffering, and for its continued financial ties to companies profiting from the occupation. They demand the university acknowledge Palestinian humanity, divest from implicated companies, and end academic programs and partnerships that they argue normalize apartheid. The letter concludes with a call for student action and protest to pressure the administration and achieve justice for Palestinians.

Columbia-SJP-and-JVP-10_9-Open-LetterDownload

Statement on the Ceasefire in Gaza – NYC Labor for Palestine (2025)

2011-Present, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, The Workplace

This source presents a statement from NYC Labor for Palestine following a ceasefire in Gaza, which they view as a significant victory for Palestinian resistance over the Zionist entity and U.S. Empire. The group expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people after a period of intense violence and emphasizes the ongoing urgency of confronting what they call U.S.-backed Israeli genocide. They reiterate their commitment to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and outline demands for unions and workplaces, including ending the siege on Gaza, halting U.S. military aid to Israel, and severing ties with Israeli labor organizations. The statement also criticizes the U.S. government, specifically the Biden administration, for its role in the conflict, and calls for workers to engage in resistance against the forces they believe support the occupation of Palestine.

NYC-Labor-for-Palestine-Statement-on-the-Ceasefire-in-Gaza_-A-Victory-of-Palestinian-ResistanceDownload

A15 Athens Economic Blockade for Palestine Statement (2024)

2011-Present, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Infrastructure/Data, Tactics of Disruption

This is a statement from a group in solidarity with the Palestinian Resistance. They argue that traditional forms of protest are no longer sufficient and therefore support a global economic blockade, citing their action at the port of Perama as part of this effort to disrupt the systems that facilitate the conflict. The statement specifically targets ZIM Shipping, an Israeli company it accuses of being integral to the logistical support of the Israeli military, and also condemns the Greek government for its military and economic agreements with Israel, viewing these as evidence of Greek complicity.

A15-Athens-Economic-Blockade-for-Palestine-Statement-for-April-15thDownload

10 Steps for Setting Up A Blockade – Anonymous (n.d.)

Blockade/Barricade, Tactics of Disruption

This guide presents a ten-step process for organizing and carrying out a blockade as a form of direct action against projects like the Line 9 pipeline. It opens with a brief overview of blockades, explores the rationale behind using them as a tactic, examines recent examples, and offers practical guidance on how to create an effective blockade. The zine comes out of the blockades against various oil pipelines in North America and as such it is heavily rooted in those experiences.

10-Steps-for-Setting-Up-a-BlockadeDownload

Accomplices Not Allies: Abolishing the Ally Industrial Complex – Indigenous Action Media (2014)

2011-Present, Date, Uncategorized

This zine offers a sharp critique of the political label “ally” and the network of activists who have created what it calls an “ally industrial complex,” driven by their own reputations as anti-oppression advocates. Grounded in the context of Indigenous resistance, it examines various problematic forms of allyship—including savior figures, opportunists, academics, and self-declared allies—who often center themselves rather than the communities they claim to support. Instead of promoting the concept of “ally,” the zine calls for the emergence of “accomplices”: individuals who attack colonial structures and ideals through solidarity rooted in trust, consent, and shared struggle.

Accomplices-Not-AlliesDownload

De-Arrest Primer – Anonymous (2024)

2011-Present, Authority, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Defining the Enemy, Sabotage/Ecotage, Tactics of Disruption

This is a draft of a primer on de-arresting, which is defined as the act of freeing someone seized by law enforcement officers (LEOs), also known as un-arresting. It presents different tactics that can be employed for de-arresting, ranging from physical interventions to pressure campaigns and blocking police vehicles.

dearrest_primerDownload

Prisoners in Revolution –  Roger Boberg, Jaan Laaman, John Yancey, and Richard Williams (1975)

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Sabotage/Ecotage, Self Institution, Strike, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, Tactics of Disruption

This statement, written by revolutionary prisoners at New Hampshire State Prison in 1975, serves as a response and further discussion of the Weather Underground’s “Prairie Fire”, aiming to provide a deeper examination of the experiences of prisoners and ex-prisoners. The statement argues the experiences of prisoners provide a unique perspective on the need for revolution against the capitalist system and the development of methods of control like behavior modification, stressing the importance of unity and solidarity within and outside of prison walls for the larger anti-imperialist movement. It contends that the prison movement is an integral part of the revolutionary struggle, showcasing how conditions of captivity, similar to wartime, expose the naked injustice and terror of American society and breed a determined, militant cutting edge for the overall People’s Struggle.

511.PrisonersInRevolution.statement.1975.web_Download

Black Liberation Will Put a Stop to the Klan, the Nazis & Killer Cops – John Brown Anti-Klan Committee (n.d.)

Defining the Enemy, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

This source discusses the ongoing struggle against white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis. It highlights acts of resistance, such as Black and anti-Klan demonstrators who fought the Klan and police in the streets, successfully forcing the cancellation of a planned march in Washington, D.C.. The document calls for building a movement that opposes white supremacist violence from groups like the Klan and Nazis, as well as from police, emphasizing the need to support the Black Liberation Movement and defend revolutionary organizations. Grounded in the historical fight for liberation, the source advocates for struggling for land and independence for a Black nation and forcefully states, “DEATH TO THE KLAN AND THE NAZIS!”

37.Black_.Lib_.Stop_.Klan_Download

Why We Support Black Nationalism – John Brown Anti-Klan Committee (n.d.)

Defining the Enemy, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

This document explores the concept of Black Nationalism, asserting its historical roots in the struggle for Black empowerment and self-determination in the United States. It highlights the economic disadvantages faced by Black Americans despite their historical contributions and labor. The text also touches upon the legacy of Malcolm X and the ongoing relevance of Black liberation movements, emphasizing the need for Black control over resources and political power. The author suggests that achieving genuine democracy requires addressing these historical and ongoing inequities.

37.blkNatlismDownload

Black Politics: A Journal of Liberation (1968)

1946-1989, Black, Date, Defining the Enemy, Imperialism, Sabotage/Ecotage, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

This collection of excerpts from Black Politics: A Journal of Liberation (Vol. 1, 1968) offers insights into the Black Power movement during a pivotal year. The document covers a variety of topics, including discussions on political strategy, international relations, and resistance against oppression. It also contains information regarding the historical context of the movement, including its connections to other global liberation struggles, and details about weapons and self-defense, reflecting the urgency and intensity of the era.

513.BlackPower.BlackPolitics.Vol1_.1968Download

In Defense of the Right to Political Secession for the Afro-American Nation: Papers and Resolutions from the School on the Afro-American National Question (1982)

1946-1989, Black, Date, Defining the Enemy, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

These excerpts primarily discuss the Marxist-Leninist perspective on the “Afro-American National Question,” arguing that Afro-Americans in the Black Belt region of the Southern U.S. constitute an oppressed nation with the right to self-determination, including the right to secede and form an independent state. In addition to promoting the right to political secession, the text champions the struggle against white chauvinism as another crucial element for a genuine proletarian revolution in the United States, asserting that this fight is essential for international proletarian solidarity.

513.BPBN_.Right_.to_.Afro_.NationDownload

The U.S. Imperialist State and the Black Nation – Saladine Muhammad (n.d.)

Defining the Enemy, Imperialism, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

This pamphlet, published by The Institute of Black Political Studies, presents a Black scientific socialist perspective on the nature of U.S. imperialism and the struggle for Black national liberation. It argues that the U.S. is a settler-colonial-capitalist system where Black people constitute a domestic colonized nation, facing dual oppression economically, politically, and intellectually compared to the white working class. Ultimately, it advocates for a revolutionary Black nationalist party guided by scientific socialism to lead the national liberation struggle and form strategic alliances with other anti-imperialist movements globally.

513.BPBN_.The_.US_.Imperialist.NationDownload

Stop Police Brutality – New York City-Wide Mobilization Committee Against Police Brutality (1979)

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, Urban Spaces, White Supremacy

This pamphlet, published in 1979 by the New York City-Wide Mobilization Committee Against Police Brutality, condemns police brutality and systematic oppression, particularly against Black and Hispanic working-class individuals. It provides examples of police killings and assaults in various cities, arguing that these incidents are not isolated but rather part of a national policy to control and suppress marginalized communities. It calls for organized resistance and armed self-defense as the necessary response.

513.StopPoliceBrutality.pamphlet.1979.web_Download

From the Encampments: Student Reflections on Protests for Palestine (2024)

2011-Present, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Occupation, Tactics of Disruption

This document features reflections from students at Columbia Law, City University of New York (CUNY) Law, New York Law, and Yale Law students, offering firsthand accounts and analyses of the motivations, demands, and experiences within the student encampments protesting their universities’ financial ties to Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The sources also highlight the historical context of student activism, drawing parallels to past divestment movements, and argue that universities are deeply intertwined with global and local systems of capitalism, gentrification, and imperialism, which the protests aim to disrupt.

FROM-THE-ENCAMPMENTS_-STUDENT-REFLECTIONS-ON-PROTESTS-FOR-PALESTINEDownload

Action Planning: A Guide to Planning Effective Direct Action – Seeds for Change (n.d.)

Uncategorized

This source is a guide by Seeds for Change that discusses how to organize effective direct action. Tactics such as occupying a building, jamming a company’s phone line with calls, breaking machinery, disrupting an event, blocking vehicles, among other direct actions are described. The guide also emphasizes the importance of identifying targets, understanding different types of pressure, and various other planning and logistical steps.

actionplanningDownload

Setting Up a Workers’ Co-Op – Seeds for Change (n.d.)

Uncategorized

This document serves as a concise guide for individuals aiming to establish a workers’ cooperative, a democratically run business owned and operated by its employees. It outlines the essential stages involved, from forming an initial group and developing a business plan to navigating legal structures, securing finances, and officially launching the cooperative. Ultimately, setting up and running a workers’ co-op is presented as a form of direct action where people collectively take control of their work lives to create a more just and ecologically conscious way of working.

setting_up_a_workers_coopDownload

Anarchic Agreements – Seeds for Change (n.d.)

Uncategorized

“Anarchic Agreements” is a guide for social and environmental justice groups seeking to establish internal rules and processes in an empowering way. It was co-written by Seeds for Change and researchers from the Anarchy Rules research project. The text explores crucial areas for “constitutionalising” a group, including defining its purpose, decision-making methods, task management, necessary policies, and strategies for maximizing empowerment. 

anarchic_agreementsDownload

What is Direct Action? – Seeds for Change (n.d.)

Uncategorized

This document, a guide from Seeds for Change, explores direct action as a means to achieve political goals, contrasting it with indirect methods. It showcases successful examples in Britain, demonstrating how diverse and disruptive tactics like blockades, occupations, and property damage are employed to exert pressure. It highlights key points for effective direct action, including sustained campaigns, clear aims, targeted pressure, identifying leverage, and the importance of organized communities and diverse roles. 

directactionDownload

The ‘GlobalMay Manifesto’ of the International Occupy Assembly (2012)

2011-Present, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Occupation, Privatization, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie

This is a manifesto written by an international Occupy assembly, a part of the larger Occupy movement. It presents a powerful critique of the current global system, asserting that it prioritizes profit and competition over human dignity and environmental well-being. Emerging from global protest movements, the manifesto condemns economic inequality, corporate influence over politics, and the existing financial framework. The manifesto goes beyond mere complaint, aiming to pinpoint the causes of the crisis and propose alternatives to the existing order. Ultimately, the document is a call to action, emphasizing that the movements will fight until global democracy and social justice are achieved.

The-GlobalMay-Manifesto-of-the-International-Occupy-AssemblyDownload

A Conversation with Chandi Prasad Bhatt (2011)

1946-1989, Colonized, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The 'Natural World'

This interview explores Bhatt’s journey from a poverty-stricken childhood to his leadership in the Chipko Movement

Chandi Prasad Bhatt and the Chipko Movement

Chandi Prasad Bhatt was a leader of the Chipko Movement, where people in Uttarakhand hugged trees to stop them from being cut down. He believed in nonviolence and worked with local villagers, especially women, to protect forests. His goal was to save the environment and help people live better lives by taking care of nature.

A-Conversation-with-Chandi-Prasad-BhattDownload

Vimla Bahuguna on The Chipko Movement (2023)

1946-1989, Colonized, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The 'Natural World', Women

This interview with Vimla Bahuguna touches on the Chipko Movement in India and how ecofeminism came to be today

The Chipko Movement (1973)

Here’s a very short description of the Chipko Movement, based on the Article-14 piece:

The Chipko Movement, started in 1973 in India’s Uttarakhand region, was a nonviolent environmental movement where villagers and women hugged trees to stop deforestation. Led by Sunderlal and Vimla Bahuguna, it grew into a symbol of grassroots resistance against ecological destruction and emphasized the idea that protecting forests is essential for sustainable living.

50-Years-On-Vimla-Bahuguna-On-The-Chipko-Movement-Her-Late-Husband-Ties-That-Bind-_-Article-14Download