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So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

3 considerations for any political action:
1. If your action couldn't possibly have negative consequences for you, it is of no consequence
2. If your action requires media attention to have any impact, it has no impact.
3. Working in the realm of ideas and symbols is not worthless, but working exclusively at that level is.

So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

when we blocked off the ICE HQ as an action and got arrested, it did have potential risk to us; but we were only symbolically blocking the building. There were back entrances that were still open and nobody was even in the building that day because of renovations. We even made a path behind us so people could get through. We still got arrested but the renovations and ICE operations were not impeded. It relied entirely on media attention and it failed to get our demand (a stay of removal for someone)

So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

It depended on the Image of the HQ being blocked off but did not do anything. The media cycle paid attention to the action for a single day and moved on. It was of no consequence, had no impact, and ultimately like I had the experience of going to jail as a learning experience i guess but it didnt... do anything of importance

So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

Compare and contrast to the recent action in PDX where they surrounded the ICE HQ completely and blocked off the only garage exit and would *not* allow cars to exit the building; completely impeding operations, risking arrest, and forcing the facility to shut down.

1. They absolutely risked negative consequences
2. This would have worked regardless of if the media paid attention
3. They materially shut down the facility. It was not exclusively about attention, ideas, or symbols; though they did employ it

So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

The Occupy movement likewise struggled due to this:

1. They did risk negative consequences
2. When the media distorted and ignored their demands, it broke any effectiveness they could have
3. All they really did was symbolically live in parks. They didn't actually shut down the wall street firms by occupying their buildings. It was a symbolic gesture exclusively as besides Being Kinda Noisy they didn't impede anything.

emsenn @emsenn

There's always a big difference between what a political movement does, and what is perceived as their actions, and I just have to take issue with "all [you] really did was symbolically live in parks." No, we did a lot more to directly confront the people we took issue with. The problem falls outside the direct action folk; they're doing enough. It's the ancillary teams that aren't making sure their actions are represented.

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So-Shel-ist @shel@cybre.space

@emsenn gosh! I had no idea that OWS went inside the buildings! Just goes to show how bad the media distortion was

❦ CRIME LICH ❦ @rocket@libranet.de
"direct action" isn't confronting bankers, it's taking back what they took. by the end fuckers were so enamored with the obsolete idea of speaking truth to power that occupy was buying stock as a tactic to get thrown out of board meetings. there's no part of it that wasn't white collar pageantry, and in any city if you speak with damn near any houseless people who were involved, shit was worse after than before.
emsenn @emsenn

occupy, violence Show more

❦ CRIME LICH ❦ @rocket@libranet.de
if you weren't in the pageant, you're not in the net of "fuckers." i addressed you in the second person, handed you homework. if you don't know what the conditions of the houseless who'd been involved with you were as a result (i.e. heightened security in surrounding grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and other spaces the unhoused use fill such basic needs as restrooms and food; bans on vehicle dwelling in a large number of cities where an occupation occurred). be as offended as you like, occupy was thoroughly recuperated and was primed to implode – with a number of sexual assaults reported across cities, widespread harassment and a complete failure to address oppressions enacted within the camps – even before the cops showed up with the spark to your gunpowder. i was there, and in the aftermath had to play unwilling mother to the ones who did "the real work" since i was fool enough to accept a house key and get off of the street.
emsenn @emsenn

occupy, violence Show more

❦ CRIME LICH ❦ @rocket@libranet.de
it's illogical to someone who doesn't believe in mitigating the consequences of their actions on people downhill from them in power relations. exclusively. occupy absolutely did rob banks, that is what the foreclosure occupations were; the problem is the burden was placed entirely on the houseless people who were given keys to look after the entire vast underserved community, solo, and also to assert their rights and fight eviction with no help whatsoever from occupy.
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