Building the Network that Serves the Revolution Wrap-up
A few pointers and resources for connecting with your fellows
The last two articles have given a bit of an overview on applying the “5 Steps” in order to build out networks of mutual aid as well as little information on working with the houseless. So for today, I want to wrap up this speil by discussing in a little more detail what mutual aid for the houseless looks like, as well as drop a few infographics detailing some solid tips for community solidarity and defense.
Working with the houseless to solve their problems
Sometimes, you gotta understand that folks in a survival situation aren’t interested in bigger plans for unified proletariat revolution, sometimes a muthafucker just needs a hamburger, a beer, and a solid six hours of sleep. So keeping that in mind, lets talk about how you help those either in the tent cities around your area, or someone you come across panhandling.
First, if you got the spare change, give it too em. Don’t worry about what they plan on spending it on. It’s none of your business. Nobody gives you the third degree when you go get a drink with friends after work, so why are you hassling the homeless guy about whether or not he’s getting a beer. If you are like most people and don’t carry cash, feel free to ask what specifically they need if you’re going into a store and just pick it up for em. Getting people to a more comfortable place and fulfilling those base level needs allows them more time and energy to devote to organizing themselves.
Second, when it comes to the actual organizing part, don’t pretend you know better about what they need than they do. Obviously housing is key, but you’ll find a lot of houseless folks, aren’t even asking for that first. First and foremost, they are looking for some basic human decency. Remember, houseless people are still people. Being broke doesn’t downgrade you from human to critter status. Sometimes even if you can’t afford to help someone on the street, taking 3 minutes out of your day to talk to them about their day is more than enough. A small reminder that they are human and have stories and frustrations and need someone to talk too is usually forgotten in the skirmish to drop off a bunch of expired canned goods and blankets before doing the photo ops.
Third, Don’t take photos or videos of the work you do without asking and then paying them for it. Poverty porn is a real problem, and you can help reduce it by not exploiting folks down on their luck. For those curious about the video in my last post, yah, they all were asked if they’d like to speak about their situations, and were paid for their time. We try to avoid hypocrisy when we can.
In addition to monetary aid, small ziplock bags with some essentials can go a long way to help folks as well. Contents should include:
Shower stuff - Soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I take the ones from hotels and pack em up in small bags later.
First aid - bandaids, alcohol wipes, etc are helpful bc oftentimes there isn’t a sanitary place to clean up a cut if you knick yourself on the streets.
Grooming stuff - Q-tips, comb, nail clippers, etc. You don’t need to go crazy, but the ability to comb your hair and trim your nails helps with feeling better about oneself and can improve moral.
money - Stick a dollar or two, even if its in change, in the bag. Especially as it gets towards winter or summer, having a dollar means buying a soda or coffee somewhere and getting an hour or two respite from the hotest part of the day.
Lastly, not all mutial aid has to be cash or goods. One of the most important things you can do is to help shift the narrative about houseless folks when you see people in public spaces being a Karen about it. If someone is crying in a starbucks that there’s a guy giving them the creeps, tell them to mind their own business. Talk to management at the store about why paying customers should get to keep their seats. The guy avoiding the heat is no more a nuisance than the loser writing his manuscript loudly near the window. Fight for their rights to occupy public spaces.
On a related note, DON’T CALL THE COPS ON HOUSELESS PEOPLE. Especially if their having a mental health crisis. Fuck 12. They are just gonna show up and blast the poor guy, which means you’re responsible for that if you made the call. So on that note, let’s segue that into what you can and should do instead.
12 Things to do instead of calling the cops:
“12 Things to do Instead of Calling the Cops” is a new zine produced jointly by the May Day Collective and Solidarity & Defense. The entire text is reprinted below and the zine is available in both printable and screen reading versions. There are also poster versions (1, 2).
Calling the police often escalates situations, puts people at risk, and leads to violence. Anytime you seek help from the police, you’re inviting them into your community and putting people who may already be vulnerable into dangerous situations. Sometimes people feel that calling the police is the only way to deal with problems. But we can build trusted networks of mutual aid that allow us to better handle conflicts ourselves and move toward forms of transformative justice, while keeping police away from our neighborhoods.
1 Don’t feel obligated to defend property—especially corporate “private” property. Before confronting someone or contacting the police, ask yourself if anyone is being hurt or endangered by property “theft” or damage. If the answer is “no,” then let it be.
2 If something of yours is stolen and you need to file a report for insurance or other purposes, consider going to the police station instead of bringing cops into your community. You may inadvertently be putting someone in your neighborhood at risk.
3 If you observe someone exhibiting behavior that seems “odd” to you, don’t assume that they are publicly intoxicated. A traumatic brain injury or a similar medical episode may be occurring. Ask if they are OK, if they have a medical condition, and if they need assistance.
4 If you see someone pulled over with car trouble, stop and ask if they need help or if you can call a tow truck for them. If the police are introduced to such a situation, they may give punitive and unnecessary tickets to people with car issues, target those without papers, or worse.
5 Keep a contact list of community resources like suicide hotlines. When police are contacted to “manage” such situations, people with mental illness are sixteen times more likely to be killed by cops than those without mental health challenges.
6 Check your impulse to call the police on someone you believe looks or is acting “suspicious.” Is their race, gender, ethnicity, class, or housing situation influencing your choice? Such calls can be death sentences for many people.
7 Encourage teachers, coworkers, and organizers to avoid inviting police into classrooms, workplaces, and public spaces. Instead, create for a culture of taking care of each other and not unwittingly putting people in harm’s way. If you’re part of a group that’s holding a rally or demonstration, don’t get a permit or otherwise cooperate with the police.
8 If your neighbor is having a party and the noise is bothering you, go over and talk to them. Getting to know your neighbors with community events like monthly block parties is a good way to make asking them to quiet down a little less uncomfortable, or to find another neighbor who is willing to do so.
9 If you see someone peeing in public, just look away! Remember, for example, that many houseless people do not have reliable access to bathrooms.
10 Hold and attend deescalation, conflict resolution, first-aid, volunteer medic, and self-defense workshops in your neighborhood, school, workplace, or community organization.
11 Street art is beautiful! Don’t report graffiti and other street artists. If you see work that includes fascistic or hate speech, paint over it yourself or with friends.
12 Remember that police can escalate domestic violence situations. You can support friends and neighbors who are being victimized by abusers by offering them a place to stay, a ride to a safe location, or to watch their children. Utilize community resources like safe houses and hotlines.
Some Additional Resources and Information:
The Organization Resting Safe1 has some excellent information for those on the streets about mold/mildew removal, fire safety, dealing with bugs and more. All of which can be seen here:
https://www.restingsafe.org/resting-safe-toolkit
Prior to the internet, communication was largely done through small independant magazines, or “zines” as they were a cheap and easy way to make a small spread full of information and drop off at a trusted location. With more and more news stories2 popping up about the inevitable crackdown of leftists online, it’s good to know how things were done in the before times so you can be prepared for that. Here’s a simple primer:
https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-a-zine/
It’s my intention to tackle meaningful issues facing the left and provide some potential solutions and options to organize around. Next up will be the lefts relationship to media, propaganda, ahistorical retellings, and how to counteract these things. Until next time.
-EQ
https://www.restingsafe.org/
While the stated goal of the article listed is seemingly to hit domestic terrorists, anyone who pays attention knows it’s gonna target BIPoC organizers first and foremost.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/03/politics/dhs-partner-private-firms-surveil-suspected-domestic-terrorists/index.html