Rebel Steps on Autonomous Organizing and Action Across NYC in 2020

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On this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, we speak with two people involved in the anarchist podcast Rebel Steps, based out of New York City. During our discussion, we look back at 2020 from the context of anarchist organizing in New York City and the lessons – and hard questions – that it leaves us with.

Two separated contingents of protesters in Brooklyn have just met up with each other. Lots of NYPD here though in riot gear too though. Helicopter flying overhead. #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/Ek9R5jR0tE

— Ash J (@AshAgony) May 30, 2020

Over the course of our interview, we touch on the pandemic, looking critically at the response to COVID-19 by the Democratic Party, the rise of mutual aid projects, the explosion of the George Floyd rebellion, antifascist struggle, autonomous tenant organizing and rent strikes, and over all, the growth and proliferation of both movement infrastructure and community based organizing.

“Every city, every town – burn the precincts to the ground!”

Last night, Everybody Out NYC was brutally attacked by the NYPD. Everybody out means we don’t trust politicians to control our future. We won’t legitimize institutions that have never looked out for us or kept us safe. pic.twitter.com/Qz1j0SmU5s

— Outlive Them NYC (@outlivethemnyc) November 5, 2020

While the post-Trump era leaves us with even more difficult questions, it’s important to look back and take stock of the past year and prepare for what lies ahead.

On #ThisIsAmerica, we talked to two @1234PacificPowr
tenants on #rentstrike in #Brooklyn about the growing movement, the intersections of #mutualaid projects, and what we should expect on #MayDay2020 as a city-wide rent strike has been called in #NYC. https://t.co/zZyBbj40r1 pic.twitter.com/2xt57kE1RA

— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) April 25, 2020

More Info: Rebel Steps website and podcast, Rebel Steps on Twitter, support Rebel Steps on Patreon

photo: Ash J on Twitter