EPISODE 3: Why We Need DIRECT ACTION

Overview: This episode breaks down what direct action actually means, why it matters, and why it has been essential to every radical movement in history—from abolitionist uprisings and labor strikes to tenant takeovers and queer uprisings. I dig into the political logic behind direct action: that we don't ask for change—we make it. I challenge the idea that appealing to power is the only or best path, and instead offer examples of how disruption, refusal, and collective defiance have won real gains.

This episode also names the risks and emotional weight that come with direct action—and how to navigate them collectively. It’s a call to see direct action not just as dramatic protest, but as an act of care, strategy, and collective agency.

Key Themes:

  • What direct action is (and isn’t)

  • Disruption as care and strategy

  • Abolitionist and radical legacies of resistance

  • Tension between reform and revolution

  • Everyday resistance and spectacular action

  • Organizing through escalation

Discussion Questions:

  • What’s an example of direct action that inspired you?

  • How do you define success in organizing—outcomes, impact, visibility?

  • What makes some actions feel risky or bold, and how do we prepare for that?

  • What do you think the role of disruption is in social change?

  • Can direct action look different depending on who’s involved or what the target is?

Activities:

  • Watch and analyze footage from 2 different direct actions—one high-risk, one low-risk. What worked? What didn’t?

  • Choose a current issue in your area and brainstorm a fictional (or real) direct action campaign in response.

  • Read an article or zine on the history of a direct action campaign (e.g., ACT UP, Ferguson, George Floyd Uprising) and reflect together.

  • Use a mapping tool (or whiteboard) to outline power targets, goals, and potential tactics.

  • Practice debriefing: roleplay a fictional action and then lead a debrief with emotional and tactical reflection.

Further Learning & Resources:

  • “Direct Action: An Historical Novel” by Luke Hauser

  • CrimethInc.’s "What is Direct Action?" primer

  • “Beautiful Trouble” Direct Action chapter

  • “How Nonviolence Protects the State” by Peter Gelderloos

  • "The Red Deal" by The Red Nation (especially action chapters)