🧵 DSA says its Red Rabbits initiative is about “security.” But according to its own authorizing resolution, the project is preparing for a “national uprising against federal agents and police brutality.”
A recent panel showed what that means in practice.
“Takedowns on intersections,” training where participants practiced being pepper-sprayed, firearm-safety training, protest marshalling, umbrellas and signs to block “fascists,” and direct-action support for Palestine and immigrant-justice groups.
The legal-risk issue was obvious enough that even the panelists kept circling it. They talked about compliance, liability, tax purposes, and how far DSA could push this without putting the organization at risk.
One organizer even described keeping a project DSA-sponsored but not fully DSA-run, so the fallout would not “come back to the DSA.”
My latest for @CityJournal!
A recent panel showed what that means in practice.
“Takedowns on intersections,” training where participants practiced being pepper-sprayed, firearm-safety training, protest marshalling, umbrellas and signs to block “fascists,” and direct-action support for Palestine and immigrant-justice groups.
The legal-risk issue was obvious enough that even the panelists kept circling it. They talked about compliance, liability, tax purposes, and how far DSA could push this without putting the organization at risk.
One organizer even described keeping a project DSA-sponsored but not fully DSA-run, so the fallout would not “come back to the DSA.”
My latest for @CityJournal!
This is my second look at the Red Rabbits as the project continues to evolve.
I genuinely think this is one of the most important aspects of the DSA to understand, especially as it keeps racking up wins nationwide and pushing more candidates into office.
city-journal.org/article/democr…
I genuinely think this is one of the most important aspects of the DSA to understand, especially as it keeps racking up wins nationwide and pushing more candidates into office.
city-journal.org/article/democr…
The first time I looked at Red Rabbits was after the DSA’s National Political Committee voted against removing a self-described “Maoist” from the commission despite his history of praising revolutionary violence.
It was fascinating to see a DSA organizer reach the same conclusion I did about the Sunrise Movement’s recent anti-ICE campaigns.
As he put it, Sunrise has been doing “more high-risk stuff for official orgs.”Â
As he put it, Sunrise has been doing “more high-risk stuff for official orgs.”Â
I wrote a whole article on that very topic!
Sunrise has moved far beyond climate activism into anti-ICE disruptions, corporate pressure campaigns, student walkout plans, and mass-strike organizing.
Sunrise has moved far beyond climate activism into anti-ICE disruptions, corporate pressure campaigns, student walkout plans, and mass-strike organizing.
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