#54: Anarchist Resistance in the Trump Era

The Ex-Worker

What will resistance look like in the Trump era? What role can anarchists play? In Episode 54 of The Ex-Worker podcast we grapple with these questions as they will unfold on January 20 and beyond. It’s true, we incorrectly predicted a Clinton victory—reaction has advanced faster than we’d realized, but this apocalyptic scenario has catalyzed a flurry of rebellion and defiance. We begin the episode by recounting our analysis of the risks and possibilities of this political moment produced in the immediate aftermath of the election, as well as the “No Peaceful Transition” call that dozens of anarchist and antifascist groups have endorsed. On our recent speaking tour, some Ex-Workers traveled through the Northeast and Midwest, discussing the economic and political context framing Trump’s victory and learning about the initiatives to fight back and build autonomy going on across the country. We share an audio recording of the presentation, and complement it with an excerpt from a history of anarchist counter-inaugural protest, recently published hot on the heels of our Washington, DC anti-globalization walking tour. You’ll also hear an announcement about the new CrimethInc website, prisoner birthdays, and more. Whether or not you can make it to DC, let’s make sure that in the days and weeks to come we set a tone for uncompromising, ungovernable resistance to Trump and the world that makes him possible. {January 18, 2017}

-------SHOW NOTES------

• Table of Contents:
  • Introduction {0:01}
  • President Trump: Countdown to Apocalypse {2:06}
  • No Peaceful Transition: Call to #DisruptJ20 {8:46}
  • “Resistance in the Trump Era”: CrimethInc. Speaking Tour Presentation {13:45}
  • “Whoever They Vote For, We Are Ungovernable: A History of Anarchist Counter-Inaugural Protest” (excerpt) {1:06:20}
  • Under No Management: The New CrimethInc.com {1:25:42}
  • Prisoner Birthdays {1:28:29}
  • Conclusion {1:29:43}
• For the latest info about counter-inaugural protests, see the Disrupt J20 website and follow them on Twitter at [#DisruptJ20](https://twitter.com/disruptJ20). See you in the streets!
• We began the episode with the statement we released immediately after the election, “President Trump: Countdown to Apocalypse”. We also shared the “No Peaceful Transition” call to counter-inaugural action released shortly after.
• The presentation we recorded for this episode took place in Asheville, North Carolina at Firestorm Books and Cafe, as part of a nine city speaking tour on resistance in the Trump era.
• This episode includes an excerpt from “Whoever They Vote For, We Are Ungovernable: A History of Anarchist Counter-Inaugural Protest”. And don’t neglect to enjoy the infamous crowd-surf to freedom from 2001.
• If you can make it to DC, be sure to check out the Anti-Globalization Walking Tour produced by the Ex-Worker!
• If you’re reading this, you’ve noticed that we’ve overhauled our website! To learn more, check out the announcement, “Under No Management: The New CrimethInc.com”.
• In the concluding part of the speaking tour presentation, we mention projects by The Base in Brooklyn, NY; Ungovernable 2017 in Jackson, MS and beyond; Inaugurate the Revolution in Bloomington, IN; and others.
• Don’t forget about the upcoming Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity on January 22nd!
• Prisoner birthdays: Herman Bell #79-C–0262 Great Meadow Correctional Facility 11739 State Route 22 Post Office Box 51 Comstock, New York 12821–0051 {January 14th} Sundiata Acoli (Clark Squire) #39794–066 FCI Cumberland Post Office Box 1000 Cumberland, Maryland 21501 Please address envelope to Clark Squire, card/letter to Sundiata Acoli {January 14th} Joseph Bowen #AM 4272 SCI Coal Township 1 Kelley Drive Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866–1020 Nickname: Joe-Joe {January 15th} Marius (Marie) Mason #04672–061 FMC Carswell Post Office Box 27137 Fort Worth, Texas 76127 Please address envelope to Marie, card/letter to Marius {January 26th} Veronza Bowers, Jr. 35316–136 USP Atlanta Post Office Box 150160 Atlanta, Georgia 30315 {February 4th}