Direct Action

Hundreds Converge For 44th Annual Earth First! Gathering

August 16, 2024 Sean Summers, Unicorn Riot. Organize! Action Camp, climate crisis, Direct Action, Earth First

Walking up the path to the Kirkridge Retreat Center outside Bangor, Pennsylvania in early July, you may have sensed something was afoot. Cars with license plates from far-flung states lined the driveway and wild-haired twenty-somethings mingled with kids, tweens and adults in their 30s, 40s and beyond. A hand painted cardboard sign reading simply “EF!” would have directed you, with an arrow pointing to the activity. A blend of laughter, music, and fragments of conversations about climate catastrophe quickly sets the tone before you reach a folding table strewn with literature, hand sanitizer, masks and snacks. “Welcome,” a smiling volunteer would greet you. “Are you here for Earth First?”

How To Make Sure Your Disruptive Protest Helps Your Cause

August 11, 2024 Mark Engler and Paul Engler, Waging Nonviolence. Strategize! Direct Action, History, Media, Polarization

In one of the most famous protest speeches of the 20th century, Berkeley Free Speech Movement leader Mario Savio stood before a crowd of several thousand on Dec. 2, 1964, and delivered an impassioned defense of disobedience: “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part,” Savio insisted. “You can’t even passively take part. And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus — and you’ve got to make it stop.” Perhaps now more than ever, recognizing the grave and even existential challenges we face in the world around us, people are following Savio’s advice and putting their bodies upon the gears.

Call To Action: Thwarting Israel’s Master Plan In The West Bank

August 3, 2024 Noura Khouri, Mondoweiss. Strategize! Direct Action, Illegal Settlements, International Solidarity, Palestine, West Bank

Returning to Palestine after 17 years was a surreal experience, and met with a constant sense of nagging and overwhelming suffocation. Walking and driving along the ancient blood-stained streets, I am acutely aware that there is no post-traumatic stress disorder while there’s constant trauma and stress being dished out every day on this magnificent and tortured stolen land. Being in constant awe at Palestinians’ everyday stories of normalized violence, juxtaposed with their unending generosity, kindness, and sense of sumud or steadfastness, is almost too much to bear witness to, much less comprehend.

Palestine Action Just Hit Two Israel Weapons Suppliers Before Dawn

July 22, 2024 Steve Topple, The Canary. Resist! Direct Action, Elbit Systems, Israel, Palestine, Palestine Action, United Kingdom (UK)

Just before 5am on Monday 22 July, one group of Palestine Action activists broke inside Manchester-based arms components manufacturer Dean Group International and dismantled machinery and equipment. Police have cordoned off the premises and remain at the scene as activists continue to occupy Dean Group International, Brinell Dr, Irlam, Manchester M44 5BL. Then, in Sunbury-on-Thames another group jumped security fences, shattered windows and hardware belonging to an arms supplier, Ametek Airtechnology. Both companies supply parts to Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems.

Whole Truth Five Sentenced To 4-5 Years At Southwark Crown Court

July 19, 2024 Just Stop Oil. Resist! climate crisis, Direct Action, Legal System, Roger Hallam, State Repression, United Kingdom (UK)

In an obscene perversion of justice, five Just Stop Oil supporters were handed multi-year prison sentences today for nothing more than attending a Zoom call. [1] At Southwark Crown Court, Judge Christopher Hehir jailed Roger Hallam (57, from Wales) for five years, whilst Daniel Shaw (38, from Northampton), Lucia Whittaker De Abreu (34, from Derby), Louise Lancaster (58, from Cambridge) and Cressida Gethin (22, from Hereford) were each sentenced to four years. They were convicted last week of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance in relation to the M25 motorway disruption in November 2022. [2] They will join Amy Pritchard who was sentenced in June to 10 months in prison for breaking a window belonging to the world’s largest fossil fuel funder, JP Morgan.

Action At The Port Of Genoa Against Rearmament And Genocide

July 6, 2024 Workers.org. Resist! Direct Action, Israel, Italy, Palestine, Ports, weapons

[There were] a paralyzed port, traffic jams, enormous damage and delays for shipowners and terminal operators — a day of struggle that points the way for class opposition to rearmament and a war economy. On June 25, the port gates San Benigno, Albertazzi, Etiopia and Lungomare Canepa in Genoa — Italy’s most important port — were simultaneously blocked for almost 10 hours with endless queues of lorries. Meanwhile hundreds of other people headed towards Terminal Messina (de facto blocked by the anti-riot police trucks), completely paralyzing the already jammed traffic.

July 24: No Free Speech For War Criminal Benjamin Netanyahu!

July 3, 2024 Workers' World. Resist! Benjamin Netanyahu, Congress, Direct Action, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Palestine Solidarity

July 24 is a moment for which the whole movement should begin considering, planning and strategizing for mass actions, shut-downs, stay-aways, sit-ins, walkouts, traffic blocks, work stoppages, strikes and more. In every city of the U.S. and internationally we have a responsibility to denounce Netanyahu’s address to Congress. This is an event designed to normalize and give an embrace to Israeli apartheid. We encourage every group and individual of conscience to think about what can be done collectively on July 24. This is a moment for breaking ranks with the genocidal established order. There is a protest already called at the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., on July 24. We hope this will be as large as possible and encourage anyone who is able to go to D.C.

High In The Himalayas, Resistance To Modi Is On The Rise

July 2, 2024 Safeena Wani, Waging Nonviolence. Resist! Climate Justice, Direct Action, Himalayas, India, Narendra Modi, Social Movements, Worker Rights and Jobs

The return of Narendra Modi as prime minister of India for a third consecutive term has come as a wakeup call for the right-wing Bharatiya Janta Party, or BJP. Unlike 2014 and 2019, Modi’s party this time fell short of the numbers needed to win an outright majority in parliament, despite his pre-election boasts to the contrary. Analysts attribute concerns over unemployment, inflation and growing conflict with China for Modi’s modest mandate. Apart from losing support from strongholds like Uttar Pradesh, Modi also lost ground in the mountainous region of Ladakh, which shares borders with China and Pakistan.

Climate Change Activists Gear Up For A Summer Of Dissent

June 10, 2024 Matthew Rozsa, Salon. Resist! Citibank, climate crisis, Direct Action, Divestment, Summer of Dissent

"We have a series of many events," said Pumarol. "We are planning direct actions throughout the summer." For three months starting on June 10th, they plan on shutting down the headquarter of Citibank, a financial institution that helps fund fossil fuel exploration. They also plan on staging a protest where humans dress as orcas, the iconic cetaceans that have been targeting yachts at least since November. "I think it's been a source of inspiration for many activists. We're also going to have a day where scientists are going to get arrested in front of city headquarters, and we're going to have a day where elders are going to bring their rocking chairs into city headquarters and also plan to get arrested.

Tripod Blockade Prevents Mountain Valley Pipeline Work For Five Hours

May 30, 2024 Appalachians Against Pipelines, Popular Resistance. Resist! Direct Action, Fossil Fuels, Mountain Valley Pipeline, Virginia

Elliston, VA - Early Wednesday morning, pipeline fighter August suspended themself in a tripod blockade on Yellow Finch Lane in Montgomery County, blocking Mountain Valley Pipeline's construction access to Poor Mountain. A rally of supporters gathered on site throughout the morning until Virginia State Police responded with a militarized, armored skid steer to remove August from their blockade. Banners and signs at the protest read, "UNTIL ALL ARE FREE," "WATER IS PRECIOUS," and "DOOM TO MVP!" After over 4.5 hours of blocking the road, August was extracted and arrested. They were charged with 4 misdemeanors and bail was set at $1,500.

Jury Finds Palestine Action Activists Not Guilty Over Elbit Occupation

May 26, 2024 The Canary. Resist! Direct Action, Elbit, Israel, Legal System, Palestine, Palestine Action, Palestine Solidarity, Victory

Two activists from Palestine Action were unanimously acquitted of criminal damage against arms manufacturer Elbit by a jury in Leicester Crown Court after a deliberation of just one hour and 40 minutes. For six days from 19 May 2021, four people from Palestine Action occupied the roof of UAV Tactical Systems, an Elbit drone factory in Leicester. The action was taken urgently in response to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza at the time. Whilst on the roof, the activists spray painted messages including “Shut Elbit Down” and “Free Palestine”, damaged a skylight to reveal a military drone inside and sprayed the building in blood red paint.

‘The People’s Graduation’ Celebrates Dozens In Denver

May 18, 2024 Alex Binder, Unicorn Riot. Resist! Campus Movement, Denver, Direct Action, Palestine, People's Graduation, Student Activism

Denver, CO — On Sunday afternoon, more than 100 people gathered on the Tivoli Quad at the Auraria Campus to witness and celebrate the dozens of graduates and student activists who participated in “The People’s Graduation” organized by the campus’ pro-Palestine solidarity encampment that’s been ongoing since April 25, 2024. The commencement ceremony honored “both the people who have been offered degrees by the institutions here as well as the students who made this camp possible,” according to Z Williams with Bread and Roses Legal Center, who kicked off Sunday’s event.

Protester Blockades The Mountain Valley Pipeline Access Road

May 16, 2024 Appalachians Against Pipelines, Popular Resistance. Resist! Direct Action, Fossil Fuels, Mountain Valley Pipeline, Pipelines, Virginia

Roanoke County, VA - Early this morning, a pipeline fighter going by the name Mullein locked themself to barrels blockading Honeysuckle Rd, which provides access to the Mountain Valley Pipeline easement. This protest, along with many prior, is located on Poor Mountain, where the Yellow Finch Treesits protected some of the last standing trees in the MVP’s path for two and a half years from 2018-2021. About a month ago, a similar action took place at this same location. Two grandparents had locked themselves to a large wooden opossum, stopping work for the day. "Today, as I sit in the road on so-called Poor Mountain, it is the day after Nakba Day," stated Mullein.

University Of California Office Of The President Attacked

May 14, 2024 Sacred Black and Red, IndyBay. Resist! Campus Movement, Direct Action, Gaza, Genocide, Solidarity, Student Activism, University of California

With the Aurora Borealis above us and the martyrs in our hearts, we attacked the UC Office of the President in solidarity with the Palestinian Resistance. Using a fire extinguisher filled with red paint we covered the facade and smashed seven windows. Then, with access to the building, we released 500 cockroaches inside and emptied a second fire extinguisher onto the interior. We finalized the act by leaving a water jug inscribed with "Bonk" at the scene - an homage to the militants of Cal Poly Humboldt and the international student encampment movement.

MVP Protester Locks Himself To Construction Equipment

May 9, 2024 Appalachians Against Pipelines, Popular Resistance. Resist! climate crisis, Direct Action, Fossil Fuels, Mountain Valley Pipelines, Virginia

Elliston, VA — Early Wednesday morning, pipeline fighter Finn locked himself to a side boom on a Mountain Valley Pipeline worksite on Poor Mountain in Montgomery County, VA, preventing MVP construction at the site for 11 hours. "Why risk arrest? Why risk my name? Why devote my time and energy, to be here protesting this pipeline in the backwoods of Appalachia?" Finn asked. "The truth is I've lost the ability to look away. And it no longer makes sense to be anywhere else." At the base of the mountain, nearby where the pipeline easement crosses Yellow Finch Rd, a rally of people gathered to show their support for Finn's action.

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