Mutual Aid, the Commons, and the Revolutionary Abolition of Capitalism
Revisiting the Difference Between Mutual Aid and Charity
https://crimethinc.com/RevolutionaryMutualAid
Much has been made of the distinction between charity and mutual aid. Charity is top-down and unidirectional, while mutual aid is supposed to be horizontal, reciprocal, and participatory. In practice, however, the majority of today’s self-described mutual aid projects remain more or less unidirectional efforts to provide goods and services to those in need.
This has contributed to a situation in which conventional non-profit organizations are rebranding themselves with the language of “mutual aid,” while some anarchists have given up on the concept entirely, fed up with a rhetoric that some say amounts to “mutual aid being good and radical, and charity being bad and conservative.”
Is there more to the distinction than this? How can we unlock the revolutionary potential of mutual aid?
Revisiting the Difference Between Mutual Aid and Charity
https://crimethinc.com/RevolutionaryMutualAid
Much has been made of the distinction between charity and mutual aid. Charity is top-down and unidirectional, while mutual aid is supposed to be horizontal, reciprocal, and participatory. In practice, however, the majority of today’s self-described mutual aid projects remain more or less unidirectional efforts to provide goods and services to those in need.
This has contributed to a situation in which conventional non-profit organizations are rebranding themselves with the language of “mutual aid,” while some anarchists have given up on the concept entirely, fed up with a rhetoric that some say amounts to “mutual aid being good and radical, and charity being bad and conservative.”
Is there more to the distinction than this? How can we unlock the revolutionary potential of mutual aid?
In January 2017, when Donald Trump announced the Muslim Ban—a complete ban on travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries—protesters converged at airports around the country, shutting down travel.
Now he is banning travel from twice as many countries.
https://crimethinc.com/airportblockades
It's worth revisiting the events of 2017 to understand the scale of resistance. 5000 protesters shut down all international flights at SFO in San Francisco. 30,000 shut down a large section of the financial district of Manhattan while thousands protested at JFK. Protests like this took place at dozens of airports and business districts around the country.
In the wake of those protests—and not a moment before—a judge declared the Muslim Ban unconstitutional. When we take action together, we can change the course of history.
Don't let Trump and his cronies bury their oppressive acts in a news cycle filled with noise. Let's show up for each other in solidarity. Resist.
Now he is banning travel from twice as many countries.
https://crimethinc.com/airportblockades
It's worth revisiting the events of 2017 to understand the scale of resistance. 5000 protesters shut down all international flights at SFO in San Francisco. 30,000 shut down a large section of the financial district of Manhattan while thousands protested at JFK. Protests like this took place at dozens of airports and business districts around the country.
In the wake of those protests—and not a moment before—a judge declared the Muslim Ban unconstitutional. When we take action together, we can change the course of history.
Don't let Trump and his cronies bury their oppressive acts in a news cycle filled with noise. Let's show up for each other in solidarity. Resist.
On June 3, a crowd drove federal agents out of Minneapolis following an attempted raid. On June 4, people confronted ICE in Chicago and Grand Rapids. Today, there are clashes with ICE in Los Angeles.
Don't let them keep harming people.
You can print this poster out here:
https://cdn.crimethinc.com/assets/articles/2018/07/01/apply-heat-melt-ice.pdf
Don't let them keep harming people.
You can print this poster out here:
https://cdn.crimethinc.com/assets/articles/2018/07/01/apply-heat-melt-ice.pdf
Los Angeles Stands up to ICE
https://crimethinc.com/LosAngelesJune6
In this report, participants in the clashes of June 6 describe how people came together to defend their community from federal agents.
This details the response to the initial raids, the standoff at the detention center, and how a crowd chased ICE out of Chinatown later that night.
https://crimethinc.com/LosAngelesJune6
In this report, participants in the clashes of June 6 describe how people came together to defend their community from federal agents.
This details the response to the initial raids, the standoff at the detention center, and how a crowd chased ICE out of Chinatown later that night.
The Trump administration began by attacking immigrants—both documented and undocumented—because they believe immigrants to be the most vulnerable target with the least widespread support.
But whatever they can do to immigrants today they will do to the rest of us tomorrow.
Even the most milquetoast centrists must understand that the outcome of the conflict that is ramping up now will determine the prospects for every other target Trump has lined up in his sights, from Harvard University to those who simply wish to be able to afford groceries.
Our future is at stake in this fight. We cannot stand aside.
http://crimethinc.com/LosAngelesJune6
But whatever they can do to immigrants today they will do to the rest of us tomorrow.
Even the most milquetoast centrists must understand that the outcome of the conflict that is ramping up now will determine the prospects for every other target Trump has lined up in his sights, from Harvard University to those who simply wish to be able to afford groceries.
Our future is at stake in this fight. We cannot stand aside.
http://crimethinc.com/LosAngelesJune6
Trump has signed a memorandum deploying 2000 National Guard to Los Angeles—the next step in his power grab.
The best thing that people can do in solidarity is to take action outside LA. They want to isolate and suppress us one by one.
Stand up in solidarity.
https://crimethinc.com/posters/the-border-is-everywhere
The best thing that people can do in solidarity is to take action outside LA. They want to isolate and suppress us one by one.
Stand up in solidarity.
https://crimethinc.com/posters/the-border-is-everywhere
Los Angeles szembeszáll az ICE-vel
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-szembeszall-az-ice-vel-kozvetlen-beszamolo-a-junius-6-i-osszecsapasokrol
Június 3-án a tömeg elűzte a szövetségi ügynököket Minneapolisból, miután azok rajtaütöttek egy taco étteremen. Június 4-én a környék lakói konfrontálódtak az amerikai bevándorlási és vámhatósági ügynökökkel, amikor azok rajtaütéseket hajtottak végre Chicagóban és Grand Rapidsban. Június 6-án, pénteken a los angelesiek válaszoltak az ICE razziájára, ami egész napos összecsapásokhoz vezetett, amelyek ma is folytatódnak.
#Magyar
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-szembeszall-az-ice-vel-kozvetlen-beszamolo-a-junius-6-i-osszecsapasokrol
Június 3-án a tömeg elűzte a szövetségi ügynököket Minneapolisból, miután azok rajtaütöttek egy taco étteremen. Június 4-én a környék lakói konfrontálódtak az amerikai bevándorlási és vámhatósági ügynökökkel, amikor azok rajtaütéseket hajtottak végre Chicagóban és Grand Rapidsban. Június 6-án, pénteken a los angelesiek válaszoltak az ICE razziájára, ami egész napos összecsapásokhoz vezetett, amelyek ma is folytatódnak.
#Magyar
Los Angeles erhebt sich gegen ICE
Ein Bericht aus erster Hand über die Zusammenstöße vom 6. Juni
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-erhebt-sich-gegen-ice-ein-bericht-aus-erster-hand-uber-die-zusammenstosse-vom-6-juni
Am 3. Juni vertrieb eine Menschenmenge Bundesbeamte nach einer Razzia in einer Taqueria in Minneapolis. Am 4. Juni stellten sich Menschen den Agenten der US-Einwanderungs- und Zollbehörde (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) entgegen, als diese in Chicago und Grand Rapids Razzien durchführten. Am Freitag, dem 6. Juni, reagierten die Menschen in Los Angeles auf eine ICE-Razzia, was zu ganztägigen Zusammenstößen führte, die bis heute andauern. Im folgenden Bericht aus erster Hand beschreiben die Teilnehmer, wie die Menschen zusammenkamen, um ihr Bestes zu tun, um zu verhindern, dass Bundesbeamte Menschen aus ihrer Gemeinde entführen.
#Deutsch
Ein Bericht aus erster Hand über die Zusammenstöße vom 6. Juni
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-erhebt-sich-gegen-ice-ein-bericht-aus-erster-hand-uber-die-zusammenstosse-vom-6-juni
Am 3. Juni vertrieb eine Menschenmenge Bundesbeamte nach einer Razzia in einer Taqueria in Minneapolis. Am 4. Juni stellten sich Menschen den Agenten der US-Einwanderungs- und Zollbehörde (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) entgegen, als diese in Chicago und Grand Rapids Razzien durchführten. Am Freitag, dem 6. Juni, reagierten die Menschen in Los Angeles auf eine ICE-Razzia, was zu ganztägigen Zusammenstößen führte, die bis heute andauern. Im folgenden Bericht aus erster Hand beschreiben die Teilnehmer, wie die Menschen zusammenkamen, um ihr Bestes zu tun, um zu verhindern, dass Bundesbeamte Menschen aus ihrer Gemeinde entführen.
#Deutsch
Los Angeles se postavilo ICE - protesty proti únosům
Reportáž z první ruky o střetech 6. června
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-se-postavilo-ice-protesty-proti-unosum-reportaz-z-prvni-ruky-o-stretech-6-cervna
3. června vyhnal dav federální agenty z Minneapolisu po razii v taquerii. 4. června se lidé postavili agentům imigračního a celního úřadu USA, kteří prováděli razie v Chicagu a Grand Rapids. V pátek 6. června lidé v Los Angeles reagovali na zátah ICE a vyvolali celodenní střety, které pokračují i dnes. V následující reportáži z první ruky účastníci popisují, jak se lidé spojili, aby se snažili zabránit federálním agentům v únosu lidí z jejich komunity.
#Čeština
Reportáž z první ruky o střetech 6. června
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-se-postavilo-ice-protesty-proti-unosum-reportaz-z-prvni-ruky-o-stretech-6-cervna
3. června vyhnal dav federální agenty z Minneapolisu po razii v taquerii. 4. června se lidé postavili agentům imigračního a celního úřadu USA, kteří prováděli razie v Chicagu a Grand Rapids. V pátek 6. června lidé v Los Angeles reagovali na zátah ICE a vyvolali celodenní střety, které pokračují i dnes. V následující reportáži z první ruky účastníci popisují, jak se lidé spojili, aby se snažili zabránit federálním agentům v únosu lidí z jejich komunity.
#Čeština
"We can handle one 10,000-person protest, but ten 1000-person protests throughout the city will overwhelm us."
-LAPD Chief Michel Moore, discussing the 2020 uprising
Decentralization is key. Don't let anyone tell you our movements need centralized leadership or control.
Elon Musk personally banned our Twitter account in 2022, but this post from 2020 remains good advice today.
-LAPD Chief Michel Moore, discussing the 2020 uprising
Decentralization is key. Don't let anyone tell you our movements need centralized leadership or control.
Elon Musk personally banned our Twitter account in 2022, but this post from 2020 remains good advice today.
These anonymous posters are circulating in several variants—connecting struggles against the police in Los Angeles, Gaza, and Greece to Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle.
You can download all of them here:
https://crimethinc.com/posters/the-whole-world-hates-the-police
You can download all of them here:
https://crimethinc.com/posters/the-whole-world-hates-the-police
Liberals fear that if people act unruly, Trump will be able to impose totalitarian control.
That gets things backwards. Trump is already imposing totalitarian control. That's what is driving people into the streets.
It's too late to avoid this fight.
We can be passive and lose—or give it our all.
https://crimethinc.com/saferinthefront
That gets things backwards. Trump is already imposing totalitarian control. That's what is driving people into the streets.
It's too late to avoid this fight.
We can be passive and lose—or give it our all.
https://crimethinc.com/saferinthefront
Los Angeles resiste all’ ICE
Un resoconto in prima persona sugli scontri del 6 giugno
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-resiste-all-ice-un-resoconto-in-prima-persona-sugli-scontri-del-6-giugno
Il 3 giugno, una folla ha cacciato gli agenti federali da Minneapolis in seguito a un raid in una taqueria. Il 4 giugno, la gente ha fronteggiato gli agenti della US Immigration and Customs Enforcement mentre questi effettuavano delle retate a Chicago e Grand Rapids. Venerdì 6 giugno, la popolazione di Los Angeles ha reagito a una retata dell’ICE, scatenando una giornata intera di scontri che continuano ancora oggi. Nel seguente resoconto scritto da testimoni diretti, i partecipanti descrivono come la gente si sia mobilitata per impedire agli agenti federali di rapire persone della loro comunità.
#Italiano
Un resoconto in prima persona sugli scontri del 6 giugno
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-resiste-all-ice-un-resoconto-in-prima-persona-sugli-scontri-del-6-giugno
Il 3 giugno, una folla ha cacciato gli agenti federali da Minneapolis in seguito a un raid in una taqueria. Il 4 giugno, la gente ha fronteggiato gli agenti della US Immigration and Customs Enforcement mentre questi effettuavano delle retate a Chicago e Grand Rapids. Venerdì 6 giugno, la popolazione di Los Angeles ha reagito a una retata dell’ICE, scatenando una giornata intera di scontri che continuano ancora oggi. Nel seguente resoconto scritto da testimoni diretti, i partecipanti descrivono come la gente si sia mobilitata per impedire agli agenti federali di rapire persone della loro comunità.
#Italiano
Los Angeles Enfrenta o ICE
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-enfrenta-o-ice-relato-em-primeira-mao-dos-confrontos-de-6-de-junho
No dia 3 de junho, uma multidão expulsou agentes federais de Minneapolis após uma batida em uma taqueria. No dia 4, pessoas enfrentaram agentes do Serviço de Imigração e Alfândega dos EUA (ICE) durante operações em Chicago e Grand Rapids. Na sexta-feira, 6 de junho, moradores de Los Angeles reagiram a uma batida do ICE, dando início a um dia inteiro de confrontos que continuam até hoje. No relato em primeira mão a seguir, participantes descrevem como pessoas se uniram para tentar impedir que agentes federais sequestrassem membros de sua comunidade.
#Português
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/08/los-angeles-enfrenta-o-ice-relato-em-primeira-mao-dos-confrontos-de-6-de-junho
No dia 3 de junho, uma multidão expulsou agentes federais de Minneapolis após uma batida em uma taqueria. No dia 4, pessoas enfrentaram agentes do Serviço de Imigração e Alfândega dos EUA (ICE) durante operações em Chicago e Grand Rapids. Na sexta-feira, 6 de junho, moradores de Los Angeles reagiram a uma batida do ICE, dando início a um dia inteiro de confrontos que continuam até hoje. No relato em primeira mão a seguir, participantes descrevem como pessoas se uniram para tentar impedir que agentes federais sequestrassem membros de sua comunidade.
#Português