Let's all be friends and fight fascism (non-violently)

The left is really, REALLY good at eating itself, as the NYT wrote, or imploding, as stated by The Intercept, or self-destructing, per Politico.

"There's nothing the left hates more than itself," the old saw goes.

We've seen some groups stand with resilience over time, and some do great work for a few months before they're torn apart by infighting. There's no one correct solution for remedying this problem, but here are a few of the author's personal thoughts on how we can build a group that will stand the test of time.

1. Recognize common leftist pitfalls and traps

Progressives tend to care more than other people, and activists especially have battle-tested opinions on divisive issues, because they've put more thought into them. That passion and that certainty can be what drives movements forward.

It can also be what tears them apart, if members begin demanding that everyone think the same way they do about everything. Ideological purity tests can divide groups quickly. We don't all need to think the same things and live the same way in order to make good progress toward our shared goals together.

There are limits, of course. TERFS can fuck right off. We can recognize that some issues have nuance but all agree that some basic positions are non-negotiable.

We must agree that being part of a group means that we won't always agree on every issue. However, if we're all moving toward the same goals that we agree on together, our work has value and purpose.

2. Have a healthy, pre-arranged method for settling disputes

I think we've covered the idea that not everyone will agree all of the time. But--what can we do about it?

For We the People, we decided that we would approach each situation in a manner that prioritizes everyone feeling heard while minimizing distractions to the group.

If individuals have a problem with each other, they can reach out directly to each other to discuss it. If either one finds it helpful, members have volunteered to act as mediators to the discussion.

If the group has a problem with one individual, they're invited to ask one person to speak to that person directly, again, with mediation available as an option.

3. Protect each other

Other groups, influences, and individuals may try to come after any of our own members. That's just a sad fact of fighting for something in the public eye.

Our official stance is that we stand together, united.

If an internet mob comes after one of us and gets their targeted individual torn down, they'll only go after others. We don't bow to peer pressure, gossipmongers, or drama llamas. We stand beside our friends as we do this good work together.

There are exceptions to this. If someone is found to be a danger to others in the group, they'll be asked to no longer participate. We don't anticipate this happening often, if at all.

Want to be a part of a leftist group that has plans to stick around for the long (non-violent) fight? Take a look at our working groups or email us today!