What is mutual aid? It’s not charity — it’s how communities survive when the state fails. In this video, I break down its history, its politics, and how you can get involved today. From the Black Panther Party’s free breakfast programs to today’s disaster relief networks, mutual aid has always been a tool for survival pending revolution.
Episode 4 of the DIRECT ACTION 101 series
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CHAPTERS
00:00 INTRO
01:25 What is MUTUAL AID?
04:20 Collective Economies and the democratic nature of Mutual Aid
06:27 The necessity of STATE VIOLENCE vs the power of MUTUAL AID
08:21 on FOOD COLLECTIVISM as a form of MUTUAL AID
11:29 The Black Panther Party FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM as Mutual Aid
14:24 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE as Mutual Aid and Young Lords Lincoln Hospital Takeover
19:34 HOTLINE AND CHATSERVICES as a form of HARM REDUCTION
21:47 MEANS TV - Support my channel by signing up with my code
22:40 On EDUCATIONAL MUTUAL AID w/ BPP Liberation Schools and Jamal Joseph
34:50 On building community trust through MUTUAL AID
36:09 HOUSING MUTUAL AID - camp sweeps, squatting, etc
37:35 Interview w SAM a mutual aid organizer
44:59 On SQUATTING and my time in Spain
49:09 On LEGAL AND JAIL SUPPORT and the FREE HUEY campaign
52:06 The Panther 21 Trial and Jamal Joseph's experience
01:00:45 My story - Doing legal support work with THE BOEING 5
01:02:48 On DISASTER RELIEF MUTUAL AID and Hurricane Katrina
01:08:38 On ABOLITIONARY MUTUAL AID and the Attica Uprising
01:14:39 OUTRO
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Books to Read on Mutual Aid
Disaster Anarchy: Mutual Aid and Radical Action
Rhiannon Firth examines how mutual aid networks have emerged in response to crises like Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19, highlighting their effectiveness and challenges.
https://bookshop.org/a/109212/9781839762123
Disaster Anarchy: Mutual Aid and Radical Action
Rhiannon Firth examines how mutual aid networks have emerged in response to crises like Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19, highlighting their effectiveness and challenges.
https://bookshop.org/a/109212/9780745340456
Support independent bookstores by purchasing with our affiliate link on through Bookshop.org.
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Other Resources
It’s Going Down: What Is Mutual Aid? (short explainer)
https://itsgoingdown.org/what-is-mutual-aid/
The Laura Flanders Show: Mutual Aid — Not Charity but Solidarity
https://lauraflanders.org/2020/05/mutual-aid-not-charity-but-solidarity/
Vera Institute: Mutual Aid in Action During COVID-19
https://www.vera.org/news/covid-19-1Unicorn Riot: Frontline Mutual Aid at Standing Rock
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