community defense is not:

only the things you personally are comfortable or able to provide or discuss

no essentialism necessary

none of us can give a singular definition because it encompasses any possible activity that defends or keeps folks safe

much like mutual aid it's holistic in nature

humans need many things to thrive and survive

without a doubt, they do need a pulse to continue receiving care

#CommunityDefense #MutualAid

i'm working with a definition of community defense as discussed by scott crow in "Setting Sights: Histories and Reflections on Community Armed Self Defense".

it seems like people use the phrase "community defense" in ways that could just as easily be called "mutual aid".

we may even use the phrase differently in various contexts without referencing this broad nature.

these concepts are fairly intertwined so it makes sense that the cross-pollination leads to mixed messaging.

#CommunityDefense #MutualAid

i think that's why scott crow used "Community Armed Self Defense" in the title. the book does cover the necessity of being in community with folks that you engage in mutual aid with or in defensive solidarity with.

you can do almost any care work in a community without developing a real horizontal relationship of solidarity. often this is what non-profits and NGOs do. but this is something to watch out for in any activism or organizing.

there is a higher power differential with community armed self defense so it makes sense that folks are reticent about replicating historical examples of machismo, paternalism, and authoritarianism.

#CommunityDefense #MutualAid

During my decade-long defense of DC's P st Beach Gay woods 1989-1999 most of what I did was teach my partners very basic stuff about using the rough ravine landscape and the darkness against the cops. Basically I was trying to give as many people as possible the skills I already had.

It worked: people used what I taught, and it became almost a no-go zone for cops.

yeah community defense encompasses evasive and discrete strategies as much as those that are perceived as aggressive or escalatory