We are the Space City Anarchist Organization, an anarchist organization based out of so-called Houston, Texas. We have established ourselves first and foremost to build a movement in support of the people.
We do not seek to lead or direct the people’s path to liberation; we only seek to provide influence and suggestions as we all strive to build a better world where the privilege of freedom becomes the right of all peoples.
Our organization is based on especifist theory and praxis, which was established by the Federación Anarquista Uruguaya (FAU), and, by it, we refer to a conception of an anarchist organization that has two fundamental axes: organization and social insertion. With this model, we aim to radically transform the SE-TX region into a free society based on the people’s control of their own lives with no politicians or bosses ruling over them. This model will empower all who wish to build a life that is meaningful, connected, and free.
Through collective effort, individuals can prefigure today what tomorrow should look like; technology empowers us to coordinate our efforts in real-time, and we do not need permission from anyone to build a life free from the obligations and oppression of capitalism and imperialism. However, voluntary members of SCAO recognize that what we are facing is not just capitalism and imperialism but multiple interlocking systems of oppression, exploitation, and domination that operate on a micro- (individual) and macro- (societal) level.
At the root of it all, you will find that it is hierarchy that enables this suffering in every sphere of our lives: in our most intimate relationships, in our families, our churches, our schools, our government – and that capitalism and imperialism are just some of the many destructive fruits of hierarchy. Therefore, the voluntary members of SCAO are committed to working together to build a movement in support of the people residing on Indigenous Land.
We’re not fighting against an enemy, we’re fighting for a cause, so that every regular person can take their fate into their own hands and govern themselves. Our organizational platform is as follows, and we encourage anyone who finds themselves agreeing with our platform to join our movement.
POINTS OF UNITY
- Feminism: We are first and foremost a feminist organization. We do not tolerate misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, machismo, or abuse of any kind. We have no tolerance for power imbalances that enable the oppression of marginalized genders.
- Anti-Capitalism: We reject capitalism and all its forms of exploitation, oppression, and domination that enable the owning class to profit off the oppressed.
- Anti-Authoritarianism: There is no collaboration with the state or overt authoritarian organizations. We stand in opposition to state repression, infiltration, entryism into our movements.
- Respect for Diversity of Tactics: The struggle and resistance against our oppressors cannot be limited by one strategy or tactic, and we must embrace the full diversity of thoughts and ideas that empower individuals to achieve freedom and self-determination.
- Intersectionality: Our struggles fundamentally intersect with each other. Our organization is a place where people of color, queer people, trans people, women, neurodivergent people, disabled people, and anyone else who belongs to a marginalized group have their perspective valued and prioritized.
- Anti-Racism: We are an organization that is fundamentally anti-racist. White supremacy, anti-blackness, anti-indigenous sentiment, and other forms of oppression that extend from the dynamic of race or ethnicity are not tolerated.
- Disability Justice: Our society prioritizes productivity over our well-being. Our bodies are deserving of protection, and that our organization takes care of those that society leaves behind.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- Horizontalism: We understand that all forms of oppression extend from the authority of person over person, and person over nature. Hierarchy extends from this domination, and we fundamentally oppose the concentration of power that allows individuals to exploit, oppress, and dominate their fellow beings and nature. We seek to build horizontal structures based on consensus and direct democracy.
- Ecology: We must work towards restoring the balance of ecological systems that have been destroyed or damaged as a result of human domination of nature. We must emphasize that we are not simply separated from nature. Our communities will suffer if we do not take care of our environment.
- Dual Power: Power cannot come from voting and participating in structures that the system sets up. Capitalism cannot meet the needs of our communities. We aim to create a system that serves people, instead of the greed of the owning class. Our economic goal should be to give optimal control of the production and distribution of all things to everyone.
- Community Defense: Our communities cannot rely on the police or the military for the defense of our communities. Any militarized organ of the state will put the interests of the ruling class over our communities. We support and encourage oppressed communities to defend themselves from White Supremacy and all other systems of oppression. Community Defense requires more than being armed with guns. It means that we must be armed with the knowledge of our oppression and how to fight it, having trust and compassion for others in our communities, caring for our mental and physical health, and lastly, a sincere desire to be free from oppression.
- Collective Liberation: We are not free so long as interlocking systems of oppression still oppress members of our communities. To achieve collective liberation, we must recognize that marginalized communities know the realities of their oppression best, and they must be unconditionally supported in their struggle for liberation. This also means centering those who face oppression and ensuring nobody is abandoned by those who are more privileged.
- Revolutionary Commitment: We cannot be complacent as systems of oppression seek to destroy our world. To build a revolutionary movement, we must be committed towards overthrowing systems of oppression and uproot oppressive dynamics within our communities and homes. We are in the struggle for the long haul.