What is it? Is it ethical?
Direct action is a necessary, though controversial, component of any social movement. As a Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty activist once said, “I don’t know of any social movement that has leafleted its way to liberation.” Direct action consists of various activities directed towards securing justice for ecosystems, humans, and nonhuman animals. Some of these actions are legal, some are illegal. It is up to the particular activist to choose what type of actions they would like to take.
Direct action is a way for people to bring power into their own hands as opposed to into the hands of authority. It shifts the power relations in society and essentially levels the playing ground. Think of it this way. If someone was attacking you, had their hands around your throat, and were choking you to death – would you try and petition them to stop? Would you stay quiet and limp to symbolize your non-cooperation? Most people wouldn’t. They would fight back. Now, it’s not a perfect analogy of course. In the choking scenario, you may have to break the strict non-violent rule of liberationists. However, it does apply. Corporations and governments around the world are choking our world to death. They are exploiting our planet, our ‘resources,’ whether those are human or nonhuman animals, or even environments. If we were to let them go without resistance, they would destroy our planet with absolutely no regard for her sovereignty or her inhabitants.
There are many legitimate ways to engage in activism, including lobbying, lawsuits, civil disobedience, and non-violent illegal direct action. Not everyone agrees that direct action is legitimate. Most of the mainstream movements either voice no support or openly condemn activists who go ‘underground.’ This is due to their ties and shares in corporations and the government. The mainstream movement wants reform, while we want a cultural revolution. The mainstream movement does many great things for our cause; they must not be underestimated. However, they do not go all the way. Individual activists and small cells must take on the task of directly committing economic sabotage, liberation of nonhuman animals, the destruction of property that is itself destructive, etc. Our movement is not complete without using every tool in the toolbox, and direct action is a powerful tool.
Direct action empowers citizens to make a significant difference in the world. It’s important that many of us take on this responsibility today and begin to act. The term ‘violence’ does not apply to private property. We must put lives before property, and those lives in question include ecosystems and nonhuman animals. The violence here is being committed by corporations and governments around the world. While these aforementioned institutions often decry activists as immature and misinformed, in reality, the activists are acting in defense of life itself. The institutions in question, on the other hand, are acting against it. The question should not be about the ethical matter of direct action. It should be about the ethics of exploiting and destroying our planet, its ecosystems, the humans who live on it, and the nonhuman animals who also call Earth home. Direct action is perfectly reasonable when acted out with intelligence, caution, and a strict rule of non-violence.
What can I do?
Direct action takes many forms. It is not all liberation and arson. It includes demonstrations, banner drops, occupations, tree sits, blockades, internet hacking, hunt sabotage, locking down, gluing locks, weeding GM crops, and much more. Direct action can be considered to further any just cause such as anti-racism, feminism, environmental and social justice, animal liberation, anti-homophobia, anti-classism, and many more. The following are links to manuals, primers, zines, and websites that give detailed instructions on direct action and the security culture involved.
Earth First! Direct Action Manual
How to Do Animal Rights and Win the War on Animals
Organizing for Power: Action Resources
Direct Action for Rights and Equality
Handbook for Nonviolent Action
Challenging White Supremacy Workshop
Incite! Women, Gender Non-Conforming, and Trans People of Color Against Violence
Spirit of Liberation 