Emergent Strategies for Abolition: Andrea J. Ritchie’s Toolkit for Activists
10/16/23 • 28 min
This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate
Movement lawyer and organizer Andrea J. Ritchie’s forthcoming book is unlike anything she’s written before. In “Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies”, published by AK Press and out at the end of October 2023 as part of their Emergent Strategies Series, Ritchie has written a toolkit for organizers. Both visionary and practical, Ritchie believes we can live the “future” world we want, and offers actionable steps we can take to get there. A self-described “Black lesbian immigrant survivor,” Ritchie has been engaged since the 1980s in anti-violence, labor, and LGBTQ organizing, and in movements against state violence and for racial, reproductive, economic, environmental, and gender justice. In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrea J. Ritchie and Laura Flanders discuss what’s changed and what hasn’t after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, and the emergent strategies for abolition that we should all pay attention to. The Right has strategies too — and so far, they’re working. How do we create the necessary conditions that foster collectivity and liberation leading to increased public safety and well-being? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on the power we recognize, and the other sort too.
“Change happens by acting as though the future that you are dreaming of is present now. And then practicing that with people who share your vision and values and then bringing more and more people into the conversation.” - Andrea J. Ritchie
“[Emergent strategies are] a way of approaching a world that interrupts violence in all its forms and creates new possibilities that we can't imagine yet.” - Andrea J. Ritchie
Guest: Andrea J. Ritchie: Author, Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies; Co-Founder, Interrupting Criminalization
Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more.
Music In the Middle: “I Keeps It Moving” by David Anthony and Dani Vassar courtesy of Planet Hum Records and Pitch Control. And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear
🎧 LOOKING FOR UNCUT INTERVIEWS? check our podcast feed the following week. Thanks to our sustaining members and their monthly support.
The Laura Flanders Show Crew: Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper
FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show
Twitter: twitter.com/thelfshow
Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow
Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/
YouTube: youtube.com/@thelfshow
ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.
FOLLOW Laura Flanders and Friends
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/
Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriends
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate
Movement lawyer and organizer Andrea J. Ritchie’s forthcoming book is unlike anything she’s written before. In “Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies”, published by AK Press and out at the end of October 2023 as part of their Emergent Strategies Series, Ritchie has written a toolkit for organizers. Both visionary and practical, Ritchie believes we can live the “future” world we want, and offers actionable steps we can take to get there. A self-described “Black lesbian immigrant survivor,” Ritchie has been engaged since the 1980s in anti-violence, labor, and LGBTQ organizing, and in movements against state violence and for racial, reproductive, economic, environmental, and gender justice. In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrea J. Ritchie and Laura Flanders discuss what’s changed and what hasn’t after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, and the emergent strategies for abolition that we should all pay attention to. The Right has strategies too — and so far, they’re working. How do we create the necessary conditions that foster collectivity and liberation leading to increased public safety and well-being? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on the power we recognize, and the other sort too.
“Change happens by acting as though the future that you are dreaming of is present now. And then practicing that with people who share your vision and values and then bringing more and more people into the conversation.” - Andrea J. Ritchie
“[Emergent strategies are] a way of approaching a world that interrupts violence in all its forms and creates new possibilities that we can't imagine yet.” - Andrea J. Ritchie
Guest: Andrea J. Ritchie: Author, Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies; Co-Founder, Interrupting Criminalization
Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more.
Music In the Middle: “I Keeps It Moving” by David Anthony and Dani Vassar courtesy of Planet Hum Records and Pitch Control. And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear
🎧 LOOKING FOR UNCUT INTERVIEWS? check our podcast feed the following week. Thanks to our sustaining members and their monthly support.
The Laura Flanders Show Crew: Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper
FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show
Twitter: twitter.com/thelfshow
Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow
Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/
YouTube: youtube.com/@thelfshow
ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.
FOLLOW Laura Flanders and Friends
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/
Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriends
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Previous Episode
Full Uncut Conversation - ALEC, #50YearsOfHarm: Rep. Ro Khanna & Lisa Graves Call Out
The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode featuring Rep. Ro Khanna & Lisa Graves calling out ALEC / The American Legislative Exchange Council . It is made available here as a podcast thanks to the generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you. Become a member support at LauraFlanders.org/donate
Full Episode Description: Many people have never heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC – but for 50 years, the group has been the driving force behind some of the most extreme policies in this country. Behind closed doors, ALEC brings corporate lobbyists and state politicians together to draft and vote on model bills that aim to free corporations from regulations, regardless of the impacts on people and the planet. Labor law, environmental law, health and safety, voting — no cause is off-limits. Our guests say ALEC and its wealthy pool of funders are a real threat, but there are ways to take action and progress has already been made. In 2023, a diverse coalition of groups, including Greenpeace, Color of Change, the Center for Media and Democracy and more, is calling out the anti-democratic impact of ALEC by using the hashtag #50YearsOfHarm. Congressman Ro Khanna of California's 17th Congressional District, a leading progressive in the House, and Lisa Graves, Executive Director of True North Research and President of the Center for Media and Democracy, two of the preeminent national watchdog groups investigating dark money, join Laura Flanders to unpack it all. And in her closing commentary Laura fills us in on the other side of the story in state houses: the Democrats' have their own project in place these days. But is it any match for ALEC?
“ALEC recognizes that on many of these issues, there's a 70, 80, 90% consensus against them and they're trying to distort the democratic process by the use of big money.” - Ro Khanna
“ I still believe that for many people, not all people, knowledge is power, facts matter, and knowing who the real special interests are behind this [legislation] can help expose and block them.” - Lisa Graves
Guests:
Lisa Graves: President of the Board, Center for Media & Democracy; Executive Director, True North Research
Ro Khanna: Congressman California's 17th District
Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more.
Music Included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear.
FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show
Twitter: twitter.com/thelfshow
Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow
Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/
YouTube: youtube.com/@thelfshow
ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast version of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.
FOLLOW Laura Flanders and Friends
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/
Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriends
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Next Episode
Audio Exclusive – Beyond The Holocaust: Modern Antisemitism and the American University
At The Laura Flanders Show, we're dedicated to providing a platform for diverse voices in the field of social justice. This report, produced through The Laura Flanders Show fellowship program, reflects our commitment. The opinions presented are solely those of the guest contributor and do not necessarily reflect or represent The Laura Flanders
- Antisemitism is the hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people, and it did not end with the Holocaust or other forms of institutionalized discrimination. Instead, antisemitic incidents in America have hit the highest level ever recorded by the Anti-Defamation League, and this age-old form of hatred is wreaking havoc on college campuses.
- The University of Wisconsin - Madison is usually a welcoming home to its 4,000 Jewish students. But on the first day of classes in September 2022, antisemitic chalkings marred the sidewalks of campus, targeting Jewish organizations and its members as “racist,” “genocidal,” and “having blood on their hands”. The university released an ineffective statement, sided with free speech, and left many Jewsh students feeling as though their own institution didn't support them.
- Abigail Handel, a student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, was a first year student when this antisemitic event occurred. Now she has set out to answer the pressing question: Are American universities doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus? In this audio exclusive, Abigail takes us on a journey through understanding what antisemitism is, the damaging environment it has created for Jewish students, and what can be done to eradicate all forms of hate. Handel talks to Savannah Lipinksi, a rabbinite student at the The Jewish Theological Seminary, and Samuel Cross, the President of Rhodes College Hillel, to uncover the complex issue of modern antisemitism and the urgent need for proactive measures on campuses.
- “People are having a harder time recognizing antisemitism the further we get from the Holocaust and the more obvious manifestations of antisemitism that happened throughout the 19th and 20th centuries...This is why it is becoming increasingly important to call out the subtle attacks happening on university campuses.” - Abigail Handel
- Guests
- ● Savannah Lipinski, Former Student, UW Madison; Student, Jewish Theological Seminary
- ● Samuel Cross, Student, Rhodes College; President, Rhodes College Hillel
Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.
FOLLOW Laura Flanders and Friends
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/
Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriends
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/laura-flanders-and-friends-democracy-labor-economy-solutions-journalis-291340/emergent-strategies-for-abolition-andrea-j-ritchies-toolkit-for-activi-38160602"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to emergent strategies for abolition: andrea j. ritchie’s toolkit for activists on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy