Episode 12: Angry Syndicalist Hour

Faye interviews leftist tactical gear suppliers, FAFO Defense, Conquest of Thread, and Earthside Manufacturing. They discuss their products and how they tie into their larger political praxis. Faye expresses deep concerns about the quality of Earthside Manufacturing's ballistic armor products. 

FAFO Defense
Website: https://fafodef.com
Twitter: @FafoDefense

Conquest of Thread
Website: https://conquestofthread.com
Twitter: @ConquestThread

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye and Alex discuss the January 6th invasion of the Capitol building by a mob of Trump supporters committed with the help of Capitol police officers.

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar
Alex's Twitter: @humvadev

Faye interviews Tenacious Unicorn Ranch, a transgender haven based in southern Colorado, discussing the history of the project, the need for safe housing in the queer community, the economics of running a ranch, the process of starting a commune, and what life is like as an island of queerness in a rural area. Tenacious Unicorn Ranch is raising money to buy new land to house more people: https://www.gofundme.com/f/20twnvi5qo

Tenacious Unicorn Ranch
Twitter: @TenaciousRanch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenaciousUnicorn/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tenaciousunicorn
Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/20twnvi5qo

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye is interviewed on a stream raising money for antifascist prisoners

Antifa Prisoner Solidarity
Website: https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com/
List of Prisoners: https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com/antifascist-prisoners/
Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btY24pDdkYE

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye and Ed interview PB Gomez, the founder of the Latino Rifle Association, about the organization and its mission. We also discuss some of the history of the oppression of Latino people in the United States, and why it might be important to adopt a culture of community defense.

Latino Rifle Association
Website: www.LatinoRifleAssociation.org
Twitter: @LatinoRifleOrg
Instagram: @LatinoRifleAssociation
Reddit: /r/LatinoRA
Store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/lra-official/shop

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

The West Los Angeles chapter of the SRA has been engaged in mutual aid work since the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns in California. Faye interviews two of their mutual aid organizers on how they made their own hand sanitizer, distributed supplies, and created and maintain DIY hand washing stations for the unhoused. If you are an organizer or activist, this will help you think about and prepare for the practical aspects of doing organized mutual aid work. 

West Los Angeles SRA

Twitter: @WestLA_SRA

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

The Tulsa chapter of the SRA has been doing mutual aid work in their community, helping those most impacted by the economic damage of COVID-19. Faye interviews two of their mutual aid organizers on how they found space, collected donations, sterilized and quarantined supplies, and delivered food directly to those in need. If you are an organizer or activist, this will help you think about and prepare for the practical aspects of doing organized mutual aid work. 

Ed: Apologies for the audio issues!

Tulsa SRA

Twitter: @RifleTulsa

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye interviews independent journalist Kim Kelly. Kim got her start as a music editor for Vice, focusing on the heavy metal scene. After organizing her workplace, she shifted her attention to covering the labor movement, and started writing a left-wing column for Teen Vogue, as well as articles for many other sites. 

Kim Kelly

Twitter: @GrimKim
Column: https://www.teenvogue.com/contributor/kim-kelly 

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye and JL Hamilton discuss the National Firearms Act, the 1934 legislation that defines many of the contours of national gun regulation today, including the legal definitions of Firearm, Rifle, Shotgun, and Pistol, as well as the definition and regulation of Machine Guns, Suppressors, and Short Barreled Rifles and Shotguns. We discuss how these items are regulated by the NFA, their applications, and their role in gun culture today.

JL Hamilton

Twitter: @absinthol

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar

Faye gives an update on the Socialist Rifle Association and the new proposed reform package which will completely overhaul the organization's bylaws.

The main reason for this is that the current bylaws were written with an organization of 500 to 1500 people in mind; now with more than 3500 members we are struggling to keep up. The new bylaws increase the federation and decentralization of the national organization, while still keeping centralism where it's needed. The most important change is a separation of powers between three branches: National Assembly, Administration, Member Welfare Council.Highlights:
 

• Dissolution of the Central Committee
• Establishment of a National Assembly
• Assembly meets 4 times per year
• Assembly made up of elected delegates from chapters and at large
• Assembly decides budgets and big picture decisions
• President remains an elected position; Treasurer and Secretary appointed by National Assembly
• President, Treasurer, and Secretary oversee new Director and Staff, which handle day to day Administration
• Member Welfare Council established as main judicial body with at least 7 members
• Dues Sharing -- Ratified chapters receive 30% of member dues within their jurisdiction
• Two tier membership system to improve opsec/vetting
• Changes will require new member management software; we found an open source solution, Tendenci
• Much More...

I would encourage anyone with the time to read the new bylaws and reply with any comments, questions, concerns, and suggestions. You can post here, but I would recommend putting any serious in-depth discussion on the SRA forums, linked above. Also, Alex know the wording of these bylaws the best, BUT please do not overwhelm her with direct messages; I and other members of the CC can help read and interpret the new bylaws as well.After a few weeks of comment and revision we will put this forward to the general membership for a formal vote to approve or disapprove of these new bylaws. I think the changes are all positive and will ensure that the SRA is able to adapt and stay accountable as an organization as we continue to grow into one of the largest and most influential socialist organizations in the United States.

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This is followed by an interview with Emerican Johnson, discussing the new organization General Strike 2020, an agitation and organizing body which is focused on helping people new to leftist organizing find existing groups and organizations that can help them build power where they are.

General Strike 2020

Website: https://www.genstrike.org/

Socialist Rifle Association
Website: https://socialistra.org/
Twitter: @SocialistRA
Instagram: @SocialistRA
Facebook: @SocialistRifle
Faye's Twitter: @FayeEcklar