Movement Memos Fascism at the Door, Neighbors in the Street: Abolition in Practice
Nov 27, 2025
Tamara K. Knopper, a sociologist and educator focusing on policing and abolition, shares her insights on political education amidst rising fascism. She stresses the importance of connecting critiques of policing with practical skills for activists. Tamara discusses the surge of political organizing in Chicago and the role of communities resisting ICE. The conversation highlights the necessity of counter-recruitment efforts and rethinking solidarity in labor movements, all while emphasizing accessible education to empower grassroots actions.
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Intellectuals Are Also Organizers
- Tamara K. Knopper argues that intellectuals are part of the affected community and need political education about organizing their own conditions.
- She urges combining radical critique with practical knowledge of institutional mechanics to improve movement strategy.
Turn Critique Into Skills
- Learn concrete skills like data literacy and organizing tactics rather than only consuming critiques or panels.
- Build training-style political education that translates analysis into actionable organizing abilities.
Not All Federal Takeovers Are Equal
- Federal takeovers can be progressive or authoritarian depending on purpose and context.
- Knopper warns current federal interventions function to flex power, terrorize communities, and maintain white supremacy.
