The only thing stronger then Oppression is Community and Kinship:
Oppressors throughout history have employed various tactics to gain submission and maintain control over populations. These methods often involve manipulating societal structures and exploiting human psychology to suppress dissent and ensure compliance. Below are ten common tactics used by oppressors:
Creation of Poverty and Sickness: By perpetuating economic disparities and limiting access to healthcare, oppressors can keep populations in a state of desperation. This vulnerability makes it challenging for individuals to resist or challenge authority, as their primary focus becomes survival. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized this, stating that “poverty is the worst form of violence,” highlighting how systemic deprivation serves as a tool of oppression.
Counter: Community Food Sharing & Free Clinics
- Mutual aid networks and community food pantries, provide free meals to those in need, ensuring no one has to rely solely on state-controlled resources.
- Community-led health initiatives and free clinics offer medical care outside of government-controlled systems.
Induction of Fear: Utilizing threats, violence, or the presence of a pervasive security apparatus instills fear among the populace. This atmosphere of terror discourages individuals from speaking out or engaging in activities that might be perceived as subversive. Repressive tactics, such as surveillance and intimidation, are commonly employed to maintain this climate of fear.
Counter: Neighborhood Solidarity & Rapid Response Teams
- Groups to document and monitor abuses of power to deter violence against citizens.
- Local community defense networks provide safe spaces, self-defense training, and legal aid to protect vulnerable individuals.
Cultivation of a Leader’s Benevolent Image: Oppressors often portray themselves as the sole source of stability and prosperity. Through propaganda and controlled narratives, they position themselves as benevolent figures, making the populace believe that their well-being is directly tied to the leader’s continued rule. This tactic fosters dependency and discourages opposition.
Counter: Grassroots Leadership and Decentralized Decision Making
- Cooperative movements create decision-making structures that rely on community councils rather than a single leader.
- Decentralized activism and action empowers individuals rather than reinforcing hierarchical control.
Control of Information and Propaganda: By monopolizing media outlets and disseminating selective information, oppressors can shape public perception. This control ensures that dissenting voices are marginalized, and the official narrative remains unchallenged, thereby manipulating the masses’ beliefs and attitudes.
Counter: Independent Media & Community Journalism
- Independent and grassroots media and communication structures challenge mainstream narratives by providing independent reporting.
- Community-run newspapers and social media platforms amplify the voices of marginalized people, offering a counter-narrative to propaganda.
- Suppression of Education: Limiting access to education or manipulating educational content prevents critical thinking and awareness among the populace. An uninformed or misinformed population is less likely to question authority or recognize oppressive structures.
Counter: Free Community Education and Knowledge Sharing
- Volunteer education programs provide education rooted in social justice, history, and empowerment.
- Offers free books and classes on critical thinking, history, and political awareness.
Divide and Conquer: By fostering divisions within the population—along lines of race, religion, ethnicity, or class—oppressors prevent unified opposition. Encouraging infighting ensures that the masses remain fragmented and unable to mount a cohesive challenge to authority.
Counter: Interfaith, Cross-Racial, and Intersectional Organizing
- Black Lives Matters and Standing Rock Water Protectors, and other intersectional movements unite people across racial, class, and religious lines to challenge oppression together.
- Community-building events like interfaith dinners and cultural festivals strengthen solidarity across different groups and provide outlets for off internet planning.
Legal Manipulation and Judicial Oppression: Implementing laws that target specific groups or behaviors allows oppressors to legitimize their actions. By controlling the judiciary, they can suppress dissent under the guise of legality, making resistance more difficult.
Counter: Community Legal Aid and Restorative Justice Programs
- Organizations can provide free legal assistance to those targeted by oppressive laws.
- Restorative justice circles offer an alternative to punitive systems, focusing on healing rather than incarceration.
Economic Dependency: Creating systems where individuals or communities rely heavily on the state or ruling class for employment and resources ensures compliance. The threat of economic withdrawal becomes a powerful tool to suppress dissent and maintain control.
Counter: Worker Cooperatives & Community-Owned Businesses
- Cooperatives show that workers can run businesses democratically, reducing reliance on exploitative employers.
- Local barter systems and time banks promote economic independence by allowing people to exchange goods and services without relying on oppressive economic systems.
- Cultural Suppression: Eradicating or marginalizing cultural expressions and identities weakens group cohesion and pride. By imposing a dominant culture, oppressors can diminish the sense of identity among subjugated groups, making them more malleable.
Counter: Cultural Revitalization & Storytelling Projects
- Indigenous language revitalization programs, such as the Hawaiian language immersion schools, counter cultural erasure by ensuring traditions are passed down.
- Community theater, music, and storytelling projects, like Playback Theatre, preserve marginalized histories and voices and resist efforts to gaslight and erase history.
Surveillance and Infiltration: Establishing extensive surveillance networks and infiltrating community groups instills paranoia and distrust among the populace. This environment discourages collective action, as individuals fear exposure and retribution.
Counter: Digital Security Training & Community Trust Networks
- Organizations can teach people how to protect their privacy and resist digital surveillance.
- Encrypted messaging platforms, mutual trust-building activities, and in-person organizing make infiltration by oppressive forces more difficult.
- Counter Movement Is Already Happening:
In response to oppressive tactics anticipated during President Donald Trump’s second term, various community-based initiatives have emerged to support vulnerable populations. One notable example is the establishment of ICE Watch Programs by organizations such as Siembra NC in North Carolina. These programs aim to protect immigrant communities from increased immigration enforcement activities. They offer services like rumor verification hotlines, neighborhood watch groups, and emergency cash-assistance funds to counteract misinformation and provide immediate support to those affected by potential deportations.
Additionally, pro bono legal networks are mobilizing to address anticipated civil rights challenges. Law firms are preparing to assist undocumented migrants by helping them organize necessary documentation and legal applications in anticipation of potential mass deportations. These efforts aim to uphold civil rights and provide legal support to those who may be targeted by new policies.
These initiatives exemplify how community-based care and compassionate action can counteract oppressive tactics by fostering solidarity, providing essential services, and empowering vulnerable populations.
Final Thoughts
Oppression thrives on division, dependency, and fear. Community-based care and mutual aid undermine these tactics by fostering self-sufficiency, unity, and resilience. When people take care of one another—through food, education, economic independence, and shared leadership—oppressors lose their power.