In Defense of Liberation

By In Defense of Liberation!

In Defense of Liberation is a conscientizing program meant to help folks organize around liberation for ALL peoples through political education, experience, stories, histories - failed, and successful - and through active struggle TODAY!
We are here to grow, build, learn, make mistakes, correct them, and learn some more - because we want an END to Settler-Colonialism, Imperialism, and oppression, everywhere.
No one can struggle alone.

This podcast is only an interjection into the conversation, not the end all be all.
Join us in fighting for a new world, an end to this society: Revolution!

Listen on Spotify Send voice message

Available on

Why We’re All Poor

In Defense of LiberationMar 21, 2023

00:00

35:49

Sep 10, 202332:36

Lessons I’ve Learned (so far) from Sis Safiya Bukhari

In this episode, I speak about some things I have been learning thanks to the elders and organizers, who have been in the movement for a while now; former Panthers, Black Liberation Army folks, MOVE and other collectives too, who have taught me much, and introduced me too many people who otherwise I may have never heard of. Sister Bukhari is one of them, and I look forward to hearing how folks have or will engage with her work

Aug 31, 202346:53

A Call to the “Movement”

I recorded this to bring some questions and contradictions up that I and Others have experienced while trying to organize in different so-called movements. I gave a brief introduction to start us out about Black August, and go into a discussion of my own failures criticisms of myself, criticisms of this notion of so-called movements, in the form of a question. We then open up the discussion to talk about some of the different experiences and issues that I have been a part of or dealt with while trying to organize. This is a call to all who have given themselves the title of organizer, revolutionary, socialist, or communist or what have you. Anyone interested in coming on the show or discussing this further only needs to reach out. Any, and all criticisms are welcome.

Aug 18, 202342:05

The Right of Humanity to Struggle and Life

In this episode, I again engaged the idea that revolution and resistance are the most natural characteristics of any living organism, and any human being, who faces oppression and exploitation. If we do not struggle to build a world based on the needs of the masses of people who are illiterate, who go hungry, who are homeless and who are made to suffer and die, we too will die along with them and our Earth. But this need not be a death sentence, humanity has always shown it’s will to fight. So let us fight, struggle, and let us not compromise or retreat, until exploitation and oppression are eradicated from this earth

Aug 16, 202350:17

Colonialism + Imperialism in Our Lifetime: How They’ve Sustained Themselves + How to Stop Them

A reading of my most recent blog post which can be read at defenseofliberation.wixsite.com/website/post/colonialism-and-imperialism-in-our-lifetime-how-they-ve-sustained-themselves-and-how-to-stop-them

Aug 07, 202310:14

What Has the Global South Given to Us?

In day to day life we’re taught and expected to believe that the Global South is inevitably poor and will remain that way forever - but is that true? What has the global South done for humanity? Have they always just been subjected to slavery, colonialism and imperialism? Have they had other histories? And what did/do they do as they resist oppression and fight for liberation?

Jul 27, 202359:59

Free Pedro Castillo! Down with Boularte Regime! All Power to the People of Peru! (With Clau O'Brien Mosocoso)

Peace everyone!

Sorry for the delay, but finally here goes the episode with Clau O'Brien Moscoso! We discuss the issues happening in Peru right now surrounding the illegal detainment and abuse of Pedro Castillo, the democratically elected president of Peru, and the subsequent coup by Dina Boularte, the reactionary Congress, and the US-backed forces. We speak about what has happened since the detaining of Castillo, what the people all calling for, upcoming events and organizing that is happening, and ways in which folks in the US can and should get involved and organize themselves!

Jul 20, 202301:18:06

Intro to Socialism (One of many!)

In this episode, I discuss some of the different key characteristics of the process of Socialism, without getting much in depth, and hope to discuss more on this soon

Jul 12, 202310:29

Connections, Collaboration, and Freedom Fighting

In this episode, I talk about some of the reflections from an episode of activist news network that aired a couple days ago with comrades Dequi, Kalonji, Haki, Frank and Ryan. They spoke, not only about the recent passing of Dr. Mutulu Shakur and the importance of his, his work, his revolutionary struggles and his comrades/loved ones; about the importance of building real struggles to free all political prisoners like Jo Jo Bowen, Kamau Sadiki, and to support those on the outside and especially on the inside who are still in the land of the living today; to end settler colonialism; and to put our money where our motherfucking mouthes are! ( www.youtube.com/live/P1VNvyBVEcw?feature=share ) so I build on that and what it meant to me and the types of self critique and criticism of myself lately that I’ve been feeling and been speaking about. Check it out, please reach out. Please join the program, please stay in contact! You can reach out on Twitter at redstarbitch420 (yes that’s real) or more directly by emailing me indefenseofliberation@gmail.com

Jul 09, 202334:42

What can we do to overcome the difficulties in organizing, and among people?

What sort of tactics, strategies, organizations, movements, or things can we be doing, learning, trying, and moving with to overcome the issues in organizing and the difficulties we have in connecting w folks on the ground and building power? This is an open ended invitation to anyone to come on the show and discuss this w me - would love to hear you’re thoughts! Reach out to indefenseofliberation@gmail.com !

Jul 04, 202309:23

Where is the seriousness in organizing?

Name says it all - we’re talking about some frustrations, fears, hesitation and lack of clarity when it comes to organizing

Jul 03, 202325:59

“Freedom” in the Land of the Cell on Fourth of You-Lie!

What is freedom to an “American” today? Let’s get a conversation started. Can someone be free while being imprisoned? Poor? Oppressed? Racially discriminated? Disabled?

Jun 30, 202313:14

Spirit of Mandela - International Tribunal - People’s Senate

In this episode, we talk about the 2021 international tribunal on the human rights, abuses against black, brown, and indigenous peoples. Its history and its importance must be understood. We then talk about the spirit of Mandela briefly and the people senate initiate which more info on both can be found at Spiritofmandela.org

Jun 30, 202310:29

Morning Commute 6/25/2023

What’s up folks, little check in episode a bit more laid back, talking about some workplace stuffs and some general organizing ideas

Jun 25, 202309:32

Why is Mass Organizing so important?

In this we discuss in brief some examples and ideas of what organizing is and can look like among people everywhere, and why it is so important !

Jun 24, 202310:12

Expansion of Human Rights vs Rights of Humanity

More on the discussion of importance of focusing on the needs of human beings not vague ideals of “Human Rights” in a world full of oppression, violence and poverty

Jun 24, 202311:33

“Human rights” vs the Rights of Humanity

In this episode, we talk about how frequent it is conveyed that the most important thing to humankind are these vague notions of human rights. Yet as Dr. Fidel Castro told us many times, there is a difference between human rights and the rights of humanity. There can be no discussion of human rights in the name of billions who live without so much as a piece of bread. There can be no discussion of human rights in the world plagued with destructive and imperialist wars. It is the rights of humanity, which must be discussed, that demand an end to all colonial, imperialist, and capitalist wars. And it can only be those who fight for the rights of humanity, the rights of all, to self determination, self defense, ownership of their own resources, land, and labor, who can bring this conversation through to action.

Jun 23, 202311:32

Updates!

Updates on some of the organizing I’ve been doing, calls for support, and mentions of struggles such as the Hands off Uhuru movement and the stop cop city movement

Jun 22, 202310:10

Introduction to “Power”

What is power? Is it simply military force? Is it the ability to persuade, to control, to dictate? Or is it more, less, why is power important, why do we care? Some questions we go over and cover in today’s episode.

Jun 16, 202311:59

Relationships and Organizing

In this episode we talk about the lack of true connection and humanity within organizing, and the need for developing true relations with the most oppressed and organizing towards their political, social, and economic control to be vested in their own hands!

Jun 14, 202342:22

Basta las palabras; necesitamos acción!

In this episode, we read from the October 12, 1979 UN General assembly speech given by Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, on the necessity to end the suffering of the poor, the sick, and the ignorant, not through bombs, not through words, but through Liberation, Struggle, Unity, internationalism, and revolution. We then talk a little bit more about this and I hope to add more afterwards, links can be found on YouTube to speeches.

Jun 12, 202301:14:36

Environmentalism, and the Struggle for Long-Term, Strong Organization

In this episode we speak about the Nova Scotia fires that are going on now, past practices of forest burning by indigenous nations/people, environmentalism, and the issues of spontaneity, disorganization, and a lack of cohesion among the different movements, parties, groups, etc. in the US and internationally.

Jun 07, 202301:33:38

What is “Pride” without Organization and Political Power?

In this episode I interrogate the capture of “pride month” and the uselessness of the commodification or “representation” or LGBTQIA+ folks if they do NOT have FIRST political power. We talk about what organizing is and what it isn’t, and how to get involved, plus some examples of how reactionism and fat right ideology seeps in even to the progressive, anarchists, socialist or communists formations, organizations and groups and how to root it out

Jun 06, 202301:20:04

Democracy Under Capitalism - What is it?

Does democracy exist? What is it? What isn’t it? What are we told about it? Where do these ideas come from? Can capitalism, a system based on exploitation, profit, and oppression, truly be “liberal”, “free” or “Democratic”? For more on this and maybe an answer or to, give this episode a listen!

Jun 02, 202301:30:31

Claudia Jones, Walter Rodney and Caribbean/African Struggles

In this episode I discuss some recent books that I’ve finished and been reading about Walter Rodney, Fidel Castro, Claudia Jones, and the struggles for liberation in the Caribbean, Africa and the domestic colonies of and owned by the United States

May 25, 202359:39

Expanded Intro: Capitalism, Commodity Production and Imperialism

In this episode, we expand on two previous episodes, one on capitalist exploitation, and the other on imperialism. In this episode, we talk about commodity production under capitalism, and especially, the shift from production for the use and needs of society to the production, for the sake of exchange and profit from exchange solely for the owning class. We also talk about imperialism, what its characteristics are, and what we need to do to avoid simplistic analysis, both of its history and current existence.

May 24, 202346:26

An introduction to Imperialism

In this episode, similarly to other reason, short introductory episodes, we go over the topic of imperialism in nine minutes. Of course, this doesn’t come close to covering every aspect or the historical development of the phenomenon known as Capitalism imperialism, however, it does bring us into a bit better have an understanding that the majority of us have from our high school education or from the phony and hypocritical western media sources

May 24, 202309:48

Intro into Capitalist Exploitation

New segment alert! Since my drives are now less than 10 mins to work morning commutes will be very hard to record, so it will be becoming a much shorter episode - usually from 10-25 minutes - on the introduction to common, complex, or complicated ideas, histories, figures, theories, etc. in order to try to create and provide intro sources for folks to share and listen to for a laid back but informative, short clip that will hopefully help! Let me know what you think, todays is capitalist exploitation 101!

May 19, 202315:03

Afternoon commute: 5/18/2023

In this episode, we talk about the Cuban revolution, Claudia Jones, Walter Rodney, the importance of social relations, the necessity to focus on the most oppressed in the most exploited, as well as introducing, some of the ways in which western leftists, have tended to make mistakes on the question of legitimate revolution, and what it takes

May 19, 202301:21:03

On the Eve of “Mother’s Day” We Demand Liberation for All!

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, but what does that mean in a capitalist society? What does it mean to get your mom a card and a box of chocolates when she literally brought you to life? In this episode, we talk about the oppression of women generally, and especially the particular oppression of those who give birth, who are not women, the struggle of LGBTQ+ folks for liberation and freedom, over their own lives, and their own bodies. Check it out and let me know what you think!

May 14, 202358:58

Interview with John Perry - Living in Nicaragua - In Defense of the Sandinista Revolution!

I want to thank John for coming on the program to speak about his experience having lived in Nicaragua for the last 20 or so years, meeting his lovely partner there, doing solidarity work with folks in Nicaragua, in the UK, the US Empire, and around the world. John is also an author and journalist who has written and spoken about his experiences, especially during the US-backed attempted coups in 2018, and the revolutions' gains since they were reelected to office in 2007. We speak briefly about the history of Nicaragua since the 90's, and hope to have more episodes to cover in depth some more of the history of this revolutionary people and nation!

All power to the Sandinista Revolution, and the Nicaraguan People!

Condemn the UN Human Rights' Commission's RIDICULOUS + SCANDALOUS LIES ABOUT NICARAGUA!

Don't believe us? Go see it for your own self with your own eyes! @friendsatc | Linktree (for delegations and more info on the Friends of the ATC)

Some of the sources/documents we mentioned:

"Nicaragua against Empire" documentary by Ramiro Sebastián Fúnez https://youtu.be/-wUDr0tQxqs

Dan Kovalik, "Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance" https://www.amazon.com/Nicaragua-History-US-Intervention-Resistance/dp/1949762602

For more on 2018 coup attempts in Nicaragua:

"Who is behind the Protests in Nicaragua" (4-10-2018, Granma) https://www.granma.cu/mundo/2018-04-23/quien-esta-detras-de-las-protestas-en-nicaragua-23-04-2018-21-04-10

"Nicaragua Organizes in the face of acts of violence" (4-23-2018, Granma) Nicaragua organizes in the face of acts of violence › World › Granma - Official organ of the PCC

"Victories of Peace Against the Coups in Nicaragua and Venezuela" (4-21-2023, Vision Sandinista) Victorias de la Paz contra el golpismo en Venezuela y Nicaragua - Vision Sandinista

May 12, 202333:59

Episode with Sina from East is a Podcast

In this episode me and Sina speak about a range of topics beginning with Sina's feelings waking up every morning to check his phone and see "what unspeakable crimes the Empire has committed today", along with growing up as he called himself, "a citizen subject" of the US Empire, as many immigrants or simply non-white people have to deal with.

We also touch on some of the shifting energies between the multiple growing and declining hegemons, the ignorance of the West as regards China, Iran, Taiwan, Palestine, Israel, Syria and other nations, the NATO war on Russia, and many other things!

For more from Sina, check out the following links:

The East is a Podcast (@eastpodcast) | Instagram The East is a Podcast (libsyn.com)The East is a Podcast (@east_podcast) / Twitter The East is a Podcast - YouTube The East is a Podcast | creating Podcasts | Patreon Thanks so much Sina for coming on the show, and thank you all for your patience in me editing and releasing this episode. My apologies for having taken so long :)

May 11, 202301:10:39

ALL Support for the African People’s Socialist Party and the Black Liberation Movement!

For folks who don’t know the APSP (African People’s Socialist Party) leadership has been indicted under trumped up charges alleging that the APSP leadership “spread malign influence” on behalf of “foreign governments” without properly “registering” with FARA, as well as including an undertone accusation off inciting racial or national-based hatred + violence, of which none have any evidence or basis in reality. The APSP came around in the 70s, and since the dawning of slavery and African oppression, Black/African peoples have been criminalized, incarcerated, or assassinated and have ALWAYS been made to be, among others, a scapegoat for other oppressed communities, and impoverished people. We must NOT let the APSP stand alone! Join w the FRSO, BAP, Spirit of Mandela, Community Movement Builders and others who have supported the APSP or released statements against the indictments of APSP leadership and the 3 Russian nationals also included in this bullshit charge, and consider sending a message or donation of support, or join the African People’s Socialist Party, the Unit solidarity movement, or other organizations mentioned like the Black Alliance for Peace (for Africans) BAP solidarity network (for non-Africans), Spirit of Mandela, About the People, Community Movement Builders, All African People’s Revolutionary Party or others! UHURU! All power to the people!

May 02, 202326:49

Interview with Rookery Press - Publishers of Volume One of the "Collected Works of the Black Liberation Army"

I am so excited to share this episode with you folks, big shoutout to Rookery Press for coming on the program to discuss the first volume of the "Collected Works of the Black Liberation Army"

We discuss the history of the BLA, why the comrades at Rookery Press chose to produce the works they did, how they were able to access these files and republish them, the importance of first-person sources and deep study, some of the sections that stuck out to us, and more!

Please support the Rookery Press here: Home · The Rookery Press · Online Store Powered by Storenvy

More interviews with Rookery Press: BLA-CC Collected Works Discussion w/ Rookery Press

Guerrilla History: The Black Liberation Army w/ Comrade Z of Rookery Press Some sources, individuals, and organizations mentioned in the discussion:

Freedom Archives Wayback Machine (archive.org)

Library Genesis (libgen.gs) A Soldier’s Story Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st-Century Revolutions

George Jackson Brigade - Wikipedia

Robert F. Williams - Wikipedia (Unfortunately there was very little information on Mabel Williams, his wife, but here is an oral interview I found from her: Civil Rights Digital Library (usg.edu) ) Donald L. Cox - Wikipedia

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Apr 26, 202301:12:60

Intro to the Discussion on Terrorism and Mass Shootings

This episode, I briefly discuss some of what was brought up in a fantastic discussion within the black alliance for peace solidarity network on mass shootings, terrorism, and acts of systematized violence. As I mentioned, this is only an introduction, so do not expect groundbreaking analysis however, I believe some of the points which Ayeh and others within the solidarity Netwerk have presented then I discuss here are important and relevant to keep in mind when these topics or issues are brought up or being discussed.

Apr 16, 202323:20

Rising Tide of Reaction and Resistance

In this episode we discuss a bunch of countries and movements happening around the world, but first we begin by reading a section from the "Collected Works of the Black Liberation Army" by Rookery Press on Capitalist exploitation, profits, and monopolies. This introduces us to the discussion of resistance struggles happening in India, Peru, Haiti, the US, etc. While reactionary forces reorganize and consolidate themselves in those nations, and in places like so-called "Israel", Bolivia, Miami, Ukraine, and elsewhere, the necessity for struggle and resistance to capitalism-imperialism, racism, police violence, inequality, poverty, and repression will ALWAYS continue. Because a colonized person or people never stays colonized forever.

All power to the People!

Apr 08, 202301:48:33

What the fuck is “Democracy”?

In this episode, I begin our discussion on democracy, by investigating some of the main stream philosophers’ quotes - from ancient Greek and Roman societies, the enlightenment, and colonial times to today - to get us started. this leads us into a discussion about whether this “Democracy” is a lie, a mythology, or a real-material description of a system where ruling class property owners and capitalists, their children, their families, their business partners, and their class get a real say in the formation of the Capitalist-Imperialist “Democracies”. Similarly to how the standing armies, parliaments, supreme courts and congresses came to exist as a tool, and apparatus of the state to further dominate the oppressed and working class, is “Democracy” simply an ideal we cannot reach, or a real-life system based on the rule of many, over the few (who get to vote sometimes, don’t forget it! 😉)

Mar 28, 202348:33

Interview with Dr. Gerald Horne

We are so thankful to have had Dr. Horne on to talk with us about a wide-range of topics. Thank you again Dr. Horne!

We began by speaking about some of the early experiences of Dr. Horne's life, growing up in Apartheid, Jim Crow USA as a young black man, being a paperboy, listening to the radio and the news at home, his parents love of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson, and coming into consciousness through the awful experiences that black folks in the US live with everyday. We then spoke about his Law education, and his transition to history studies, why he did this and what he has gotten out of it. We talk about the need for historians, especially Black and other oppressed peoples' historians to give back to the people a history which is digestible, revolutionary, and leads to change - but also the difficulties of remaining true to radical or revolutionary principles within academia. Transitioning to other topics, we discussed the counter-revolutionary nature of the US and other settler-colonial states like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc., the ongoing debates among the "left" about this, class collaboration and some economic/material reasons for it historically. We then make our way to topics of the day, such as Russia and China, Ukraine, and domestic struggles in the US by oppressed peoples. I hope you enjoy this episode, and please let me know what you think!

Also, be sure to check out some of Dr. Horne's work below, and look out for others!

- BookFinder.com: Search Results (Matching Titles)

- Guerrilla History: The Counterrevolution of 1776 w/ Gerald Horne on Apple Podcasts - The Cadre Journal: The American White Supremacist Project and the Murder of Tyre Nichols, with Prof. Gerald Horne on Apple Podcasts - Gerald Horne - YouTube - Freedom Now - KPFK 90.7 FM

and so much more! Peace love and socialism as always - all power to the people!

Mar 26, 202301:10:26

Global War: The 101s of US Empire - the USA is a WAR MACHINE!

Welcome to a (possible) new series - Global War - where we will focus on the developing conflicts, events, wars and regime change efforts of the US Empire and its NATO and other allies. In this episode we discuss, very very briefly, how the US came into existence, Spanish, English, Dutch and other European “exploration”, corporations, and colonization. We talk about the many many wars the US has and is fighting since it’s “founding” as a “Constitutional Republic” in 1787, before then, after then, and today. We bring up WW1 and WW2, Korea, Vietnam, China and the Opium Wars, Iraq, Iran, Guatemala, Venezuela, Peru, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Alaska, etc. all to form an idea of what exactly the US is, was and can only exist as.

Mar 23, 202342:14

Why We’re All Poor

In this episode I talk about the necessity for oppressed people/nations, workers, and unemployed people to be forced into impoverishment and dependency, degradation and oppression. I also talk some more about the documents in the recently published Collected Works of the Black Liberation Army, especially on class, subjectivism, and dialectics/dialectical materialism.

Mar 21, 202335:49

Interpersonal Relations in Organizing and in Life

In this episode we talk about how institutions and practices of slavery, colonization, and imperialism lead to the necessity for racism, sexism, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, and therein effect all interpersonal human relations. Whether you are a socialist, communist, etc. you should, I should, we should, all work on investigating ourselves and our internalized reflections of this society in our own relationships and ways of relating to one another. In organizing, in our friendships, families, and everywhere.

Mar 20, 202340:21

Real Revolution is not just Ideas, Critiques and Criticism but Practice, Study, Action and Relations

This episode goes all over the place talking about the confusion of “Socialism”, and how a real revolution will never be perfect or pure, but real, built on the mistakes, practices, struggles, failures histories and ideas of those who’ve come before us, who have both failed and succeeded themselves. We must understand also that these lessons and histories should not be learned in isolation, disconnected, or individually, but together with collective, organizations and groups for the goal of further building the movement and organizing towards people’s liberation - all power to the People!

Mar 17, 202301:27:27

Censorship, Left/Right Alliances and the Confusion of the Western Left

In this episode we begin by discussing some of the international news stories of the week, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran committing to a path towards re-establishing diplomatic ties through the negotiations held in Beijing with the help of China; the 10 year anniversary of the passing of Hugo Chavez, who took on the mantle of leading the Bolivarian Revolution along with his people; the recent US-Cuba Normalization conference held at Fordham University March 10-11; the upcoming Call to Action on March 15+16 to call the White House incessantly to demand Cuba be removed from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List; the upcoming rally and demonstration/march in DC on March 18th....along with a few other stories. We then transition to discussing the recent censorship of Black Power Media, an independent media coalition of incredible organizers, historians, educators and activists who were given a vague conclusion that they "engaged in election misinformation" leading to a 7-day post ban, and then told this was 1 of 3 strikes before their entire account is removed. Dr. Jared Ball was on BreakThrough News with Eugene Puryear and Rania Khalek talking about it and it struck a cord with me, so wanted to show love to the Comrade Jared Ball and all the folks at BPM, but also connect it to the confusion, lack of revolutionary awareness, consciousness, and history that the Western, Euro-Amerikan and European Left is ignorant of or intentionally ignoring.

Let me know what you think!

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Mar 16, 202301:06:54