Notes
I’m grateful for the work of to force Substack’s leaders to account for their Nazi platforming. And the ways many others like , , , , and literally hundreds more who are amplifying and wrestling with the stupidity and danger of Substack’s actions, as well as what it means for our own participation here as writers.
I’d like to weigh in with a couple brief tactical suggestions.
The tools of writing, journalism, academia, and digital activism are important but insufficient. I would like to see the leaders of this fight — and all of us weighing what to do next — think more like organizers.
Do not relinquish collective action. Stay or leave, what matters is solidarity. Sustain relationships and tools for maintaining the ability to act together overtime. We cannot build the world we deserve alone or through individualized consumer choice. Dramatize your staying or leaving with others. How can either action be done in a way that builds toward the world we want?
Seize the whirlwind. Social movements have long quiet stretches punctuated by moments of mass participation and public attention. We’re in one. You rarely get your win in these moments. Rather, it’s the time to learn from the reaction to the action and recruit. (h/t Mark & Paul Engler)
Organize the organized. Participants (co-signers, reposters, essay writers, journalists, allies on and off this platform) need gathering and institutionalizing. How can collective action be sustained beyond a letter? Who emerged as leaders — ie, people with followings + people willing to put in work? What forms of association are needed to sustain cohesion and coalition? What trainings do people need?
Figure out the next ask and the next action. You wrote a letter that asked questions. That was the action. Their response was the reaction. The next step is to formulate demands and make them within a context where it’s extremely difficult to say no.
Power map. Substack’s founders are unlikely to change their minds due to short-term drops in generalized public opinion. Instead identify your target: which one of the tech bros can make a change happen? What can we learn about them? Who has that person’s ear? Who is on Substack’s board? Who are their investors? Who is on the board of those investors? Are any of the power players at that level Jewish? Who’s their rabbi? How can you get to that rabbi with the ADL so the rabbi goes and slaps the shit out of that board member until they threaten to pull funding if Substack doesn’t change its moderation policy? Just an example. The point is, do your homework and get sophisticated at building and deploying focused power.
I’m proud of you all and standing with you.