It could be considered third campism. “We don’t support the USA or Iran, we support this other group that you’d have to be a total chud to not support.” Davis has a platform, the og letter in the Guardian was signed on by a bunch of activists, academics, etc.,
To be clear, I don’t advocate for campism either. This statement is in line with Davis’s larger prison abolition mission. She’s at the same time an expert on the subject and IMO worthy of some criticism. She’s doing more than just posting.
Critical support is not an individual inclination, it is something that an org or party does within a coalition or united front. Since Davis is signing this letter along with several others who are all using a mass media platform to influence others, then it goes beyond some abstract individual support, its more than waving a sign at an empty government building on the weekend. Its coordinated, organized, and deploying real resources to achieve some goal.
But practically, without knowing more about Davis’s work in this area, it appears to be a “thoughts and prayers” type gesture to political prisoners. It doesn’t oppose imperialism, it doesn’t aid anti imperialism, it doesn’t even oppose the repressive elements in any real way. Maybe word will get to those prisoners and their families and supporters, that a group of prominent academics and activists are really hoping for justice. Maybe that accomplishes something, or maybe, im sure, this is part of some larger effort that will have more impact.
But third campism is a trap. It demobilizes movements and abstracts away from the contradictions that need to be organized around. Like campism is at least clustered around a side, often deeply contradictory, messy, but based in power and human need. Third campism is making ourselves feel good, avoiding contradictions, keeping our hands clean. I’m not saying that is what is happening, but it bears some hallmarks
It could be considered third campism. “We don’t support the USA or Iran, we support this other group that you’d have to be a total chud to not support.” Davis has a platform, the og letter in the Guardian was signed on by a bunch of activists, academics, etc.,
To be clear, I don’t advocate for campism either. This statement is in line with Davis’s larger prison abolition mission. She’s at the same time an expert on the subject and IMO worthy of some criticism. She’s doing more than just posting.
Critical support is not an individual inclination, it is something that an org or party does within a coalition or united front. Since Davis is signing this letter along with several others who are all using a mass media platform to influence others, then it goes beyond some abstract individual support, its more than waving a sign at an empty government building on the weekend. Its coordinated, organized, and deploying real resources to achieve some goal.
But practically, without knowing more about Davis’s work in this area, it appears to be a “thoughts and prayers” type gesture to political prisoners. It doesn’t oppose imperialism, it doesn’t aid anti imperialism, it doesn’t even oppose the repressive elements in any real way. Maybe word will get to those prisoners and their families and supporters, that a group of prominent academics and activists are really hoping for justice. Maybe that accomplishes something, or maybe, im sure, this is part of some larger effort that will have more impact.
But third campism is a trap. It demobilizes movements and abstracts away from the contradictions that need to be organized around. Like campism is at least clustered around a side, often deeply contradictory, messy, but based in power and human need. Third campism is making ourselves feel good, avoiding contradictions, keeping our hands clean. I’m not saying that is what is happening, but it bears some hallmarks