Action Framework
The Ruckus Direct Action Manifesto (Action Framework)
Where we wanna go, who we’re going with, and how we’re gonna get there
Direct action has been central to every societal transformation in history. We at Ruckus recognize the urgent need for direct action at this time; we are also dedicated to facilitating effective direct action that meets frontline groups’ tactical needs and contributes to a winning strategy.
Who We Support, What We Want
Ruckus supports frontline, mass-movement and people power organizing committed to composting the current global capitalist economy* and growing local economies based on equity, justice, direct democracy and ecological resiliency.
*In “the current economy” we include war and empire, corporate rule and corrupt political process.
Theory of Change:
Pick a Fight. Break the Rules. Build the New. Change the Game.
Direct Action is absolutely necessary for deep social transformation; however it must be vision-based, confrontational, honor frontline leadership, and be inclusive. We believe that bottom-up organizing and movement-building are central strategies. Our organizing and movements must:
- Pick a Fight: directly confront injustice
- Break the Rules: because the rules serve the rulers and they keep changing the rules
- Build the New: we must build our own organizations, community institutions and projects andwe must hold them up as experiments in a better way to live together.
- Change the Game: our organizing, campaigns, actions and institutions must build powertowards a transformation of our economy and an end to empire.
We need direct action led by and accountable to frontline communities2 who are connecting the concrete improvements in their daily lives that they are fighting for with a larger transformative vision. This transformative vision is what “frames” our shared struggle and allows us to build a Trans-Local* alliance of Peoples’ Movements (*shared frames, common strategies, deep solidarity, mass-based, locally autonomous) movement. This movement is inclusive, inviting, inspiring, innovative and, of course, invincible.
Our solutions, strategies and actions should be based on:
- Root Cause Remedies – getting to the underlying cause of the problem
- Rights – Protect and Advancement of individual and collective rights, including the Rights of Mother Earth
- Reparations – Reparing our Relations, which includes making amends for past harms as well as setting ourselves up for the relationships that we want now and forward going.
- Real Representation through Direct Democracy – communities have control over the decisions that effect their daily lives – and no decisions about us are made without us.