In Defense of Looting
by Vicky Osterweil · first published 2020
13% recommend73% neutral13% critical
"Looting--a crowd of people publicly, openly, and directly seizing goods--is one of the more extreme actions that can take place in the midst of social unrest. Even self-identified radicals distance themselves from looters, fearing that violent tactics reflect badly on the broader movement. However, in this deftly argued corrective, Vicky Osterweil argues that while looting is often maligned in today's society, it is, and has always been, one of our most powerful tools of dismantling capitalism and white supremacy. Stealing goods and destroying property are a direct means of wealth redistribut
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Hi. I just went off and read In Defense of Looting[1], which I'd never seen before, following its mention in your earlier post. It's fascinating. I think you should read it. It presents a very interesting perspective that many might not be familiar with…
on “FBI Is Building a Watchlist That Gives Companies Real Time Updates on Employees” ↗Was it this? On August 27, 2020, Natalie Escobar for Code Switch interviewed Vicky Osterweil about her book In Defense Of Looting. The segment was titled "One Author's Argument 'In Defense Of Looting'", and was subsequently retitled "One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'". https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/27/906642178...…
on “Corporation for Public Broadcasting Statement Regarding Executive Order” ↗…starting with BLM protests long before Trump and the election. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_unrest Some prominent activists have even defended these acts. For example, Deeray McKesson called In Defense of Looting "absolute required reading". https://twitter.com/deray/status/524704650218729473
on “FBI Is Building a Watchlist That Gives Companies Real Time Updates on Employees” ↗…support that? Who speaks for BLM officially? Whoever writes the website blacklivesmatter.com did support the Ferguson riots. [1] As did Simone Sebastian in the Washington Post. [2] DeRay Mckesson called In Defense of Looting "absolute required reading". [3] The list goes on and on. And you yourself just defended riots. In one sentence you defend riots and in the very next falsely claim BLM doesn't support riots. And speaking…
on “Streetfoto founder Ken Walton arrested at gunpoint” ↗…prefer other terms but I suspect that you know what I'm referring to when I use the term "BLM protests". Third, while Mein Kampf may be required reading for its historical importance, do tell, why would In Defense of Looting be required reading if not for the position it advocates? ... So this is being downvoted without response - why?
on “FBI Is Building a Watchlist That Gives Companies Real Time Updates on Employees” ↗…economic systems and the injustices perpetrated by other societies alongside the critique of capitalism and American history. When a prominent activist like DeRay Mckesson recommends an article like In Defense of Looting, it's likely to encourage looting by some of his followers.
on “FBI Is Building a Watchlist That Gives Companies Real Time Updates on Employees” ↗I'm not sure what article about looting is being referenced, but NPR did interview author Vicky Osterweil about her book "In Defense of Looting". It would be extremely surprising to hear that NPR endorsed looting as a form of protest. The interview was definitely not an endorsement.
on “Corporation for Public Broadcasting Statement Regarding Executive Order” ↗The author of 'In Defense of Looting' seems to think only the Government can create jobs, so small businesses are irrelevant. She thinks it's a "Republican Myth" > . It's actually a Republican myth that has, over the last 20 years, really…
Promoting an author who’s book is literally titled, “In Defense of Looting”[1] isn’t progressive. It’s promoting the breakdown of the rule of law. That wasn’t an accident either. [1]: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/27/906642178...
on “LA pays $2600 per homeless tent, per month” ↗…community reacting to a state sponsored murder -- not a 'BLM protest'. They weren't out there for BLM, they were out there because Ferguson cops enacted violence on their community. Finally, calling 'in defense of looting' required reading is not endorsing or defending looting. You aren't a Nazi because you read Mein Kampf. It's an interesting take and I'm sure Deray has a nuanced opinion on the issue -- but nah you're…
on “FBI Is Building a Watchlist That Gives Companies Real Time Updates on Employees” ↗How about the story that gave serious airtime to the book “In Defense of Looting” [0], which as the title implies, wholeheartedly condoned the looting and rioting that occurred during the summer protests. [0] https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/27/906642178...
on “Twitter Confirms It Halted 'Hang Mike Pence' as a Trending Topic” ↗> the rioters were universally condemned No, they were not. There was hand-wringing about “the language of the unheard”, bail funds being raised for arrested rioters, the author of a book titled “In Defense of Looting” being interviewed uncritically on NPR, Chris Cuomo on CNN rhetorically asking why protesters need to be peaceful, and many other such examples.
on “Capitol Attack Was Months in the Making on Facebook” ↗The title of the piece is: "One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'" To the extent that they identify that the view is labelled with the editorially appropriate moniker: 'Controversial' - I'm glad that people have a chance to speak their minds. 'Covering' a book or…
on “LA pays $2600 per homeless tent, per month” ↗…take a side is to take a side" and "you're either with us or you're against us" and "mostly peaceful protests." There was even a famous "looting is reparations" in articles and at least one book called "In Defense of Looting."
on “Open source ‘protestware’ harms Open Source” ↗Are you serious? People are writing entire books called "In Defense of Looting" and they receive no criticism, just fawning articles in the media[1]. No publisher employees are threatening to walk out over it either. And for the record I support this author's right to speak her…
on “Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump” ↗