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The Anti-Inauguration: Building Resistance in the Trump Era
On January 20, 2017, over 1,000 people joined Haymarket Books, Jacobin, and Verso Books in Washington, D.C. for "The Anti-Inauguration."
With powerful speeches from Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Anand Gopal, and Owen Jones, the event was a counterpoint to Donald Trump's (poorly attended) inauguration. It also served as a counter-inauguration for the resistance we need in the era of Trump — and a reminder of the kind of future worth fighting for.
With powerful speeches from Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Anand Gopal, and Owen Jones, the event was a counterpoint to Donald Trump's (poorly attended) inauguration. It also served as a counter-inauguration for the resistance we need in the era of Trump — and a reminder of the kind of future worth fighting for.
40 pages, ebook
Published January 30, 2017
About the author
Naomi Klein
86 books8,919 followersNaomi Klein is a Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker known for her political analyses; support of ecofeminism, organized labour, and leftism; and criticism of corporate globalization, fascism, ecofascism and capitalism. As of 2021, she is an associate professor, and professor of climate justice at the University of British Columbia, co-directing a Centre for Climate Justice.
Klein first became known internationally for her alter-globalization book No Logo (1999). The Take (2004), a documentary film about Argentine workers' self-managed factories, written by her and directed by her husband Avi Lewis, further increased her profile. The Shock Doctrine (2007), a critical analysis of the history of neoliberal economics, solidified her standing as a prominent activist on the international stage and was adapted into a six-minute companion film by Alfonso Cuaron and Jonás Cuarón, as well as a feature-length documentary by Michael Winterbottom. Klein's This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate (2014) was a New York Times nonfiction bestseller and the winner of the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.
In 2016, Klein was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for her activism on climate justice. Klein frequently appears on global and national lists of top influential thinkers, including the 2014 Thought Leaders ranking compiled by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, Prospect magazine's world thinkers 2014 poll, and Maclean's 2014 Power List. She was formerly a member of the board of directors of the climate activist group 350.org.
Klein first became known internationally for her alter-globalization book No Logo (1999). The Take (2004), a documentary film about Argentine workers' self-managed factories, written by her and directed by her husband Avi Lewis, further increased her profile. The Shock Doctrine (2007), a critical analysis of the history of neoliberal economics, solidified her standing as a prominent activist on the international stage and was adapted into a six-minute companion film by Alfonso Cuaron and Jonás Cuarón, as well as a feature-length documentary by Michael Winterbottom. Klein's This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate (2014) was a New York Times nonfiction bestseller and the winner of the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.
In 2016, Klein was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for her activism on climate justice. Klein frequently appears on global and national lists of top influential thinkers, including the 2014 Thought Leaders ranking compiled by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, Prospect magazine's world thinkers 2014 poll, and Maclean's 2014 Power List. She was formerly a member of the board of directors of the climate activist group 350.org.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 28, 2017
These incredibly insightful essays have introduced me to a few more adept political writers and I plan on reading some of their full-length books. I have to admit that I've taken a bit of a hiatus from politics following the US election, especially after such a drawn out absurd campaign.
These essays were a good place to dip my toe back into the water. I appreciated how the writers were non-partisan.
I will definitely refer to these essays again.
These essays were a good place to dip my toe back into the water. I appreciated how the writers were non-partisan.
I will definitely refer to these essays again.
February 13, 2017
I got this booklet for free from here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/01/an...
This is collection of essays and it's well worth the short read. It delves into why we're here and the methods of past successful movements.
A couple highlights:
"Solidarity with people, never states." -Gopal
"'Solidarity' meaning that even if you don't experience a particular oppression, it doesn't matter, because you understand that as ordinary people, our fates are tied together, and that one group's liberation is dependent upon the liberation of all the oppressed and exploited." -Taylor
"Anyone who doesn't make it their business every day of their lives to stand on the front lines, holding that line, defending the most vulnerable in our society, should hold their head in shame, because it is all of our responsibility." -Scahill
"Unity is important, but we can't let unity be used as some kind of weapon to silence these truths we need to learn. The Democrats didn't think campaigning on tangible improvements on people's lives was important. They had virtually nothing to offer to people whose lives had been decimated by neoliberal attacks. They thought they could run on fear alone of Trump, and it didn't work." -Klein
This is collection of essays and it's well worth the short read. It delves into why we're here and the methods of past successful movements.
A couple highlights:
"Solidarity with people, never states." -Gopal
"'Solidarity' meaning that even if you don't experience a particular oppression, it doesn't matter, because you understand that as ordinary people, our fates are tied together, and that one group's liberation is dependent upon the liberation of all the oppressed and exploited." -Taylor
"Anyone who doesn't make it their business every day of their lives to stand on the front lines, holding that line, defending the most vulnerable in our society, should hold their head in shame, because it is all of our responsibility." -Scahill
"Unity is important, but we can't let unity be used as some kind of weapon to silence these truths we need to learn. The Democrats didn't think campaigning on tangible improvements on people's lives was important. They had virtually nothing to offer to people whose lives had been decimated by neoliberal attacks. They thought they could run on fear alone of Trump, and it didn't work." -Klein
January 31, 2017
Urgently and desperately needed calls to action. Do not be shocked into complacency.
February 7, 2017
It is short, I'd rather called this publication as a progressive pamphlet. There are several prominent and activist rockstars such as Naomi Klein, Anand Gopal and Keeanga Taylor that has contributed their minds and hearts for the better but hopefully equal world not only just America perse.
Of course, they have written the ongoing struggle receipts that for majority of global south movement has been trying so hard to build the muscles of solidarity, Independence as well as the idea of struggle from below. So it looks nothing special. Yet, to put the notion of resistance in global north countries is a new trend among massive right wing populism and to some extent the mislead of state so called protectionism has been growing so fast.
What I can say is everyday resistance needs endurance and collective actions. Thus someday we can drop anchor where our hope can be fully realised.
Of course, they have written the ongoing struggle receipts that for majority of global south movement has been trying so hard to build the muscles of solidarity, Independence as well as the idea of struggle from below. So it looks nothing special. Yet, to put the notion of resistance in global north countries is a new trend among massive right wing populism and to some extent the mislead of state so called protectionism has been growing so fast.
What I can say is everyday resistance needs endurance and collective actions. Thus someday we can drop anchor where our hope can be fully realised.
February 3, 2017
This short, free e-book is very well intentioned, but gives the overall impression of being rather rushed and cobbled-together - which is less understandable than I originally thought, as we knew Trump was going to be inaugurated for a good while before it happened, so there was fair time to prepare even with the ever-shifting sands of developing news to contend with. It's a shame that what could have been a punchy call to arms is marred by typos, repetition and general straw-clutching throughout. As a freebie you can digest in about half an hour, it's certainly worthwhile despite its limitations.
March 9, 2017
Excellent little anthology of thought-provoking (and hopefully action-inspiring) pieces about contemporary politics, where we can go from here and how. The context is Trump's inauguration, but the book has relevance both internationally and beyond this particular historical moment.
free ebook available here: http://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3074-...
free ebook available here: http://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3074-...
January 2, 2018
Not quite a year ago, I listened to the speeches that this small book is based on. Reading it now, they are just as inspirational. And it's been interesting to see how much of the activist work they call for actually happened. It's also interesting to see how little of the fears of Trump were actually realized, largely because of his own incompetence and that of the Republicans who surround him.
March 12, 2017
“Solidarity” meaning that even if you don’t experience a particular oppression, it doesn’t matter, because you understand that as ordinary people, our fates are tied together, and that one group’s liberation is dependent upon the liberation of all the oppressed and exploited.”
•Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
“All the rights and gains we have, they’re never given to us as acts of charity and generosity by the rich and powerful. They are won by the struggle and sacrifice of people from below — the people in this room, your mothers, your fathers, your grandmothers, your grandfathers, your ancestors before them.”
•Owen Jones
“While his sister is up for a public nomination in the cabinet of Donald Trump (and I hope the Democrats somehow find even a minuscule amount of spine to stop this), her brother Erik Prince is a secret adviser to Donald Trump, where he’s advocating the return to a Phoenix program-style assassination ring, to be run by the Central Intelligence Agency.”
•Jeremy Scahill
“The point of all of this is that single protests, as important as they are, have never changed anything. But the social movements of linked protest are the lifeblood of resistance. That is the only thing, ultimately, that has changed anything: civil disobedience, boycotts, sit ins, prison solidarity networks, abortion funds, sanctuary spaces, all of it.”
•Naomi Klein
•Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
“All the rights and gains we have, they’re never given to us as acts of charity and generosity by the rich and powerful. They are won by the struggle and sacrifice of people from below — the people in this room, your mothers, your fathers, your grandmothers, your grandfathers, your ancestors before them.”
•Owen Jones
“While his sister is up for a public nomination in the cabinet of Donald Trump (and I hope the Democrats somehow find even a minuscule amount of spine to stop this), her brother Erik Prince is a secret adviser to Donald Trump, where he’s advocating the return to a Phoenix program-style assassination ring, to be run by the Central Intelligence Agency.”
•Jeremy Scahill
“The point of all of this is that single protests, as important as they are, have never changed anything. But the social movements of linked protest are the lifeblood of resistance. That is the only thing, ultimately, that has changed anything: civil disobedience, boycotts, sit ins, prison solidarity networks, abortion funds, sanctuary spaces, all of it.”
•Naomi Klein
February 6, 2017
A short pamphlet produced in the wake of the inauguration, this book contains speeches by well known activists, reminding us to stay hopeful and continue to resist, while refusing to let liberals co-opt our movements.
Perhaps the production was a tad bit hasty, as it contains several typos in its short length. I was also perplexed by all the watermarking on the book, given the fact that this book was offered for "free". The message is one I can get behind.
Perhaps the production was a tad bit hasty, as it contains several typos in its short length. I was also perplexed by all the watermarking on the book, given the fact that this book was offered for "free". The message is one I can get behind.
January 27, 2018
An interesting group of little essays encouraging people to build groups and movements that will put continual pressure on the Trump administration. The essays are also critical of Obama, Clinton and the Democratic Party, and most urge the creation of new movements/political parties.
February 7, 2017
Fuck Donald Trump
February 10, 2017
Beragam esai yg penuh amarah, kenapa Trump begitu berbahaya, termasuk payahnya sistem politik yg bisa membuat seorang Trump bisa-bisanya jadi presiden.
April 8, 2019
This is less a book and more a collection of speeches delivered as part of the post-inauguration protests of 2017, and as such it's not terrific. First, it's somewhat dated. That's not surprising, but the best political speeches tend to have an air of timelessness about them whereas these tend to be collections of talking points, some of which have held up better than others. Second, the tone is strident, which isn't inherently problematic, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth here.
It would be wrong to say the speeches are only anti-Trump, but that is the predominant theme (thus the title), and even the vision for a better America is couched in vehement anti-Trump language. I resonate with that, certainly, but it has a little bit of that lowest-common-denominator feel. Some of that is because these are very much speeches, and someone should have taken the time to smooth the rough edges for print.
Rage is in many ways the easiest emotion to express and the hardest to channel; these speeches feature a lot of expression and very little channeling. It's totally understandable coming as it did the day of Trump's previously unthinkable inauguration and the fear that came with it, but it doesn't make for great reading more than two years later.
It would be wrong to say the speeches are only anti-Trump, but that is the predominant theme (thus the title), and even the vision for a better America is couched in vehement anti-Trump language. I resonate with that, certainly, but it has a little bit of that lowest-common-denominator feel. Some of that is because these are very much speeches, and someone should have taken the time to smooth the rough edges for print.
Rage is in many ways the easiest emotion to express and the hardest to channel; these speeches feature a lot of expression and very little channeling. It's totally understandable coming as it did the day of Trump's previously unthinkable inauguration and the fear that came with it, but it doesn't make for great reading more than two years later.
August 4, 2017
On the same day as the 2017 Presidential inauguration, at the Lincoln Theater in Washington DC, a group of passionate, intersectional activists held what they called the "Anti-Inauguration". It was a rally for those who continue to resist the bigotry, fear, hatred, and greed that the newly-installed President symbolizes. The inauguration of the resistance included speeches by Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Owen Jones, and Anand Gopal. THE ANTI-INAUGURATION: BUILDING RESISTANCE IN THE TRUMP ERA is a transcript of those speeches. The speakers discuss economics, social policy, civil rights, status quo politics, and how they believe that Trump was able to win the election - and how to revitalize those issues to inspire activism in this new political era.
July 26, 2021
This was a solid read, with some interessting views on how and why leftist movements must form to fight for a better world for all. the solidarity aspect was strong, but I do think there was a lot left out, and the book should have been longer, and to an extent prioritized underlining intersecionality of oppression. The language also at times felt apoorly edited but I did enjoy this read, and I am glad i read it so 3,5 stars.
May 22, 2021
Drama queens trying to hog the spotlight. It seems to have never been about the cause, but rather about them forcing themselves to stay relevant in a World that continues to disobey the tantrums of the well fed upper middle class activists.
December 20, 2017
Excellent. It's a lot of hope and anger in this book, but it's a necessary lecture.
January 10, 2018
a nice short primer. i was primarily moved by taylor’s essay; the others felt more like restatements of what i already knew... but like i said, it’s a nice short primer. so
September 30, 2019
A series of essays reacting to the inauguration of Trump and how to fight the era of low expectations and corruption.
April 19, 2020
A great, quick read about what fighting for justice looks like.
April 22, 2017
Some speech transcripts. Nice as a souvenir perhaps, but nothing to write home about.
April 30, 2017
A great collection of the speeches given at the Anti Inauguration event hosted by Haymarket, Verso and Jacobin. I really loved the important context and observations the various speakers provided!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews