This has become quite a common image in my Reddit feed.
If your Reddit feed is more deep-fried memes and funny cat videos, let me recap for you: Outside Chicago, Lake Zurich High School students were participating in an anti-ICE protest. Student B was counter-protesting, wearing Meta Glasses and holding a sign that said, “I LOVE ICE.” Student A engages and the following occurs:
Student A: “I’m going to punch you for that.”
Student B: “You’re gonna punch me?”
Student A: “Yeah.”
Student B: “Then you’re gonna get in trouble for that.”
Student A: “Okay.”
While I will not condone violence in a school newspaper, I can recognize anarchy calisthenics when I see it. Like much of anarchy, the concept of anarchy calisthenics was not created by anyone, but the language assigned to the concept was first coined by Yale Professor James C. Scott in Two Cheers for Anarchism: Six Easy Pieces on Autonomy, Dignity, and Meaningful Work and Play. Simply put, it is easier to perform large, radical acts of resistance when you have been practicing smaller, lesser acts of resistance.
There exist many examples of media where brave protagonists lead resistance movements against corrupt governments – think Schindler’s List, The Hunger Games, To Kill a Mockingbird, or Mazerunner. These depictions encourage the viewer to see themselves as a real-life protagonist who, if faced with the opportunity, would also bravely protect victims of war crimes in plain sight like Oskar Schindler, for example.
Resistance against corrupt governments hinges on the idea that there are laws that should not be followed. As defined by Law Insider, a Just Law is “consistent with the moral rights of persons and peoples, and that are implemented in conformity with the principles of natural justice.” Most people would agree that Just Laws should be followed and citizens should be punished for breaking them, so we expect movements to fight against Unjust Laws like Jim Crow or Nuremberg.
The government and society use punishment to deter citizens from breaking laws, including unjust laws that are still enforced. Social punishments (e.g. ostracization) or legal punishments (e.g. fines, prison, death penalty) are threats made by the powerful to control the actions of the marginalized. This may help explain why otherwise kind, smart, and thoughtful citizens went along with Jim Crow or Nuremberg laws.
In the case of Lake Zurich High School, Student B was expecting the threat of punishment to deter Student A from punching him: “You’re going to get in trouble for that.” But Student A rejects the threat and accepts the punishment with an, “Okay.” Student A probably just considered this a fair response to a Pro-ICE agitator. Student A likely couldn’t predict the ripple effect within the Anti-ICE movement or how he would become a protest symbol. To choose what you believe is just and right without first thinking about the consequences is a certain type of bravery that I find very compelling.
If you are similarly compelled and considering the ways in which you might someday need to resist against an increasingly corrupt ruling class, I would encourage you to consider the practice of resistance. Large, impressive acts of resistance against unjust laws are celebrated in the media and in history, but what is often overlooked is how hard it is to suddenly become capable of those.
In other words, as James C. Scott wrote, “One day you will be called on to break a big law in the name of justice and rationality. Everything will depend on it. You have to be ready. How are you going to prepare for that day when it really matters? You have to stay ‘in shape’ so that when the big day comes you will be ready. What you need is ‘anarchist calisthenics.’ Every day or so breaks some trivial law that makes no sense, even if it’s only jaywalking. Use your own head to judge whether a law is just or reasonable. That way, you’ll keep trim; and when the big day comes, you’ll be ready.”
I would argue that it isn’t only trivial government laws that provide practice (an in fact, jaywalking is actually really dangerous and you should cross at crosswalks), but also the social laws that govern our current society. Consider the ways in which our social practices are limiting – it isn’t cool to call out bullying, it’s cringey to be silly, it’s not cool to try too hard, it’s not cool to talk to that person or to invite someone to eat lunch with you, wearing that type of clothing is lame, etc. etc.
Maybe radical acts of resistance are being kind, having hope, sharing a smile in the hallway. Maybe radical acts are helping a neighbor, donating to a food pantry, putting books in a local free little library. Maybe radical acts are caring less about what your peers think and doing the things you enjoy and think are right. Maybe radical acts are getting off social media for a bit, calling your grandma, planting some wild flowers.
Maybe by practicing in these small ways, we can care for each other in big ways when we need to.
