In the spirit of SmashXSmashWest and its call for decentralized, autonomous activity, this is a challenge to everyone who thinks of themself as just an attendee or participant: don’t just attend SmashX events, organize one!
Organizing an event doesn’t have to be some complicated affair. Anything you can do that strengthens more connections, develops skills, builds courage, and increases action is welcome!
You don’t need a big audience or promotion! Just invite your friends, neighbors, coworkers.
You don’t need fancy graphic design! Write your invitation on a piece of paper or in your notes app and send it around.
You don’t need a venue! Do it at your house, a park, the library, or any other space you have access to
share that skill you know. Read or watch something with others and discuss it together. go on a walk and put up stickers, agitprop, or graffiti in your neighborhood. map out the cameras, police hotspots, and scummy businesses in your area. make plans for resiliency in disasters and political crises. host a group dinner, crafternoon, game night, or house party. invite people over to share songs or jam, with no expectations of perfection. Get a crew together and introduce a little disoder in the city: play a weird game in a park, ruin the vibes at a bougie bar, drag a couch or a scooter into the street. get rowdy, get creative, get social.
Smash the specialization of organizing, whether as an “event booker” or an “activist!” Smash the perfectionism which stops you from trying out that idea in your head!
If you want anything promoted by SmashXSmashWest ahead of time send it to us; otherwise, please send us a little reportback after your event to tell us how it went!