Slingshot is an independent radical newspaper published in Berkeley since 1988.
At a support rally for a prisoner friend, it feels unclear what tone to adopt. Are we getting together in joyous celebration of our comrade? To mourn their captivity? To vent anger with the state? Are we strong or are we defeated? What is the appropriate tone for solidarity? Is this part of how alienation operates; making us feel like we’re wrong to act naturally?
Many times we put these sorts of self-conscious doubts aside and aim our hearts and body to eradicate suffering; towards steady, sturdy, buoyant defiance; seeking freedom for ourselves and others. On this day, however, someone mentions that they feel like they’re at a funeral, gravely powerless over our friend’s imprisonment and potentially lifelong sentencing. How can we honor both our collective strength and solidarity as well as these heavy feelings of grief and hopelessness? We want to be present to it all.
What is the appropriate tone for solidarity? Solidarity is not expressed in affect, but in action. Solidarity is listening, unselfish. We are relentlessly discovering solidarity. We are fighting to stop the construction of cop cities. We are divesting from the nonprofit industrial complex. We are taking back our power from the consumer culture which entraps us. We are naming rape as essential to empire and empire as essential to rape. We are demanding a world without war. We are asking each other to act responsibly, even when we aren’t solely responsible. We are keeping channels of communication open even when we don’t know exactly what to say or how to act.
Finding a rebel community, figuring out where you fit it and doing your part can be transformative. Being on your own is isolating – it’s easy to be self-critical. Capitalism and its media offer consumerism and entertainment to distract you from the real questions that lead to meaning. Joining the freaks can be the difference between creating a sweaty underground festival in an abandoned train station vs. going to the mall or watching TV. Diving into DIY experiences can help change your mood from powerlessness, resignation and just floating through life to being part of something larger than yourself. Realizing your creative potential promotes a focused yet relaxed feeling of possibility, self-acceptance and knowing what your life means. It can be a self-reinforcing process – freeing your time and spirit to work on enhancing community enlarges your scene and frees those around you and yourself.
Since our last issue, the University of California began all-out construction of a $400 million dorm upon People’s Park after the California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed to protect the park. Construction is happening within an absurd 17 foot tall wall built out of 160 double stacked shipping containers — a massive show of force demonstrating how scared UC is of protests against the project. The struggle over the park has never just been over 2 acres of land. We maintain our demand for a city and a world that values freedom, beauty, love and the earth — not just obedience, concrete and greed. Fuck the UC and long live People’s Park.
Slingshot is always looking for new writers, artists, editors, photographers and distributors. Even if you feel you are not an essayist, illustrator or whistleblower, you may know someone who is. If you send an article, please be open to its editing. We are a collective, but not all the articles reflect the opinions of all collective members. We welcome debate and constructive criticism.
Thanks to the people who made this: Amalia, Antonio, Areden, Cytr, Donna, eggplant, Gabi, Griffin, Harlin/Hayley, Helia, Hank, Jack, Jake, Jesse, Kirsten, Lucie, Matteo, Robin, Sean, Sirkka, Soren, Sylvia & all the authors and artists!
Slingshot Article Submission Info
We’re not going to set a deadline for the next issue. We encourage you to submit articles for the next Slingshot anytime you want. We’ll make another issue when we feel like we’re ready. Please check the Slingshot website, IndyBay, instagram and facebook for deadline info. We also have an internal email list that will announce the next deadline so please contact us if you want to be added to the list.
Volume 1, Number 141, Circulation 24,000
Printed October 4, 2024
Slingshot Newspaper
A publication of Long Haul
Office: 3124 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94705*
Mailing: PO Box 3051, Berkeley, CA 94703
510-540-0751 slingshotcollective@protonmail.com
slingshotcollective.org • twitter @slingshotnews
instagram/ facebook @slingshotcollective
* Our office may be torn down in 2025 so check before you visit or you may just find a pile of rubble
Circulation information
Subscriptions to Slingshot are free to prisoners, low income folks, or anyone in the USA with a Slingshot Organizer, or are $1 per issue donation. International $3 per issue. Outside the Bay Area we’ll mail you a free stack of copies if you give them out for free. Say how many copies and how long you’ll be at your address. In the Bay Area pick up copies at Long Haul and Bound Together books, SF.
Slingshot free stuff
We’ll send you a random assortment of back issues for the cost of postage. Send $5 for 2 lbs. Free if you’re an infoshop or library. slingshotcollective.org