Faced with intensifying repression and state violence, many people are understandably inclined to seek safety by avoiding confrontation. But this does not always work.

[W]hen it comes to both individual and collective self-preservation, it can be wiser to act assertively at the beginning, while it is still possible to influence the course of events. Even if this goes badly, it can be better to bring the conflict to a head immediately, before one’s adversary becomes more powerful. If nothing else, this strategy has the virtue of making it impossible to lull oneself into a false sense of security while the threat increases.

In this discussion, we will review the new threats that are emerging under the second Trump administration, discuss what anarchism has to contribute at this time of peril, and explore examples from Asheville history that illustrate why it may be safer in the front.

Based in part on the recent article and zine, It’s Safer in the Front: Taking the Offensive Against Tyranny, this conversation will be co-hosted by participants in CrimethInc. and Firestorm.