What the War on Terror Can Teach Us about Fascism with Darakshan Raja
Episode Description
In this incredibly timely episode, host Ejeris Dixon sits down with Darakshan Raja, founding Executive Director of Muslims for Just Futures. Raja talks about how post-9/11 policies laid the groundwork for today’s increasing fascism. She also explains how the framework of terrorism expanded government power, targeted organizations and communities, and justified the expansion of prisons, policing, and the military, from the use of Guantánamo to campus protest crackdowns. Importantly, Dixon and Raja focus on what to do now to refuse the legitimacy of “terror” frames, and strengthen support across communities and movements.
About Darakshan
Darakshan Raja is the founding executive director of Muslims for Just Futures (MJF) where she manages the organization’s overall development, programming, administration, and strategic direction. Darakshan leads MJF’s national advocacy and movement-building efforts, local Chicago power-building programming, and the DC Guaranteed Income program. Darakshan is an abolitionist who made her way to organizing through the anti-violence movement providing crisis advocacy support to survivors in NYC. She is passionate about building power, bringing organizing visions to life, and figuring out ways to build a strong infrastructure for movement work.
About Ejeris
Ejeris is a political strategist passionate about strengthening liberation movements and building community safety. Ejeris serves as the Fascism Barometer's "movement meteorologist," exploring the impact of fascist movements on communities of color, queer and trans communities, and all marginalized people. Having worked for the past twenty-five years at the intersections of racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, anti-violence, transformative justice, and economic justice movements, Ejeris focuses on creating political and strategic experiments to strengthen social justice movements through the organization Ejerie Labs.
Resources
Reading
“The Criminalization of Solidarity” by Muslims for Just Futures
“How NSPM-7 (National Security Presidential Memorandum- 7) Seeks to Use "Domestic Terrorism" to Target Nonprofits and Activists” by Hina Shamsi, ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
“Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence (NSPM-7, Full Memo),” The White House
“Community Guide for Grassroots Groups: Fiscal Sponsorship, Bail Funds, and Mutual Aid Basics,” by Muslims for Just Futures
Muslims for Just Futures Community Defense Resource Hub by Muslims for Just Futures
Mapping Community Defense and Care In Our Neighborhoods by Kelly Hayes
Specially Designed Nationals (SDN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) by Wikipedia
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