It Did Happen Here

It Did Happen Here returns to the Midwest for deeper conversations with veterans of the Minneapolis Baldies and  Skinheads of Chicago (SHOC) about what it means to  be a Black, Brown or Indigenous person in a predominantly white  movement, a woman in a male-dominated movement, how we direct our anti-racism as middle-aged activists, with deep discussion on how experiences with a violent youth have shaped political and personal philosophies.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

In our final episode of the podcast we hear about the end of Portland Anti Racist Action, the consequences of being a SHARP, and other reflections by the punks; we also hear words of wisdom offered in hindsight, with love from the now-middle aged activists.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

In this episode we look at the Coalition For Human Dignity’s move to Seattle, the merger with the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment and financial collapse. We hear reflections on the good, the bad and the ugly, with advice on moving forward today.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

On December 31, 1992 SHARPs and neo-Nazis met up on icy streets with fatal results. Episode 9 tells the story of the New Year’s Eve that changed the life of one SHARP member and shifted the balance of the struggle to take Portland’s streets back from racist skinheads. 

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

In this episode, we hear from the young anti-racist skinheads who physically confronted local racist boneheads, who took direct action to kick nazi scum out of the Rose City.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

In this episode, we offer another example of the Coalition for Human Dignity’s dedication to using a diversity of tactics in the fight to drive white nationalists out of Portland. We learn the secrets of the surveillance wing of the Coalition for Human Dignity in a behind the scenes visit to the Shop, where activists carefully compiled and painstakingly processed information on local and regional white nationalist groups.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

With the police unwilling to help people under threat of fascist attack, Portland activists mobilized their own self-defense projects. This episode focuses on the household defenses that were organized by the Coalition for Human Dignity as they sought to reclaim the city from neo-nazis.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

Overwhelmed by the increasing violence of racist skinheads, punks teamed up for community defense. In 1989 they formed Portland’s chapter of Anti Racist Action, and started to fight back.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/

This episode brings us to mid 80s Minneapolis to tell the story a small group of friends–including our host and producer Mic Crenshaw–founded first the anti-fascist skinhead crew Minneapolis Baldies and went on to help launch Anti Racist Action. ARA was a national organization that engaged in violence and direct confrontation against Neo-Nazi elements within scenes and cities and planted the seeds of today’s Antifa movement.

It Did Happen Here is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://itdidhappenherepodcast.wordpress.com/