So You Want to Join an Activism Group
Here's the checklist of exactly how to do it.
Note: I originally wrote this article in 2021, but the message bears repeating especially now.
We’ve been talking for months about making political activism groups, how to know when to leave one, and what real vetting looks like. But what if you’re the prospective member? Groups need to be vetted from your side too, and today that’s what we’ll be talking about.
You’re scrolling through Facebook or Telegram and keep seeing references to a local activism group in your area. You agree with the stuff they post, and you’re starting to think about whether you should join up. Before you jump on board, there are a few things you should know.
For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume the group uses an open recruiting model in which prospects can apply for membership somehow. Joining an existing group is not a small thing for several reasons, both good and bad.
It links you to the group’s ideology
It allows you to be blamed for actions taken both by the group and its members independently
It can put you on a radar you weren’t previously on
On the flip side, it can help empower you to act in your local area, getting things done you may not have otherwise been able to do. It can give you access to information, gear, and skills you don’t currently have. It also, for better or worse, feeds our need to be part of something. That need is responsible, in fact, for a whole lot of awful groups still managing to operate long after their members should have walked away.
Choosing a group can and should be a logical exercise, devoid of emotion. Don’t join because you “feel at home” there, or because you will feel better about yourself if you’re seen to be “doing something for the cause.” There’s a list of questions you can ask yourself about both your own motivations and the group itself—and if you’re honest, they’ll give you a pretty clear indication of whether the group is something worth investing your time and person into. Some of these might seem like stupid questions, but take the time to ask them anyway. You may be surprised at the answer once you think it through.
The Local Questions
What is the group’s stated goal? Bluntly put, what is the point of their existence? Is it something you agree with and are passionate about? It’s pretty counterproductive to get involved with a group when you don’t agree with or want to further its goals—unless, of course, you’re infiltrating it, which is a whole other topic for another article.
What have they accomplished toward that goal? This is where you can start seeing the difference between the group that has a solid, workable goal with tangible accomplishments—and one that has a vague slogan for a goal and spends much of their time distracted by other peripheral stuff. If a group preaches local action, for instance, but can’t seem to stop getting involved in national issues or those that have nothing to do with the local area they claim to want to help, walk away.
What’s on their current/future action list? Groups that are highly active will have things planned, issues they’re keeping track of, efforts they’re involved with. Do you agree with those? Are they in keeping with the stated goals? Again, if the goals and actions don’t match, you’ve got a problem.
What are the secondary and tertiary effects of their actions? Do they have public support in their area? How does law enforcement see them? This isn’t a case of not caring what people think of you; it goes toward understanding what your personal experience may include if you join. If you’re looking to join a group that is ‘loud and proud,’ for instance, you’ll need to know what the blowback may be—if for no other reason than being informed before making decisions is always a good idea.
The National Questions
Is the group affiliated nationally? This may not be a dealbreaker for you, but again, you need to know up front because like it or not, you could be lumped in with anything that any member does, anywhere in the country, when it comes to public opinion, media coverage, etc. That might also trickle down to the local level.
Are the stated goals of the local organization in alignment with the national ones? You may find that your local group has the name of the national org but is far different in goals, and that’s good to know too. You may not want to associate with it if they’re different. If you find that the local group is ‘better’ than the national, the next question is why are they associated at all?
The Personnel Questions
Who is leading your local group? Group culture starts at the top. If the leader is a narcissist, the group will often attract more. If they’re someone who seeks attention, they’ll make poor decisions. If they are lax in what kind of conduct they allow in the group, then the group will have poor conduct. You should also look at the person’s history, statements online, and general reputation. If you talk to other members, pay attention for signs of blind following, or even cultish behavior. You might be surprised to find that in some groups, they’re following a person—not a concept.
What is the leadership structure like? Find out how decisions are made. Is it a one man show? Is it a group of leaders voting? What was the criteria for them to be put in that position?
What are the members like? You can tell a lot about the group itself by simply getting to know members. If you hear a member use a racial slur, for instance, watch how that is handled in the group. Is he summarily removed? Or do people just look the other way? What about temper tantrums, violence, or instability? Is the group doing anything to keep their group solid and stable or are they more worried about keeping their numbers up?
What kinds of skillsets are present? If you’re looking at a prepping group, how many members are actively and actually prepping? Do they have actual medical skill? Are they training? Does the training match their stated goals? If, for example, the group says it focuses on neighborhood preparedness for natural disasters, but then spends all of its time lobbying for veteran issues, then something is off. Look for things that don’t match.
Trust Your Gut
If something feels wrong, it IS wrong. Look for the hints that you’re not getting the whole picture. Have a personal goal to get all the information you can before actually joining. Talk to members, and get face time with the actual leader.
If everything checks out and you join the group successfully, that’s great—but if anything changes, don’t be afraid to walk away immediately. If you find yourself exposed to activities you don’t want to be involved in, or you find that the leader isn’t what he said he was, or you simply decide that things aren’t adding up, leave. You don’t somehow become incapable of political action if you leave a group, and you may be saving yourself a lot of unnecessary risk and grief.