Just know you’re not alone in feeling this way. I don’t have the luxury of living in a place where organizing, protesting, and fighting back are realistic options, and I do often wonder about the effectiveness of doing so even given the opportunity. I think of Aaron Bushnell’s words almost every day, “If you ever wondered what you would have done during the Holocaust, you’re doing it now.” It makes me deeply ashamed. I would throw my body on the gears if I could, but I can’t find the gears, and I can’t throw my body on them. They’re simply out of my reach.

Lenin puts this best. The activities which effectively disrupt the machinery of slavery, genocide, and oppression have been outlawed and are being outlawed. This is doubly so in the imperial core. I think BDS is an appealing option for so many first-worlders because it is something we can do that is extremely difficult to criminalize.

Take solace that the work which brings imperialism to its knees is not ours to do. It is the work of the oppressed peoples of the world, and they are the only ones who can succeed in this endeavor. It will happen with or without our support. And it will happen. Let Hamas fire the shots, let Ansar Allah enforce its blockade, and let South Africa take these criminals to court. Palestinians need decent human beings to stand up for them in the imperial core.

Whatever you do, don’t despair. It sounds extremely stupid, but hope for a better world and a steadfast belief in justice which transcends courts and cops are potent weapons against soul-crushing barbarism. Keep speaking truth to power, comrade. It is all we can do.