We are in the midst of a pandemic, social and economic crises, police killings and repression, and on the cusp of a major election. There is ample anxiety about where we are headed and where we may end up. There are an endless number of predictions, assessments, and variables to agonize over. But there is one constant that we can rely on to guide us through all circumstances: The power of our people. If we build it

This report offers for consideration the results, reflections, and lessons of our efforts through the campaign. We hope it offers our movements a path forward based on the necessity of building power, not on the shaky foundation of the uncertainties of the present.

This past Sunday, DRUM held our first full membership assembly in 10 years. It was also the first time we brought together members from all our bases since we started our formal expansion in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and South Queens. Last weekend, DRUM held our first full membership assembly in 10 years. It was also the first time…

We started off this month, on Sunday November 3rd, with a beautiful workshop planned, organized, and led by our Brooklyn women and girl members. In the lead up to the workshop, the Brooklyn women and girl members made audio recordings sharing their experiences with gender-based oppression and violence. They used those audio clips, including blaring…

As many of us know, Rikers Island is inhumane and a torture chamber for thousands of people. After many years of organizing by impacted communities, Rikers was supposed to close. Yet, Mayor de Blasio and New York City Council is pushing a $10 Billion Rikers expansion plan to build 4 borough based jails. They claim this plan will allow them…

On Thursday, 8 DRUM members from all of our bases testified at the City Council’s Land Use Committee’s hearing on the mayor’s jail expansion plan. Members came after school and work, waited many hours, to demand City Council vote NO to the jail expansion plan. Members testified the $10 billion should be used to fund…

Our South Queens gender justice team, working in the Richmond Hill/Ozone Park area, put together a public workshop so that our communities can start thinking about how we end domestic and gender-based violence in our neighborhoods.  They started doing street outreach in the beginning of the year and identified domestic and gender-based violence as an…

Over 300 members from all 4 of our membership bases gathered together for DRUM’s 2019 Annual Membership Picnic at Sunken Meadows Park this past weekend. We got to celebrate our wins and accomplishments from this year so far, build with each other, share good food, play games, have a Young Peoples Liberation Area (YPLA), replay a…

DRUM took to the streets in the days leading up to and during the planned ICE raids in our communities to address the fears, provide information, and training in how people can protect themselves and each other.  DRUM members from across the city reached out to thousands of people with Know Your Rights and Risk…