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Why POG Needs Your Participation and Support!

POG supporters are individuals who want to play an involved role in supporting the group and its organizing but are not able to, or interested in, fulfilling the requirements of members (paying monthly dues, attending bi-weekly meetings, representing the group, and charting its course). A supporter base allows for a two-way dialogue with those most supportive of what we’re doing and makes it easier to know who’s interested in being involved.

POG is only as strong as its members and supporters. We are not a homogenous group, we come from different backgrounds and perspectives, and we’re at different places in our lives. We have differing levels of time, interest, money, and privilege. Our unity is in our work, a commitment to the common struggle to create a more just world.

Membership contributions and member dues are used to publish the Steel City Revolt! our quarterly publication, provide lawyers and legal support to participants in POG actions who suffer state repression, and pay for the myriad costs involved in organizing events and campaigns.

While we strive to make the most of our limited financial resources, which are primarily coming out of our members own pockets, some expenses are unavoidable. And frankly we’d rather be organizing than spending our time putting together, and relying on, fundraiser events, which while helpful, do not provide the steady and dependable resources needed to maintain POG’s level of activity.

We need each other because there is strength in numbers. Your support and participation helps build and legitimize resistance movements. Dominant institutions of power, and unfortunately occasionally those who should be our allies, like to pretend that the root of the anarchist ideal – direct democracy, worker self management, mutual-aid and solidarity, an end to exploitative and coercive hierarchies, true human freedom that respects and empowers – are all fringe ideas. A large membership demonstrates it’s time to expand the terrain of political discussion to include possible solutions that get at the root of militarism, injustice and inequality.

Your support will allow us to continue to highlight unique voices absent and marginalized even within many social movements. Through our educational Anarchist Speakers Series we’ve been able to expose Pittsburghers to important voices of folks such as Spanish Civil War veteran George Sossenko, author Cindy Milstein, and former Black Panther Ashanti Alston. With regular cultural events such as the yearly Anarchist Picnic and Anarchist Ball we go far beyond simply protesting to build an inclusive community of resistance that strives to meet individuals varied needs and desires.

Your support will mean we can hold true to our uncompromising commitment to defending freedom that expands individuals’ rights and benefits other organizations. When the city and police attempted to break our anti-war fast and set a precedent that long term protest camp-outs would not be allowed, we stayed strong through continual arrests and harassment. We took the city on in the streets and in court, eventually setting an example we hope will enable similar events in the future.

Perhaps most importantly support ensures political independence for POG, which means we can take positions and not back down when the elites push back. POG is, and has always been, entirely volunteer organized and run, we have no paid staff. Our funding comes directly from POG members and POG supporters. We receive no institutional funds or grants and are not beholden to any political parties. Supporter funding is critical in allowing us to organize and speak out without fear of the state or establishment tightening the purse strings.