This really sat well next to "It Did Happen Here", another published by the Working Class History imprint on PM Press this year. The book covers much of the same early history of the Baldies anti-racist skinhead crew in Minneapolis that joined with Chicago and other local scenes to create the Syndicate and eventually branched out of Skinhead culture to found Anti-Racist Action. Where IDHH covers the collaboration between scenes with a focus on Portland, this shows a degree of how wide ARA spread in the '90s and '00s through parts of so-called USA & Canada, with a focus on the midwestern and eastern portions.

You hear anectdotes and analysis on chapter-level issues and fights up to network wide developments as racist, fascist and anti-abortion groups rose up out of the sludge and various crews attempted to fight them down again. Chapter themes include the role of subculture in incubating and spreading the model, the methods of inter-chapter debate, challenges and innovations from within & without and a lovely tie-up at the end on the legacy of the group and a challenge to build a broad (yet secure and representative) anti-fascism today that can be wide and strong, recognizing the interconnection between institutional oppressions and the street chuds who want to rumble. Quite a good read and lots of material for discussion.

Another overlap with the IDHH book is that they are both heavy on the imagery, lots of pics from demos and lots of organizing graphics, stickers and posters as well as dox materials.

There's a lot in here for anyone looking to learn the history or sharpen their perspective on current struggle.