Cooking Up a Revolution: Food Not Bombs, Homes Not Jails, and Resistance to Gentrification

During the late 1980s and early 1990s the city of San Francisco waged a war against the homeless. This book treats the conflict between the city and activists as a unique opportunity to examine the contested nature of homelessness and public space while developing an anarchist alternative to liberal urban politics that is rooted in mutual aid, solidarity and anti-capitalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2018
Publisher: Manchester University Press

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the city of San Francisco embarked on a fierce campaign against homelessness. The police force, driven by a liberal ideology, arrested and issued citations to activists who were providing free food in public parks. This unexpected action raises several questions: why would a progressive city arrest individuals who were actively helping the homeless? In seeking answers to this query, the book delves into the complex conflict between the city and activists, viewing it as a unique opportunity to examine the contentious nature of homelessness and public space. It also develops an anarchist alternative to liberal urban politics, rooted in principles of mutual aid, solidarity, and anti-capitalism.

Furthermore, the book explores theoretical and political issues related to gentrification, broken-windows policing, and anti-homeless laws. It provides activists, students, and scholars with real-life examples of how anarchist homeless activists in San Francisco resisted these processes. This book holds significant relevance to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to eradicate hunger by 2030. By shedding light on the experiences of anarchist homeless activists, it offers valuable insights and strategies for addressing homelessness and promoting social justice in urban areas.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 240 x 161 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526107350