In Defense of Looting: A Riotous History of Uncivil Action

In Defense of Looting is a thought-provoking and timely book that challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about property, ownership, and social change.

Vicky Osterweil presents a compelling argument for the use of looting as a tool for dismantling white supremacy, drawing on historical examples of slave revolts, labor strikes, and modern-day movements for climate justice, Black lives, and police abolition. Through a detailed examination of the history of anti-Black, anti-Indigenous oppression, Osterweil shows how our beliefs about property and ownership are rooted in this history.

She argues that looting is not only a practical strategy for redistributing wealth and improving the lives of marginalized communities but also a powerful symbol of resistance against the status quo. With its bold and unflinching approach, In Defense of Looting is sure to spark controversy and conversation.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex intersections of race, class, and power in society and in creating a more just and equitable world.