Habrá interpretación español-inglés. There will be Spanish-English interpretation.

Program for the evening... (Programa en español a continuación)

A self-defense presentation by the team at Malikah
A performance by Theatre of the Oppressed NYC
Poetry by Joel Leon, author of "Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man's Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future"
Make art with Interference Archive
A raffle of amazing goods and services
Dinner from Tanoreen
Meet organizers and advocates from our partner groups

What to Wear: Superhero Chic, capes, masks, fake abs, underwear over your pants. Merch showing off your real-life superhero artist or organization.

COVID policy: In order to keep our community safe, we require attendees to wear masks, unless they have received a negative COVID test result within 24 hours of the event. Please bring a photo of your negative test result or a test will be provided onsite.

Programa para la noche...

Qué llevar: ropa de superhéroe chic, capas, máscaras, abdominales falsos, ropa interior sobre los pantalones. Productos promocionales que muestren a su artista u organización de superhéroes de la vida real.

Política sobre la COVID: con el fin de garantizar la seguridad de nuestra comunidad, exigimos a los asistentes que lleven mascarilla, salvo que hayan dado negativo en una prueba de COVID realizada en las 24 horas previas al evento. Por favor, traiga una foto del resultado negativo de la prueba o se le realizará una prueba in situ.

The 2025 FIGHT-RAISER Heist Committee!

Josh Van Kirk, Board Chair
Katy Rubin, Board Treasurer
Brett Davidson
Nisha L. Sajnani
Benjamin Solotaire
Yugaku Caplan
Sulu LeoNimm
Harrow Sansom Choi
Philip Santos Schaffer

Featured presenters

Malikah is an anti-violence organization building community power and safety through self-defense, financial literacy, organizing, and healing programs. Since 2010, Malikah has trained over 30,000 people worldwide, partnering with over 800 organizations to offer impactful self-defense, financial literacy, organizing, and healing programs. Our work includes flagship events like the National Muslim Women’s Summit, where we have hosted hundreds of Muslim women over nine years, facilitating healing and self-defense programs. Through online resources and initiatives like our self defense starter kit, we've shared self-defense techniques with over 1 million people. Malikah also supports asylum seekers and marginalized communities through direct services, providing meals, housing support, and legal referrals, and creating safe spaces for healing and empowerment. Last, our base building efforts are focused on building collective power for working class and low income North African people in Queens, NY.

Joél Leon, author of the 2025 Gotham Book Prize-nominated “Everything and Nothing At Once: A Black Man's Reimagined Soundtrack For the Future” is a Bronx-born girl dad, poet, performer and cultural critic who writes and tells stories for Black people.

His TED talk on co-parenting has over 1.6M views, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Boston Globe, ABC NEWS, and others.

He is a Creative Collective NYC Creative Class alumni, winner of the BCA Bronx Recognizes Its Own Award in Poetry, member of the Top 50 Waymaker Class of 2025 and author "Things I Will Tell My Daughter", and "God Wears Durags, Too" (Bottlecap Press). He is currently a Creative Director at the New York Times' T Brand Studios. Joél is currently repped by Folio Literary.

Tabling Organizations

Black Dance Change Makers
Interference Archive
Malikah
NYCLU
Radical Evolution
Theatre Workers for a Ceasefire

About Theatre of the Oppressed NYC

At Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, we don’t just tell stories—we ignite action. We collaborate with NYC communities to confront oppression at all levels, using Augusto Boal’s theatre practices and Paulo Freire’s liberatory pedagogy as powerful tools for systemic transformation. Our work doesn’t just raise awareness; it demands change.

What we do:

Foster Solidarity to Ignite Awareness – We create space for members of marginalized communities to build an understanding of the systemic causes of their shared struggles.
Turn Passion into Action – We equip communities with the tools to drive narratives, activate discussions, and challenge oppression.
Shake the Foundations of Power – Through participatory theatre, we disrupt the status quo and fight for liberatory change.

Our Guiding Principles:

Lived experience is a form of expertise – Any conversation about injustice must be shaped by those who live it. Their perspectives, experiences, and leadership drive our work.
Participation and play are vital in coalition building – Live and interactive performances create space for real dialogue and shared imagining of radical transformation.
Art is a catalyst for rebellion – Community-driven theatre isn’t just entertainment—it’s resistance.

This is more than theatre, it’s a rehearsal for the revolution. Join us.

Theatre of the Oppressed NYC's Funders

Our current funders and grantors include the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, via Council Member Erik Bottcher (D3) and the Cultural Immigrant Initiative, The Lily Auchincloss Foundation, The Ms. Foundation, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, the Tikkun Olam Foundation, the New York Women’s Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Ms. Foundation and the JKW Foundation.

FIGHT-RAISER II: Tactics & Theatrics

Thursday, October 2 from 6pm-8pm