The Rolling Jubilee

078

Alleviating the burden of debt on individuals and highlighting the predatory debt system.

Initiator(s)

Strike Debt (OWS)

Description

With roots in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jubilee is a time when sins are remitted, debts are forgiven, and the enslaved or imprisoned are set free. Strike Debt, an organization that arose out of the Occupy movement, developed The Rolling Jubilee in 2012 to resist the growing debt system in the US. In an act of mutual support, people donate to the organization in order to abolish other people’s debt. Taking advantage of the deregulation of the finance industry and the ability to legally purchase charged-off debt, Strike Debt is able to buy individuals debt at random, for pennies on the dollar, and abolish it. Whereas banks may sell debt at pennies on the dollar to debt buyers and collectors who profit on the exchange by charging the full amount to the debtor, The Rolling Jubilee cancels the debt immediately, intervening for the benefit of the 99% and highlighting the harmful affect of our predatory debt system.

Goals

To build a network of resisters and a movement to establish an alternate economy that benefits everyone.

Beneficial outcomes

Individual debt is abolished while bringing awareness to the issue of predatory debt systems in the US. A Debt Resistors’ Operations Manual offers advice on resisting debt and joining the movement. As of February 16, 2013, Strike Debt has raised a total of $557,451 to abolish an outstanding $11,153,855 of debt.

Location

United States

Users

US Citizens

Maintained by

Strike Debt donations

Duration

2012 - ongoing

Category

Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social

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