Though historically associated with leftist causes, mutual aid is, at its core, about people helping one another — a concept that transcends politics, religion and culture. Mutual aid is predicated on the idea that sharing excess and collaborating with others will strengthen communities. Mutual aid groups provided counseling and pro bono legal services to targets of legal persecution after the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Throughout COVID, Boulder mutual aid groups like SAFE, Food Not Bombs and Boulder Food Rescue distributed medical supplies alongside food and other essentials. “Especially in the winter months,” said Chilly, a member of SAFE Boulder who preferred to use a pseudonym, “what we provide is essential for survival.”Those who frequent mutual aid groups are prone to having extreme and pointed views on authority, and disagreements between mutual aid organizations and local government entities are common.