La Cultura del Barrio: Sports, Antifascism & Neighborhood Power in Buenos Aires

La Cultura del Barrio in the neighborhood of Villa Crespo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was one of the 2025 recipients of the funds distributed annually by DIY Solidarity. With the 2026 application window only days away (it will open on March 1 and close on March 31), we reached out to the people keeping this “anti-fascist social and sports club” alive to talk about the political climate in Argentina, the hardcore scene, and how the DIY Solidarity funds were put to use.

La Cultura del Barrio is a direct continuation and expansion of the work of Acción Antifascista Buenos Aires, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. Grounded in grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and building alternatives outside of any political party, they have accompanied Argentina’s political processes since the economic crisis of 2001: participating in the movements of unemployed workers (piqueteros), creating workers cooperatives, taking part in neighborhood assemblies, and occupying a space where they built a social center. What began as a project more closely linked to the anti-racist skinhead and punk counterculture has, over the years, become a social and sports club for the people of the surrounding community.

Their decision to organize as a club is also part of a longer Argentine tradition. These “neighborhood clubs,” as social and sports clubs are known in the country, were historically shaped by anarchists, socialists, and the Afro-Argentine community, functioning as spaces of belonging and working class resistance. Today, under the right-wing government of Javier Milei and in the face of worsening economic conditions, LCDB sees itself as an heir to that history, organizing from below and defending collective space in an increasingly hostile political moment. As big fans of the project, we hope they’ll survive under pressure and continue building what they’ve started.

What is La Cultura del Barrio?

La Cultura Del Barrio is Latin America’s first anti-fascist social and sports club. It was founded by the organization Acción Antifascista Buenos Aires, which has been forging the path of organized and militant antifascism in Buenos Aires for 25 years. It is a space that opens its doors at 8 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. every day of the year, a space where we have a boxing school recognized by the Argentine Boxing Federation, as well as several other combat sport disciplines.

We also have a social area where events, concerts, screenings, talks, book presentations, and a long list of other activities are organized. Through our practice, we aim to demonstrate that things can be done differently. We have the consistency of many years of sustained work, and we are a real political, sporting, cultural, and social alternative.

There is a long tradition of “sports and social clubs” in Argentina. Is La Cultura del Barrio a modern-day expression of that?

In our country, “neighborhood clubs,” as social and sports clubs are known, have a tradition that has a lot to do with anarchism and socialism. For us, it was (and is) essential to return to that old logic of a meeting place where we can discuss, propose, organize, etc. collectively, obviously from our perspective and adapting to the times. At this moment, we believe it is essential to focus on the collective in the face of the advance of individualism, and we believe that our task is to organize responses to the constant attacks we suffer from the government of Javier Milei, especially in economic terms. We are the heirs of the first neighborhood clubs, and today, as yesterday, it is up to us to fulfill the role that we have as the working class, organizing ourselves from the grassroots and building popular power.

How has the current political climate impacted activities at the club?

Obviously, for a space like ours, it is difficult to survive in a context like that of our country. Not only is the advance of the right wing felt and noticeable in all areas of our lives, but the economic reality is suffocating us.

Today, our biggest struggle is to generate resources so that we can continue to open our doors. We are extremely pleased that so many people come to the club, so many people feel that the club is their place in this world, and for all these people we do everything possible to keep going. Our utility bills have gone up, our rent has gone up. We are a space created by and for the working class, and today in our country the working class is going through one of its worst moments, losing basic rights that were won decades ago, but even though it might sometimes feel hopeless—we continue to fight to try to change reality.

Can you describe the political situation in Argentina? What is the role of places such as La Cultura del Barrio? Are you allied with similar projects and political groups?

We are experiencing the worst moment since the last dictatorship, not only because of this right-wing government, but also because of the apathy of the people and, above all, the absence of a real opposition to this government. The discontent reflected in the working class finds no way to channel it. What used to be marches that ended in a process of radicalization of protest are now performances where people who dare to cover their faces or throw a stone are condemned.

The role of LCDB is precisely to be an alternative to everything that exists. Building popular power outside of any political party is necessary to show that change is possible. It is a day-to-day task, and the results are minimal in the face of the reality that overwhelms us, but it is part of what we have been building. Unfortunately, there are no similar experiences in our country. We do have relationships with political organizations that are our allies and with whom we share different territorial projects, and we are part of an anti-imperialist front alongside unemployed workers’ movements and social organizations.

This is a hardcore punk publication. What kind of music do visitors of La Cultura del Barrio get to hear?

We are a Skinhead space, where, in the beginning, Oi!, ska, and reggae bands were the ones that got the place going. Today, the hardcore/straight edge scene has become very present, and most concerts are of this style. We are a space open to all street cultures, and every weekend this can be seen in practice.

Tell us about the current hardcore scene in Argentina. How political is it? Are people active in the resistance against the regime?

Hardcore has been growing a lot in recent years, and with that growth comes a bit of everything. Some bands are more political than others. We’re seeing some really good things, like political fanzines from the hardcore and straight edge scenes, such as the fanzine xLUCHA DE CLASESx, and we’re also seeing many bands, labels, and event organizers with a tendency to want to become more political. It’s a scene that attracts a lot of young people who are starting to get involved in politics.

We are very hopeful about this process that is taking place within the hardcore scene, and there are many people in this scene who help the club to continue to exist, people like xEn el Desiertox, Fix Me Zine, Jueves Bajo Tierra, Inerme; bands like IANS, xDistantex, and a long list of other bands that support us weekend after weekend. We have participated in several marches and other events with many people from the scene, and they are always present in everything we propose.

What happened with the DIY Solidarity funds you received last year?

We try to be as transparent as possible when it comes to resources, which is why we use all the money for improvements to the space. Specifically, we used that money to finish building the changing rooms for the sports area, which was a need that had been raised by the people who come to the sports practices. We also bought a screen that we use for the film workshop and for screenings at solidarity events, film clubs, and talks/conferences.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for these much-needed funds, which allow us to continue with the different projects we carry out at the club and to sustain it.

Thank you for providing us with this space!

Support La Cultura del Barrio by ordering a benefit shirt from Fire and Flames or PM Press.