Established in 2001 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Activate Royal Oak (ARO) was a small, Ann Arbor-based organization that described itself as “a collective of individuals working together to create a well-informed community” of “open-minded citizens, independent minds, and strong ideas.”

Expressly articulating a willingness to accept a “clash of strong opinions,” ARO summarized its political and ideological orientation as follows: “Call it what you will: Lefty, Liberal, Commie, Pinko, Progressive, Dissident, Socialist, or Free Thinking; ARO is here to provide a vast array of opinions. The politics and social agenda of the ‘conservative’ factions of America tend to differ greatly with ARO’s ideas and goals. We do believe every idea is as important as any other, and that discussion of these concepts can be used as a catalyst to construct a better understanding of social and political situations.”

ARO professed a determination to provide the American public with “alternate sources of information”; to “create an informed community of citizens who accept their responsibility to partake in the local, state and federal government”; and to “create a global conscience that works toward the advancement of all people.”

After focusing mainly on local issues during its first two years of activity, ARO expanded its scope in 2003 when it took a strong stance against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Toward that end, ARO became a member organization of the United for Peace and Justice anti-war coalition, led by the pro-Castro radical Leslie Cagan.

ARO’s relatively small budget was paid for mostly by its founder, and the group’s activism was made possible by what ARO called the “time, energy, and creativity” of its members and supporters. 

In March 2004, ARO denounced members of the media who portrayed anti-war activists as unpatriotic. The organization called for a public boycott against one such media outlet — the Southfield, Michigan-based radio station WKRK — and its supporting advertisers.

ARO became inactive in approximately 2004.