may first is coming up!

everybody march your calendars and keep this saturday open because its mother fuckin may day! here is the plan:

rally in chicano park at 11 am put on by union del barrio
march at noon to create a human chain around the federal building
rally at noon at 1 pm at the federal building

here are teh four demands:
Legalization for All - Without Conditions
Jobs, Housing & Livable Wages for All
Fund Education & Social Services, Not War
Immigration Rights for LGBT Partners

at six there is a big may day get together at el centro cultural de la raza. keep an eye out for anything you see going on, and dont forget to make your own fun too

Imagine___

Hey all,

So just reposting this for those of you who haven't added yourselves to the NAASN listserv. Recently Tea Party peoples have been identified as patriotic and anarchists (oh god!) and this is just something tim wise wrote about them:

"Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black" - Tim Wise

Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure - the ones who are driving the action - we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins.

So let’s begin.

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominentblack commentator and his sister — who also works for the organization — defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America’s Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.

Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough—“living fossils” as he called them—“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kidsbeat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.

Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.

Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.

Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.

Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.comlast year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”

Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.

In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?

To ask any of these questions is to answer them. Protest is only seen as fundamentally American when those who have long had the luxury of seeing themselves as prototypically American engage in it. When the dangerous and dark “other” does so, however, it isn’t viewed as normal or natural, let alone patriotic. Which is why Rush Limbaugh could say, this past week, that the Tea Parties are the first time since the Civil War that ordinary, common Americans stood up for their rights: a statement that erases the normalcy and “American-ness” of blacks in the civil rights struggle, not to mention women in the fight for suffrage and equality, working people in the fight for better working conditions, and LGBT folks as they struggle to be treated as full and equal human beings.

And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.

Game Over.

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, on over 400 college campuses, and to community groups around the nation. Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has trained physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. His latest book is called Between Barack and a Hard Place.

thoughts on educating, consciousness raising, and our involvement

so i recently got into a kind of lame pissing contest online with a friend of mine that all stemmed from something he said that i felt was elitist. he then accused me of pulling out "the privilege card", at which point all hell broke loose, but that is neither here nor there. what it got me thinking of though is how do we relate within our own activities and organizing in terms of: outreach, "educating", and consciousness raising; involvement in communities and spreading our movement or ideals; and creating spaces, skills, and relationships that further movement.

the above mentioned friend with whom i exchanged obscenities views his most valuable contribution to be spreading information through the act of educating those who they feel to be not as knowledgeable about  their cause, specifically the animal rights movement. to me though this feels like an imposition and hierarchical, that by assuming that one has a more valid "truth" than others ignores basic facts. what about the fact that people for one reason or another have causes and reasons for how they eat? that the ideas of mainstream veganism don't relate to every neighborhood? of course one can say they try not to impose their ideas in places or situations that don't fit, but the bottom line is that when you have an absolutist approach you better make sure your message is universal. good luck with that.

anyway! i have older anarchist friends (in their 30s, oh my god so old!) who having been active in explicitly anarchist scenes decided to work for the last few years with other groups such as non-profits, community gardens, etc etc etc. as anarchists they have certain perspectives and opinions that clash with those of the other community organizers they collaborate with, but they also have skills, experience, and motivations in common. and i've seen them do amazing work, and whether intentionally or not i've noticed a more radical slant in community orgs.

it just seems that working together and contributing to what a community immediately needs is way better than coming at somebody with your pet cause. this isn't co-opting, hopefully, as long as it is done respectfully and consensually.so in my opinion, leave the "educating" to those marxists socialist bastards. instead go see who is doing something already and help. if nothing is happening, ask people what they want to do then go do it. we don't need leaders, in fact we work much better without them.

please share what you think!

la anarchist black cross, repost for compxs in los angeles

4/17/2010

Sisters and brothers,

Our beloved friend and comrade Julio Rodriguez was arrested today 4/17/10 in Downtown Los Angeles, while protesting against white supremacy, by the LAPD. For those of you who do not know Julio he has been involved with Communities For A Better Environment Huntington Park, Anarchist Black Cross Guadalajara, Nahuatl education in Brown communities, and most recently helped organize the April 10th event to raise funds for Oso Blanco and the children of Chiapas. He is being held on the trumped up charge of “Assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer or fireman,” which is a felony. His court date is Tuesday 4/20/10; his bail is 50,000 dollars, and he is currently in the LAPD Parker Center, located at 150 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA. His booking number is #2301368. Tomorrow, Sunday, 4/18/10, visiting hours are from 10-12 and 1-3 pm. I will be able to make at least two trips to visit him tomorrow and one on Monday, if anyone has a government issued ID and wants to carpool, please contact me at MapachinABC@gmail.com . I will post the court time, address, and room number as soon as the information becomes available to me. It is crucial that as Anarchists, anti-imperialists, anti-racists, and anti-fascists we support our friend behind enemy lines, as well as his family, offering our aid in any way possible. Please circulate this message.

FREE JULIO!

Mapache

Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross

building movement, not a movement

repost from takethecity on the "student movement"
heres an excerpt:

What is far more important than the question of “how many” is the question of “how”:  How are these actions manifesting the antagonisms of class society?  How is this activity building the preconditions for greater collective action?  How are these modes of struggle confronting real material and social needs?  How are they contributing to a new repertoire of tactics that address the unique conditions of this era? These lead to other questions: What good is an enormous rally if everyone feels less powerful once it’s over? When does “movement building” actually build movement as opposed to suppressing it?   If we apply a critical reading of history, we can see that in many instances more people have been mobilized far more quickly and passionately through collective militant action than through teach-ins, rallies, panel discussions and newspaper articles.

goings on about town!

following the quake that hit just about a week ago the border angels have been doing support in mexicali for those most affected. things needed are "non perishable food, clothing, tents, sleeping bags water, etc…" and in addition to the drop offs listed on their site the city heights free skool is also taking donations to send to the cucapa, whose community has been devastated.

may day is coming up, so this is a chance to come out and show the city that there are people actively organizing in their community and that they can handle walking a few blocks with signs. very big stuff, all joking aside, because i at least feel like its a good opportunity to get to know other organizers and network and mobilize and such. here is a tentative flier because that info is going to change i know it. meetings for the march are every tuesday at city college

and just a reminder, next sunday microcosm publishing is touring through san diego at the snowdrop house so show up it should be fun.

other big news: after the farmers market in city heights the bikes del pueblo crew and some friends discovered that bar b q'd strawberries are delicious. this is just one of the amazing discoveries and learning possibilities that collective organizing has to offer

Black Bloc Tactic

No One is Illegal's Harsha Walia speaks about the diversity of tactics strategy and the black bloc tactic, and experiences of the tactic in the context of 2010 Olympics resistance.

http://www.youtube.com/user/AnarchaLA

NAASN

Hey all,

So I'm just inviting you all to add yourself to the North American Anarchist Studies Network google group:

http://groups.google.com/group/naasn?hl=en.&pli=1

There are very interesting discussions and important announcements going on.

Also...

Maybe we should take some time to meet up as anarchy! san diego group for a day and talk about some interests, readings, questions, etc. I say a potluck! watcha think?

Carolina

Ps- ken i am very excited about microcosm