Anarchist Background

["Jay Moore" <research@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

FYI, here is a very informative piece -- written in response to an email
request for help from a reporter from "Time Magazine"! -- by an anarchist at
the "infoshop" in Baltimore on who's who and what's what among the
anarchists with respect to the events in Seattle.

Best,
Jay
http://www.neravt.com/left/


>Margot:
>
>First of all, I'd like to point you to my website, which has been
>tracking the news from both the mainstream media and the alternative
>media. That URL is:
>
>http://www.infoshop.org/no2wto.html
>
>I've been following the news online and via TV so I think I have a grasp
>of what happened, although I'm still 3,000 miles away and am relying on
>mediated accounts.
>
>There were quite a variety of anarchists who went to the anti-WTO
>protests in Seattle. I'd estimate that several thousand attended the
>events, which I base on the sense I got that everybody was going. At
>least two anarchists from the D.C. area went.
>
>Anarchists were involved in all aspects of the Seattle events: some were
>involved in the nonviolent street sit-ins. Others did street theater and
>displayed puppets. I know quite a few were involved in alternative media
>efforts, including everything from filing eyewitness accounts, updating
>websites, shooting pictures and video, and operating the micropower
>radio stations. I also know that quite a few of my union mates in the
>IWW participated in the union march, but I haven't heard back from them.
>And yes, there were the young anarchists who trashed downtown Seattle.
>More on them in a moment.
>
>Several press accounts I've read have stated that there were only
>"hundreds of anarchists." This would be true if you only counted
>teenagers dressed in black. This count would have left out anarchists
>who look like hippies and the vast majority of us who look just plain
>ole working class. I know that several of my anarchist librarian buddies
>were there. They probably dress like librarians, but don't tell anybody
>I told you that.
>
>The anarchists that attended the WTO protests went for a variety of
>reasons. Some are involved in union organizing and workplace struggles.
>Others are involved in direct action on behalf of the environment and
>animals. The environmental direct action contingent includes member from
>Earth First movement, animal rights activists, Reclaim the Streets
>dancers, Critical Mass bikers, anti-biotechnology activists, sustainable
>agriculture advocates, and the Eugene primitivists who question the very
>idea of civilization. I would say that all anarchists who attended are
>united in their opposition to the onward march of global capitalism at
>the expense of people's lives and the envrionment's health. We are not
>interested in reforming the WTO or GATT--we seek the elimination of
>capitalism for a more humane, free, and egalitarian planet.
>
>But as the Seattle protests demonstrate, one doesn't have to be an
>anarchist to see that world trade groups like WTO are inherently
>undemocratic institutions. They are clubs for the rich guys, which
>explains why the better off people from Third World countries are so
>eager to get in the club. The WTO is simply the latest effort by those
>with the most money to set the agenda for the world. If that infringes
>on the right of folks from Massachusetts to refuse to do business with
>companies doing business in Burma, so be it. This foolish arrogance
>about controlling the world's agenda comes at a price: the world
>includes people who get angry and fight back.
>
>How did people organize? Chiefly through the Internet: websites and
>mailing lists. Except for the Eugene anarchists, who are pretty hardcore
>against the Net. They relied on traditional face-to-face meetings.
>
>Explaining the Eugene anarchists is a difficult task. I should point out
>that they are highly controversial with the anarchist movement and that
>the majority of anarchists don't agree with their tactics, or their
>message. What's more, a majority of anarchists are uncomfortable with
>the property destruction in Seattle, which they see as reinforcing wrong
>stereotypes about our politics. The Eugene anarchists represent a
>minority trend within anarchism, albeit one that tends to get press
>attention.
>
>To really understand the Eugene anarchists, you should understand their
>take on things, which usually revolves around primitivism. One of their
>local muses is John Zerzan, who has been profiled in numerous
>newspapers, usually in conjunction with the Unabomber.
>
>Zerzan links:
>http://www.oregonlive.com/todaysnews/1297/st12316.html
>http://www.teleport.com/~jaheriot/whosuna.htm
>
>The Eugene anarchists also publish several magazines, including Black
>Clad Messanger.
>
>Their anger revolves around several factors. Last year they had a
>destructive protest a the Niketown in Eugene. One of their teenage
>members was arrested and placed under house arrest. Last summer, on June
>18th, they had a protest in conjunction with worldwide June 18th
>activities, which turned into a riot after the police attacked them. One
>of their members, Rob Los Ricos, was arrested, tried, and later
>sentenced to 7 YEARS in prison for throwing a rock at a cop. The Eugene
>anarchists, including anarchists who disagree with the Anarchist Action
>Collective, have also been subjected to several pepper spray attacks by
>cops at various demos (including one over a park).
>
>More info on this here:
>http://www.infoshop.org/rob.html
>http://www.registerguard.com/news/19991014/1a.rockthrower.1014.html
>
>Articles on Eugene anarchists:
>
>Disaffected Youth Dust Off A Combustible Philosophy [Wall Street
>Journal]
>http://www.infoshop.org/news4/wsj.html
>
>University of Oregon doesn't gavel anarchists out of order
>http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/06/st061619.html
>
>Anarchists' rally erupts into riot in Eugene
>http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/06/st061905.html
>
>Some other anarchist sources that I recommend:
>
>Eat The State (Seattle anarchist magazine)
>http://www.eatthestate.org
>Geov Parrish also has written alot about the WTO for Seattle Weekly
>(http://www.seattleweekly.com)
>
>Jessamyn West's journal, which has her account of helping people during
>the tear gas attacks, and includes pictures from the riot.
>http://www.jessamyn.com/journal/nov99.html
>
>Jessamyn as "street librarian"
>http://www.sover.net/~jessamyn/seattle/pmewflag.jpg
>http://www.sover.net/~jessamyn/seattle/paskme.jpg
>
>In conclusion, let me say that anarchists are like any other political
>philosophy. We have our factions and we disagree about our politics.
>
>--
>Chuck0
>
>Mid-Atlantic Infoshop
>http://www.infoshop.org/