OscailtThe Next Battle of the Social War: Nine Black Panthers and state repressionJanuary 23, 2007 should be a day that lives in infamy within the movements for social justice in North America. On that date, the nearly four decades long war on the Black Panthers was shown to still exist. Nine individuals, most identified as being members of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, were charged with murder or murder related crimes by officials in California. The incident in question involved the killing of a police officer inside the police station in which he worked in 1971. Over 35 years later, the struggle that the killing of the officer symbolizes is alive and strong.2007-01-24T19:50:01+08:00Anarkismoanarkismoeditors@lists.riseup.nethttp://www.anarkismo.net/atomfullposts?story_id=4721http://www.anarkismo.net/graphics/feedlogo.gifOperation backfirehttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40662007-01-24T19:50:01+08:00anonSolidarity should also include talking fellow anarchists out of stupid politics ...Solidarity should also include talking fellow anarchists out of stupid politics and away from stupid actions. That so many of the 'Operation Backfire' defendents turned states evidence is largely due to the fact that they had not thought out the politics of what they were doing and so had got themselves into actions with very serious repurcussions that were at the end of the day a waste of their time. It's not surprising they folded.<br />
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A major problem within US anarchism is not only that those who attempt to point out the problems with this so called 'eco politics' are silenced on boards like infoshop but that this board and authors like Jensen and Zerzan are allowed to spout anti-human crap in the name of anarchism. <br />
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I have kept silent on this during the trial but now that all the defendants have pled guilty there is no longer any reason not to speak out. It is one thing to encourage these sort of stupid actions if you also intend to walk the walk, it is quite another if your just doing so to pick up publishers checks and gather speakers fees.<br />
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- Solidarity with the prisoners but also speak out against the irresponsible wafflings and irrational politics of the so called 'anarchists' who should know better. <br />
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- Build a movement that can think as well as act and which rejects irrational anti-human posturing even that which tries to drape a red and black flag over its shoulders.Anti-human?http://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40682007-01-24T23:26:49+08:00Dave StranoTo call the defendants from Operation Backfire anti-human seems a little ridicul...To call the defendants from Operation Backfire anti-human seems a little ridiculous to me. The people who perpetrate acts associated with the ELF are rarely "primitivists" and even more rarely inspired by people like John Zerzan.<br />
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We are facing a massive global climate change that is destroying humanity. Hurricane Katrina is direct evidence of this. Actions that target corporations and institutions that destroy the Earth are inherently pro-human. They're an extension of the struggle to save humanity from the consquences of industrial capital.<br />
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I'm not saying that we as a movement should not be critical of actions of supposed proponents of anarchism, but that we should not go out of our way to marginalize people taking direct action that is in fact in line with anarchist principles. Can you explain what actions the group supposedly took that were anti-human or were against the principles that we as anarcho-communists (or any anarchists) espouse?<br />
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Or is your "critique" an attack on people who identify different problems related to capitalism than you do? We can be critical, yes. But to be dismissive, especially without being critical (nothing you said in your comment actually critiqued their alleged actions, just their assumed political ideologies) is nothing but doing the state's work for it.<br />
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I stand in solidarity with every person that resists the societal relationships that make power, control, and capitalism capable of dominating the world. The defendants from Operation Backfire (not the snitches anyway) are in line with that.Cautionhttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40712007-01-25T00:02:41+08:00anonAgain I have nothing against the defendents and I'm cautious about talking of sp...Again I have nothing against the defendents and I'm cautious about talking of specific examples as I am not clear what they have and have not admitted to (if you have a list post it up, that would help). I did not call the defendents 'anti-human' and it is quite dishonest of you to pretend otherwise. <br />
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As for your 'doing the state's work for it' jibe - in the context of this criticism which I held off until after they pled you seem to be arguing that there can be no critique ever. Perhaps you'd like to explain what your rules are so I don't transgress them again?Continued thoughtshttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40722007-01-25T00:13:18+08:00Dave StranoI don't have any rules for what critiques could look like. All I ask is that if ...I don't have any rules for what critiques could look like. All I ask is that if you think that the actions they took were "stupid" that you actually offer a critique and explain why.<br />
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Again, my beef with your comment was that you only offer a simple critique of their supposed ideology (though you don't know exactly what their ideologies were), but no critique of their actions or alleged actions.<br />
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I don't have the time to list exactly what they have "admitted" to doing, but I guess I'm wondering if you don't know, then why you called the actions "stupid" in your first comment. If you don't know what you're critiquing or supposedly critiquing, why even offer a critique?<br />
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I also thought it was fair to assume that the only reason you brought up Zerzan and Jensen was because you linked the actions and/or ideologies of these authors to the actions and/or ideologies of the Operation Backfire defendants. If that was the case, then any comments you made about Zerzan and Jensen only seemed relevant to the comment in a way that you were cross applying those comments to the defendants. If that is not the case, then why even bring it up? If your intention was not to insuate that the defendants were also primitivists or "anti-human", then why mention it in a comment on an article that never once mentioned Zerzan or Jensen?<br />
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I thank you for holding off on these comments until after the defendants pleaded guilty. However, I again contend that you have not offered an actual critique, but instead name calling (the application of the term "stupid" doesn't necessarily give one the impression that the user is critically analyzing a situation). So, yes, critique away, but keep the name calling and anti-primitivist backlash away from the situation. <br />
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If you have actual critiques of the individuals involved or their actions, then please, by all means, speak out. Share them.The Ghost of Eldrige's ...http://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40742007-01-25T01:28:18+08:00Rodney Kings Braincrack pipe lives on and I think you must have inherited it. Let me guess, you ...crack pipe lives on and I think you must have inherited it. Let me guess, you think Mummia is a political prisoner rather than the cop killing psycho he really is. Personally - I hope these 9 individuals go to jail for the remainder of there lives (which isn't long I am sure.) I am also glad the police has re-opened the case of Betty Van Patter - another victim of the Black Panthers murderous ways. They are closing in on the indivdual(s) responsible so look out for more arrests in teh future.Dear Rodney's Brain,http://www.anarkismo.net/article/4721#comment40752007-01-25T01:57:12+08:00anon2Sorry, but even if Mumia did it, then he shouldn't be in prison. When cops die i...Sorry, but even if Mumia did it, then he shouldn't be in prison. When cops die in a social war against people they oppress it's a victory for freedom. <br />
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The only crack being smoked in this country is crack shipped in by the CIA and FBI to control people of color. I'm sorry Rodney's brain, but you seem to be brain damaged.