solidarity – Page 67

Who are these Anarchists? and What the Hell do they Want?

WHO ARE THE ANARCHISTS AND WHAT IS ANARCHISM?

By Thomas Giovanni at Black Rose Anarchist Federation: ………….. In the wake of the use of militant street tactics at the Trump inauguration protests, the controversial shut down of two prominent right-wing speakers at the University of California, Berkeley, and a variety of high profile actions against the far right, anarchists have received increased media attention in the USA and sparked widespread debate, particularly around anti-fascist struggles.see also> Murray Bookchin: anarchist heretic who Inspired spreading Revolution in Middle East

But many people are still confused about anarchism, associating it with indiscriminate violence, chaos, and disorder. This distorted image runs counter to more than a century of anarchist activity in and outside the United States.

So if not chaos or disorder, what does anarchism stand for? What do anarchists believe in?

Core Anarchist Values

At the most basic level, anarchists believe in the equal value of all human beings. Anarchists also believe that hierarchical power relations are not only unjust, but corrupt those who have power and dehumanize those who don’t. Continue reading “Who are these Anarchists? and What the Hell do they Want?”

June 11th.. Day to Support Marius, Eric and all Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners

Each year, June 11th serves as a day for us to remember our longest imprisoned anarchist comrades through words, actions and ongoing material support.

In 2010, some people who care about Eric McDavid and Marius Mason met up to talk about what we could do to expand our solidarity with the two of them.

Our discussion grew to include the general state of anarchist prisoner solidarity in the United States, because we are all long-term anarchists and most of whom have relationships with many prisoners (including non-anarchists).

We found that Marius and Eric bore the brunt of ineffective prisoner solidarity. At our first gathering, we laid out typical prisoner support efforts. These centered on getting people out of jail and exchanging letters.

These all fall short of meeting Marius, Eric and other long-term prisoners’ needs and desires. We have known many prisoners who have no hope of getting out early and desire something more than what these efforts, however hard to define that something more is.

As our conversations grew, we also became concerned that many people around the world expressed solidarity for Marius and Eric readily and vigorously, but we in the US rarely returned support for international long-term anarchist prisoners.

Of course, we were not the first to come to these realizations. Many people have and continue to put hard work into tailoring their projects to better support prisoners and maintain relationships across barbed fences; we decided that June 11th would be our own collective try. That date had previously been a day of solidarity with Jeff Luers, a former anarchist eco-prisoner. He agreed that we should renew the tradition, and we set to work. Continue reading “June 11th.. Day to Support Marius, Eric and all Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners”

7 Years Jail for Robbing a Bank ..While Criminal Banksters walk Free

On 7th June a German court sentenced a Barcelona anarchist to seven and a half years prison for robbing a bank in Aachen, Germany. The other woman indicted was acquitted of all charges . The demo against the sentence begins at 8pm in Plaza Lesseps. Throughout the solidarity campaign, the support groups have made it clear that they do not care if the anarchists were to blame as they consider the expropriation action against the criminal banks to be legitimate.

rescue people not banks

info via insurrection news and Solidaritat Rebel The Aachener Bank was hit for the first time in July 2012. Around noon, a gang ran into the bank and demanded money at gunpoint. Then they shut the bank employees in one room. One woman was wearing a blond wig, sunglasses. They spoke good German.

The Dutch press reports highlighted that the German police had been harassing and seeking to arrest the Dutch woman who was later arrested and dubbed by them and the predatory media as the ‘leader’ for years and she had previously been held for 5 months and released as there was no evidence.

There has been a worldwide wave of solidarity actions for those accused of the Aachen bank robberies, with reports from as far away as Greece, Russia, Brazil, Australia or Chile……….

The Dutch anarchists who demonstrated and continue to campaign for the release of the 3 described the charges as fabricated. The leaflets and declarations emphasize support for the arrested comrades whether ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’ and some justified bank expropriations in the context of trillion euro bank fraud, capitalist extortion and planetary destruction. Continue reading “7 Years Jail for Robbing a Bank ..While Criminal Banksters walk Free”

Syrian Democratic Forces begin ‘great battle’ for Raqqa

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said an operation to begin liberating the city had already begun, coordinated with a US-led military coalition.”We declare today the start of the great battle to liberate the city of Raqqa, the so-called capital of terrorism and terrorists,” SDF spokesman Telal Silo, Turkmen Seljuk Brigade member, told reporters in the village of Hazima, north of the city.

“With the international coalition’s warplanes and the state-of-the-art weapons they provided to us, we will seize Raqqa from Daesh.”He asked civilians inside the city to keep away from IS positions and from the front lines. IS has been fortifying the city ahead of the coming assault, setting up barriers and covering the street to hide fighters from aircraft overhead.SDF leades announce start of Raqqa campaign

Full General Command of SDF declaration:

“After a long struggle, our forces and the forces carrying out a joint struggle against terrorists have marked in history their legends of heroism. Continue reading “Syrian Democratic Forces begin ‘great battle’ for Raqqa”

Anarchist Lighthouse shines for 30 years in Barcelona’s Raval

summarized translation en catalá abaix. “Those who have known and lived with El Lokal, see it as a beacon for social movements in the city, a center of constant social and political unrest; a space for training, debate, organization and coordination of local and international struggles. Always ready, always on the ball.

see also…New Mutual Aid Hotline Blocks dozens of Evictions, Threats and Toxic Capitalism

Last Sunday we celebrated its 30th birthday at the adjacent ‘Agora Juan Andrés Benítez’ occupied space, which is named in memory of a neighbor killed by the Mossos local police in 2013- with a debate that brought together some of the anarchist and autonomous struggles of today. Continue reading “Anarchist Lighthouse shines for 30 years in Barcelona’s Raval”

Ecuador rips up 16 toxic treaties.. Corporate Vulture-Courts stole $21 billion

Image result for investor state dispute settlement

by Nick Dearden / Global Justice Now Ecuador is the latest country to tear up ‘free trade’ agreements that have so far cost the country $21 billion in damages awarded to foreign companies by ‘corporate courts’, and yielded next to nothing in return, writes Nick Dearden. So the outgoing President Correa did the only sensible thing: in one of his final executive acts this month, he scrapped 16 toxic trade and investment treaties.

These treaties not only failed to attract additional investment, they also diverted millions of dollars of government money to fighting costly lawsuits. We hope other governments will learn from Ecuador’s example.

Ecuador has struck another blow against the power of big business, ripping up 16 trade deals with countries including the US and UK…. Continue reading “Ecuador rips up 16 toxic treaties.. Corporate Vulture-Courts stole $21 billion”