Utopia//Emergency, "Social War" and the 'anarcho' liberal backlash, AKA: why we can't just all get along.

A new compilation zine just released, looks like an interesting synthesis of recent analysis from the RNC, the Greek Riots, the Oakland Rebellion and more....

Check it out here

There is also a backlash brewing against the new 'Social War' trend in the anarchist milieu. A recent (rather pathetic) critique can be read here.

While critique is necessary and should a positive thing for this developing trend, many of the critiques like the aforementioned one, just serve to make the differences between 'us' (pro revolutionaries) and 'them' (liberals masquerading as radicals) clearer. In "Social War Needs Social Skills" the anonymous author uses ridiculous platitudes and ignorant comparisons, attempting to use tired activist rhetoric, to shame those who dare try a new path into falling into line behind their liberal goals for 'true democracy' and the ubiquitous, mythical and fetishized "community".

Obviously there are valid critiques that could be made about this new trend which is still developing here in the US, but bullshit like 'Social War Needs Social Skills' will likely serve to do nothing else besides make it clear that some of us are definitely not on the same page.
What do you think?

Communique from Colombia: International Political Prisoners Day

April 16, 2009
Comrades:
From the CEA-LA (centro de estudios abolicionistas por la liberación animal) (center of abolitionist studies for animal liberation) and the “Red Libertaria Popular Mateo Kramer” (Libertarian people’s network Mateo Kramer) receive a warm salute full of affection and rebelliousness.

Tomorrow, April 17 we will celebrate the international day of political prisoners, with the aim to generate and ambient of solidarity with all the fighters and revolutionaries around the globe, unveiling all the injustices and estate’s crimes, that in the frame of the actual socio-economic system we all have witnessed.

Today there’s thousands of our comrades retain in the walls of prisons, locked up for defending social justice, others for their militancy on behalf of the Earth and some others for their fight against slavery of non-human animals.

In Colombia there’s more than 7000 woman and men imprisoned for political reasons, maintained in precarious physical and psychological conditions and exposed to bad treatments. With the objective of terrify all who defend Human Rights, the Colombian government in the head of president Uribe criminalized all people who decide to give their life for the oppressed.

At the same time we are in solidarity, with all political prisoners who have give their lives in defense of the Earth and the liberation of non-human animals. For us there’s no difference in the different movements, we believe that total liberation in ONE build it from our differences.

That’s why we have to unite all our efforts and support all resistance around the globe… so each and every heart burns and light up the hopes and dreams shared for FREEDOM

In the name of CEA-LA (center of abolitionist studies for animal liberation) and the “Libertarian people’s network Mateo Kramer” we are in solidarity with all political prisoners around the globe, and we invite you to participate and get active in all initiatives for the International Day of Political Prisoners.

FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AROUND THE GLOBE NOW!!!

In Solidarity:

CEA-LA
RED LIBERTARIA POPULAR MATEO KRAMER

----
El communicado en español

Unstoppable: Protests continue at the New School.

A rally was held today on 13th Street outside one of the New School buildings. Students were speaking out against the police attacks that occurred Friday and Saturday of last week, and continuing the call for President Bob Kerrey to resign. The Students and their supporters took to the streets once again in an unpermitted march and went (once again) to Bob Kerrey's house.

Afterwards the march wound its way to 65 5th avenue site of Friday's occupation with protesters chanting "from NY to Greece Fuck the Police". A confrontation began after police began to force people out of the street. 3 protesters were arrested but released a few hours later with summonses. The crowd then marched over towards NYU where students there were encouraged to "Occupy Everything".

A solidarity message was received by the New School rebels from the insurgent students of La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy.

Another Wild Weekend in the Big Apple

Another wild one in the death center of capital!








(photos from 'catastrophe' from exquisit corps)



Friday a.m. :

A wild student occupation at the new school complete with balaclava-ed occupiers, police state tactics, and a mini-riot.

Friday night:
Solidarity march leaves Union Square throwing barricades in the street, and heads for scum bag New School president Bob Kerrey's house. March makes it to site of occupation, 65 5th Avenue, arrests and clashes ensue, more barricades in the street.

Saturday a.m.:
The 3rd annual NYC Anarchist Book fair sets up shop selling anarchist commodities of all shapes and sizes workshops and other events are held as well.

Saturday night:
Following the Bookfair a gathering called "Catastrophe" takes place, meeting once again in Union Square. The cats move into the subway where a brief scuffle happens as police attempt to arrest a party goer who is unarrested and escapes. The cats exit the train at 1st ave and 14th street where chaos ensues and the party somehow becomes a bizarre march/ happening that confuses many including police. Windows of Mcdonalds, Washington Mutual, and Whole Foods are reportedly smashed as the unruly and scattered mob winds its way around the east village and moves towards the New School, which is quickly surrounded by police.

Reportedly there where 30 arrests made in these various events, and two police were apparently injured.

And the warm weather isn't even here yet!!!!

New School Re-Occupied , and then evicted by massive police operation

The New School building that was occupied in December by students was reoccupied, this time in its entirety, in the early morning of April 10th. A banner reading "Occupy" and a red and black flag were hung from the roof. By 11am a massive police operation involving, a helicopter, hundreds of police, emergency service and Fire Department units shut down a big chunk of the neighborhood. A clash broke out on 14th street and 5th ave as people outside attempted to help students escape from the building which police had begun to raid. Police attacked demonstrators arresting several. A police car was allegedly attacked as supporter purportedly threw metal barricades at baton wielding police. Shortly after the building was stormed by police wearing full riot gear. 19 occupiers are reported to have been arrested.

Timeline of events

corporate media video

independent media:




Later in the night a rally to protest the police eviction of New School students from 65 5th avenue and the brutality handed out by the NYPD was held in Union Square. An impromptu march was held taking up all 4 lanes of traffic on 14th street, barricades were thrown into the street as police began to follow. Eventually the rowdy crowd made its way to 21 West 11th street, the residence of New School president Bob Kerrey. Police moved in with metal barricades and after taunting Kerrey for a while the protest moved back towards 6th ave and then up towards 65 5th avenue. More barricades were thrown into the street and a group of three undercover officers made arrests. There was at least one unarrest made before police cruisers started swarming from all over. The march made it back to union square where it dispersed. There are unconfirmed reports of 4 arrests being made.

Solidarity with all arrestees, keep up the fight!

Summer of rage in europe: Riots in Strasbourg, France-Rabia en Strasbourg por la junta de la OTAN

Premier jour d'émeutes Sommet de l'OTAN à Strasbourg

Video from Day 1 of anti nato protests in France.
More Video:

Manifestation violente à Strasbourg sommet OTAN 2009
by StrasTv

Cobertura en español

Chaos in the streets of London as G-20 meets/ Caos en las calles de Londres durante la junta del G-20

The G-20 meets in London this week and with it thousands have mobilized to express their hatred of capitalism.

April 1st saw throngs of protesters swarming the financial district of london. Hooded protesters smashed their way into a Royal Bank of Scotland building where they ransacked the interior:


Police kettled (surrounded) segments of the crowd further enraging protesters who broke through police lines and clashed with cops. Injuries were reported on both sides and one man has died after collapsing inside of police lines.
Newswire from Indymedia London
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Ayer se produjeron serios enfrentamientos y la muerte de una manifestante

Miles de manifestantes se lanzaron ayer a las calles de Londres con el fin de mostrar el rechazo al sistema. Ya el sábado se adelantaron más de trescientas mil personas en un pasacalles organizado por asociaciones de todo tipo bajo el lema ‘Pon a la gente primero’. El día de ayer, adelantándose al comienzo de la cumbre del G-20+ (G20 + España + Holanda + representantes máximos de las Naciones Unidas, el Fondo Monetario Internacional y el Banco Mundial. )para hoy jueves, las protestas se extendieron por toda la ciudad. Una manifestación que ha partido de la embajada de Estados Unidos ha protestado contra la guerra y ha pedido que el gasto militar pase a gastos sociales y a ayudar a las familias a salir de la crisis.
Mas de las protestas de ayer, por la haine
---------------------------------
some photos from the 1st/ fotos del primero de Abril:










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Today clashes also broke out between protesters and police in Strasbourg during a NATO summit.

Disturbios Estudiantiles en Barcelona/ Student Riots in Barcelona

18 de Marzo, Barcelona
Una huelga del sector educativa (Maestros y estudiantes) termina con enfrentamientos con la policia.



------

A strike of the education sector including students and faculty in Barcelona ended in clashes and repression in Barcelona. Protesters gathered to protest the eviction of a university occupation and were met by police charges.

A Tumultuous Spring? Riots in France, Student protests throughout Europe

As the economic crisis continues and its effects are more acutely felt, conflict has begun to spread. In France a huge strike pulled millions of people into the streets, workers barricaded highways with burning tires as youth clashed in the streets with police.



Students have also begun to play a large role in the current conflicts. In Italy a movement known as "the Wave" is mobilzing students and meeting repression from the government and neo-fascist groups.

The beginning of April will bring the meeting of the G20 in London with anticapitalists planning on shutting down the city.

A call entitled "You Should Feel What I Feel..." has been released from a group from NYC daring others to step up their game and to engage in a 'competitive occupation tournament' whose goal seems to be creating occupations, turning the crisis into conflict against the status quo, and the end of capitalist social relations.

What are you doing this spring?

Social War is Inevitable- La Guerra Social es Inevitable

Recently there has been a spate of arson, and sabotage in Mexico City and the surrounding areas. Many of these actions have been claimed by animal and earth liberation cells. Others speak of hoping that their attacks will serve to generalize the struggle towards a ¨social war¨.

The following video and communique was recently released showing, according to its authors ¨how much can be done in a few seconds of our lives to break with the reality of oppression and exploitation, for a few short seconds, to feel the adrenaline of abolition, for a few moments carrying out the fight against the state and capital.


anonymous communique (translation):

"Capitalism is the principal cause of the destruction of plant and animal life on this planet, the oppressor and murderer of wild life, exploiter of people, animals and the environment for the benefit of the powerful and the corporations; in Mexico war is declared.

So many hectares of forests and jungles are cleared for the sole purpose of building centers for shopping and tourism, over the dead bodies of the trees and animals they build shopping malls, banks, golf courses, hunting lodges, hotels, all reserved for a small group of filthy capitalists so that they can enrich the base of exploitation.

They deceive the people, saying that this 'progress' will bring more employment; some give in, others resist but in the end are murderers in the place where they were born, where they grew up, where they live.

It can not continue like this!

The powerful have to feel our fury at their properties, in their corporations, in their cars, and even in their own houses; we need to torment them, to remind them of the shit that they do day by day to this beautiful planet where we live, to remind them that while they are sleeping peacefully there are many people who are suffering and surviving the hardships of this system.

For these reasons and more we claim the following sabotages:

Tuesday, March 10, 2009:
- A harmless acid bomb was detonated in a well-to-do area in Mexico City.
- 8 windows at a K.F.C. were smashed.
- The windows and a security camera of a bank were smashed.

The video is called: '19 seconds of social war' and in it we try to show how much can be done in a few seconds of our lives to break with the reality of oppression and exploitation, for a few short seconds, to feel the adrenaline of abolition, for a few moments carrying out the fight against the state and capital.

Social war is not a joke or a fad, but a reality in constant development and growth.

Social war is inevitable.

Eco-anarchist cell for direct attack.
México d.f."

Friend and comrade Tristan Anderson Critically Injured in Demonstration Against Israeli Wall

On March 13th, 2009, Tristan Anderson, from Oakland, California was critically wounded in the village of Ni'lin after Israeli forces shot him in the head with a high-powered tear-gas canister. Tristan is a dedicated anarchist, friend, activist and reporter who has long been committed to social and environmental justice in the U.S. and abroad in places such as México, Iraq, and Palestine.

As a result of his injuries, Tristan Anderson, has been taken to Israeli hospital Tel Hashomer, near Tel Aviv. Anderson was unconscious and had been bleeding heavily from the nose and mouth. He sustained a serious injury to his forehead where he was struck by the canister. He was operated on the same day.

Tristan was in very critical condition but is recovering slowly, he has moved his fingers in response to a request from a doctor. If you want to read an update written by his family click here.

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Amigo y camarada Tristan Anderson herido de gravedad en una ptotesta contr el muro de Israel.

El 13 de Marzo de 2009, Tristan Anderson, de Oakland, California fué herido de gravedad en la población de Ni'lin después de que fuerzas Israelíes le dispararan en la cabeza con un rifle de gas lacrimógeno de alta potencia. Tristan en un anarquista dedicado, amigo, activista y reportero quién siempre ha estado comprometido con la justicia social y del medio ambiente tanto en los Estados Unidos como en el extranjero en lugares México, Iraq, and Palestine.

Tristan Anderson, fué trasladado al hospital Tel Hashomer, cerca de Tel Aviv. Anderson permaneció inconsciente y estuvo sangrando profusamente por la naríz y por la boca, con una herída muy grave en la frente a causa del impacto de la canastilla de gas lacrimógeno. Fué operado el mismo día.

Tristan estuvo en condición crítica pero se ha estado recuperando muy lentamente, empezó a mover sus dedos en respuesta a una petición de su doctor. Si quieres leer un reporte acerca de su estado de salud escrito por su familia, haz click aquí.

March 15th-Anti Police Riots in Montreal

Montreal's 13th annual anti-police brutality march ended in rioting, with over 200 protesters arrested in the clashes.

Police had expressed fears of violence at this annual event, partly because this was the first anti police brutality march since the cops gunned down 18 year old Fredy Villanueva in August 2008. That shooting sparked massive rioting as well.

Greece: Anti fascists burn down headquarters of fascist Golden Dawn group

(from libcom.org)

Protest marches in response to the fascist-parastate handgrenade attack against the Immigrants’ Social Centre in Athens erupt in riots seeing neonazi national offices burned.

Riots broke out twice during the last week, both times in during protest marches against the fascist-parastate attack against the Immigrants’ Social Center in Exarcheia with a hand-grenade on the 24th of February.

During the first march two days after the attack, anarchist protesters detached themselves from the main body of the demo to attack the HQs of Apogevmatini, an ultra-conservative daily making consistent attacks on social and labour movements, whose editor in chief, Momferatos, had been executed by N17 guerrillas in the mid 80s, for his cooperation with the CIA during and after the colonels’ junta.

The much larger protest march that took to the streets of Athens on Thursday 4/3 erupted in extended street battles between protesters and provocative riot police forces attacked the demo. During the clashes that spread throughout the city centre several banks and expensive shops were destroyed, while protesters broke into the offices of Golden Dawn [Xrysi Avgi] the neonazi parastate organisation responsible for numerous assassination attempts against immigrants, anarchists and the left, as well as a campaign of terror against radical infrastructures. The offices were torched to the ground.

During the corresponding antifascist protest march of the same day in Salonica, street battles erupted between protesters and the riot police along the city’s central boulevard. ( Read More )

New School in Exile

A New School in exile press conference:


New School in Exile has threatened to shut dow the New School on April 1st if School President Kerrey doesn't resign.
An anti capitalist take on the New School conflict from students.

We may be in for a wild spring...

Will the occupations continue?

photos from the occupation of NYU last week...

Writings have also been coming out about the New School occupation that took place in December:

"Perspectives on the take over of a building" (download pdf)

and "Preoccupied: the logic of occupation" (download pdf)

More to come soon.

Oakland en llamas

[EE.UU] Oakland en llamas. Anarquistas, solidaridad y nuevas posibilidades en la rebelión de Oackland
Kara N. Tina. Traducido por alasbarricadas.org

"Siento que mi coche fuera quemado, pero la causa es muy triste." Ken Epstein, ayudante del editor de Oackland Post, que estaba terminando un artículo sobre la muerte de Grant, vio desde el 12º piso de su oficina entre la 14 y la calle Franklin cómo su Honda CR-V del 2002 se desintegraba en un mar de llamas.

El asesinato de Oscar Grant por el agente de policía de la BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Johannes Mehserle a comienzos de la mañana del día de Año Nuevo trajo una oleada de dolor a toda la Bay Area (la Bahía de San Francisco) y recordó a todos ese racismo y violencia policia que siguen siendo componentes endémicos de la sociedad de los EE.UU.. Durante los días siguientes, este dolor se transformó en una ira desbordante cuando se comenzaron a difundir en internet y en los medios múltiples videos grabados por testigos del hecho. Una semana más tarde del 7 de enero, más de mil personas de distintas comunidades de toda Oackland y del Bay Area se juntaron para mostrar su enfado y estar en presencia de otra gente que sentía lo mismo.

Esta manifestación casi sin planearlo, cerró la comisaría de policía de Fruitvale donde tuvo lugar el crimen, cuando orador tras orador se iban dirigiendo a la multitud. Sin ningún plan u organización, la gran mayoría de los que estuvieron escuchando pacientemente a los oradores por más de dos horas llevaron la manifestación a las calles con un una marcha combativa que se dirigió al centro de la ciudad cuando el sol se ponía.

Cuando la marcha llegó a la comisaría de Lake Merritt y el cuartel de la policía en el centro, comenzaron inmediatamente los enfrentamientos dejando una furgoneta de la policía destrozada junto con un container ardiendo. Los manifestantes se dispersaron por las calles cuando se oían las armas de la policía descargar y el aroma del gas lacrimógeno en el aire. Las horas siguientes fueron testigo de oleadas de disturbios y manifestaciones en todo el centro de Oackland que llegaron a forzar al alcalde Ron Dellums a salir a la calle y prometer la apertura de una investigación por homicidio en un fallido intento de calmar a la enfurecida multitud. Al día siguiente, una junta de dirección de la policía se vio sobrepasada más allá de su capacidad con miembros de la comunidad expresando su rabia indignada, sintiéndose claramente respaldados y animados a hablar por la rebelión de la noche anterior.

En los días siguientes al suceso, comenzaron a circular rumores de que los anarquistas habían manipulado el evento que en condiciones normales habría sido pacífico, y que eran responsables de desencadenar la 'violencia'. Un artículo en la portada del San Francisco Chronicle dos días después de los disturbios citaba a un organizador de la manifestación de Fruitvale diciendo que fue llevado a las lágrimas cuando su trabajo fue "destruido por un grupo de anarquistas". Esta peligrosa y manipuladora narrativa oscurece lo que realmente sucedió y porqué, en aquella tarde, en las calles de Oackland se desencadenó una muestra tan poderosa de resistencia y solidaridad que dio a muchos un poderoso impulso de nuevas posibilidades radicales.

Es cierto que había anarquistas presentes desde el comienzo hasta el final el miércoles. En contra de algunas generalizaciones que asumen que todos los anarquistas son blancos, aquellos que estaban allá el miércoles venían de diversos entornos. Participaron en una amplia variedad de formas; desde difundir la convocatoria de la movilización para conseguir una amplia asistencia, a pasar horas pintando pancartas, participando en acciones callejeras militantes, siendo rodeados por la policía y en ocasiones golpeados y arrestados. Entre los más de 100 miembros de la comunidad detenidos hay anarquistas que ahora afrontan cargos que van desde disturbios menores a distintas acusaciones.

Leer Todo

Oakland on Fire

Oakland on Fire, Anarchists, Solidarity, and New Possibilities in the Oakland Rebellion
By Kara N. Tina

"I'm sorry my car was burned but the issue is very upsetting."
-Ken Epstein, assistant editor of the Oakland Post, who was finishing an article about Grant's death, watched from the 12th story of his office at 14th and Franklin streets as his 2002 Honda CR-V disintegrated in a roar of flames (Oakland Tribune)

The murder of Oscar Grant by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer Johannes Mehserle early New Year's morning sent a wave of grief throughout the Bay Area and reminded all that racism and police violence continue to be endemic components of US society. During the following days, that pain transformed into overflowing anger as multiple videos of the execution recorded by witnesses emerged on the internet and in the media. One week later on January 7, over a thousand people from diverse communities across Oakland and the Bay Area gathered to show their anger and be in the presence of others feeling similar grief. This hastily planned rally shut down the Fruitvale BART station where the shooting took place as speaker after speaker addressed the crowd. Without any plan or organization, the vast majority of those who patiently listened to speakers for over two hours took the demonstration into the streets with a spirited march that made its way towards downtown as the sun set.

As the march reached the Lake Merritt BART station and headquarters of BART police downtown, clashes immediately broke out leaving one police cruiser destroyed alongside a burning dumpster. Marchers dispersed down side streets to the sounds of police weapons discharging and the sting of tear gas in the air. The following hours witnessed waves of rioting and demonstrations throughout downtown Oakland that even forced Mayor Ron Dellums to come out into the streets and promise the opening of a homicide investigation in a failed attempt to subdue the angry crowds. Hundreds of businesses and cars were damaged or destroyed and dumpsters were left burning. The next day, a BART board of directors meeting was filled beyond capacity and overwhelmed with community members expressing indignant rage, clearly feeling validated and empowered to speak up by the previous night's rebellion.

Read more

"We do not silently watch as they disappear us..."

"We do not silently watch as they disappear us into their prison dungeons, their service industries, or when they feel free to wave guns at us and shoot us"


In the follow up to the rioting in Oakland after the murder of Oscar Grant there has been some hand wringing from those who wished to contain the protests for their own gain. Petaluma Cop Watch published this extremely disappointing letter.

Yesterday a letter was released which addresses these reactions to the rage that took place the night of the 7th:

Dear Oakland,
The night of January 7th we were with you, you were with me, when we saw a glimpse of the future: we smiled and embraced as we lit fires, stomped in windows, destroying real estate, both big and small business as usual. We shared tips on makeshift face masks, we rested together on the sidewalk to catch a breath, we reminded ourselves to "stay calm! don't run!" when the cops gassed us or when they did their sorry shuffle: charging a little, pushing a little, running a little. We disbanded and came back together time and time again and realized we could make the city into anything we wanted.

We flew through the night, always outrunning the twin monstrosity of police and liberal politics-- both who call for passivity-- staying close to familiar faces, but always defending a stranger. Here we write this letter even while we know that where our words so often fail, only our fires emerge victorious. But let this letter be a word of encouragement. Let this letter be comfort in the courtroom when you stare up back at the judge, when they call you a criminal. We do not silently watch as they disappear us into their prison dungeons, their service industries, or when they feel free to wave guns at us and shoot us. Let this word be with you.

The early morning of January 1st was no accident, just as the fire lit night of January 7th was no accident. There are those who left early on the 7th who decry destruction and only want the specificity, the precision of a planned action with a planned target. They don't know that our plan was to rebuild our humanity and that the target was the city. They expose us to their legitimacy litmus. They are afraid of our wild ambitions, they have a smug disdain for our free humanity, they are torn between their boring critiques of capitalism and how they don't want to think we're mongrels-- but in their hearts, they do. We see them all the time: little conquistador Napoleons who want to mastermind a charge and lead a loud megaphone chant. Don't let them guilt or shame you-- if it helps, let this word be with you.

They do not know that our power does not have to look like neighborhoods of small businesses that cater to the middle road, businesses that employ us to work unending hours for them, all the while suspecting of us one perversion or another. Not now, or not ever, but especially not now when we live in a world where no one bats an eye when they kill us, imprison us, humiliate us each day. There is no human rights delegation to our daily lives-- there are only capitalist gate keeper service agencies and liberals who think they know what's good for everyone. No flashy car, no Obama/Biden bumper sticker, no "mom and pop" can prevent us or sell us the betrayal of our own experiences. We don't grieve for a car window, or a nail salon, or liquor store, just as we don't grieve for a McDonalds or a bank. We grieve that we are choked each day and we celebrate that just past the tear gas we finally caught a breath of reality. We finally found humanity, together.

It's cause to walk with a lighter step this week, to burn this memory into our histories, to remake our dreams for the future. We are reminded of what's possible: to be tender and patient with one another, and save our rage and distrust for those who destroy us. A heartfelt congratulations to you.


No business as usual, not ever, always towards humanity,
Barbarians,
Criminals,
POC Anarchists,
the dignified.


With a friendly nod to the day to day realities in Chiapas, the anarchist and the Arab in Greece, the civilian and the militant in Gaza, the suggestion of New School, the anarchist and the radio and the barricade in Oaxaca, the prisoner in Atenco, the legacy of Watts, the day laborer in Osaka, the uprising in St. Petersburg, the Burmese anti-fascist, the uprising in Cincinnati, the dignity of Benton Harbor, the dignity of suburban France, the farmer in Afghanistan, the Chinese in Milan, the young of Ungdomshuset, the militant's Chile, everywhere where our dignity overpowers our shame, where our strength proves itself collectively, where our emotions manifest publicly and collectively, where such basic humanity is born and breathes, where there are those who adhere to a human decency no culture can destroy-- which fortunately, is everywhere. Onwards!

Riots erupt in Oakland after funeral of Oscar Grant

"We live a life of fear, and we want them to be afraid tonight,"
-anonymous female rioter





In the early hours of January 1st, Bay Area Metro Transit (BART) police shot and killed a 22 year old man, Oscar Grant, on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland. Grant was being held on the ground by two officers and was not struggling as another cop, Officer Johannes Mehserle, took out his gun and shot Grant in the back fatally wounding him. All of this took place in front of a crowd of people some of whom filmed the murder with cell phone cameras.

On January 7th Grant's funeral, as well as protests took place. A march leaving from the metro station where Grant was murdered made its way to downtown Oakland where the crowds fury was unleashed. Dumpsters were set on fire and a police cruiser was attacked, police counter attacked and over the course of the night cars were set on fire, businesses were attacked, and over 100 arrests were made.

Breaking News as it happened from Indybay


Video of Oscar's Murder:


Video of the rioting:




More footage

and here

Polytechnic occupation ends....

"If something scares us, it is the return to normality. For in the destroyed and pillaged streets of our cities of light we see not only the obvious results of our rage, but the possibility of starting to live. We no longer have anything to do, other than to install ourselves in this possibility and transform it into a living experience: by grounding on the field of everyday life, our creativity, our power to materialize our desires, our power not to contemplate but to construct the real. This is our vital space. All the rest is death."

On December 24th, the Athens Polytechnic Occupation announced it would leave the school in order to help spread the rebellion into the neighborhoods.
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-Here is a report from US based Crimethinc. on the events in Greece based on an interview with the Void Network
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-Here is a report back from participants in the San Francisco solidarity demonstration on December 20th.