Anarquia, Etc.

Snitching and Abuse isn't "Interpersonal" Get the Fuck Out

2010-01-10T00:06:00.005Z

more info can be found: http://snitchwire.blogspot.com/2010/01/nyc-tells-snitch-dennis-burke-to-pack.html

The Love and Resistance collective in New York City has asked us to circulate the following statement about Dennis Burke aka Thadeus D. Umpster, a fixture of NYC's anarchist scene since 1999.
------------------------------
Thadeaus D. Umpster, persona non grata

Dennis Burke (otherwise known as Thadeus) has officially been dismissed from the anarchist community in New York City and everywhere else.

Dennis Burke (otherwise known as Thadeus) has officially been dismissed from the anarchist community in New York City and everywhere else.

Today the Love and Resistance collective, NYC Anarchist Black Cross (ABCF-NYC), Support NY, Bitches Roll Deep Anarcha-feminist collective, Aftershock Action Alliance, the New School in Exile, Students Creating Radical Change (NYU), and other individuals active in the anarchist and revolutionary scenes in New York City find ourselves in the position of issuing the following statement:

Dennis Burke aka Thadeaus D. Umpster has been around anarchist groups in NYC since 1999, residing in a well-known anarchist house in Brooklyn, NY and part of the largely defunct group A New World in Our Hearts.

While initially considered a comrade by some of us, Thadeaus’ erratic, disruptive, abusive and otherwise troubling behavior caused almost everyone in NYC to disavow him. Thadeaus has been called out multiple times for abusive behavior, by both ex-partners and other women who have come in contact with him, and by survivor support groups. Those of us who have been involved in political projects with Thadeaus have seen his dominating, manipulative and stubborn behavior destroy groups and drive dozens of people away.

Until now some of us have held our tongues on the subject (in retrospect for way too long), but recent events have made it impossible to do this any longer. In the past year Thadeaus has become more isolated, as well as violent and bizarre in his behavior. He has forcibly entered into rooms of other people in the collective house he lives in, and has repeatedly called the police on roommates who confront him about this behavior. Thadeaus recently threatened a roommate who has a pending legal case, with contacting the district attorney's office, and volunteering to testify as a character witness against them. In short, Thadeaus will not hesitate to use the police or the threat of the police to hold power over others.

Weeks ago, residents of the house unanimously decided that they did not want Thadeaus to live there anymore. This was communicated him and he has refused to move out. On December 10, a new resident was moving into a room at the collective house, Thadeaus attempted to physically block their entrance, called the police reporting a “home invasion” in front of several witnesses and began throwing the new resident’s belongings out a second-story window. Thadeaus met the police at the gate, and despite the efforts of another resident present, invited the cops into the house. Thadeaus lied to the cops, claiming that a non-existent roommate was being forcibly evicted, in an attempt to get at least one of his roommates arrested. A long debate ensued, in the presence of the police, resulting in the cops telling everyone present that if they were called again that night, everyone (including Thadeaus) would be arrested.

Four days later, on December 16, he once again called the cops after changing the locks of a housemate's room.

On January 5, 2010, an inevitable confrontation occurred after two roommates (1 & 2) walked in on Thadeaus and two of his associates inside roommate 1's room going through the individual's personal belongings. When confronted, Thadeaus pulled out a video camera and became confrontational. In the ensuing melee, police were called by both parties and they in turn arrested roommates 1 and 2, both people of color. Unlike previous attempts to have comrades and roommates arrested, this call played on the pervasive racism of the NYPD and both of them were jailed facing serious charges.

When another resident returned to the house from the precinct, this resident and another person went to secure one of the arrested roommate's belongings. Thadeaus attempted to physically prevent them from doing so, and then promptly called the NYPD again. After about an hour-long conversation with the police, no arrests were made.

On January 6th, the day after putting our friends in jail, Thadeaus once again called the NYPD to the house on yet another made-up claim.

It pains us that we have to spend our time dealing with a destructive individual like Thadeaus who has been a plague to our scenes for years, instead of using our time and energies to fight for liberation and against capitalism. It is clear that Thadeaus is not a comrade and is instead the kind of violent, abusive individual who will not hesitate to use the police against comrades. Members of the anarchist community have spent months attempting to address his inter-personal abuse history through an accountability process. However, because of his attempts to evade accountability, continuing abuse and now snitching, Thadeaus has effectively removed himself from this community thereby precluding the continuation of that process.

Finally, it should be noted that Thadeaus is persistently manipulative, and will likely try to rationalize, deny or minimize the events described herein. As an example of such, below is a quote taken from a widely seen email, where he was called out for contacting the police years ago in a non-threatening aftermath of an infoshop property dispute:

“I have never called the cops in my life...people are throwing personal insults and insinuating that I am a snitch. That is bullshit and I hope that people take note of who is leveling these allegations.” (Thadeaus, 10/4/09)

Please forward this widely, and fight against snitches, snitching and individuals who prey on radical social scenes. The strength of our movements depends on it. This statement serves as a notification to all that Thadeaus is a persona non grata in NYC and should not be welcomed elsewhere. He is a dangerous, manipulative person and should not be trusted nor tolerated within any social or political communities.

-ex members of the new world in our hearts collective,
January 7th, 2010, New York City
--------------------------------
SnitchWire endorses this outing of Dennis Burke after reviewing the information presented by the aforementioned organizations. Anyone calling themselves an anarchist should never call the police to resolve a personal dispute, especially when doing so could land comrades into the clutches of the State. In the future, individuals with abusive histories should continue to be held accountable and watched closely, especially in collective housing situations.

Make no mistake, Burke is a snitch. Using the authorities multiple times to his advantage over the span of a few years is inexcusable, and negates any revolutionary potential Burke may have had. Going through the posessions of somebody else is also a huge no-no, and it would be of interest to SnitchWire to find out who his "associates" in this situation could have been. Wherever he goes, SnitchWire would advise that Burke is shunned from working any further on anarchist projects or campaigns and definitely turned away from any kind of collective living situation. He is a hazard to the radical community and a dangerous liability as a collaborator to the State.

DO NOT call the police. This means YOU.

HAHAHAHAHA

2008-09-27T22:04:00.002+01:00

oh yeah I have a radio show now. I play punk songs, and deliver radical news that catches my eye that week. check it out by going here http://deptorg.knox.edu/wvkc/
and clicking the off-campus listening link. i'm on tuesdays at 2:30-4:00 pm mid west time.

Native Groups Protest Land-Selling (um stealing) Law

2008-08-20T17:48:00.002+01:00

From Inter Press Service News Agency

Native Groups Protest Laws Facilitating Sales of Land

Milagros Salazar

LIMA, Aug 19 (IPS) - Defending the state of emergency declared in three provinces in Peru to crack down on protests by indigenous communities against a law facilitating the sale of their community-owned lands, Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo said the government was safeguarding "the rights of the great majority of Peruvians."

Since Aug. 9, indigenous demonstrators have been demanding the repeal of two decree laws that promote private investment in their territory, and the reestablishment of a clause from the 1979 constitution -- which was replaced by the new constitution in 1993 -- which stated that communally owned land in indigenous territory could not be sold or embargoed.

They are also demanding that the government and Peruvian legislation comply with International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 169 (which was ratified by Peru), that makes it obligatory to consult with indigenous communities prior to any project or works undertaken in their territory.

Over the past 10 days, protesters in several provinces have blocked roads and oil and gas installations and reportedly took police officers hostage.

The 30 day state of emergency declared Monday in parts of the northern Amazon jungle provinces of Amazonas and Loreto and in Cusco in the south bans public gatherings and suspends free transit. In addition, the army can be sent in to break up protests.

In a late Monday press conference, Prime Minister del Castillo responded to criticism of the decision to declare a state of emergency. "We are not provoking native communities but safeguarding areas that are of strategic importance for the country," he said, referring to a gas pipeline in northern Peru and the Camisea gas project.

After talks between the administration of Alan García and protesters stalled on Friday, the government announced that it would not engage in dialogue again until the protests were called off. But native leaders said Monday that the demonstrations would continue.

"The government has declared open war on indigenous people and the demonstrators will stay there until the problem is solved. They prefer to die there, they aren’t afraid," said the president of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), Alberto Pizango, accompanied by several "apus", or indigenous chiefs.

Environment Minister Antonio Brack alleged that the indigenous protesters were being manipulated by an "international movement" that he said is inciting Aguaruna Indians in Peru and Ecuador to try to form their own independent territory.

"They are being stage-managed by a group of lawyers who are deliberately misinforming them," said Brack, who was sent to Loreto for talks with native leaders on Friday, but failed to secure results.

Pizango said his association is urging Congress to revoke the decree laws that were approved by the executive branch under special powers granted by the legislature for the implementation of the free trade agreement signed with the United States.

Under one of the decrees, a mechanism created in the 1990s, which allowed indigenous communities to sell or lease collectively-owned land to third parties if approved by two-thirds of the members of a community assembly, was modified to permit sales with the votes of just 50 percent plus one of the assembly members.

Roger Nájar, the new chairman of the parliamentary committee on Andean and Amazon peoples and the environment, told IPS that on Tuesday, in the first session of the new legislature, lawmakers would study two draft laws aimed at overruling the decrees in question.

"We want to provide a solution to the fair demands of these communities, because the government continues to act arrogantly, without any ability to dialogue," said the legislator.

Nájar said he had received no response to two letters he sent to the Council of Ministers asking that the indigenous peoples’ demands be addressed.

Pizango, meanwhile, said that if Congress showed a willingness to take up the issue, the groups would study the possibility of calling off the protests.

On Sunday, an Aguaruna Indian and a police officer were seriously injured in clashes between protesters and the police at the Aramango Hydroelectric Plant in the province of Amazonas, according to the local La República correspondent. Other press reports mentioned 12 people injured -- eight police officers and four demonstrators.

"The underlying problem is that the government is attempting to portray indigenous people as just another group of poor people, without admitting that they have a different way of life, a different cultural viewpoint," anthropologist Oscar Espinosa at the Pontificia Catholic University of Peru told IPS.

"The authorities think they can calm the demands of indigenous people by building schools or medical clinics, but the pending debt to the indigenous population is much more complex than that," he added.

"They should not be seen as inferior because of their attempt to block the influx of private investment into their territories," said Espinosa. "The problem is that Peru has a hard time seeing cultural differences as something positive, as part of the country’s wealth. Peruvian society sees them instead as an obstacle."

Vice President Luis Giampietri argued that "some non-governmental organisations that are active in these issues are inciting people to do these kinds of things, which in the end are subversive activities, because they are undermining the foundations of democracy.

"How have they achieved the miracle of being able to bring together, in one place at the same time, communities so widely dispersed as the jungle peoples? That will have to be investigated," said Giampietri.

But the protests did not come out of nowhere. Indigenous communities have repeatedly expressed their opposition to the two decree laws.

And while the two decrees are the main irritant, indigenous associations have a list of 38 laws and provisions that they would like to see repealed on the argument that they undermine indigenous rights.

"Peru, which in past decades (in the 1970s) was in the vanguard with respect to indigenous issues, is now in last place on the list," said Espinosa.

In the professor’s view, the country has been backsliding on the question of indigenous rights, to the point that there isn’t even a specific law on the issue, only one 1978 provision on native communities that should incorporate, for example, the latest international instruments safeguarding indigenous peoples’ rights.

Nor is there any strong state institution that represents them, he added.

The National Institute for the Development of Andean, Amazon and Afro-Peruvian Peoples (INDEPA), which would normally be in charge of indigenous affairs, has been partially dismantled and is still in the midst of a process of "reorganisation" by the government, two years into García’s term.

"These protests might end in dialogue, but the problem will continue, because there are no government policies that value and respect indigenous people," said Espinosa.

The government ordered military overflights of the protest zones and deployed some 1,500 army troops to Bagua. (END/2008)

And another article on BBC

Why Protest the DNC?

2008-08-19T16:26:00.004+01:00

Denver Spends 50 Million (of tax money) on DNC

Instead of that money going to social services to better the Denver community.
Instead of fighting against the free trade economic system that is economically and ecologically NOT sustainble, energy is wasted on a candidate that supports this very system.
Instead of fighting against xenophobia and racism, 'equality and progress' is seen as voting for a candidate that supports building a 700 mile long wall between the US and Mexico (and the has the audacity to ask for the Latino vote).

Because "compromise" means hierarchally determining who's rights we should sacrifice, and who should assimilate into the racistheterosexistcapitalistpatriarchy
Because liberation is far from happening when millions of people CAN'T vote
Because I refuse to accept any leader, especially one endorsed by prison guards (New York City’s Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association)
Because I stand in solidarity with people in New Orleans and oppose 'reform plans' that involve police expansions
Because we are smarter than that, and know that the current system in place will not bring real sustainable change
Because we won't be duped into supporting the state that oppresses us.

HAHAHAHA

2008-08-17T16:18:00.002+01:00

Ex-Cop Kills Himself While trying to Shoot a Turtle

“From the upward trajectory of the bullet, it doesn't appear that this
was anything other than a truly sad accident,” said Bucks County Coroner
Joseph Campbell. “It looks like he was trying to shoot at the turtle,
when he slipped on some logs and accidentally shot himself in the chest.”

heee heee hee.

Hipsters Suck, BUT I/You Do Too.

2008-08-15T04:03:00.004+01:00

Cool article about why hipsters are the dead end of western civilization
agreed, they pretty much are a bunch of white rich kid cultural appropriators whose entire subculture is founded on consumerism and some industry produced idea of cool.

BUT, disagree with the authors glamourizing of punk and hip-hop. both have prettty political origins, and I fucking insist, no matter what any bullshit punk-rock royalty warped tour asshole says, (ahem Nekromantix, lower class brats, etc *cough*) that punk IS political in origin and at heart. like the very act of reclaiming music as something you can do yourself and with your friends and not just rockstar corporate major label crap IS political. Pride in working class is political, there is a side being taken. that's not to say that every punk song's gotta be about politics or everyone's gotta believe the same shit, but like the ideals of being against authority, doing shit yourself, being proud and rejecting (not assimilating into ) mainstream crap , in itself is political.
anyway, got off on a tangent....lik yeah pre-hipster youth cultures have existed as a way to rebel against the mainstream. BUT both punk and hip hop, like hipster [suedo culture, have become mass produced and stand for fucking nothing nowadays.

like the author can't tell me the self-identified punk at hot topic that paid 30 dollars for a studded belt is resisting consumerism. or that G-unit is a way of suverting the dominant paradigim.
nowadays, punk and hip hop by and large are not political, so why does the end of western civilization end with hipsters?

I think 'the end' started as far back as Elvis and Hippies and also ends with Warped Tour and Hot 97.

WHAT THE FUCK

2008-06-21T19:04:00.003+01:00

Apparently, if you shoo bears away, that means you are harrassing hunters

In a decision released today, the Appellate Division affirmed prior
rulings in Vernon Municipal Court and Superior Court in Newton that the
activists, Angela Metler, Albert Kazemian and Janet Piszar, had harassed
hunters, one of whom was an undercover police officer, by encircling
them and hooting and hollering to keep bears away.

The appeal argued their conduct did not constitute physical interference
with hunting and was free speech; that a defense of entrapment was
improperly barred in municipal court; and that the officer and hunters
should not have been viewed by the court as credible witnesses due to
their pro-hunting views. A three-judge appellate panel affirmed the
convictions.

The incident occurred in Wawayanda State Park in Vernon on Dec. 7, 2005,
when an undercover state park police officer was in the woods with two
hunters. There, they encountered five activists; Metler, Kazemian,
Piszar and Theresa Fritzges, and another unidentified woman who got away.

The activists were found guilty in Vernon Municipal Court in 2006 of
disorderly-persons offenses.

NYPD Pigs Beat up Political Rappers from Rebel Diaz

2008-06-19T20:58:00.001+01:00

Early this Wednesday (6/18/08) Rodstarz and G1 of the group REBEL DIAZ were up in Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit. The two went over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and asked for the officers badge numbers. Subsequently they were beaten, detained and taken to 41st Precint in the Bronx under the direction of Captain McHugh.

Rodstarz and G1 will be going to criminal court Thursday (6/19/08) and are being charged with obstruction of justice and assault.
Be there in front of Bronx Criminal Court 9AM
215 East 161st. Street Between Sheridan & Sherman Ave, East of the Grand Concourse. Take the 4, B, D to 161st Street Yankee Stadium Station.
See You There, Support Our Brothers!

Please call the 41st precinct 718-542-4771 or arresting Officer MacHugo @ 718-542-8745 to demand:
1. Drop All Charges
2. Release Rebel Diaz!

For more information contact La Peña del Bronx at the
following: e-mail: lapena2006@hotmail.com
Tel:718-292-6137

WWW.REBELDIAZ.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/REBELDIAZ

Wow, well you sure got a lot of nerve.

2008-05-23T04:01:00.006+01:00

So I got this email from an address i didn't recognize...which was really weird because i am NOT on the Chris McIntosh support list nor do I correspond or support him any longer.
Anyway, I don't want to support his cause by re-posting, however I feel that this shouldn't be tossed under the rug, especially if some people are convinced by this letter. I'd also like to add that this letter is not in response to something I have written...it was just mailed to me and from the list of addresses, it seems it was also mailed to Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
So this is the letter sent to me by what I assume is part of Chris's support:

"This is a hard letter to write as I don't know who I am writing to. I saw a request for support of a young man named Kevin,stating he is in a yard with other men serving 20 years and more. The article said Kevin is scared. Well, he should be. As you know Chris has made some statements that have been very upsetting to your community. You said his support campaign has not made a rebuttal to your decision to withdraw support for him. He has no support campaign.
For anyone who knows Chris, they would know he is not racist or sexist. He is impulsive and does do things and says things he regrets once he has had a cool down period. Interesting to me is that there seems to be no sensitivity for the perils of life in a maximum security prison and what it can do to a person who has no outside support. While Chris was in USP Hazelton, West Virginia 2 inmates where murdered, at least 2 guards were hospitalized all in separate incidents. Most of the tension is based on racism. Having never been in prison myself I can only relate second hand what I have been told. In order to survive, literally, you have to make an alliance with a group. Unfortunately many inmates do that based on skin color. Chris has had to fight more than once to not be physically harmed by people of other races, just because he is not the same color as they maybe.

Imagine if you will, living for extended periods of time in a closed community where you can not make eye contact or show any sign of weakness just to avoid being a target. Imagine doing that time for a cause or group of people who are quick to forget you and leave you alone to face the demons of loneliness and fear.
In your statement to withdraw support for Chris you referenced his " failed attempt to burn down McDonalds". Failed attempt? Was the purpose of the action to burn down a building or bring attention to a cause? If burning down a building was the purpose, than the attempt was failed, but if attention to the cause was the purpose I disagree with your evaluation of the outcome of his actions. Chris is serving 8 years for a cause he valued enough to put his personal freedom in jeopardy for. I would hope someone in your community would value individuals enough to find out what Chris is thinking and give him support through his time. Chris does need to be reminded that not all the world is racists and kindness and goodness do still exist, he needs someone who will take the time to reeducate and remind him that life in Maximum Security Federal Prison is not how all the world is. Someone who will take the time to look beyond isolated words and examine the overview of him and who he really is. What was going on in his world when those statements where made? What you will find is a caring, sensitive person, loyal to a fault, someone who can be counted on.
Chris is currently staring his 4th month in isolation. He made it one day on the yard in USP Atwater a maximum security facility 3000 miles from his family, and was jumped by a group of men just for being the new guy. He fought back. What would you do?
I don't know what you will do with this e-mail, I would ask you to post it just to give your community an insight into the reality of prison life, the emotional as well as physical pressures that can make anyone of us do and say things we regret. I hope that some few people would care as much about other humans, specifically Chris in this instance, as they do about animals and the Earth and be willing to invest themselves in the well being of another human. His current address is: Christopher McIntosh 30512-013
USP Atwater
US Penitentiary
PO 019001
Atwater, Ca 95301
Thanks! Kathryn McIntosh"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This argument reminds me so much of the argument in support of snitches, "you've never been in that situation, so what would you do?" as a form of excusing fucked up behavior. So no I've never been in prison, I don't know what it's like to detained for a long period of time. But I do know what it's like to be assaulted by someone who's had violent, mind fucking, disturbing things happen to them in their life. And the fact that they've had awful things happen to them, does not (although at the time it did) excuse the actions they took in harming someone else. Especially when there are a lot of people who have gone through traumatizing experiences as well and have chosen not to perpetuate violence. This goes both for snitches and racists. By supporting Chris McIntosh is not only saying but doing racist and sexist things is to turn one's back on women and people of color as a whole (who don't have the privilege of not being attacked by sexism and racism when confronted with it) but it's also a slap in the face to prisoners who are going through the same if no worse conditions than that and are still anti sexist/ anti-racist. Even within the Prison Industrial Complex Chris has white privilege, and has had had activist support, which is much more than many prisoners get.Yes he's a product of his environment and a horrible one at that, but it was still a choice he made, a choice to perpetuate racism, sexism and speciesm, and for that reason he does not have my solidarity.

and yes, I do think it;s justifiable to have more solidarity with the earth and animals, who do not perpetuate oppression instead are often the target of oppression than someone who is actively a part of it.

Do you wanna stay in bed all day? Do you remember feeling any other way?

2008-05-09T06:39:00.005+01:00

Hey look I'm really sorry
I couldn't make it to your party
I know it looks like I'm gonna cry
Got a to-do list behind my eyes so
Go tell your friends I'm still a feminist
But I won't be coming to your benefit

I give up
I give up

I'll be at home today.
-Le Tigre

Reportback from Bash Back! Convergence

2008-04-08T07:16:00.004+01:00

so I went to the Bash Back convergence in Chi-Town this weekend which was rad. So I wanted to holla to the organizers of the conference for making it a welcoming space for activists/ anarchists of all experience levels, as well as a safe space for all of us.
So I feel like I shouldnt be the one writing this because I do not know the Chicago area very well so will probably do a shitty job explaining locations and shit. But i didnt see other reportbacks, and I have all these feelings so yeah.

At 9 pm Saturday anti-assmiliationist queers took the streets from Logan Square to the Chicago Police Department in Boys Town. There were about 100 people at least, with pink and black flags chanting "1,2,3,4 bash down those closet doors, 5,6,7,8 we will not assimilate!" "we're queer, we're here, we're anarchists we'll fuck you up!"
many people joined into the protest, as we protested corporate "gay centers", the chicago police department, and other heteronormative oppressive institutions. the cops did not show up for over an HOUR (thank you Cubs game) . However at that time we had finished our last destination (a corporate owend "gay center in boys town that is corproate sponsered by whole foods and HLS) and then attempted to separate the crowd, by not allowing some of us to cross the street. However we refused to leave until we were all united. We headed towards a train station, followed by the Chicago police department, when they though we were going to split off we transformed from an unpermitted protest to an unpermitted dance party. we danced, laughed and were merry for over an hour until we got tired/ saw cops handing out police batons and bounced.

fucking beautiful, one of the best experiences I have had in a while, in and out of radical spaces.

---
and on a totally unrelated note I went vegan as of last week as a result of having a nightmare.

EMERGENCY: Protest on Behalf of Mumia Abu Jamal's LIFE tommorow!

2008-03-27T21:59:00.004Z

Taken from NYC Independent Media Center
A statement by the Partisan Defense Committee, issued Thursday, March 27, 2008:

“Today the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision upholding Mumia Abu-Jamal’s frame-up conviction. In turning down Mumia’s appeal for a new trial, the Court ordered a new sentencing hearing to decide whether he is again to be sentenced to die or condemned to the living death of life in prison.

The Court’s decision is another slap in the face to all opponents of racist injustice. Recalling the infamous Dred Scott decision, the Court has again declared that a fighter for black freedom like Mumia has no rights that the courts are bound to respect. A former Black Panther Party spokesman, MOVE supporter and renowned journalist, Mumia is an innocent man, framed up for his political beliefs. He should never have spent a day in prison. There must be mass protests, centered on labor’s power, to demand his freedom now.

The PDC and Labor Black Leagues have called protests for tomorrow in different cities. For more information: www.partisandefense.org.”

ALL OUT FOR EMERGENCY PROTEST

Mumia Abu-Jamal Is an Innocent Man!
Free Mumia Now!
Abolish the Racist Death Penalty!

TOMORROW
Friday, March 28
5:00-7:00 p.m.
In front of the Federal Building
Broadway, between Worth & Duane Streets
Manhattan
(4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall, or R, W to City Hall, or 1, 2, 3 to Chambers)

Sponsored by the Partisan Defense Committee and the Labor Black League for Social Defense

For more information, call 212-267-1025 or 212-406-4252
partisandefense@earthlink.net
www.partisandefense.org

The PDC is a class-struggle, non-sectarian legal and social defense organization which champions cases and causes in the interests of the whole of the working people. This purpose is in accordance with the political views of the Spartacist League.
--------
There is immense evidence that Mumia Abu Jamal is innocent, such as a confession by the man who did kill the cop, bullets not matching, and not to mention a rigged trial by an all white jury. Activists of color are always accused/framed of killing cops to further villianize us, and perpetuate the myth that we are "dangerous" and criminal".
Whether you are affiliated with Spartacists or not, come be in solidarity with Mumia

Indigenous Community Siezes Oil Territory

2008-03-25T05:00:00.003Z

Bad ass. Achuar people occupy Pluspetrol Territory (big oil company); fighting globalization, imperialism, and enviromental destruction.
Unfortunatley, what was peaceful direct action erupted in police violence, where two people were killed and 12 were injured.
But they fought back.

Does this make you want to throw up too?

2008-03-18T04:44:00.005Z

"Until three years ago, Benjamin Shute was living in Williamsburg, where he kept Brooklyn Lager in his refrigerator and played darts in a league.
Raised on the Upper East Side by a father who is a foundation executive and a mother who writes about criminal justice, Mr. Shute graduated from Amherst and worked for an antihunger charity. But something nagged at him. To learn about food production, he had volunteered at a farm in Massachusetts. He liked the dirt, the work and the coaxing of land long fallow into producing eggplant and garlic.
He tried growing strawberries on his roof in Brooklyn, but it didn’t scratch his growing itch.
And so last week, Mr. Shute could be found here, elbow-deep in wet compost two hours north of New York City, filling greenhouse trays for onion seeds. Along with a partner, Miriam Latzer, he runs Hearty Roots, a 25-acre organic farm."

oh cool, so now hipsters are taking up farming. the article doesn't say, but i wonder what the effects of this are on non trust-fund baby farmers, you know?
and of course, now they grow organic sheep, chicken and cows, so they can eat meat while feeling "exploitation free", because they have happy non-factory farm cows.
That is, witout analyzing the fact that the farm production of animals itself is exploitive and NOT eco-friendly.
It just feels like another extension of green capitalism that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Hell, hipsters leave a bad taste in my mouth in general. which sucks. because at Knox it's a bunch of more or less middle class mostly white kids, so it feels isolating if you dont fit the above description, as well as being a bubble where we do not have to confront these issues. and activism is often limited to within campus. but in the city, there has been such a change since i was 15, i can recall. Like i would go to abc no rio or something and everyone would be form the area. now it's like "i'm here from a summer program at Barnard..."
and fucking Williamsburg, i''m like never setting foot there again, cause everyone looks the same; pale shaggy haired thin ugly outfit. and yeah nothing feels like home.
yet there is soo much shit to do here, and i can understand why they move in but i hate the way they ruin it.

I don't know. does anyone know any cool, radical, diverse, laid back cities out there, that don't have the gross migration of just-out-of-liberal-arts-college hipsters?

yeah i know, i should talk. i am a liberal arts college middle class-background kid. but i don't move into areas because it's a "cool hip area" or because of "the buildings arhcitecture" or to push people out so my middle class friends can move in, when i do move somwhere its because its a place i can afford to live in.
if this meand that i will contribute to gentrification, than i will do my best to ally with my neighbors to fight against rent being raised, people and locally owned businesses being put out and etc.
if one contributes to gentrification than it's a fucking responsibilty to activley fight against it, with yer neighbors who didn't "chooose" to live in that area instead of the suburbs.

NYC ABC Benefit!

2008-03-13T10:30:00.002Z

****REPOST! FORWARD!****

DEATH TO THE STATE!

A benefit for activists facing charges and political prisoners

brought to you by NYC Anarchist Black Cross Federation

Sunday, March 16th: EARLY-ISH SHOW!
6 pm, at Death By Audio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(49 S. 2nd, L to Bedford or JMZ to Marcy)

WITH! Death Mold: NYC Spore Core. Members of Planned Collapse, ex Oi
Polloi, Dregs

Razor Bois: Hardcore Antifa Punk on tour from Moscow!

Perdition: Ex A.P.P.L.E. Noise Blast

Hipster Holocaust: Hometown Hardcore Heroes

Fucked By The State: Fast and Loud, Political Punk

Vegan treats, zines, and more for sale. All ages, 21+ to drink at bar, No outside booze or drugs.

For the abolition of state repression and domination!

nycabc[at]riseup[dot]net

Criticisms of the Time Square Bombing

2008-03-09T20:21:00.002Z

So it really bothers me that a lot of the criticism I have heard about the Time Square Bombing have been "oh it benefits the State more because the media gets to smear leftists/anarchists now, as a result and public opinion will be against us."

Um, since when has media and public opinion been "pro-anarchist"?

Like, honestly since when has it been a primary concern to impress the media? No matter how 'peaceful' (which has some how come around to mean docility) we are, the media will ALWAYS keep the image of anarchist being "terrorists" because thats whats benefiting to the state.

And as far as this particular action is concerned, the recruiting station was shut down for a day, that is time and money, the recruiting station has lost. So that, is not benefiting the state.

I support making criticisms of this action via safety of others or whatever, crticism is always good and constructive, but to say "oh the media won't like us, booo on direct action" is bullshit.

Briana Waters Trial

2008-03-06T22:37:00.003Z

Hung Jury. however, she was found guilty of two counts, being a look out. Each which carry a mandatory minimum of 5 years, so thats 10 years total. Briana Waters maintains her innocence and will likely appeal.

Time Square Military Recruiting Station Bombed

2008-03-06T21:24:00.004Z

Time Square Military Recruiting Station was bombed at 3:45 in the morning when the building was empty; no one was injured. The Building was shut down.

Police speculate it was done for political reasons. Some point at Grandmothers Against the War, and anti war activists. They also believe it is connected with the May 2005 bombing of the Mexican Consulate in response to the assassination of Brad Will, an anarchist activist.

Mayor of NYC Mike Bloomberg says "Whoever the coward was that committed this disgraceful act on our city will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," he said. "We will not tolerate such attacks. .... People are going about their business. They are not intimidated."
But really, those pig motherfuckers have no idea who did it.

so apperantly I'm not the only one who thinks so too...

2008-03-06T05:48:00.002Z

excellent article on Green is the New Red
by Will Potter on the Seattle Arson and the media's effect on the Briana Waters' Trial.

The jury is currently divided on Briana Water's trial. For those not familiar with Briana Waters she is a environmentalist that has been accused by snitches (who get shortened sentences by implicating her) of having a role in an ELF arson in the Center of Horticulture in the University of Washington. She is pleading innocent and facing a minimum of 35 years in prison. statement made by the Olympia Civil Liberties Union:
"One thing that is certain to those close to the case is that the arson Monday has only damaged Briana's chances of getting a fair verdict. The corporate media have consistently pointed out how curious the timing of the arson is, with the "UW Ecoterror Trial" still going on, further linking Briana with a shadowy ELF underground in the minds of the public. Anyone should have been able to predict the negative impact of an action like this on Briana's trial, and that just makes this whole event even more frustrating.

There are many reasons to view this fire and it's motivations as suspicious, and there is not yet any evidence that it was actually based on environmental motivations. The vast majority of arsons in this country are caused for run-of-the-mill reasons, and fraud or financial reasons are some of the biggest. The media seem all too happy to jump to conclusions about the people who started those fires based on the most preliminary investigations. Also there have often actions by agent provocateurs during political trials throughout history."

Anti-Racist/ Feminist Zine

2008-03-05T19:52:00.005Z

so i took like a million year hiatus from making zines.

But I'm back doin' it, slowly but surely...hopefully this will be long term and it won't just be an incomplete or pathetic one zine and then me pooping out. any who, recently at my school Knox College, (which believes itself to be the most radical place ever because it was founded by abolitionists) had a really racist article in the school newspaper. Which caused a lot of uproar because the administration failed to address the article and racism on campus (until they finally did). it was the tip of the iceberg because while Knox prides itself in being so diverse and welcoming a lot of students of color are often tokenized by teachers, marginalized by RA's as "troublemakers", and we feel the fucking stares, we hear the fucking comments, that people make. Especially because a lot of (white) people in this school admittingly come from suburban predominantly white backgrounds, when they come to Knox it's like the first time they seen a Black/Latino/Asian/ Middle Eastern/ etc person in their entire life. So FUCKED UP SHIT is said (for example in one ANSO class I had this one kid referred to Black people as "Negroes" because he thought "that's what they like to be called"). And it's especially shitty when people that claim to be activist, vehemently anti-racist, 'liberal', feminist, or radical SAY and DO fucked up things.

So me and my friend Nicole from my Woman Studies class or compiling a zine about feminism., racism. etc for our Action Project. and in light of the current situation at Knox, this is the first thing I wrote:

Tips for Anti-Racist White Allies.
(For those who care about deconstructing privilege and fighting internalized white supremacy)

1. Don’t tell me not to get emotional. I am not a child. I don’t have temper tantrums out of nothing. Getting angry, upset, sad, disappointed over a racist event taking place is a rational, validated reaction. I can’t not take racism personally because it affects me as a human being.

2. Don’t tell me that you have friends who are Black, Latino, Asian, etc to back up your racist views. I don’t care who you’re friends with. If I call you out on being racist, I’m not asking you if you are being racist, I am telling you your being racist.

3. Do go outside your comfort level. I went outside my comfort level by leaving a diverse community back home and going to a predominantly white school. So if I invite you over my Spanish-speaking household, don’t sit there all awkward like a chicken about to lay an egg. Interact with people, ask questions, make conversation, I’ll translate I promise.

4. Don’t make generalizations about other cultures. Um, I don’t care if you took a class, went to a country, or have a friend with the cultural background being discussed. In anthropology 101, first thing you learn is to not pass judgment on other cultures and to adopt the perspective of those within that culture.

5. You are not a feminist if you tell me Black, Latino, Middle Eastern, etc, men are inherently sexist. No, that just makes you a racist. No one is inherently anything! Besides white dudes can be just as sexist as men of color. If anything an argument can be made that sexism is expressed in different ways world wide. Sexism isn’t closed to any cultural group, most societies world-wide currently live in a patriarchy and the US and Europe sure as hell does.

6. We probably won’t fuck you if you fetishize us. Telling Asian women you have “yellow fever”, or commenting on the size of Black men’s penises, doesn’t translate to “I think you as a person, are attractive, I like you.” More so it says, I “view you as a sexual commodity.”

7. There is no such thing as “reverse racism”. First of all the term itself is racist, “reverse racism” means admitting that there is a “right way” to be racist (aka white supremacy). Racism is social, political, economic, systematic institution that is ingrained in our education system, our culture, science, EVERYTHING. This type of institution does not exist against whites as a socially stratified class the way it does to people of color. Prejudice, against anyone and everyone exists. So if you do experience discrimination because of white skin (which does happen, I’m not denying that) it is just that, discrimination/ prejudice. But it’s not founded on an overall system the way racism is.

there is so much more that can go into this list but, hey, zine for Action Project is due the 15th so I gotta hustle.

Military Scum

2008-03-05T05:36:00.004Z

Marine, good ol' boy David Mortari throws helpless puppy off a cliff

so I guess killing and raping people isn't enough to be brave strong manly men, now they gotta get off killing puppies.

gross.

This is just further evidence that the military trains people to be these torture machine sadists who LIKE IT. See Abu Grhaib, Argentina's disappeared, Pinochet's regime in Chile, Guantanamo Bay, and Nazi Gemrany for further evidence of this. See the Stanford experiment, of people following orders, hurting others because they are told to, thus free of responsibility. No one forces any of these guys to kill and torture. To an extent it's a fucking willing action, choice.

Killing dogs isn't in the Marine job description, they do it because they want to.

Provocatuers maybe?

2008-03-04T04:35:00.003Z

"The fires were reported at 4 a.m. and more than five hours later flames were still rising from a natural-gas pipeline which crews from Puget Sound Energy were working to control.

The damaged homes, all unoccupied, were included among Seattle Street of Dreams homes in the Quinn's Crossing development near Highway 522. The homes that burned were between 4,200 and 4,750 square feet in size, with prices up to nearly $2 million.

The Seattle Street of Dreams is a 30-year-old home-building home tour, intended to show luxury home-building and trends in architecture, interior design, home technology and landscaping. The destroyed homes were featured last June.

No injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire. A terrorism task force which includes police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating. Investigators stopped short of blaming the ELF for today's fires, but acknowledged finding the sign with the group's initials."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004256586_webdreamsfire03m.html

So Briana Waters is on trial right now facing a minimum of 35 years and Tre Arrows trial is starting soon and now there is a supposed ELF action- um, coincidence much?

and did the homes belong to every day rich fuckers, or was it the homes of mcdonald, oil guzzling, rich fuckers? I mean i guess there's room for interpretation right there, but it does seem off that they would select random rich people's homes....kinda out of the ordinary.

Esp because people learned form the Jeff Luers trial not to blow shit up when there are people on trial.... it seems really off", for lack of better words.

June Jordan is the Shit

2008-03-04T00:11:00.002Z

I just read "In Our Hands". Deep. Cried.
She is so right-on, about mamas and "women's work" being what has allowed, their children to go to school, be radicals, be revolutionaries. it reminds me of what Allison Crews from (http://www.girl-mom.com/) said, about teen mamas, "Girls like me have raised presidents. We've raised messiahs and musicians, writers and settlers. Girls like me won't compromise, and we won't fail". Except June Jordan is saying it about black women, latinas, working class women, and how our movements, or free time to think and act, is built on their backs.

Resist Psychic Death

2008-02-28T06:21:00.004Z

so I was just looking at http://www.jenjmay.com/
a web page with the art work of this girl I used to talk to a lot while in high school and I was looking at her art, which had always moved me cause it''s awesome. And I felt nostalgia.
cause I remember liking creating shit.
Not being to burnt out to do anything.

I really want to grasp on to "life" back. take control of it, own it, do what I want with it. instead getting swept along with it like everyone else in this Prozac country.

I feel desperate. But apathetic at the same time. Because I don't see myself dropping out of school for the reasons mentioned before.

But if I could make my current situation better, it would be pleasing. cause currently I feel like the dude from Fight Club that fills his life with stuff to mask empy and not living.

Minor Existential Crisis

2008-02-26T20:50:00.004Z

what am I doing here in Galesburg, in the assfuck middle of know where, 900 miles away from home?

cause my whole "live each day as though it were yr last" policy is not holding up right now. and I'm thinking, "how did I get here?"
Here as in having a million meetings, having a PLANNER, tiptoeing around passive aggressive people, having scheduled times to eat, and living this structured life. I HATE SCHEDULES.

I know, i sound/am a brat.
I am privileged to be on this computer and receiving a college education. I believe the statistic is that only 1 in 100 people world wide have access to both. and it also says even more about privilege the fact that i enough people that have access to both these things, that i would feel out of place if i DIDN'T have it.

I acknowledge this. I really do. and that is part of why I am here. because I was born in country where the majority of it'sp people can't even dream of doing what I am doing. because my mother, grandmother, most cousins, and family members in Peru never had this oppurtinity, to recieve this education and options to travel wherever i want. Because I know the pride that bring to my family, to know that "one of them" made it that far, I can't quit out.

cuz it's not just my ass and my pride, it's theirs. and I can do whatever the fuck i want with myself but when it's their hopes, expectations and dreams, I cannot/ will not fuck with that.

and I'm not bitching about it because "it's hard". It's challenging but I LIKE MY CLASSES so that's not the problem. I can't really pinpoint it either.

Thing is, I never wanted to go to college. ever. because I hate institutions and when I was in high school i felt like a stray dog with her tail between her legs. and college is different form high school, yeah i know. but it's not for me. It's not and I've known this for a long time. I knew this when I was filling out applications two years ago. I knew it when I dropped out of Earlham, I knew it when I was cutting classes at Queens, and I know it now when I'm getting A's on midterms and organizing events outta my ass.

Like, it's not worth debating because I'm NOT going to drop out or anything. I'm going to graduate and have the BS degree the end.

But what after that, become a social worker and have 2.5 kids and a white picket fence?
i feel that somehow that has pushed itself somehow, by conditioning me to structure via school.

like since when did I want a 'career'?

shit. I want change. and I thhough thats what I would try to do as soon as I got this whole school shit out of the way. but it seems fucking impossible because after the school shit theres the job shit. and I don't know.
I want the freedom to leave and go as I please. and when Im stuck in structural shit like shcool, monogamous relationships, etc I feel like I can't do that.

well, fuck, it had to be my pen pal too.

2008-02-20T07:24:00.002Z

so Chris McIntosh, dude I been writing to for a bit now, turns out to be a racist sexist shit. great.
i mean when i wrote to him he just said typical white-boy-not-aware-of- white skin-and-male-privilege things, which i thought if one just called him out on that's all that would be needed cause dude's an anarchist. But noooo he's a straight, flat out, white-power tattood turd.
shit.
here's Earth Liberation Prisoner Network's mesage:

Dear Friends

Just under two weeks ago ELP announced we were suspending from our prisoner lists the American prisoner Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh, who is currently imprisoned for a failed arson against a McDonalds restaurant. Following our investigation ELP has decided to permanently remove McIntosh from our lists and encourage others to do likewise. Our reasons for this decision are detailed below:

WARNING - The below statement contains direct quotations of some of the racist and sexist words that Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh has written to some of his supporters. If you are offended by racist or sexist language please do not read the below statement. We do not deliberately wish to offend anyone, but we are using McIntosh's own words to demonstrate his new found politics.

On the 8th of February 2008 a well known and highly respected former ALF prisoner contacted ELP to raise his concerns about the American prisoner Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh.

The former ALF prisoner supplied ELP with letters written by Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh to some of his supporters. In his letters McIntosh uses highly offensive racist language and referred to black people as "fucking mud people".

In his letters McIntosh talks about white supremacy and how he would be prepared to die for white supremacy. We understand he has also talked to other supporters about his belief in white supremacy.

In addition to this McIntosh also talks about Social Darwinianism (a racist/sexist corruption of Darwin's theory of evolution) and the superiority of white people. McIntosh states "Darwinistically speaking, niggers are natural slaves, so fucking one is like fucking a cow." (ELP again understands that McIntosh has also spoken to other supporters about his belief in Social Darwinianism).

McIntosh asked one female supporter if she'd ever had sex with a black man before referring to white women who have sex with black men as "whores". McIntosh described black men who have sex with white women as "dogs".

Continuing on his sexist line, McIntosh states he has returned to eating meat and asked a female supporter if she missed eating meat. He then stated when he was a vegetarian "I suffered because I loved the taste [of meat] - But maybe my being male with different hormones and drives separates our experiences there, once again Darwinistically speaking".

Because of his racist and sexist comments ELP decided to suspend Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh from our prisoner lists with immediate effect and publically request any other offensive material McIntosh had written. Our subsequent investigations have shown that:

1) McIntosh has adopted White Supremacist views whilst in prison. A number of people have contacted ELP saying that McIntosh has started to associate with a racist gang and has even gone as far as to get a racist 'white power' tattoo. In a letter to one of his supporters McIntosh enclosed a photo of himself and referred to his tattoo which was not visible in the photo. He told another supporter how he would show off his tattoo upon his release from prison.

2) McIntosh, through his Social Darwinian beliefs, thinks that 'might makes right', or as he puts it in one of his letters "supremacy to the strongest".

3) McIntosh has told at least one female supporter that it is okay for a man to rape a woman (under his 'might makes right' theme).

4) ELP has had it confirmed that since going into prison McIntosh has abandoned his vegetarian diet and has reverted to eating meat.

So on the grounds that McIntosh is a racist, sexist, meat eating, white supremicist, who believes it is okay for the strong to bully the weak and it is okay for a man to rape a woman, ELP is permanently ending our support for Christopher 'Dirt' McIntosh. We denounce McIntosh as a racist, sexist, fascist. We encourage all other prisoner support campaigns to remove him from their lists and we warn all our supporters against supporting this man.

Please feel free to forward this e-mail.

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407
London
WC1N 3XX
England
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Complicated

2008-01-31T06:59:00.000Z

i don't know how to be good to you
you're too close and you know it too
nobody has a good enough excuse
i'm just fucked up and so are you
i love you so much you could hurt me
so i do it first so you won't see me
laugh it off and i don't feel it
hard as rocks and nails underneath
hardly anyone is sincere
all i know is anger that is real
i barely know how true goodness feels
i don't even know how to feel
i know i built walls around
i'm begging you to knock them down
but yours are just as big and mean as mine
tight defenses and we draw the line

if you want to go just go
just go just go just go
and i'll watch you walk away
if you want to go just go
just go just go just go
and i'll watch you walk away
i'll die if you go
just go just go just go
and i'll watch you walk away

stop everything
stop all of these fucked up games
oh oh promise me we'll be good to each other
promise me i need it signed sealed and delivered
stop everything
or my heart will break
my pride isn't worth it
help me this is hurting

if you want to go just go
just go just go just go
and i'll watch you walk away
i'll die if you go
just go just go just go
and i'll watch you walk away

super girl
she isn't real
i thought i could fly alone
but i can't even get off the ground

i don't know what else to say
i don't want to push you away
and i need your help today
i can't get off the ground today
---------------------------------------------------

my life is the entire heavnes to betsy 'calculated' album.

accidently deleted this one- Reflecting on the Green Scare

2008-01-30T04:35:00.001Z

12/10/07

yesterday i went to the Greenscare protest, the 2nd year anniversary since Daniel McGowan's arrest.
in retrospect, I think I might have been in too good of a mood, and wouldnt blame anyone if that had pissed them off.

but yeah, a lot of people showed up, fliered a lot. some people seemed interested. other people were too busy with furcoats and sales and being tourists.

then went to the Bob Kohler political funeral. thought i have never met him in person I have heard he was real radical and did alot for HIV housing and queer communties of color. so that was cool. It was technically an unpermitted parade, so woot!

I dunno, on the way home I was just thinking of all the people I know and trust. and how unprepared I would be if anything like that ever happened to me. you never expect your friends to betray you i guess.
I mean there's some people I keep a a distance from if i dont trust them enough. but, like the people you trust with your life?
and have them betray you, the possibility doesn't even register as a real one.

Opening Letter to the Movement-By Chris McIntosh

2008-01-20T18:26:00.000Z

Chris McIntosh is an ALF Political Prisoner who was sentenced 8 years in Prison for burning down an empty McDonalds in Seattle 2003. In a country where rapists, child molesters, and murderers get sentenced a minimum of 2 years, to have someone who has never killed anyone serve an 8 year sentence because of the politics behind his action is an outrage. Chris is my penpal, and is in great need of support. write to him at:
Christopher McIntosh #30512-013
FCI Fairton
PO Box 420
Fairton, NJ 08320
USA

Open letter from Chris - January 2008

To the Movement at Large,

Y’know this past year has been pretty crazy for me – in prison you have a lot of time to think… to evaluate…and this is what I’ve done. I’m sure you are all aware that I held a hardline no compromise stance. For the longest time I was a “down for the shoot-out kid” and if you weren’t down for that well too, well then you weren’t down. And if you weren’t down to use violence, well then you weren’t serious and I believed you couldn’t be effective. For the longest time I felt the only way to give yourself for your collective was to die for it; to be an Achilles.

But who was Achilles? He was a hero and heroic but it wasn’t for the group, it was for his own glory that he died. These are the heroes you hear about. He wasn’t in the end there for his people when they may have needed him. I realize that the real heroes are no less heroic for sacrificing their glory in order to be there. I’ve come to the point where I don’t want to be an Achilles. I want to learn temperance and add it to my strength to be, as long as possible, a firm ground for my tribe to stand upon.

Now recently I’ve also come to the conclusion that I’ve held other people to my own flawed standards. I made harsh statements, against SHAC and others, that lacked love and temperance that are needed for us to be healthy and unified. In a way I was selfish and narrowminded to have held them to a standard gleaned from a path walked much different and with different circumstances than the one they may walk. To everyone who I’ve hurt by this unloving intemperance. My bad yo, and my apologies. I seek now to walk a true standard as a man who will be there for my people, and anyone who cares is my people. I hope to be a pillar of support for you. I don’t want to be a kamikaze any more. I don’t want the hate and anger it brings. Full on no compromise is power – you become powerful – but at the price of your humanity. I won’t pay that price any more.

When Free put out his statement about his seeking other avenues of resistance, I was like fuck that, never me. I was angry and blind to his perspective. But I started to think about it. We acted, but what did we change? We are two men locked up for long periods of time. Both with much larger visions now then when we came into the system, unable to do what we now know is what we have to do.

My vision is now larger than a handgun and going on a kamikaze mission. In fact, I don’t think this is where you should go. Free will be doing different things, as well as I. I want to bring conscious families together into an agrarian community. I want to bring children into the movement. I’m gonna choose the harder path than the easy way out. I’m gonna open my heart but not fear the loss of my strength. I start today by giving you my love and not my anger, my heart and not my fury.

Your brother,
Chris Crow

www.supportchris.net

letters i'll never send.

2007-12-16T05:59:00.000Z

dear boy who thinks he is a rockstar,
yes, you are the best guitar player i have ever known personally. that is if you dont count an hour encounter with tom morello of rage agaisnt the machine. but do not treat me like a stupid groupie. you are not getting in my pants. i am not going to compliment you on shit you already know is good. and no im not going to that show because you are going to be there. however if you offer to help me refine my bass playing skills, or to fool around with your mixer, or want to collaborate on somethign ewith me, other than physically or egotistically jerking you off, i will be more than willinng to comply.
heart,
lady who likes your music but hates talking to you.

dear old friend,
thank you. i'm willing to take baby steps. and if you dont want/need/ are not ready for having "the talk" for a long time, thats okay. i want more than anything to be there for you through this stressfull time. if i can help you in anyway let me know.
and i'm baking you a Toffutti cheesecake soon, cause being lactose intolerant sucks, esp for you:(
love,
yr wench

dear boss,
i need more hours this week okay?
-heart
-computer kid/token female employee

dear weather,
stop being cold and snowy.
-vicky

dear kids in brooklyn,
i want to see you before i go back to school but im shy about calling. so call me.
-vicky from lang island.

dear political prisoners i write to,

if i could recieve 1 letter back from any of you, it will make my day.
-vicky

dear spirit of the world/ force,
thank you for hearing me out and being good to me lately
love
the pagan cat lady,

am i too old for punk?!

2007-11-26T04:15:00.000Z

so i just killed brain cells my watching 3 episodes of Tila Tequila and Danni is HOT. my god, who knew the day would come when a butch lesbian would be seen on TV and not be a fucking parody?!

other than that it stereotypes bisexuals, Asian women, and is a completely chauvinistic show. like i said, burning off brain cells.

anywya
pretty sure I have a fever. whatever...

yesterday i went to a punk show, and there was a mosh pit.i spent the entirity of the show thinking of how tired i was and trying to amp myself up to go in the pit, and in the end leaving early cause my ears hurt. I felt so damn old!
when I was 16 I would get in a leftover crack pit and some howcome out still standing. now I was barely in the border of the pit and im nursing a swollen nose and have scratches on both elbows.
either I have gotten weaker, more scared, or the older i get the more fear i have. and quite honestly i got to cut that shit out!

i don't wanna grow up man, where the fuck is peter pan?

partially i think it's also that in college fucking parties are stupid having a VIP section everyone trying to look glamorous and adult and shit. peope make fun of you if you dont dance okay you dont get booze at parties if you don't "look cool" and everyone wants to have an intellectual conversation to scared to look stupid.

so being around that, for months and now im not used to drinking a 40 oz and dancing like a dumb ass yelling at the top of my lungs. the punk scene has gotten more diverse, so as much as that used ot be an old complaint of mine, that has gotten a lot better.

i know that partially what pisses me off about it, and new york in general, os how elitest it can be. especially when you don't know anyone. but yeeah....
now i'm older so im also elitest cause some of the alternative barbie looking kids were pissing me off. most of the kids though i was cool with. i have always just had a hatred of "anarchy barbie" as i would call, it meaning girls wh go to punkrock shows or are into other cool shit because their boyfriend does it, and in the end don;t know sit about it. this is also present off, although i try to not get too annoyed over it cause there's so much misogyn the last thing i need to know is hate women too.
but yeah...when I was little i used to worry cause my hair was long and i knew i didnt look punkrock enough, even if i was into DIY culture activism and punk music. now i know i'm not a fashion pun, but i no longer care. guess thats a perk of being on old fuck haha,

WTF Immortal Technique?!?!

2007-11-01T04:17:00.000Z

So listen to the song, read the lyrics. Did he just admit to being a rapist?!?!?!?!

Alright. I tried to mantain solidarity with the guy because he's rad and an amazing rapper, has great politics, and is Peruvian like me, came to the US because of civil unrest going on in Peru, just like me.
Also cause he gets such amazing shit done, is real talented, and an asset to the movement and left in general.
This is all DESPITE sexist homophobic lyrics.

But dude, rape?
No, not cool. And I can't excuse that no matter how sorry you are or how you frame it in your song as a shitty thing to do. See, I'm torn up about this because part of me is like "well it's in his past, and he's not a rapist now, and realiuzes the error of his ways..."
And I'm all about fucking over the Prison Industrial Complex and actually deconstructing internalized isms within people and you know, uniting our community and shit. I was totally blown away by Moe telling me of that program that simultaneously therapy-fied sex offenders and sexual assault survivors.

But rape is the most violent crime against humanity, which has systematically been used against women since civilization started.
It is so inherently misogynist, (nevermind sexist!) that you cant just forgive forget and move on.
as a woman i can't see myself forgiving that. you know?

but i feel at the same time it goes against my belief in the ineffectiveness of the PIC and giving rehabilitated people chances.

word vomit

2007-09-20T07:57:00.000+01:00

it's too cold to sleep tonight
We could freeze to death I warn
It's so hard to want to fight
When you wish you were never born

This time you're gonna have to choose
You can stick with me, but you're gonna lose
But it's the same thing that I hear
Ya can't go home and ya can't stay here

And I'd do anything it takes
I wish that I could change it all
But I'll drown in the pain of my mistakes
Cause when I'm done searching, you know I'm gonna fall

We'll get a bottle to keep us warm
A little fuckin' shelter from the wicked storm
But it's the same thing that I hear
Ya can't go home and ya can't stay here - Leftover Crack

It's not that I miss home. It's not that things are particularly shitty here.
I just feel trapped.
knowing imma spend 4 years here and get24,000+ dollars in debt and a useless liberal arts degree. and do what with it? be a social worker? no that requires grad school and fuck me if im gonna do that. I want to learn "the secret" of the kids in brooklyn. how the fuck dont you gotta job and can afford an apartment and food on your'e plate so you can do activism and be so fucking free. i'm a liar if i say i'm not the least bit envious because i'd kill to live without a job so i could devote myslef doing anything i want.

i have aquaintances here no one who's really a friend.
and i can't do clique but thats the way the world works. everyone' gotta click and i jsut wander without any 'friend insurance" security.

i'm not miserable here. i just feel like somehting is "off" and i should be doing something else, like living for the moment. instead of succumbing to an institution because i dont know what it is i want to do. i'm waiting for something life changing. i want to paint. instead im taking classes im not passionate about public speaking, some mandotry freshmen bullshit intro course, and anthroplogy. anthro's not bad. but everything else i can live without.
and and especially cause i keep hearing all this shit. the eric mcdavid case, the parade without a permit, so much stuff, rod cornado, etc and i'm so...idle. that's it. i hate idle-ness and i feel i've reached a plateau in my life. i really hate comrpisieng myself to anythign wether a perosn or shcool. it feels like bondage.

Conclusion

2007-09-11T05:57:00.000+01:00

I do have an alcohol problem. I've had 2 black outs and 2 hospital rides in the past year.
because of drinking excessivley. and i dont want this ti ruin/ take over my life. yet i hate the feeling of being told I can't have something, even if it's me doing ht telling. I hate limitation. My tarot card is the Trump card for excess and impulse; The Devil. I like extremes because it makes me feel so alive.
I like fucking letting go.
And my problem is I have to get drunker than others to feel satisifed with my drunkenness.
I talked to devyn about this for a good while. he was so supportive as usual.
and gave metips to control my drinking and let me know that this wasn't the end of it all.
I can take control of my decisions and actions. I have made the choice to cool down on the partying. I'm happy because today although getting offered a million times and getting made fun of for taking "wuuuaaater" (yes mock my new york accent) instead, i didnt take the whiksy or beer offered to me.
granted I got high instead. but I don't have a problem with weed.
I can control that, and although quite high i made the decission to leave and not smoke past a number of hits.

tommorow i wake up early to donate blood and go swimming with Nea. then farenheit 451 and public speaking. then the radical foods group. I am so inspired in campous. we have ac ommutntiy garden, a free store and its completely rad!!and we may be starting a food not bombs which im thrilled about.

I hope I can keep this promise to myself not to drink. it helps that I havent gotten to the point of physical addiction.
It would ge great to have a support group to go to. but AA is for 12 stop "give up power" motherfuckers. and believing in a higher power christian shit. which doesn't work for me.

Knox

2007-09-08T09:24:00.000+01:00

so finally moved in!! this will complete my one week stay at college. i like it here. a lot of radical acitvism and cool peeps. theparty scene is a little dry mainly because theres been alcohol busts like woah this yearon the frats:(
but whatever will make do.
i met this guy who is kind of dreamy.
and im a sucker for boys with a dark demeanor, and he has that. and he's a scorpio which kills me even more.

jordan is still in the picture i guess as a polyamourous lover. hye plans on visiting,. yay. going to try to stay on top of my studies. do activismk especially with estuiantes sin fronteras, an anti-border and anti-imperialism group.
oh yeah and party. althoough im very self concious about my relationship to alcohol.

gentrification, friend drama

2007-08-29T16:57:00.001+01:00

YIIIIIIKES!! I move in 2 days. excited/stressed/ nervous, happy, exanimate, sad, all at the same fucking time.

one fact has become rather self-evident: need to leave new york.
i was in williamsburg yesterday ad it was basically disneyland for hipsters. i saw more whitepeople than people of color!!

and it was like the aquabats video of fashion zombies.

that and i think im unconciosuly distancing myselffrom everyon e in brooklyn. like my body is emotionally preparing for it. regardless when i said bye to eveyrone i was so close to tears, i was barely able to get out without crying.
granted i sniffled my way back to the subway station.
i'm gonna miss some kids. other kids i thought were friends aren't. or maybe im taking drama too seriosuley. idunno. ill get back to it when i calm my ass down.
so much fucking packing to do!!!gaaaah!!!

Green livin'

2007-08-15T01:06:00.000+01:00

I want this book. we used it to make vegan cupcakes. and while in my opinion the cupcakes werent the best, that was because we lack a few ingredients and replaced some with others. But the amazing thing is THE CUPCAKES ROSE! I am so paranoid when it comes to vegan baking cause Im scared my shit won't rise. which is exactly wat happened when I made brownies for Prison Letter writing.

Frustrated.

2007-08-08T05:05:00.000+01:00

Today I went to do court support for Mariah Lopez with two friends. The judge wa sso grumpy old man as usual. same depressing shit. Se didnt get a lowered bail, despite suicide attempts, court support, etc.
I annoucned to my friends that I was moving to Illinois. Both told me shitty things about Chicago like the cold weather for example. It almost gave me second thoughts about staying. Thinking how much I'm a msis everyone in New York and activism and thediversity, fucking Chinese food, etc.

Then I went to the FIERCE! meeting. I am so used to being in anarchist settings that to be in a non-anarchist setting seemed so stuffy to me. Not to say FIERCE! is stuff it's certianly not, but it also most defintly isn't anarcho-casual. One thing about them is right on though; THEY GET SHIT DONE.They are very communtiy orietned and organized. I think us anarcho casual folks could learn a bit from them and they can leanr a bit from us (such as consensus).
While at FIERCE!I saw a vide on the Pier. and That just confirmed my need to move from New York. I hate how gentrified it has become. How by enforcing a curfew and such giving the police libertie to keep pushing people out of what was ours. Same thing with the West Village, East Village, Brooklyn. I wouldnt if in the next few years even the Bronx is a hipster playground. Thanks Guliani, Pataki, Bloomberg.

It just reinforces how much I truley feel the need to leave New York.
I keep thinking of how government keeps pushing out queers, people of color, the working class, anarchists from the city systematically the same way they push out animals from their forest homes for profit. How easy that connection is. There are so many paralells on so many struggles.
I dont think Chicago is gentirfication free. But there is no permit law. There is no need for a permit to take pictures.
It keeps getting worst and this uphill battle gets so depressing sometimes because I honetly don't know what to do.
Maybe I need to just not see it for a bit. I don't know.

i'm so excited

2007-08-07T04:52:00.000+01:00

so the only thing i can think of is my fuckin move to Illinois. Today i was at Vanessa's and I realized how much I'ma miss her and wondered how i dealt wit being on long island without this girl.
There's an animal rights potluck at the park on Thursday. I am debating going. One part I do want to go to netwrok and have fun and be all vegan and animal rights-y. On the other hand. I could risk just sulking in a corner for an hour cause I don't really get along with the long island activist scene kids. at least the ones I met. and maybe there will be some rad ones there. so i don't know...
Going to see some kids from Brooklyn tommorow for Mariah's Court Support. Happy about that.

I miss the boy. But I am trying to think of other things to get my mind off of it. It won't work, it won't work, it wont, it won't, it won't!

I could burst with excitement about moving. and I'm sure everyone is sck of listening to me ramble about it. But I'm going to miss so many things, so many people. I hope things don't change.

Court Support

2007-08-05T05:40:00.000+01:00

I'll be there, as will other rad folks including people from FIERCE!
A latina trans activist was arrested and assualted by officers. Herre's info on it:
Transgender Activist, Survivor of Police Abuse and Misconduct

My name is Mariah Lopez. I am a young, transgender person of color. I also am an activist who does street-based outreach in the West Village, where I also socialize.

Let me tell you how the police often respond to this.

With verbal abuse.

Sexual harassment.

Unwarranted arrests.

Withholding food, water and medication in detention.

Humiliating and inappropriate strip searches.

Physical assaults.

This is what I have endured at the hands of police and corrections officers - and not just once. What occurs is a systemic abuse of power, one that is seemingly inflicted on whim. For my friends and me, it seems that something as inconsequential as an officer's mood can dictate whether we spend time in jail.

I have been arrested a number of times in the West Village - including as recently as three months ago - always for solicitation, or loitering with intent to solicit. Most of the time I plead "guilty." When you're young, aren't told your full legal options, have no bail money and face abuse, what do you do? You plead "guilty," just to get everything over with as quickly as possible.

Sometimes that's not fast enough.

Here's an example. In April of last year, I was walking in the West Village with friends. Several undercover detectives approached us and told me to leave the vicinity immediately or I would be subject to arrest and prosecution. I refused to comply, as I had the right to be there. Less than two hours later I was arrested and charged with "loitering with the intent" of prostitution.

At the 6th precinct, I was verbally abused and forced to disclose my "real" gender, though my ID clearly states that I am female. I requested that officers refer to me with female pronouns, which is my legal right under the New York City Human Rights Law. They continued to abuse, harass and degrade me, referring to me as "it," "he/she" and calling me by male names rather than my own.

Later I was arraigned; I pled "guilty" and was sentenced to ten days (of which I served seven). Upon intake at Rikers Island, I was told that I couldn't get alternative housing based on my gender identity, which would have provided safety from other inmates (all of whom were male). I had to undergo an embarrassing and degrading strip search and was badgered about the size of my genitalia and for having breasts. Next a nurse examined me in an open, clinic-based setting with no regard for patient confidentiality, where she surmised out loud that I must be HIV positive or have AIDS.

I was placed in a cell for several hours with no food, water or access to a bathroom. I brought this to the attention of the corrections officer; in exchange, the officer assaulted me, leaving me with severe bruising and abrasions. His justification? Claiming that I was being disruptive, all because I demanded my basic rights.

I was then transferred into a dorm with other inmates, which led to a week of physical and emotional abuse, as well as sexual harassment, at the hands of inmates and corrections officers alike. The inmates ordered me not to use the open showers when they did; to avoid trouble and for privacy reasons I requested to shower early in the morning or late at night. Corrections officers denied this request. They also refused to intervene when the inmates repeatedly threw hard objects at me - even after an object slammed into my face while I was reporting the incident.

Finally a more responsible area captain took note of my bruises, and I was moved to alternative housing - just one day before my release, too late to offer relief from what I had been through. According to her, this housing had been available all along.

I am here today because no human being deserves this treatment. I am here today because what happens in New York is replicated in Los Angeles and cities and towns across this country. I am here today because one more LGBT person suffering police abuse is one person too many.

I know for many it is easier to give in than to struggle. I've been there. Sometimes you feel so disenfranchised, so damaged by constant rejection, abuse and scorn, that you don't realize there is power behind your voice - or that you are worth the fight.

But I am evidence of that power, and we are all worth the fight. Others have voices as big as mine, as loud as mine and as effective as mine. Change can happen, sometimes with less effort than people realize. The launch of this report will help, especially if we join forces to insist upon a society where police protect all human beings. We cannot rest until that time comes.

Thank you.

Details on getting there:
Tuesday, August 7
Criminal Court, 100 Centre St., Part B on the fourth floor (all the way to the right)
The time is never sure, but it will probably in the late morning—be there by 10:30!

Please come if you can—your presence will increase the chances that Mariah will get out of jail and cut short the abuse she’s facing there!

Gabriel Arkles
Staff Attorney
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
322 8th Ave. 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 337-8550 ext. 113
fax (212) 337-1972

Moving Away

2007-08-03T16:49:00.000+01:00

It's official I'm leaving for Galesburg, Illinois in 25 days. Iwill be a train ride away from Chicago. Meeting new people, making new connections, networking, traveling, learning, living on my own.
Finding new communities.
I can't wait. I will be going to Knox College, this itty bitty liberal arts college that has a radical contingent of students, fair trade vegan options, lots of queer wimmin, and a beautiful campus.

My college experience in general has been wacky.
I first went to Earlham College in Richmond Indiana. which was due to a free ride. I got there and it had gloomy gray skies and humidity that made my face break out into monstrous zits. This, my friends, was a sign I didn't belong there.
It was like being in the twilight zone. I felt like Wednesday Addams when she goes to camp and everyone is singing Kumbayas. Lots of liberals, no radicals. Lack of queer presence, diverse but segregated.
And every one of the liberal upper class white students reached peace and non-violence for all, blind to the possibility that peace isn't always an option (I'd like to see yr non-violent priveleged ass in the hood for example) . So I hated it.
That and indie hipsters annoy me and they grew from trees there.
So i dropped out and everyone raised hell over it.
Next I went to Queens Collelge which honestly wasn't too bad at all. Itwas diverse, there was an SDS and had for the most part a great faculty.
Through Queens I had the privelge of being a subway ride away from the city, so I got to meet really rad people who I will never forget. Some of these rad people have traveled a lot and have lived in the boonies and through thos experiecnes have networked and changed their life.
So I started rethinking being a die hard New Yorker ("I'ma never leave New York!") and looked around to see the fact that people are traveling and everyone is leaving new york. Shit's changed a lot around here. and I think leaving wouldn't be bad at all. Not forever. But to experience something outside of New York. and I need to not live with my mom anymore. I lvoe her to death. But she's always gonna be a mama. And I'm too grown right now to have my mama living with me without suffocating a bit. There's just not enough room.

And now I'm at Knox.
It will be my second semester of College and I have already been to three schools. Oh dear.

First Post!

2007-08-03T06:03:00.001+01:00

So I got a blogger not to be pretentious but because Vanessa has one and she is rad, so I thought if I got a blogger I could be rad too.

quick background on me:
I was born in Peru and came to the United States when I was 5 due to the political turmoil in Peru at the time. My family moved in with my aunt and my cousins in the abyss that is Long Island.
Although I am a half hour away from New York City, I feel trapped and stifled in my hometown. But then again, who doesn't?
I became political concious when I was 9 and my aunt told me to send Christmas cards to political prisoners and my couisn came home form college with Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire in his cd player.
Jigsaw Youth the zine by Kathleen Hanna introduced me to Riot Grrrl. Riot Grrrl and DIY punk introduced me to feminism and anarchism.
Punks introduced me to animal rights and veganism.
Experience taught me about racism.
Girls showed me what true love really is.
Chuck Pahalniuk's novels changed the way I look at the world.

And now I'm here. Trying to get a good start at the game of adulthood while keepin' it real and never growing up.