This year (1997), I celebrate the anniversary: \u200b\u200b20 years ago, I learned what anarchism, and decided that the word I like it. Since then I have had periods of intense activity and periods of political isolation, I participated in various activities political groups, participated in a variety of projects (sometimes successful and sometimes flops), collaborated with many radical publications most of which came out 2-3 years, and some still exist, met a lot of people, some of whom have become my good friends. My personal experiences related to policy, were sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes bizarre, and so I decided to write for "defiance," a sort of personal political biography. The result was the notes - not that biography, but at least parts of it.
Wonder Years
Sometimes people ask, I became anarchist. But, in fact, all children are born anarchists - it is then they are taught obedience. Many of the young rebel, but not everyone understands why. I once knew. In the days of my childhood and youth living in the United States has been very politicized, and everywhere one could hear the liberal and even radical speech. I went in Woodstock and for me it was normal to see the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. I was having fun. But in the church scared the hell, where, according to priests who were supposed to get All hipari, so that at night I was tormented by nightmares about my brothers and sisters in hell. That stopped when I realized that the priests as well as parents, partly - Sadists, and partly because - crazy. And at this time on television showed the Vietnam War, I was watching TV and could not understand how people can do that. It was a time of feminism and black power "(ie, movements of blacks for their rights). Because I played basketball better than all the boys, I quickly realized that sexual segregation and stereotypes associated with it - crap. Mom dressed me in a white dress, and I played in the mud. Then many were talking about feminism, and I agreed with them, at least I perceived the feminist ideas more primitive. What about "black power" - my friends were black, and they liked me. Often I hinted (Or even just talking, like my parents) that the black should not be friends because of their race, and I resented it. Very early I understood that such racism, suffered because of it, as well as my friends. After all, if it is true that we are all equal (this always say in America), why am I heard what he heard? I watched the world around him and is aware of his hypocrisy. Among the children I knew were those who continually lied to, but just their teachers and parents trust. If between us there were quarrels, they said something like: "And Laura stole my pencil!" - And although it was not true, they have always believed, and I was always punished. I realized that There is no truth on earth, and here we have President Nixon, he achieved his position because it lied better than others. When on the TV show Watergate, it became clear that he is a liar, and not even just a liar, but from those who can swear before all that I say, not a thief, while the whole world knows about his machinations. "Oh, Nixon" - thought I - "And there are people on Earth who will fight against you."
Yes, I liked the feminist commune of free love, "Black Panthers", and I hated by teachers, priests, parents, politicians, children sycophant, in a word - all liars around me makes the world so unfair, all those who lied, chastised, threatened, controlled. We can say that I gradually became anarchist, but I still do not know. An indelible impression to changing economic realities. We were not rich, but some of my friends were poor, so that they could eat only free school meals. We are often told that in America, if a person works well, it will be good to live. But I could see that it is not. My black friends struggling, and I saw that this is due to their skin color - they look like on the second class citizens and they (or their parents) are very difficult to find a good job. Then I realized that it was not only in this, my parents were white, worked very hard and lived not rich, at the same time I saw the rich bitches who did not do anything, just the whole afternoon tea and wore diamonds. Something was wrong. In the end, I started reading about communism, and thought I was a Communist. Then I learned about anarchism and realized that this philosophy is more suited to me, but still felt like a Communist. I call myself a communist, anarchist, and I was wondering if there are any people like me. Early 70-ies was a time of social activism and even children can participate in various social movements. Among my teachers were liberals of the sixties, who taught us to organize themselves. There were scouts and other youth organizations. Printed magazines and info leaflets. Of course, I was primarily interested in very specific problems. One of my first political actions was to take part in the fight for the right of girls to play together with boys in college football. As an immediate action, we hurt beat the boys from the football team. We are being punished, but later allowed to play in total command. Some time later I became a punk. When I saw the stupid punks with swastikas, wrote and pasted leaflets against racism, and then I met the first in my life anarchist ...
life on the road
Sometimes parents just do not understand. As for my parents, they were concerned about my "mental challenges. "I did not want to live ordinary lives, careers, thinking about clothes, watching TV, bored to death. Therefore, parents decided that I needed to be supervised by a "competent" people, ie lie in a psychiatric hospital. Such idiocy is found we quite often and I had no nothing else but to become, like so many - "street child". As we lived on the street? Well, all different, it is because, first of all depends on the crowd. Personally I had many friends in bohemia - artists, musicians, etc., so it's always been where the fit. But on the other hand, the fit is not always interesting, so we often spent the night under the open sky, for example in the park. Once I invited a friend to live with him under one roof and, accordingly, pay half of the lease. I agreed, but only after I heard that in this house - the rent strike. What a strike? And this is where the tenants are dissatisfied with the actions of hosts (eg - if the owners raise the rent) and refuse to pay rent. Where I moved, so the strike lasted several months, and all this time I lived in a luxurious apartment for free. After that, my friends and I would like to arrange a squat, but we were then, unfortunately, was not much. All failed happened. And so life went on a bus. I do not know whose it was a bus. We were at his papers, but no one knew the owner. I think it was some old hipar, who just left it to us ... God knows! We lived in the abandoned bus and drove it around town. There have been several mattresses (we found them in the garbage), our personal belongings, no less than a ton of different political literature, which we sold on the streets, and several baseball bats, designed for self-defense. We were able to park on certain streets at certain times, for example, in the afternoon we could find on the 2nd Avenue, where we usually sell literature. By 5 or 6 he had parked in another spot. Those who knew our schedule, they could easily find us, and because a visit there was no shortage. After 21 hours, we parked near the restaurant "Kiev". Even now, 15 years later, in this place sell radical literature, but few people know that we were the first began it's there to do.
I not only sell books, but also to earn a living doing earrings, and Miscellaneous other jewelry. With the 60-ies was a little bohemian street Market near Third Avenue, but when in the early 80's started gentrification areas (ie, reconstruction for yuppies), the owners of the shops have agreed with the police, and the latter began "cleansing", has put out the street vendors. We resisted. Many then were fined thousands of dollars, and once the police seized our bus and confiscated goods. We went to court. Radical lawyers (yes, there are some) have helped us, and though unable to legalize all street trading, Court ruled that police can not ban the sale of books on the streets, as this right is included in the first amendment to the constitution. Now in New York, many Unemployed sell books, because the only thing that can be sold on the streets without special permission. Sometimes we had a collision. For example, with people from the group "Women Against Pornography (for some reason they always put a tray next to ours). There were problems with the townsfolk. And not only outside our bohemian radical ghetto. Them, the townsfolk do not like the old yellow bus with the words "FUCK REAGAN" (Fuck Reagan). As I said, at night, we parked near the Restaurant Kiev. It was a strange area. Besides punks, there still lived the old Ukrainian reactionaries in the past undoubtedly associated with some nationalist organizations. We are not loved, because when the masses in the region began to settle punks out there to make life absolutely impossible. Once we had a report about Makhno, there came the elderly Ukrainians, and they boasted that at one time killed a lot of anarchists. A day at 4 o'clock in the morning we slept in the bus, when suddenly were awakened by a terrible crash. It was the Ukrainian "vanguard" (though they themselves are unlikely to know the word "vanguard"). They struck on the bus with baseball bats. Capturing our own beats, we jumped out (even in America these Ukrainians were sexist: in spite of everything, none of them wanted to fight me). Began to talk. "Why do you say" Fuck Reagan? "Are you Communists?" Go live in Russia! " (Typical advice radicals until the early 90's). It turned out they do not even like it to Reagan's policies, they just hate the Soviet Union. And they love Reagan because he also hates the Soviet Union. We explained to them that we do not share their love for Reagan, but here's to the Soviet system of government and Communist Party also refers, as they are. We were asked: "Why then did you not write" Fuck Andropov? " I took spray paint and a pleasure to write on the bus: "Fuck Andropov." This satisfied the Ukrainians, and they're gone. Some time later, Andropov died, but inscription on the bus was left, nobody was going to wash it, and we are often accused of necrophilia. Generally, when Reagan was president, we really did not like. We even got together to watch on TV of his speech, and usually all ended with the fact that the TV flew different subjects. Apparently, these actions strengthen our political solidarity. At the same time some of our left Nicaragua to live there and work. I decided to travel around the country.
We traveled lived in anarchist communes, we even organized a musical tour "Rock Against Racism." Now we had a "sound truck", without a roof and with powerful speakers. No problem, you had to arrange mobile concerts. One of these concerts (probably the coolest), held in Washington. The fact is that just at this time began a moral conservative jihad. Then-Secretary of the Interior James Watt decided that the musical group the Beach Boys "- in Russian -" Beach Boys " (Top American popsni) too dekadentna to speak at the annual concert on July 4. As a result, the concert raised the most boring singers, public only one could have imagined. But at the same time, we had a punk concert next to the official. Until now, I do not understand why the police, knowing about our music possible, allow us to do it. Maybe they do not like the official concert? Who knows. Anyway, everything turned out cool, we settled on the opposite edge of the official concert giant size and kerf technology at full capacity. A significant part hangouts soon flowed to us, people heard something unusual. We were such great bands like "Dead Kennedys", "Millions of Dead Cops", and many others. I must say that in my memory is still a great many conflicts related to the confrontation between police and the case was an exception to the rule. However, it was not only. A similar situation arose when we (ie the group of the New York Anarchist), campaigned for the expulsion from the town of former President Nixon.
Richard Nixon was probably one of the most hated figures in America. So even when he retired, we did not want to leave him alone, especially because of the events in Cambodia. Within a few years of our helovinskogo ritual was that we arrived at midnight to the house of Nixon in the state of New Jersey to throw back egg. For the first time we have done this operation (we are in this wildly screaming), Nixon almost had a heart attack. A year later, we all repeated, and again, unexpectedly for him (he obviously did not wait for us). But then he apparently realized that it was a ritual, and alone we still will not leave. Then Nixon decided that he no longer likes New Jersey, and what you need to move to New York. For us, New Yorkers, it was too much. Bourgeois has always complained about illegal immigrants from Haiti or the Dominican Republic, they say they clog New York, but we had a different opinion on this matter. We understand that Mr. Nixon, one of his the presence of spoil our beautiful city. And we decided to act. As a result, was held a small but very showy protest the company. Expected We here at that. If someone wants to buy an apartment in a cooperative house (namely, in a house and was going to settle our friend), he must get on consent of all tenants at a general meeting. This is usually a mere formality: the rich like the rich. But there are exceptions to the rules, for example, if we talking about some rock star, known for its outrageous behavior, a general meeting may be him (her) and refused. We managed to find time for which the assigned vote, and we have the authorities of his intention to hold a protest rally in front of future housing Nixon. Strange, but we got permission to conduct rally not only on the appointed day and hour, but at any time during the month - something quite unusual. It seems that even the police did not like the hero of Watergate. At the appointed day we came to the picket. Cops behaving very politely, and told anecdotes about Nixon and dissatisfied tenants were told that all laws. Near We stopped cars and drivers loudly criticized Nixon. The only people not supporting our action (here it is, a vivid example of the reality of class) were residents of this wealthy region. They were angry and tried to join with us in a confrontation (one redneck with a baseball bat trying to attack us), and demanded that the cops have been arrested. "We can not" - was the answer. In the end, came the director of the cooperative, and we told them that we have fun, that we come here every day, and that nothing here can not be helped. In the end, Mr. Nixon had to stay in New Jersey, the general assembly had refused him. Perhaps the people at home do not want Continuous scandals.
SKVOTTERSTVO
In the second half of the 70 years to create conditions favorable for skvotterstva. At this time the U.S. government pursued a policy, which resulted in major cities was a lot of vacant buildings. Contributing to higher prices of housing, the government sought to clean the city from the poor, preventing thus the emergence of "poverty zones" that could become centers of resistance. Yet skvotterskoe movement there was not just because it was very hard to create squats, especially if they have been politicized. Attempts to implement such projects are usually encountered strong resistance from the authorities and caused the repression. (In this regard we can recall the attack on the police squat movement "MOVE" in 1979 and 1983, resulting in killing people). Success or failure depended on many factors, such as the determination of squatters themselves, their willingness to resist and support squat on the side position of local authorities. Sometimes it is more successful than others, turned out to seizure of buildings in the suburbs: apparently, it is less irritating power. But, on the other hand, few people wanted to settle on the outskirts of cities, and besides, such squats harder to protect against "attack" the police. One of the currents of squatters - People 30-40 years, usually with higher education, has sought to negotiate with authorities to "mutually beneficial": you legalizuete us, and we promise to make repairs buildings, "bring" him up to a certain standard. But we must bear in mind that it could cost 20-40 thousand dollars per person. Cheap, of course, compared to the cost Apartments in New York, but many of these squatters had no money, but if they invested in the repair of less than required, they have had problems with the authorities. Generally speaking, the police sought, above all, clean politicized squats. Personally I have had several experiences with the occupation of buildings. In one of them man who owned a shop nearby (again, the Ukrainian reactionary) attacked my friend with an iron stick. Then, in another squat, we were all arrested the police, because someone killed ment nearby. In yet another squat where I lived for some time, steps had rotted to such an extent that sank under the feet. Squats can be in very poor condition of the building in the heart of the cities usually require major repairs - sometimes not even a roof, there were problems with water and electricity. Squatters have tried to repair cheaply. At construction sites could steal construction materials, furniture took a garbage (no need to think it was a bad furniture - the rich are often thrown in the trash a good thing). One of the most interesting squats, where I lived, was organized in the former brewery. We lived there in huge vats of beer. This squat prospered, mainly due to tourism, because there were so many stupid yuppies who wanted to look at such an unusual way of life for Americans, but we took from them an exorbitant price-per-view. Living there was interesting, most of the tenants were Musicians - fans of punk rock and almost all the time there were rehearsals. Shower, though, was the only one, on three floors, so that some live dirty, and some ... Well, in short, without any silly complexes. On the other hand, the U.S. general problems with water, water should be saving, so that from an environmental point of view, we were right.
One of the most difficult questions for anarchists involved in kommunarskih and skvotterskih projects, this is a question about relations with neighbors. There bukchinistskie fantasies about how the inhabitants of the neighboring houses are going to the municipal council, where they solve different problems related to their everyday life. In practice, however, it often happens that such associations tenants presence of radicals in the area is a problem, and residents, trying to solve this problem, go to the police. Of course, anarchists are different, there are more domestic, there are quite wild. Usually it is - a bunch of strange, freedom-loving thugs capable of quickly transform any home into a rather cheerful place. Naturally, the cops often visited by such places, and naturally that sort of thing act on the nerves of neighbors, whether bourgeois or working-class district. The greatest tolerance for anarchists often bohemian ghetto inhabitants, so many Anarchists seek to live it to the bohemian area. I personally think that kommunarskih projects (not necessarily skvotterskih) best prospects or in the bohemian area, or where people live, alienated from the system - poor workers or immigrants. If things go well, we can arrange the Communards food co-ops where people work voluntarily and sell products without expectation of profit, as well as various alternative projects: the library theaters, cafes, free kitchens for the poor and homeless. The latter should be discussed separately, in the U.S., many anarchists participate in such projects. I myself participated two - in San Francisco and New York. How it all done? Once we looked closely at the empty space and captured him. There was a small courtyard, where they put some Plants and called this place "La Plaza Culture" (later, though, cops it was destroyed). We organized there and alternative cuisine, the locals gave us utensils: plates, forks, knives. Every day, on duty in the kitchen went to the march for food shopping, where we took basically the old fruit and vegetables. Of course, we do not buy. In the United States and Canada can not sell these messy facial tomatoes (and other products), as in Russia, in stores they gave us nothing, so that we can was living on garbage bourgeois society. There were places where traders were sympathetic to us and gifts to fresh produce, something that brought the locals (Even including church leaders), and sometimes we rolled these feasts. In this case, we are constantly trying to make an impression on each other different culinary discoveries and the ability to make something out of nothing, there were days of experimental cuisine (it's happened every time we have provided to countries combination of ingredients, for example, only beans and peanut butter). We are proud of our kitchen, and soon it was possible to eat in the restaurant. Gradually, this kitchen has become a real rave center, we sought to politicize the poor, and explained to them the principles of self-organization and mutual aid, we wanted to make them proud themselves, but did not kill himself in drugs and alcohol. However, in the end, as I said earlier, police had closed the "La Plaza". But people continue the case in the squat at 13th Street. There were arranged accommodation, room for musical performances and rehearsals, and the kitchen, which is housed on the first floor. As before, had a lot of products, and in the dining room to eat anything they wanted. People came and went, those who could leave food or money (for money was a special cup, standing in plain sight). May ask - how is it that money lying around in plain sight, and yet you could go to anyone? It's no secret that the capitalist society (as well as "real socialism") brings people into the spirit of selfishness and mistrust. But my personal experience suggests that the more trust people participating the project alternatives, the better people behave (although, of course, and incidents).
how to react to what is happening our neighbors? But the fact that all the above events took place in the bohemian neighborhood. In addition, there lived poor immigrants and yuppies. These last were always great challenge for participants of alternative movements. Situation is as follows: costs only underground elements to settle in any place How to flock like flies to honey, bourgeois artists, attracted by the unusual atmosphere and cultural experiment, and followed them damned yuppies because they are so eager to be trendy! In turn, homeowners are realizing that now the district has become richer, raise rents and seek to clear it of radicals. However, some homeowners were liberals and not objected to our activities, some people even liked the stormy life. Others complained about the homeless, they were disgusted by the victims' capitalist humanism ", which as pleasant to look at home," Dynasty. " Where we have made the project "La Plaza", a local Council, which includes radicals, but most were ordinary people, they manipulated the local real estate dealer, who sought to turn the area a nice little cozy bourgeois nest, pre-survi out all those who do not fit into his ideas about American life. Sometimes The situation around squats was close to civil war. It is curious that among those who supported the squatters, there were some churchmen who rated our actions as a charity (incidentally, one of the most active initiators of squatting in New York was a former priest - pop-defrocked), and certainly not always our relations with neighbors were poor. This applies in particular to Philadelphia - "City of Brotherly Love, where the anarchist presence in selected field was very tangible and lasting. The main thing is to get acquainted with neighbors, to establish with them a strong friendly relations. In one New York area, where I lived, we even loved, because we provide people the services they provide that a municipality could not. Once we had a Saturday and clean the local park, where he arranged music concerts (no one would complain about punk music, if you pre-clean the park). Support for neighbors emerged spontaneously, when we cleared the local dump (we would like there to arrange a children's playground). People came and asked what they can help collect money to buy building materials. And when the deed was done, we really became friends with them. Helped us with food, the owner shops have opened for us the credit, discounts, and when we have a problem with the cops, all the inhabitants came running and chased the cops. Maybe they did not anarchists, but life in the region has clearly changed for the better.
SHARES
If you want to share, here, of course, there are so many opportunities. This could be a terrorist attack, a mass demonstration of protest, the orange campaign, an act of sabotage. Usually in motion a long time debating whether to make any shares and sometimes, unfortunately, it ends up that the action is reduced to a symbolic confrontation and did not give any results (I certainly do not mind confrontation, the question is how and why everything is done). It's one thing if the stock is able to draw public attention to this or that problem, if it encourages participants to continue the struggle, and another thing, when from the outset it is clear that no such will, and put only one goal: to demonstrate his coolness and safely undoing. Worst of all, when people come to share, just because they consider themselves bound to do it - a spectacle turns extremely tedious. Anarchists have always carried some kind of action: against different companies, politicians, religious fanatics and ultra novopravyh geeks. Most importantly, among the protesters had a good relationship: an informal fraternity is more important than formal structures, and all those who fancies themselves leaders, have time and do not hesitate to send on dick. Leaders always vyebyvayutsya. We must get rid of them - and the worse for those who are in them (the leaders) needs.
One of the most my first actions was a student strike (do not know what else to call it, in fact there were students, but in the Russian language is not appropriate for this case words; school strike?). Everything turned out quite spontaneously. Several people from different schools have decided to protest against budget cuts and wrote the leaflets, which circulated on the day in several schools. The following day, one and all students in these schools were scattered over the street, there were Thousands of people in different parts of New York have traffic jams. When all the protesters gathered on Wall Street, they were a formidable force primarily because they were set up quite drastically. We smashed police cars during the rally was blocked by the Brooklyn Bridge (many years later did the same activists Negro organizations). But one can argue about how good this tactic. Cops, for example, could easily encircle the bridge on both sides, and then the protesters would have hard times. Yes, of course, the mass protests in such places adversely affect the business and, therefore, very sensitive to it, but on the other hand, the partition off the streets - hence, interfere with the ordinary people (not just the rich) to get to their service or home. Here it is important that in such actions a lot of people get real, living experience of the confrontation the police and the state. Personally I am against of radical actions if you have no chance against the police and all participants will be automatically arrested. You can, of course, to avoid arrest, but still fun enough, but for this requires serious preparation and a developed imagination. Many times in my memory managed to get away from cops, because we knew how to better run the streets, knew the yards, porches. Or know at what point should disperse to, at least, not undoing all. Ments can be deceived, for example - "to lose consciousness." A good example of how the elements left in the cold can be regarded as occupation Tamkins Square Park in New York in which I was involved. We have set there huts and tents and began to live in them. All this fun lasted for several days. From the police barricades lay the fires, around which staged some wild dancing and cops are fed up. Caused a riot and we were shouting: "Riot" Riot! "RIOT!" From nearby houses rushed out a lot of people, and they immediately joined to us (an indication that it is such rebellious actions are most effective, while the majority of our shares which are not welcoming this support - not enough radical). Cops tried to find the ringleaders, but the crowd was thick and it was not easy to do. At this time we managed to get through to our friends, as well as to the media, and cause those and others at the scene. In short, the cops retreated, and a few more days, we lived in the park quietly.
Sometimes it happens that people just explode - in such cases are usually talking about revolt. Riots are different, I myself participated in one or two, which I do prefer not to remember. However, sometimes called the riots and the relatively small local clashes. For example, once I was in punk clubs, when he attacked the skins, there is a collision then continued for two weeks. I also remember the events in Oakland (California), it was a real national expropriation. It began with the fact that the entire city turned off the light. Residents took to the streets and started asking each other what to do. Someone suggested going into shops and take there is a candle, and suddenly discovered that the alarm does not work, and cops are occupied by different things and can do little. Began to loot shops, and in this attended by all, except, perhaps, believing Christians (who, even sex is not love) and the Stalinists (who prefer to solely sadomasochistic sexual relations). Actually eksy Stalinists like too, but only theoretically, because they fear the consequences. But when we initiate a true people's ex, it can not be stopped.
not need to explain how important it is for members of anarchist actions mass support. American anarchists have actively participated in anti-nuclear campaigns in which they collaborated with civil initiatives, with various leftist groups. So, as a result of mass protests population could prevent the launch of nuclear power plants in the New York area. They participated in other campaigns, for example, provided support to American Indians who are fighting against the state (a friend of mine, which supplied weapons to Indians got for it 25 years in prison), and student riots in protest against the direct action military offices, etc. But it is important not only to do the action, but also do civilian projects such as "Food Not Bombs" (the kitchen for the homeless) or recycling. Anarchists need to show all that they can not only revolt, but also work well together and do something useful.
FUTURE ANARCHISM
God knows what will happen to me in the future. I'm certainly not going to become normal philistine, but what awaits me? Will the revolution? Will I ever live without the possibility of restrictive framework of the System? I think that international capital has already established in the world such an order that the people now there are only two options: declare the System total war, or suffocate under its weight. Fuck knows how it all turn out, but it is hoped that most people still want to live with dignity and will to resist (though, in Russian, alas, the people are too patient). Sometimes it seems that traffic is already there, but every time there is something new and, after all, hope is alive and not die.
Laura Akai
defiance № 6, Summer 1997
God knows what will happen to me in the future. I'm certainly not going to get normal philistine, but what awaits me? Will the revolution? Will I ever able to live without the restrictive framework of the System? It seems to me that international capital has already established in the world such an order that the people now there are only two options: to declare a system of total war, or suffocate under its weight. Fuck knows how it all turn out, but it is hoped that most people still want to live with dignity and will to resist (Though, in Russian, alas, the people are too patient). Sometimes it seems that traffic is already there, but every time there is something new and, after all, hope to live and not die.
Лора АКАЙ
НАПЕРЕКОР № 6, лето 1997 г.
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