A Call to Vast Anarchist participation in A20-A21

by Groupe anarchiste Emile-Henry (NEFAC) Friday, Mar. 30, 2001 at 7:24 PM
emile.henry@sympatico.ca

We call on anarchists of all inclinations to come and spoil the fun of these so-called leaders by participating in the actions of April 20th (A20) within the framework of the Carnival of resistance to capitalism and to form with us an anarchist contingent within the vast unitary rally that will take place the following day (A21)...

Let's form affinity groups for April 20th !

Let's unite into a single anarchist contingent on April 21st !

Qu ec City- In April 2001, 34 heads of state will penetrate Québec City forcefully with the blunt fantasy of sowing their brawny and bigamist "free"-trade all over the Americas. Worried that they might contract the virus of radical protest, these profitmongers will wrap themselves up in a great big Frost fence whose erection will be well lubed by hundreds of cops...

In fact, the Free-Trade Agreement of the Americas(FTAA) to be negociated at this summit is just another way for capitalism to rape our rights and our lives with impunity. We call on anarchists of all inclinations to come and spoil the fun of these so-called leaders by participating in the actions of April 20th (A20) within the framework of the Carnival of resistance to capitalism and to form with us an anarchist contingent within the vast unitary rally that will take place the following day (A21)... Together, we will soften their hard-ons!

To participate actively in the day of action on April 20th (A20)-organized by the Convergence of Anticapitalist Struggles(CLAC) and the Summit of the Americas Welcoming Committee(CASA)- is for us the time to deploy a determined resistance in the face of the state and capitalism, resistance that has respect for and solidarity with a diversity of tactics. Wishing to respect what each person can and wants to do, we're not calling for any particular tactic. We instead count on the strong creativity that the anarchist movement offer's.

Besides CLAC and CASA, many groups are calling for marches, actions, teach-ins, etc. during the Summit of the Americas, but the majority of these events will proceed within a legal and reformist framework -- most often with the authorization of the powers-that-be or limited to non-violent civil disobedience. It goes without saying that these groups do not represent our political ideals, nor our vision of the struggles that tend towards these ideals. While remaining sympathetic to these groups (assuming they do not try to "neutralize potential vandals..."), it is necessary for us to promote a profoundly anti-autoritarian and anticapitalistic analysis, using our own tactics.

The anarchist contingent of the unitary rally on April 21st (A21) will be an opportunity for anarchists to shout loudly and proudly into the face of this world that we do not plan on leaving our present and our future in the hands of capitalism, whether or not it wears over its vicious maw the "human" mask that so many opponents demand.

We shall respect the spirit and parameters of this rally, organized by various unions, NGO's, popular groups, womens groups and student associations: unless attacked by the police or security forces, which could require us to defend ourselves, we shall remain non-violent during this event. On the day of April 21st, our idea is not to divide the movement or to provoke it; it is for libertarian tendencies to deploy and make themselves as visible as possible. Invisible to the concentration of indigestible bourgeois media that always diverts to its advantage attacks on the foundations of the capitalist system, but directly visible for the people with us in the street (or, beyond that, to a few truly alternative journalists).

However, our ideology will not compromise and there is no way reformist forces will succeed in rehabilitating our mobilisation. Therefore we hope for a large and noisy anarchist contingent in the image of our movement's diversity. Let us know of your eagerness to take to the streets with us as soon as possible...Your imagination and your anticapitalist desires are most welcome.

Liberty, solidarity, love and rage!

Signatories (as of march 28th 2001):

Individual members of the North-Eastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists (NEFAC)

Groupe Anarchiste Émile-Henry (NEFAC- Québec)

Groupe Anarchiste Main Noire (Supporter NEFAC- Montréal)

Roundhouse (NEFAC- Baltimore)

Sabate Anarchist Group (NEFAC- Boston)

Barricada (Supporter NEFAC- Boston)

Brighter days (Lansing)

[ for any questions or to endorse this call, contact the Emile-Henry anarchist group, . Journalists, however, can go to hell... ]

Original: A Call to Vast Anarchist participation in A20-A21