Genoa - Ashamed of the Left: A Black BLoc Perspective

by Lynx Saturday, Aug. 04, 2001 at 6:56 PM
circlealpha@yahoo.com

A criticism of many of the Reformist/Marxist organizations on the left an their complete lack of solidarity with the Anarchists who founded the anti-globalization movement.

Once again, the police beat us, torture us, imprison us, molest us, and now kill us - and meanwhile all hear from the Left is the same old tired rhetoric about "peaceful protest," "nonviolence," and the "mindless desruction caused by the Black Bloc"

I am a Black Bloc Anarchist. One of many thousands. I do not speak for anyone other than myself, but please hear me regardless: I am at this moment ashamed to be part of the "anti globalisation" movement, and not because of the actions of police who infilitrated the Bloc in Genoa - that is a sign of our effectiveness - I am ashamed to be part of an umbrella movement that would allow the state and the police to divide it so easily and sell out some of its most dedicated fighters.

good protestor, bad protestor - good cop bad cop.

either way the state trys to play us off against each other, to divide us, to make us weaker.

At this point it seems certain that there were neo-fascists and undercover cops actively infilitrating the black bloc and doing most - if not all - of the damage against small buisinesses. They could have just as easily infilitrated and discredited the white overalls or the neo-hiipies or the commies or any other group, it could just as easily be you geting fingers pointed in your face and being blamed for not being organized enough or being "violent." And, if they thought you were a big enough threat to bother with, they would have done exactly that.

The Black Bloc comes under fire because we are not just another group of protestors, we are Revolutionaries who are engaged in a war for the survival of our planet and our class. We will, and do, actively work with others, going so far as to put our bodies in between the police and the "nonviolent" protestors who they are attempting to beat. We have done this time and time again. Left-reformists criticize us for not participating in the planning of these demonstrations. What you do not realize is that oftentimes many of the people who laid the groundwork for those demos, the people in whos homes you stay, the people who dumpsterdive and steal the food you eat - are Black Bloc Anarchists. You do not recognize us behind our masks, and you don't bother to question your predjudices long enough to try.

Time and again you - who talk so loudly about "diversity" and "democracy" have ridiculed us, criticized us, attacked us through both the mainstream and radical press; and we forgive you for your shortsightedness and still put our bodies between you and the police who would harm you. We Are not only a valid integral part of this movement, but our participants are among those who laid it's foundation. You stand on our shoulders and spit on us, just like the corporate politicians you claim to oppose.

I am tired of being labeled ignorant and "angry" by people who should by all accounts be my comrades. You discredit yourselves, your organizations, and our movement when you attack us out of your fear and ignorance.

Solidarity is our strength, and you are throwing it away.

All Power to the People!
Lynx
(your friendly neighborhood Anarchist)