About 50-60 people showed up to the Flag Day Anarchist Benefit Show at the Long Beach Infoshoppe on June 14th. The event kicked off around 9pm, the first band "Yukon Ho" played and all seemed to be running smoothly. About 30 minutes later the second band was about to play when an armada of cop cars swarmed into the parking lot down the street. A few people, (including myself) went to go check what the problem was. As we got into the parking lot we noticed 5 cop cars and 8 PIGS who began walking towards us as they were headed for the Infoshoppe. As the pigs began their march down the side walk in a singlefile line towards the Infoshoppe we stood outside the door waiting to see what the problem was. A few of us stood outside the door and the pig in front of the line asked us who the owner was. We told him the infoshoppe is collectively run, and no single person owns it. The pig then asked to speak to who ever was in charge. We told him a group of us were responsible and that if he wanted to speak with us, we rather him speak with our group. The pig then got in our faces, then got into another persons face and told him he had to come with them as he was now being detained for "loud music" (no music was playing at this point). Two officers grabbed both of his arms and escorted him to the parking lot where the rest of the squad cars were parked. I asked the pigs why they came and they said "it was a noise complaint". I asked them specifically who complained because we had checked with the local neighbors before the show and they said it would be fine. The pigs told me they didn't have that type of information and didn't know who the "complaint" was from. Once the pigs escorted the individual to the parking lot, they ordered him to put his hands on the hood of a police car. People came outside and began to stand from an observing distance video taping and taking pictures. About 30 people stood outside observing as they chanted, "stop police harassment! stop police harassment!". Onlookers in the Albertson's supermarket and the laundry came outside to observe the harassment as several more PIG cars began arriving. By this time there were about 10-15 pigs on the scene. The pigs threatened the individual for "spitting on the sidewalk", and "inciting a riot" because of the people who had assembled from an observing distance. Finally after getting all his information they let him go without any citations and told him to "turn the music down". The police then quickly left as they probably realize their intimidation tactics were not working. Despite the harassment, the show attempted to continue on as the second band, "Cuauhtemoc" began to play their set. 2 pigs then came back and attempted to walk into the Infoshoppe as they opened the front door. They said a "crime was being committed" as the music needed to stop. Disappointed, the music had to be discontinued. However, things didn't completely stop there. June 14th was flag day therefore the flag burning session in the back officially began. A good bonfire of flags were burned to celebrate the new transformation of Flag Day.

We will we no longer fly the american flag, unless it's in flames. The flag burning represents a form of protest against the daily wars this country wages against people of the world, including people here in the U.S. With the 1.5 million innocent women, children, and men murdered in Iraq, to the recent thousands in Afghanistan, Palestine, to Indochina, Colombia, to the streets of Los Angeles were police gun down our brothers and sisters in the streets, and harass, beat, raid, and incarcerate those for their political beliefs. This is a war, and we refuse to fly a flag that has waged war against us, unless it's in flames!

That the police acted as responsible reasonable law enforcement officials. I know you were HOPING for a Chicago 1968 scene.

So if the US is the evil empire, which governments do you think we should be emulating????

I prefere no government. And actually, the police violated their own laws that night. Especially when they attempted to gain entry to a premesis without a warant. But of course we shouldn't complain because this actually wasn't illegal, everything is "legit" under the badge in a police state. They do what they want when they want. They follow their own jurisdiction, it's obviously a "know your enemy" situation of warfare. We're forced to recognize their authority otherwise we pay the consiquences. They obviously don't like us, therefore we obviously don't like them. Know your enemy.

The Long Beach Police department is one of the worst in the country. At the same time when we go about doing our daily things in trying to change the society in which we live, we must know our limits and when not to exceed them. By painting everything in pictuires of black and white and not allowing there to be any gray you make yourself to be in dangerous situations. We must not assume that we possess absolute knowledge of the right soceity by pointing out the many faults of the government imposed upon us and not offering any kind of alternative, except for no government. I have become disillusioned with many young activists who want to abolish the state and then they go out and do these things such as burning the flag. It really isolates your position when you do this sort of thing, especially when there is no offering of why you are burning the flag to passers by, they just believe you to be reckless youth.

I have been in the same position and continue to be in the position. I am upset at the many things that this government has done in the name of people despite what it professes to believe, the idea of equality, freedom and democracy has rung hollow for many years. I think we should also all take a look at ourselves and the actions that we have done in the past and how we are fighting, do we all tell the truth when it comes to tell it or do we glaze it over for the sake of our argument because we believe we hold the absolute knowledge??

wah wah. The Long Beach Police are one of the worst in the country. Wah wah.

They got a noise complaint.

They asked to speak to the person in charge.

They get a wise ass "this is a collective". Right out of a Monty Python movie.

They leave with no arrests, no beatings, no macing.

And you just wanna cry about how oppressive the US is.

You're so full of crap.

Travel this wide world. Try blasting music in the middle of the night in Saudi.

They'll stone you at dawn.

You think you're "Indy" policitics would win you in friends with that radical militant Islamic crowd?

No, pal. They want you're ass at the bottom a pile of rubble along with the rest of us.

Grow up and join the fight or we might all wind up there.

I haven't been down to the info-shop, but from what I've heard, it sounds like you guys are really creating a space to feel free to dissent and theorize alternatives to the current capitalist system--chanelling angst and alienation into discussion and discussion into action. The police are afraid and will try to shut yall down, but don't give up! Continue to build a community of autonomy and resistance! Use the info shop as a base for direct action in the community--to change society for the better--as a platform to get people involved in concrete steps to change the situation. It is important to build support among the community and other organizations to provide a united front against escalating police repression. they'll try to discredit you all in the eyes of your neighbors as a bunch of rabel rousing kids-don't let them-keep spreading the message--build support with mainstream community organizations- oh yeah Im up in ventura how can we get involved?

Solidarity and Struggle,

dwlb

I haven't been down to the info-shop, but from what I've heard, it sounds like you guys are really creating a space to feel free to dissent and theorize alternatives to the current capitalist system--chanelling angst and alienation into discussion and discussion into action. The police are afraid and will try to shut yall down, but don't give up! Continue to build a community of autonomy and resistance! Use the info shop as a base for direct action in the community--to change society for the better--as a platform to get people involved in concrete steps to change the situation. It is important to build support among the community and other organizations to provide a united front against escalating police repression. they'll try to discredit you all in the eyes of your neighbors as a bunch of rabel rousing kids-don't let them-keep spreading the message--build support with mainstream community organizations- oh yeah Im up in ventura how can we get involved?

Solidarity and Struggle,

dwlb

the LB infoshoppe is a collective...

a wise ass remark would be "the president of our infoshoppe is jet setting around, and is currently in sweden, we can try her cell phone if youd like..."

i agree with many gripes against the local anarchist movement, i am a part of it, but at least have some decent arguement, like Bbop.

regards-

"They get a wise ass "this is a collective". Right out of a Monty Python movie"

I haven't been down to the info-shop, but from what I've heard, it sounds like you guys are really creating a space to feel free to dissent and theorize alternatives to the current capitalist system--chanelling angst and alienation into discussion and discussion into action. The police are afraid and will try to shut yall down, but don't give up! Continue to build a community of autonomy and resistance! Use the info shop as a base for direct action in the community--to change society for the better--as a platform to get people involved in concrete steps to change the situation. It is important to build support among the community and other organizations to provide a united front against escalating police repression. they'll try to discredit you all in the eyes of your neighbors as a bunch of rabel rousing kids-don't let them-keep spreading the message--build support with mainstream community organizations- oh yeah Im up in ventura how can we get involved?

Solidarity and Struggle,

dwlb

Would just like to voice my agreement with Bbop. Burning flags is a pretty worthless gesture. It seems more like fratboy good-times than a strong political statement. Remember that a lot of the people that live in Long Beach, especially truck workers, port workers etc. have a lot of faith in the Red, White and Blue just at face value. It is the job of the Anarchists to show the farce of the flag through propaganda, direct action and ultimately workable revolution against this kingdom they call a democracy. Burning the flag means nothing and is just a reciprocation of MTV-echoed shock tactics. I'm sure Rob Zombie or some other titan of meaninglessness does similar acts of "anti-americanism" but the truth is that we love America (the land we live in), we just demand justice and equality of access against the hopeless future of ecological terrorism, government and capitalism. So we are American Anarchists against the government of America. Until the seperation between America and "the government of America" is effected, the Long Beach Infoshop will ghettoize itself into an image of rebellion instead of what we need, rebellion.

Long live Anarchy,

Sk!

Don't go around comparing contexts. I could just as easily tell you to "shut the fuck up and stay in your place b----" because in some places, they'd stone you and cut off your clit for just existing.

What do you want? Resignation to permanent oppression, or liberation?

You go around trivializing the LB anarchists experiences as childish, but they're being put in jail as adults, and being demonized in the media as dangerous and chaotic. Numerous people not directly connected to the infoshop have verified -- based on what they've seen at demos and events -- that it's the Police, not the youth, that are the problem.

The LB Infoshop anarchists are sometimes their worst spokespersons. They're more than a little paranoid, and hypersensitive to the police. But look at the situation --

- dozens have been arrested, most have had the charges dismissed or reduced, or plead out

- three of their friends are in prison

- they operate classes and community projects, and feel they are creating positive changes in society

- the LB PD have a reputation for harassment and violence

Add these things up. They're being abused, and ignored. The LBPD activity *feels* like an abuse of power against people who criticize the police.

First, they'll eliminate the rowdy critics... Next, they'll silence the polite ones.

There's nothing wrong with burning the american flag. It makes a terrific statement. The american flag is the most commonly burned flag in the world. Why is that so? Maybe it's because the united states military expenditures exceed the top 12 military expenditures of the world, and are more than a 3rd of all put together. Russia has the second largest military expenditures which are 68 billion - The united states military expenditures are 600 billion. Maybe people burn the flag because they've been born into a war of police gunning down their family and loved ones, harasing and living a 3rd of their life under the incarceration of the U.S corporate prison industrial complex. Maybe people burn the flag because they've had to watch the assassination of their culture so a bunch of white crackers can stuff their pockets with blood money. Maybe people burn the flag because U.S bombs have killed their entire families and turned their villages into complete waste lands. Maybe people get fed up with having to barrie the body pieces of their loved ones who've been murdered in cold blood by the united states. Maybe people get fed up with seeing U.S troops being stationed all over the world. Maybe that young Iraqi child realizes the only reason why he's still alive is only because someone has decided to let him live. With over half a million children murdered in Iraq by U.S sanctions so amerikkka's oil corporations can profit off the suffering and devistation of peoples lives all over the world. Maybe people burn the flag because they're fed up with this countries capitalist economy which is upheald by prisons, drugs, oil and WAR. america is the only country on earth with a WAR party. Maybe people burn the flag because america uses violence against the rest of the world to enforce it's own interests. america is the most violent empire in the history of 'man-kind'. There isn't a single contintent the united states hasn't fucked with. The body count is visible proof. The people in Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Colombia, Argentina, Guatamala, El Salvador, Congo, Nigeria, Chili ..etc. are living proof, just as the millions currently locked up in amerikkkas prison industrial complex. Just as the hundereds of thousands of youth on the streets of LA to NY who are explioted, beat, and murdered by fascist pigs. They are living examples of a war being waged against you and me. That's why people burn the flag. In any other country it would be called a war. You didn't see the jews fly hitlers flag. Why should people fly amerikkkas.

The pledge is an act of suicide.

the issue here is repression.. who were the people at the lb infoshop hurting? no one. they even said the neighbors were ok with the music. its obvious they put a stop to the event because of what it stood for. and that doesnt sound like an equal free society to me.

I do not think I am disagreeing with what anyone has said on this but I am questioning what is the purpose of burning the flag? Does it give you a great feeling? DOes it give you a sense of vindication and does burning the flag really stop the United States government from doing anything whatsoever? What does it accomplish? That is like throwing rocks through one coporate dirtbags windows, it does not do much of anything. Everyone has the right to express their opinion all I am saying is that someone might think that flag stands for democracy, and freedom, we know it does not but why do think the United States military wraps itself in it? Because it is a symbol that is supposed to stand for that even though it does not. Maybe we should take the flag back, turn it upside down and say look you are messed up as this flag looks because this flag is not being used for what it stands for.

I do think in some way it seems that we are being juvenile and sitting there like Beavis and Butthead saying "Burn, Burn" I much rather express my hate in words and actions that achieve some constructive change than by sitting by and burning a misrepresented symbol that has many different meaning to many different people.

Burning the flag serves as a political statement. If it didn't then people wouldn't burn it. Burning a flag all by yourself doesn't do much, but you burn it with groups of people and it's an act of protest, especially when the pigs know about it, and news media is there and pictures are taken. It's also fun to burn american flags. It's an act of celebration.

A few things.

1) According to flag mythology, burning an American flag is the only appropriate thing to do when the flag gets dirty. You aren't supposed to wash it. Personally, I think that would be a fun political statement, a couple dozen protesters with washtubs and soapy water scrubbing some flags at a protest.

2) Many people have different takes on the flag. I spoke to one woman some years back who had devled into the symbolism of the American flag, and it was her conclusion that to many, the flag represents the bodies of dead soldiers. Therefore, as the remains of the dead (especially dead "heroes"), they deserved to be treated with respect. In this circumstance, burning the flag is seen as desecration of human remains.

On the other hand, most rebel dissident folks seem to see the flag as the betrayal of all the things that the flag is supposed to stand for. Most of us agree with the alleged principles of the US: justice, freedom, equality. And we see the flag as a symbol of the nation's hypocrisy.

3) Reading about the LBPD since the disastrous May Day protest, it's my interpretation that the cops are not out to repress the LB anarchists or neutralize them as a political force. I doubt they even know what political position you represent. I think that the LBPD simply see the anarchists as a gang, like the Crips or the Bloods. You're dangerous, and anything legal, quasi-legal, or illegal that they can do to disrupt your activities is "protecting the community."

It is still ridiculous for the LBPD to put a spin on leftist

activists as a gang; another excuse for oppressing them.

By that token, the CIA (selling drugs in South Central),

the NRA (weapons proliferation), and the Cops themselves

(shooting unarmed civilians) are "dangerous gangs." Yes,

the anarchists may be passionately overzealous, but that

is their right as citizens of this country. Just like

Americans who passionately support the murder of civilians in Afghanistan or Israel.

The US flag is just a rag with blue, red, and white

markings on it. It does not breathe nor live like human

beings do, so give me a break with all the whiny

patriotic rhetoric. People need to invest more in their

lives and not material objects, regardless of their symbolism.

If anything the flag represents the genocide of my people

in the southwest.

ALL YOU ARE TO THIS MAN IS

ASS TO PIMP ON THE STEET

JOIN A COLLECTIVE TODAY!!!!!!

What kind of Communist, un-American BS are you guys putting out? Many thousands of Americans have died protecting the rights and privledges you now hold dear.

And then to advocate burning the American flag? As a former Marine I find this both repugnant and offensive. I'll wager no-one on your staff has even served their country in any capacity. Just a bunch of whiners and complainers. In some small way I feel sorry for you.

Fist of all, just because you disagree with america and burn it's flag doesn't automatically make you a communist. So take your post cold-war Mcartherysm someplace more relevant. I'd think you could come up with a better argument than the same old contagious amercanist indoctrinated bullshit. Anything even remotely questioning the policies of the united states is automatically labeled an "EVIL COMMUNIST!" - oh, but now these day's they call you a terrorist. Secondly, the united states military has never protected you, me or anyone else except for the small handful of rich capitalist elitists who murder with the stroke of a pen. In america the only rights you have are the rights you can buy. america is the perfect example of a plutocracy. Wealth dominates this country, it dominates all aspects of this country and every clitch and nitch of this corrupt government. Wealth dominates the judicial system, the legislative system, the executive system and you know it. All these different fractions of the system together make up it's WAR PARTY. The war party is a single party given two scapegoat names, "democrat" or "republican". The two parties in reality work as a single party under the CIA to advance U.S interests into covert wars throughout Latin America, the Middle East, and every other place you can point to on the globe. People burn your flag because your flag is a symbol of oppression. It's not a symbol of freedom. It's a symbol of a systematic neo-liberal imperialist empire that has slaughtered more people and destroyed more culture than any other form of government in the history of man kind. The american flag is a symbol of oppression. You didn't see the Jews flying hitlers flag, so why in the world do you expect people to fly america's. To you the flag may represent the U.S soldiers who died "defending" your country. To everyone else it resembles the flag that killed their children, friends and families. People in the 3rd world are living proof of the oppression your flag represents. For those of them still alive, they are the survivors of your brutal imperialist wars. From Iraq, to Iran, Palestine, Congo, Venezuela, Nigeria, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Argentina, Cheklosovakia, Colombia, Panama, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brazil to right here in the united states, your country has made it obvious that it's interests are to manifest it's capitalist system by means of military violence, and if people disagree then they will be killed. I believe the body count speaks for it's self. U.S soldiers didn't die defending that flag, they died because of that flag. And as if they deserve to be treated more "important" than the people they killed, because they're not. The media chooses to glorify every single american death in every war. Every time a child is killed no one gives a fuck. but when a U.S soldier dies the media goes on an all out patriotic orgy. american lives are the only ones precious, the only lives that mean anything. This is nothing but to build public support out of deceptive and manipulative propaganda. The government does it every time, in every war, in every situation. The CIA created deceptive propaganda in Vietnam to elicit fear into northern Vietnamese in order to build public support from the american public. They did the same with Panama as they used one of their biggest drug smuggling clients, Noriega as an excuse to Invade Panama with absolutely overwhelming force, kill thousands of innocent civilians, and install a new puppet regime so U.S interests could further advance into the drug smuggling regions of Latin America in order for the CIA to ship tons heroine back into the U.S so they could naturalize our communities. And yes, it's happening every day as you sit there and fly your flag with passion, obsessing over how your soldiers fought to protect the very people your country is brutalizing, exploiting, murdering and repressing. The only thing your precious marines protect is the corporate interests of americas plutocratic racist war party. This country was founded on a war party, and has continued the growth of it's manifest destiny since the day it was established. The forms of manifest destiny still exist today in the new world under the IMF, FTAA, NAFTA, WTO... These are the very symbols of oppression, and obvious symbols of war. Now of course they didn't come out and say, "we officially declare war". Because they didn't officially "declare war" our native ancestors either. They just wiped them off the face of the continent. They didn't officially "declare war" on black people, they put them in shackles and chains, and took 'em over here on slave ships. Today they still haven't declared any "official war" as black people make up the majority population in the prison industrial complex. They didn't declare any "official war" in Vietnam nor Cambodia when they dropped a bomb per person. They didn't declare any "official war" in the 60's and 70's when the CIA/FBI's Cointelpro set out to neutralized the revolutionary Black Panther communities, and american Indian movement. Nor have they declared any "official war" as they continue to gun down our brothers and sisters in the streets in Los Angeles to New York. But they're sure waging a war. They wage war on us every single day, and they've been doing so since the day they founded this corrupt nation they force us to pledge allegiance to.

America was founded on theft, slavery, rape and genocide. The Jews didn't fly the flag that killed their people, so why should I fly yours. Flying the american flag as a symbol of "freedom" is trying to legitimize the falsehood of white supremacy that this nation was founded on.

america hasn't granted us any rights. The only rights we have in america is the right to remain silent, and anything we do or say can be used against us in the court of law. Just because this country has a fancy little constitution doesn't mean we're some pretty free country. A piece of paper isn't shit. The constitution was clearly written to indict a false sense of security into your average joeblow american. It creates a norm of complacency forcing people to recognize the authority, and obey the legitimacy of a system that is oppressing them. Today we have statues of Lincoln sitting right in front of the Long Beach police department, and a block away from the Long Beach jail. Gee, is that surprising?.. Perhaps not.

The only rights you have in america are the rights you seize. The black panthers demonstrated that very well. Also did the black liberation army who refused to put their arms down, refusing the authority and dynamics of a corrupt legitimacy that was responsible for over 400 years of oppression of their people.

Burning the american flag is a statement that's made every day, and all over the world. If you don't like it then maybe you should reconsider the price your starbucks, SUV's, and stupid fucking sitcoms are worth, because as of now your flag clearly states it's worth the destruction and devastation of peoples lives elsewhere... otherwise people wouldn't burn your flag! Oh but gee! Everybody loves america! I guess that's why america is the only country that has to have "flame proof" flags which aren't even made in the usa!

I'm sick of "activists" dictating to other "activists" on how to be an activist. That's bullshit.

Art and symbolism are some of the most powerful tools we have. So what if it's not original to burn a flag. If that's what people feel compelled to do - it's a beautiful thing. Art police and activist police are talking shit. People burn flags because they're so sick of this flag symbol being shoved down our throats for the last ten months. If we don't comment on this overt propaganda, we're being passive - we're condoning the propaganda. It's obvious that the U.S.A. is becoming more and more like Nazi Germany every day. The Yankee swastika is everywhere. And if people feel it in their hearts to burn it up, how can you criticize that

healthy reaction?

Activism does not have to always be sophisticated,intellectual, LACE gallery, Chomsky-style, Z magazine brand. Art and symbolism and pure emotion should have a place to flourish-and I'm all for the infoshop because I can see that it's one of the few places where that can happen.

I'm a woman of African descent, and my ancestors were slaves in this country. I am also I woman of Jewish descent, and this country's government and corporate business leaders worked in collusion with the nazis. I have now loyalty to the flag. Sure, my family was part of the civil rights movement. So what. It still doesn't change the fact that this is STILL a racist, extremely dangerous, genocidal government. Patriotic propaganda opens the floodgates to all new kinds of discrimination. Our government wants to hypnotize us with its gaudy colors and distract us from the ugly scapegoating and mass murder it has made an American tradition. And I'm not a pessimist. I continue to resist, every day. A lot of us are resisting, and when people try to make a hierarchy of activism, art, and social behavior, they fit right in to the current fascist status quo.

You forgot your comma, Tank.

If you have to pull out Saudi Arabia to justify police abuses- your arguement is in trouble. Tell me, wah wah, are you from Orange County or just planning to move there?

If burning the flag helps your struggle against tyranny and inhumanity then burn it. If it makes you feel good to burn a symbol of oppression and injustice and you feel that it communicates to others then do it.

Be prepared to explain it though. "wah wah" obviously is either insincere and is `red baiting' y'all or else he really does believe that there something beautiful about a piece of cloth that represents the murder of civilians for profit.

Personally I'm not prepared to burn a flag in many circumstances because of the possibility that someone that might be convinced (eventually) that it's a good thing will possibly react negatively and emotionally to it and shut their ears.

I may very well be wrong though. There's a great possibility that someone like that is just not reachable.

Keep doing what you guys are doing, but look out for yourselves: the fascists are all around you.

You go, anarchies!!

a flag is simply a symbol of war, all flags of every country. that is just simple fact, yes they can display a nationality but in doing so stats that i am from here or here for some reason that is not by human nature relative to any individual.