SF Anarchist Bookfair decides to compete with anti-war anniversary again in 2007

Personally, I love anarchists;
(and I'm no fan of ANSWER).

However, I'm pissed off
at the anarchist book-fair organizers.
They should have moved the bookfair
to another weekend.

In 2006, I noticed this conflict,
but I hoped it was merely a mistake.
Like, maybe the bookfair had a long-term contract with the City
( as ownerof the venue); or some similar problem.
So I hoped they would avoid making the same mistake
in 2007.

As for the 2007 bookfair,
I can't see any excuse.

The bookfair could easily be shifted by one week.
There's no way to change
the anniversary of the invasion;
since that's based on an historical event.

I hope the bookfair committee
will act more
ethically
in 2008.

-- former anarchist;
and still friendly to the anarchist communities

The Bookfair is listed as a two day event. How many days is the antiwar event?

Before panicking and giving in to the troll, think about it.

Speaking strictly for myself, I expect to participate in BOTH, no conflict.

See 'ya there

For those of us who tend to table at the Book Fair its not that easy. For large groups with a lot of peopel willing to table I guess there isnt a conflict but for smaller groups its hard to have a table at both events. For people who dont table, there is the issue of what speakers will be at the time of the antiwar protests and if everyone is acrosss town during their times at the mic thats a bit ugly... the Book Fair also prevents active Anarchist Contingents .... pluswho wants to commit to pay for a table and then have to be doing jail support while selling books etc...

Im guessing the antiwar protest wont be large since radicals seem to have tired of the war (even as the mainstream public is starting to care about it more and the numbers of Iraqis getting killed was higher this year than in all previous years combined). Not sure why... but having the BookFair at the same time both speaks to the out of touchness of many radicals who seem to see radical antiwar actions (remember Direct Action to Stop The War and AntiWar Action?) as dated as well as to the increasing divisions the right has helped create among those opposed to the war.

Well, anti-war rallies are like buses- you miss one, theres another in a few minutes. World can't wait does em, ANSWER does 'em, and United for Peace and Justice does 'em.
Do you wonder why attendence is slipping?
i'd like to see some of the energy and creativity we see in the Bay area go towards something a little different than yet another walk down Market Street.

There hasn't been a large antiwar demo in SF for awhile. An anniversary of the war starting protest could be big unless most activists are just tired of the war since its no longer hip to be antiwar since its become too mainstream....

"i'd like to see some of the energy and creativity we see in the Bay area go towards something a little different than yet another walk down Market Street."

How about a book sale? That's energetic and different. Books are this newfangled thing that will change the world. The way towards revolution is for us to all go home and read books about the glory days of anarchists in the Spanish Civil War. If we read hard enough then all wars and capitalism will crumble.

The same old musical-chair rotation of "radical" celebrity speakers. Yeah, that's different. But wait, the anti-war marches have speakers too, so it's not so different.

Does anyone else here think that a bookfair member is already here, anonymously, speaking down "walks" while disengenuously attempting to make book fairs seem like a beacon of energy and creativity they certainly are not?

Personally, I think both book fairs and anti-war events have their place, but it is just counterproductive of the bookfair committee to schedule their event this way. Bad for anti-war activists and bad for anarchists. That weekend belongs naturally to anti-war activities. Let them have it. Book fairs can be scheduled any other time of the year. It is deliberate and it is an ugly move by its planners.

how does that happen? did you find God? did 9/11 'change everything'? what?

actions that make anarchists seem small-minded and self-obsessed, guaranteeing themselves little to no effect on the world outside of their ideologically pure and clique-ish collectives

maybe the commenter still agrees with some anarchist concepts but has merely abandoned the strictures and accoutrements of the Bay Area anarchist status quo, still prays but left the church so to speak

perhaps he/she is a communist now, or a democrat or green, or simply eschews labels, branding, and cliques all together


at any rate, it's irrelevant to the topic here which seems to be the Bookfair folks accounting for their decision to compete with anti-war events and what they perceive the benefits in doing so are for anarchism, the bookfair, the anti-war struggle, or the larger society

The Book Fair is still a ways away and I doubt the space has been paid for yet. While there was a lot of bad blood stirred up last year about the conflicting timings this year that can be addressed if the Book Fair were to just change the date by one week. In terms of rescheduling the antiwar protest its unclear to me that one is even scheduled yet and would be great if groups critical of ANSWER could step foward and help organize the protest since with ANSWER financial problems its unclear to me they can do what they have done in the past anymore/

actually, having the bookfair during the same weekend is probably a good idea, as any large, mass event (assuming it happens, of course, after all, isn't it a little presumptious to attack people for preparing and scheduling an event because it would conflict with something that may or may not happen?), or even several smaller events, would bring people into the City who could thereafter go over to the bookfair

and, isn't the idea of segregating the bookfair from antiwar actions a little odd? or, am I incorrect in the notion that a prominent feature of the bookfair will be speakers, books and materials that place the war in an anticapitalist framework?

in other words, it's a false boundary, a manufactured separation, and suggests that the organizers of any antiwar protests (which, as I mentioned, haven't happened yet) have some proprietary interest in the calendar, and have some right to decide what other events are and are not consistent with their protest, a right to which the rest of us should deferentially accept

I'm wondering if the real issue is a Marxist versus anarchist one, with the Marxists resentful that the anarchists aren't going to let them have the stage to themselves

It's a two day event this year. That is great because there were so many people to catch up with that you didn't want to join the soccer game or see speakers because then you couldn't get to all the tables. It is sort of stuffed in the building too, if you didn't notice last year. There was no room to move at all.
Also, perhaps the room was booked for flower shows during the other weekends. Did you think of that?

I want to table at both events and would if they didnt conflict. I guess I can go the the Book Fair one day the the protest the other day but the conflicting time seems to be whats the issue since either the bookfair will have a really slow afternoon or it will be taking away people (and specifically radical anarchists) from the antiwar protest. There could be scheduling issues and the like but its been annoying for the past two years (two years ago I missed an anarchist breakaway aftermarch because I left too early to get to the Book Fair) and would be nice if it wasnt the same weekend.

The war began the week before. Logically the protest should be on the Saturday the 9th or Sunday the 10th. I didn't even know ANSWER had decided on Saturday the 17th. I heard about the bookfair before i heard abour the anti-war march. In fact this post is the first i heard about the 17th as the anti-war march date and as many people can corroborate i am usually on top of such things. It is my belief that neither knew of the other's plans, altho i heard months ago that anti-war stuff for the spring were being talked about for the 9th and 10th. As a proud anarchist, i think it's good that the bookfair is a big enough event that it can go 2 days. It is probably the largest event in the United States if not the world that labels itself "anarchist". I'm hoping that others willl be calling anti-war activities all the time, especially the week 9th and the 10th and the week before the boookfair. Even tho ANSWER does a somewhat credible job in getting numbers, and in sometimes combining issues, they are on the whole unresponsive to other group's concerns, and have very little in the way of democratic input in their events. We don't need them to tell us when and how we should protest the war.

the boundary is quite real -- there are many miles between where most anti-war demos happen (downtown) and GG Park. for those without cars, it's no easy task to commute back and forth and try to time things out right

and, yes, anti-war activists have a fair claim to that weekend -- be they anarchist, communist, or whatever -- large events and small

re: "prominent feature of the bookfair will be speakers, books and materials that place the war in an anticapitalist framework"

those books can be bought online or in person at Bound Together or AK or any other number of places every day of the year. it's not like that weekend will feature some great rush of new anti-war book titles that just must get out right then. there simply is no reason for the conflicting schedule except for bookfair organizers contrariness. and it's not like the bookfair people are trying to coordinate anything on an anti-war tip with whomever is planning things for downtown. "work with the enemy, no way," they might say, losing complete site of who the real enemy is. it's all about the bookfair for them, their clique, the rest of the radical community be damned. it's like the jealous associate who deliberately schedules a party the same night a perceived social competitor does in order to force mutual friends to choose sides or stress over how to best split their time.

frankly, it's a blatant attempt at sectarianism. last year was one of the first big anti-war rallies with no breakaway anarchist march or blockade of Bechtel or any anarchist anti-war demonstration whatsover (save for the dozen people who marched through the sunset after the fair, but that non-event wasn't even anti-war per se). quite clearly, the bookfair syphoned away the anarchists from participating in any anti-war actions.

it's not commenters here artificially segregating things and creating false boundaries. it's the bookfair organizers actually physically segregating off a sizeable chunk of the radical community from anti-war events because they think it serves there interests to do so, regardless of the open split it creates when all people everywhere, regardless of sect, should be united in purpose and participating in anti-war events large and small

"The 2003 invasion of Iraq began on March 19," is whats listed on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War#2003:_Invasion
and even if a few group were to try to change the weekend of the protests mainstream people will be protesting on the anniversary (and the weekdn closest to it) now that the bulk of the US public wants the US out of Iraq.

I seriously doubt ANSWER can pull the numbers it used to for several reasons. The lawsuits from the city about postering, increased prices for permits, and badmouthing of ANSWER by both the right and some on the radical left makes it a lot less powerful of an organizing force than it was two years ago.

Maybe some other group will organize an event on the 17th (and some on the 19th itself) but I dont think its up to us, anarchists or not, to tell the US public to move a protest on the anniveray of the US invasion that has according to the Lancet caused several hundred thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq this year alone.

The main publicity that will get people to an antiwar protest will be mainstream news coverage of the anniversary and thats publicity will be peak on the weekend of the 17-18th.

Has ANSWER organized an antiwar protest for that weekend yet? Im not quite sure if it matters since if someone is going to organize mass antiwar events in the US they should be on that weekend. I can see an argument that more localized protests near army bases focusing on opposition to the war by those who have served and their families could have a larger effect than just massing people in SF, but that would actually make take people even farther away from the Book Fair for the day if the protests require getting to Fairfield or other military towns.

"last year was one of the first big anti-war rallies with no breakaway anarchist march"

Noticed that previous comment and wanted to point out to Anarchists reading this thread and asuming that complaints are comming from antiAnarchists.... the issue is that the Book Fair will take Anarchists and breakaway marches away from any large antiwar march not that it will have much of an effect on the overall size.... police and those who dislike Anarchism and Anarchists will be happy that the Book Fair is the same day since its pretty much nixes the change of a major breakway march and keeps the political messages of any march from having the diversity that Anarchists provide... We object because we want to go to both events and/or think it will prevent radical breakway marches from happening since a certain critical mass of Anarchists is needed to allow those to happen

that certainly was not on the 9th or 10th. I remember it vividly. it was the 20th of march because the war, the bombings had started the day before, march 19th.

here's the trailer for a great movie which documented Direct Action to Stop the War's efforts in which numbers in SF grew to upwards of 50,000 by the end of the business day with around 3,000 being arrested

http://www.indybay.org/olduploads/short.empire.jeff.mov

DASW had open meetings whereby planning was democratic and consensus-based. and by the way, DASW has absolutely nothing to do with ANSWER, so to those who always try to act like participating in anti-war actions is synonymous with "walking" around and praying to the communist god (as opposed to their anarchist god) have a serious memory problem. "invade" a recruiting center like the "clown brigade" did in oakland. there's far more actions possible than can be listed in a single comment here.

anarchists can protest wars too in various ways and don't need to cloister themselves indoors in tight spaces because the bookfair people have issues with anti-war demonstrations in general and ANSWER specifically

A majority of people in the US now oppose the war in Iraq.

"A new USA Today/Gallup poll found 55% of those surveyed wanted most US troops out of Iraq within a year, but only 18% believed that this would happen. A record high 62% said the war in Iraq was not "worth it", and a record low 16% said the US was winning."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1970529,00.html

Why are there no giant antiwar protests? Its partly because ANSWER is having internal problems and nobody has bothered to step up and take their plave. Another reason is that in the fall a lot of energy went into the elections. Finally there is also the possibility that the mainstream doesnt feel like it can relate to protests and those feelings are only added to by all the crazy radical contingents.

The Anarchist bookfair is more "mainstream" than ANSWER in terms of politics but its is far more countercultural and is tied to a counterculture that is small and unlikely to pull in large numbers at an antiwar protest (the punk hippie look is on the whole middle class and white afterall) So if the Anarchist Bookfair is at the same time as the protest will it hurt or help the coverage of the protest? Its hard to know. The breakaway contingents do take away focus from the war and focus it more on clashes between youth and police so not having those there may make the overall coverage more focused on the war?

Where was that movie shown? I have seen bits of that, perhaps when I was actually there in 2003, but never saw that film.

[the boundary is quite real -- there are many miles between where most anti-war demos happen (downtown) and GG Park. for those without cars, it's no easy task to commute back and forth and try to time things out right]

Frankly, I don't believe this, there are several transit alternatives available, SF is not Sacramento or San Jose, I don't even live in the City, and I've biked from the Mission to the GG Park in about 20-25 minutes, sometimes less, and there is also something called "carpooling", you may have heard of it

[and, yes, anti-war activists have a fair claim to that weekend -- be they anarchist, communist, or whatever -- large events and small]

who's being sectarian here? apparently, if you want to have an event this weekend, you need to call ANSWER for approval, or be subject to these sort of pathetic, condescending criticisms

maybe you could post a contact number for the people who decide this sort of thing for our benefit

[re: "prominent feature of the bookfair will be speakers, books and materials that place the war in an anticapitalist framework"

those books can be bought online or in person at Bound Together or AK or any other number of places every day of the year. it's not like that weekend will feature some great rush of new anti-war book titles that just must get out right then. there simply is no reason for the conflicting schedule except for bookfair organizers contrariness. and it's not like the bookfair people are trying to coordinate anything on an anti-war tip with whomever is planning things for downtown. "work with the enemy, no way," they might say, losing complete site of who the real enemy is. it's all about the bookfair for them, their clique, the rest of the radical community be damned. it's like the jealous associate who deliberately schedules a party the same night a perceived social competitor does in order to force mutual friends to choose sides or stress over how to best split their time.]

maybe the rest of us don't want to buy books online, I don't, ever think of that? or, that there will be numerous speakers at the event, some of whom might present some compelling critiques of the war

I also don't see this nearly as stressful as you do, and I think that a lot of other people will find a way to participate in both, if they are so inclined, which appears to be the real problem, because the true agenda seems to be to push anarchism out of the picture, and leave people with the false (and frankly, sad) appearance that antiwar activism is limited to liberal, UFPJ and ANSWER type events, in other words, liberal to Marxist-Leninist approaches

[frankly, it's a blatant attempt at sectarianism. last year was one of the first big anti-war rallies with no breakaway anarchist march or blockade of Bechtel or any anarchist anti-war demonstration whatsover (save for the dozen people who marched through the sunset after the fair, but that non-event wasn't even anti-war per se). quite clearly, the bookfair syphoned away the anarchists from participating in any anti-war actions.]

or, maybe, they thought the march wasn't an especially effective means of protest, or maybe they are involved in other sorts of actions, like counter-recruitment, or maybe there was something at the bookfaire that they thought integrated the war into other important issues in a way that the march did not, who knows?

I know that I personally don't tend to go to large marches anymore where I hear the same thing over and over, bookfaire or no bookfaire

[it's not commenters here artificially segregating things and creating false boundaries. it's the bookfair organizers actually physically segregating off a sizeable chunk of the radical community from anti-war events because they think it serves there interests to do so, regardless of the open split it creates when all people everywhere, regardless of sect, should be united in purpose and participating in anti-war events large and small]

This sounds like Bush in reverse: you are either with my antiwar event, or you are against us.

It is also interesting to see a description of the 'radical community" which portrays them as easily manipulated morons who do whatever the bookfaire organizers want

If the "community" thought that the march was more important, they would have gone to the march, assuming, of course, that one accepts your claim that the bookfaire actually did draw away people, which, as already noted, is speculative

here's the trailer I meant to link to earlier of the DASW-organized street takeover on the day after

http://stream.paranode.com/imc/portland/media/2003/07/269038.mov
from We Interupt This Empire (http://www.videoactivism.org/empire.html)

it's a bit more punchy, more energetic and definitely daring. less serious but more fun. if you were there, with or without having been arrested, this video has a special meaning. no, it didn't stop the war, but it was a start. before the majority of americans woke the fuck up and realized the war was shit, anarchists and others let the wider public know there was dissent. anarchists, artsy types, socialists, communists, atheists, lefty democrats, and cross-mixes of them got the ball rolling. without the first pre-war demos, esp. the big worldwide feb 15th protest in 2003 (16th in SF), and numerous later others including the day after one here, there may not have been room for more mainstream types like Cindy Sheehan to bring the anti-war message to even larger audiences. of course, the war itself not going so well for so long plays a role. but nothing happens overnight and all change/revolution has to start somewhere by people unafraid to be a vocal minority when confronted with great evil. besides, there's still plenty of work to do. it's not over yet by a long shot. capitalists like Bechtel have made and many continue to make billions. what better way to connect increasingly popular anti-war sentiment to anti-capitalist values than for anarchists to mix with anti-war activists of different flavors, to stage demos related to war profiteering? small groups can do some really cool things that get noticed. big groups can as well. there are a lot of creative people out there who inspire those around them. let those who dare shine do so, rather than naysaying about being ineffective and basically throwing in the towel.

anti-war activities can and, as often as possible, should be fun. I've always thought anarchists have been and should continue to be a big part of that. what good is it to gather anarchists in a crowded venue backslapping eachother when they could be out in the streets to mark an injustice of historical significance? anarchists could not only be protesting the biggest US evil of late but intermixing with others who also hate this war and at the same time happen to be outside of the usual anarchist cliques. it's simply good PR, unless your only mission is to preach to the converted. sure, the tense standoffs with coppers may not be good dinner TV for middle America, but anarchists' target audience is not that big right now anyway. it's merely those within one or two degrees of separation at this point. and anarchists have pulled off some pretty cool anti-war demoonstrations beyond police standoffs. anarchists can and should take part in events that give them the opportunity to show that they are not insane, at the very least, and can indeed be credible, creative, and right on ethically in a difficult time. more often than not, that means participating in or creating a spin-off of a larger demonstration organized by non-anarchists. unfortunately for anarchists, being in a minority of a minority can create resentment that one's own group is not attracting such large numbers as the larger group, and that can feed a desire to invert and retreat from the larger world to a place where validation for one's value system comes much more easily. while it might be re-assuring it is not as much fun nor as effective.

the bookfair is a good thing. it should most definitely exist and the organizers deserve credit for pulling it together year after year. it is and has been a benefit to the anarchist community in many ways and does somewhat work towards spreading the gospel, so to speak, beyond its own overly-familiar social circles. but it is so incredibly counter-productive to cloister anarchist energies on such an important date, the weekend that coincides best with with start of our war on Iraq.

the bookfair has blown it on setting their 2007 event on the dates they have chosen. where there could have been a self-reaffirming bookfair event on one date and a sizable anarchist anti-war contingent organizing who-knows-what on the anniversary of the war, there will now be only the bookfair. two potential anarchist moments have been reduced to one. that's all folks, your singular, once a year spectablulous anarchist moment (no offense intended to the hardworking NoBAWC folks - http://www.nobawc.org/). the bookfair committee has the gall to put their resentment towards some so-called enemy anti-war groups before everyone who might like to fully take part in both. cutting off your nose to spite your face is an apt expression, except the bookfair has not only cut off its own nose in making the mistake they have on such an important decision. many people count on them to make a good decision, even people who don't know it yet, and this one is just wrong.

" EVERYONE is invited to the Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair!"*

*except those who might feel compelled to act against the war. the bookfair has declared in their infinite wisdom that you should either split your time and be less effective in both or just ignore the anniversary and participate in their event. thanks bookfair

*I've biked from the Mission to the GG Park in about 20-25 minutes, sometimes less, and there is also something called "carpooling", you may have heard of it

carpooling, no, what's that? bi-cycles, even stranger. and to think so many people choose to walk on their hands between events

*if you want to have an event this weekend, you need to call ANSWER for approval

either ANSWER or the bookfair committee, that is, when you think small. what other radical groups can schedule events that weekend? hell, we haven't even begun to fragment opposition to the status quo enough. maybe we can sub-divide into sub-committees from there. the possibilities are endless. ideally, we'll all be sitting at home reading our wonderful revolutionary books in the end, so sure our way is the only way, choosing purity over effectiveness

*maybe you could post a contact number for the people who decide this sort of thing for our benefit

there's an email address above for the bookfair people. they decided for us to force us to choose.

*maybe the rest of us don't want to buy books online, I don't, ever think of that?

yeah, that's why I also wrote "or in person." I don't think Bound Together even sells books online

*or, that there will be numerous speakers at the event, some of whom might present some compelling critiques of the war

and those speakers will be competing with speakers elsewhere, limiting the number and diversity of "compelling critiques" to be heard by anyone without a clone

*I also don't see this nearly as stressful as you do

bully for you, the guy not from SF who enjoys rushing from one event to the other, making all the scenes but not fully contributing to either

*the real problem, because the true agenda seems to be to push anarchism out of the picture, and leave people with the false (and frankly, sad) appearance that antiwar activism is limited to liberal, UFPJ and ANSWER type events, in other words, liberal to Marxist-Leninist approaches

the point has clearly been made in other comments that anti-war activism does not need to be limited to what Marxists think of, but neither does it mean that the best course is for anarchists to cloister on an important date that could be used in a number of creative outward-reaching ways, all of which encourage anarchist to step out of the closet as much as possible. it's only out of the picture hidden in GG Park. as for a real agenda...

*maybe, they thought the march wasn't an especially effective means of protes

obviously, that's exactly what they thought, and hence the double-booking, the forced choice. "they thought" being the key phrase. the timing of the fair is no accident. they got criticism last year for timing it with the war anniversary and still chose the same date again. it's willful, make no doubt about it.

*I know that I personally don't tend to go to large marches anymore where I hear the same thing over and over, bookfaire or no bookfaire

again, bully for you. but don't think the speeches at the bookfair will be earth-shaking and spur the world into instant revolution.

*This sounds like Bush in reverse: you are either with my antiwar event, or you are against us.

more accurately, the bookfair folks are taking a stand against all anniversary anti-war actions and bullying others into making choices they shouldn't have to.

*It is also interesting to see a description of the 'radical community" which portrays them as easily manipulated morons who do whatever the bookfaire organizers want

it's not a matter of easy manipulation. it's a matter of being as effective as you can be. cutting off your own nose may at times feel righteous, but, well, it's shortsighted...

*If the "community" thought that the march was more important, they would have gone to the march

again, there are too many assumptions regarding "marches" or "walks". it's small-minded. anarchists and other radicals tend to shine the brightest in the use of non-conventional tactics. marches might be the stepping off point or they may not be. regardless, the anniversary is a key time for anarchists and radicals of the like to shine. instead they will largely be cloistered at the county fair building, no major part of any anti-war actions that weekend, not if they don't want to miss the bookfair. it's a shame really, that the bookfair committee has chosen to use their power this way, to force an unnecessary choice or splitting of time.

*claim that the bookfaire actually did draw away people, which, as already noted, is speculative

talk to anyone who went to either last year. attendance was down at the bookfair and there were no anarchist actions on the anniversary. bookfair people will admit it (but note that $$ was up last year, hurrah), and facts is facts on no breakaways or other anarchist actions. short of scientific evidence, that's all there is to go on. keep seeing the world in black and white, where competing ideologies ignore their similarities while the greater evils go unchecked. let the sects squabble and greater change will never come.

A few things to remember when reading this thread:

1. The Book Fair will likely not draw many people away from the antiwar protest. The kids who engage in breakaways generally dont table and probably wont find a great need to go to both days at the Book Fair and those who go to the Book Fair durin the antiwar protests will probably be those Anarchists who are not particularly antiwar (ie. those who in theory oppose the war as they also oppose the idea of the state but dont see the war as any different than the status quo)

2. Antiwar protests will probably draw people away from one day of the Book Fair but probably will have only a small effect on overall attendence for both days (although I would suggest its perhaps a waste of money on the day of the protest to rent out such a large space)

3. Most ANSWER organizers dont want breakaway marches so while some people may be complaining on this threas I doubt any of them are ANSWER organizers since its much easier (and safer in terms of getting sued) when there is a more controlled crowd not marching off and smashing windows

4. ANSWER is having some financial problems (partly due to a suit by the city over postering) and its likely some other group will be the main organizer on the day of the war anniversary

5. KPFA, KPOO and even the corporate media (it gives cheep local footage to go with the story of the anniversary) will likely cover and in some ways promote the antiwar protest and not the book fair so publicity wise protest publicity will swamp that of the book fair. Since the Anarchist scene can publicize things internally this probaly wont impact the Book Fair that much (afterall rich Anarchists fly in to these things from the other side of the country)

6. The only people who really will be bothered by the two events happening at the same time are those who have to choose where to table, indymedia types trying to cover both events, and anyone who is ineterested in a specific speaker who is speaking at the bookfair at the exact time as the protest. This is a small group but likely a vocal one.

Why should anarchists be anywhere other than the bookfair March 18th-19th? No good reason, at least as per those who choose for the rest of us.


Dec. 16, 2006 — President Bush is likely to support a "surge" of additional U.S. troops to Iraq, officials familiar with planning believe.

The surge could include more than 30,000 additional troops and last as long as two years. That could bring the total number of troops in Iraq to at least 164,000 — the highest total yet.