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On the Greenspace vandalism

by anarchist
To everyone who read that Greenspace lost a window to "anarchists" and cringed:
To everyone who read that Greenspace lost a window to "anarchists" and cringed:
this incident is not representative of the greater revolutionary struggle or anarchists in general. One person claiming their inconsequential vandalism with a communique, especially does not represent the tactfulness and potency that most anarchists act with – both in our contribution to existing social conflicts, and even more so, in our autonomous actions.

I write this not because I feel protective of Greenspace's financial prosperity, but because I believe this 'action' does more damage than it does good. In my opinion, it leaves a damaging misrepresentation of what anarchist intervention looks like on a local level.

I have spoken with several people in my neighborhood who have become involved in activism aimed at stopping the aerial pesticide spray after engaging in discussion or picking up campaign information at Greenspace. The fact that the judge ruled to allow the first spray to proceed (despite the mass disapproval of area residents) creates an interesting tension within our communities. The issue of repeated aerial pesticide spraying, is of much concern to people in Santa Cruz county.

With no pragmatic contribution, this vandalism leaves no sensible logic in one deciding that Greenspace is a detrimental establishment when it has in reality been sympathetic and encouraging of grass-roots-level organizing within Santa Cruz. In fact, when you attack one of the only outlets of information for people who wish to get involved in grass-roots level activism you are acting from outside of the picture, creating divisive lines between potential allies and anarchists (as you have identified yourself).

A rock through the window of Greenspace is just that. An act of vandalism.
I'm not opposed to vandalism. But, by claiming this with a communique, as "anarchists", you have created a pretense that this vandalism is related to the revolutionary struggle.

As anarchists and revolutionaries, we shed light on atrocities and injustices while highlighting the connections between oppression, in the attempt to add momentum to existing popular struggles. Acting from a more holistic understanding of the system than most people, we apply resistance where most effective, and act with the hope of inspiring autonomous organizing across the social spectrum, here and now, on a local level.

Greenspace is a single entity that exists only within the bubble of Santa Cruz.

Only one block away from Greenspace, is Taco Bell. For years, undocumented immigrants from throughout Latin America have been smuggled across the U.S. border, only to be forced into modern day slavery. In Florida, many of these immigrants are held as slaves/prisoners in industrial agricultural compounds run by warlords and such scum, as they attempt to pay off the price of entry into the U.S. via human smugglers. Some will die here in these compounds, while most develop neurological conditions from the exposure to the toxic concoctions used in conventional agriculture. Here, they are forced to pick tomatoes that will be used in Taco Bell "food" products. Taco Hell utilizes slavery at every step in production. From diseased chickens who live their entire lives in confinement, pumped full of anti-biotics in order to survive the squalor conditions long enough until slaughter; to the pistol-whipped slave detained in the tomato estate; to the poverty-wage restaurant workers.

This is an example of a potential target that would have undoubtedly received wide-spread support from across the social divides. Taco Bell is only one block from Greenspace.

(The above is an example of how easily one could have picked a target that is more complementing to the aim of widespread social rebellion. I use Taco Bell as an example only because it is a stone's throw from Greenspace.)

Lastly, typing out long-winded social commentary for communiques to claim petty vandalism, is silly at best. It is with great reason that the majority of low-level actions and especially, misdemeanor vandalism, are not claimed by communiques.

Illegality does not warrant a press release.


a revolutionary anarchist
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DATE
rebekah
Wed, Jul 16, 2008 10:24PM
Greenspace is VERY low on list of needs!!
Mon, Jul 7, 2008 3:27PM
nr5667
Thu, Jun 26, 2008 2:19PM
...
Wed, Jun 25, 2008 11:26AM
contributor
Tue, Jun 24, 2008 12:42PM
Sally
Tue, Jun 24, 2008 12:13PM
anarchist from another land
Mon, Jun 23, 2008 3:43PM
Craig
Sun, Jun 22, 2008 4:00PM
anarchist son
Sun, Jun 22, 2008 12:53AM
Craig
Sat, Jun 21, 2008 7:25PM
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