The Friendly Fire Collective Newsletter - July 2009

Greetings!

It's summer! How the hell did six months of 2009 go by so damn quickly?! Here we are again to present you the latest thoughts to emanate from our keyboards. We're excited by the possibilities of the season and are looking forward to what the rest of the year brings. As you'll see below we've got another good collection of various forms of media you may find beneficial. Here we go!

We've got a new original article entitled "I'm Going to Pittsburgh but I'm Not Sure Why: Advancing Beyond Tactics and Developing Anarchist Strategy," written by collective member David Zlutnick. In it David examines his desire and ambivalence in going to Pittsburgh for the G20 protests, and through this takes a critical look at anti-authoritarian organizing and its tendency to focus on tactics rather than the development of long-term strategy.

In our suggested reading this month, we are happy to offer up "Anarchism, Violence, and Brandon Darby's Politics of Moral Certitude," an original article put forth by a friend of ours, "M.J. Essex," analyzing the events surrounding Brandon Darby (activist turned informant), and the interpretations of violence, anarchism, and state cooperation that are put forth by the media. Additionally we offer two other pieces, one by Cindy Milstein and another by Chris Spannos, both of which we found to be very interesting and useful in our own thoughts on organizing. All of those pieces you can find below.

Last month we proudly presented a great event, "Confronting the Police State and Imagining Alternatives: A Bay Area Strategy Discussion," involving panelists from six Bay Area police accountability organizations. In this newsletter we're thrilled to put out the audio of that event--recorded by dave id of indybay.org--that we hope you will find of interest.

As always we have our Bay Area Radical History poster series, this time the ninth edition: Los Siete de la Raza. In addition to that, we also have produced a wild and crazy propaganda poster for the G20 protests (go get em Pittsburgh!). Both are available below formatted for web viewing and printing.

And lastly, we have a collection of videos for you to check out for your entertainment and education. Hopefully you'll find them both fun and informative.

The rest of this year we hope will prove to be quite exciting for us in FF, both individually and as part of a greater movement. The summer is always exciting as people seem to have a little spring (no pun intended) in their step, especially when it comes to organizing resistance. Maybe it's the warm weather--or for us in San Francisco, the coming and going of the fog and the cool breeze. Either way, we're glad to be here and with all of you fighting the good fight.

Enjoying sunshine and light fog,

-The Friendly Fire Collective
http://www.friendlyfirecollective.info


**To subscribe to our newsletter please contact us at: friendlyfirecollective (at) gmail.com**


----------------------------Original Articles----------------------------

"I'm Going to Pittsburgh but I'm Not Sure Why: Advancing Beyond Tactics and Developing Anarchist Strategy" by David Zlutnick, of The Friendly Fire Collective

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/105/im-going-to-pittsburgh-but-im-not-sure-why-advancing-beyond-tactics-and-developing-anarchist-strategy

Using the upcoming G20 summit in Pittsburgh as a lens, this article examines the necessity for the development of long-term vision in anti-authoritarian organizing. Arguing that much of what is currently playing out are isolated tactics lacking strategic connection, David advocates for considerable reflection within organizing circles on the recognition of short- and long-term goals and how our tactics help achieve them.


----------------------------Suggested Reading----------------------------

"Anarchism, Violence, and Brandon Darby's Politics of Moral Certitude" by "M.J. Essex"

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/104/anarchism-violence-and-brandon-darbys-politics-of-moral-certitude

Anti-authoritarian principles emerged as important guides in post-Katrina New Orleans for both reconstruction and the struggle against disaster capitalism. Stories of mutual aid, cooperation, subversion of authority, disruption of state and capitalist plans can now be told in abundance. And yet Brandon Darby's morality tale has become a media darling, due in no small part to his perfect and full adoption of his role as a state agent, regardless of whether it was official in 2006, or whether the FBI is still cutting him paychecks. This article explores these facts, and the gray areas in between violence, the media, anarchism, and state cooperation.


"Participatory Society: Urban Space & Freedom" by Chris Spannos

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/98/participatory-society-urban-space-freedom

The transcript of a talk given by Chris Spannos at B-Fest, an international anti-authoritarian festival in Athens, Greece held at the of May 2009. The talk touches on the positive and negative aspects of urbanization, its destructive forces and its opportunities, and ends by examining the possibilities for a participatory society and the means with which to bring it about--reform, revolt, and revolution.


"Anarchism's Promise for Anticapitalist Resistance" by Cindy Milstein

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/99/anarchisms-promise-for-anticapitalist-resistance

Enrico Malatesta described anarchism as "a form of social life in which men live as brothers, where nobody is in a position to oppress or exploit anyone else, and in which all the means to achieve maximum moral and material development are available to everyone." In this article Milstein explores the idea that it is possible that only in the context of globalization that anarchism may finally be able to speak to the times and thus peoples' hopes. Whether it can fulfill its own aspirations remains to be seen.


----------------------------Original Posters----------------------------

"G20 - Let's Make Sure it Falls"

web viewing: http://www.friendlyfirecollective.info/files/july09/g20.jpg
printing: http://www.friendlyfirecollective.info/files/july09/g20.pdf

Join the Friendly Fire Collective in the streets of Pittsburgh, September 24-25, 2009.


"Bay Area Radical History Series #9 - Los Siete de la Raza"

web viewing: http://www.friendlyfirecollective.info/files/july09/LosSiete.jpg
printing: http://www.friendlyfirecollective.info/files/july09/LosSiete.pdf

Seven Latino youth organizers in the Mission District of San Francisco are accused of the murder of a crooked cop.


----------------------------Original Audio----------------------------

"Confronting the Police State and Imagining Alternatives: A Bay Area Strategy Discussion" recorded by dave id of indybay.org

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/107/confronting-the-police-state-and-imagining-alternatives-oakland-52209

The Friendly Fire Collective held a panel discussion titled “Confronting the Police State and Imagining Alternatives” at AK Press in Oakland on May 22, 2009. The panel consisted of members of San Jose Copwatch, Silicon Valley De-Bug, the Watsonville Brown Berets, Petaluma Copwatch, SF Cop/Migra Busters, and Critical Resistance. This audio includes a discussion of current campaigns and explores questions of tactics and strategy for successfully combating the police state, intersections between police accountability and other organizing, and thoughts on building community self-determination.


----------------------------Video----------------------------

"Pentagon Reports Army Mascot ‘Liberty’ Killed in Iraq"

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/100/liberty-killed-in-iraq

Appointed by Bush in 2003 to distract from the horrors of war, Liberty's antics turned fatal yesterday when he cart-wheeled into a roadside bomb.


"Resist 2010: Eight Reasons to Oppose the 2010 Winter Olympics"

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/101/resist-2010-eight-reasons-to-oppose-the-2010-winter-olympics

Resist 2010: Eight Reasons to Oppose the 2010 Winter Olympics, is a short, fast-paced documentary focusing on the negative impacts of the 2010 Games to be held in Vancouver, Canada, and the ongoing resistance by Indigenous & other social movements.


"G20 Found Responsible for Most Abuses"

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/102/g20-found-responsible-for-most-abuses

Human rights abuses are being encouraged by the global recession, says Amnesty International. The rights group believes that as world leaders focus on reviving the economy, they are neglecting deadly conflicts and social rights. And the G20 member nations are being singled out for blame.


"FOX NEWS reviews 'The Coming Insurrection'"

http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/103/fox-news-reviews-the-coming-insurrection

"While the government warns that right-wing extremists could be domestic terrorists, and The New York Times, says I could incite those crazy conservatives to violence, the extreme left is actively calling for violence!" says the lovable Glen Beck in his review of The Coming Insurrection, a book that's writing led the French government to arrest its authors, calling it "a handbook for insurrection."


----------------------------Bay Area Calendar----------------------------

STONEWALL ANNIVERSARY FORUM
Wednesday, July 8th, 7PM
Women's Building
3543 18th St # 8
San Francisco, CA 94110

Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall, come to this discussion about the history and future of the struggle for LGBT liberation with two leading LGBT activists and authors.
Featuring: -Tommi Avicolli Mecca: Longtime LGBT activist, author of Smash the Church, Smash the State and frequent contributor to the SF Bay Guardian. -Sheri Wolf: Author of Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics and Theory of Gay Liberation. -Moderated by Rose Aguilar: Host of KALW's Your Call and author of Red Highways: A Liberal's Journey into the Heartland.


SHUTDOWN SCREENING:
A Benefit for Tristan Anderson
Friday, July 10th 7PM
AK Press Warehouse
674-A 23rd. St Oakland, CA
$5–25 sliding scale

A benefit for our fearless friend and comrade, Tristan Anderson, who is still in the hospital in serious condition after being shot in the face by the Israeli Defense Forces in March. Tristan is one of the many activists who appear in the movie discussing issues of social justice and movement building strategy. That he has since taken such a blow in the fight against injustice underscores the serious need for a strong movement. Come and support a comrade who needs our love and solidarity. All proceeds will go directly to aid Tristan's medical and life needs. Food, drinks, music and room for discussion will all be provided.


THE EMMA GOLDMAN BURST-OUT BRIGADE
in a benefit for Leonard Peltier
featuring Mike Watt and Devin Hoff
(with special guest musicians and speakers)

Thursday, July 23rd at 7PM
at Submission
2183 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA
(415) 255-7227

Leonard Peltier is a political prisoner, an indigenous resistance activist in jail for over 30 years for struggling for freedom and self-determination. His conviction was based on what many say was fabricated and suppressed evidence. A parole hearing--the first in years--is scheduled for July 28th; this benefit is being held to re-awaken awareness of Leonard's ongoing struggles in advance of this hearing. All proceeds beyond expenses will go directly to assist Leonard in his legal and other expenses, and--hopefully--to help him resettle if and when he is released.


CRITICAL MASS
Friday July 31st (and the last Friday of every month!)
Gather at 5:30pm, leave at 6:00pm
Justin Herman Plaza

Bicycle! Bicycle! Get on your bikes and ride!



Until next time, comrades.