Feature Archives

In solidarity with the mobilization against the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland, a call has been put out for a West Coast anti-war and anti-capitalist mass convergence.

On July 6th, as part of an Anti-G8 information session and film screening at The Kitchen in SF, local and southern California activists came together to present reportbacks on several ongoing anti-capitalist struggles. Activists from San Diego gave reports on the No Border and anti-Minutemen efforts in San Diego, where the racist Minuteman Project has been attempting to harass and intimidate immigrants. Representatives of Green Action and the Campaign to Shutdown PG&E discussed the Hunter's Point power plant and environmental racism. A MUNI driver and a representative of the MUNI Social Strike discussed their direct action and organizing work with MUNI riders and MUNI workers alike.

On July 7th, the Anti-G8 Spokescouncil will convene at 7 p.m. at Village Market (18th St. & Florida), and on July 8th, people from up and down the West Coast will march "in protest and action against the G8 & the Capitalist War Machine," starting at 8pm at 16th and Mission BART.

Anarchist Action's G8 Website | UK Indymedia's G8 2005 Page | Indybay's 2004 Coverage of G8 Protests in SF and Abroad, Repression in Georgia, and June 5th Anti-G8 Protest

Some "friendly neighborhood anarchists" organized a Really, Really Free Market that was held in Dolores Park on the afternoon of Saturday, April 30th. The Really, Really Free Market is "based on the idea of a gift economy, namely that giving feels good; that if we were to all to share what we had, we wouldn’t have less than we have now, we’d actually all have more than we currently have. Giving is a pleasure in itself. Gift others with your clutter. Gift others with your talents. Gift others with your presence!" Organizers invited people to offer their special gifts and talents at the event. In an announcement prior to the RRFM, organizers said that they are hoping to hold Really, Really Free Markets regularly in San Francisco.

Really, Really Free Market Website | Photos of April 30th | Report from 2004 Reclaim the Commons RRFM | Photos from 2004 RTC RRFM

A protest rally was called for Wednesday, April 27th, the date of a ChevronTexaco Annual Shareholders Meeting. Protesters planned to support Ecuadorian indigenous activists who were attending the shareholders' meeting to demand compensation for the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. People from all walks of life come together for protests like this, since there are many areas of ChevronTexaco's work that are seen as problematic. Protesters intended to point out the fact that ChevronTexaco profits from the war in Iraq. People who live in Richmond and surrounding areas are fighting against ChevronTexaco's pollution of their neighborhoods. Environmentalists oppose ChevronTexaco's intent to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve. The rally was held in support of "alternatives to Oil and Oil Addiction! In Opposition to Corporate Greed and Wars for Oil Wherever they Are Fought."

The rally started at 7:00am, and shareholders arrived during that hour. The shareholder meeting took place from 8:00am to 10:00am. Ecuadorian Indigenous activists planned to report back about the meeting at 10:00am, and the crowd continued to rally as the shareholders departed. ChevronTexaco's World Headquarters is located at 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd in San Ramon (at Sunset, immediately East of Hwy 680). More info, including directions

For more info about campaigns against ChevronTexaco and similar corporations (these groups were not part of organizing this protest), see: http://www.amazonwatch.org | http://www.amnestyusa.org | http://www.seen.org | http://www.globalpolicy.org | ChevronToxico.org

Some past Indybay coverage of ChevronTexaco protests:
September 9th, 2003 in Richmond | Berkeley 5/7/03 | 4/14/03 in Walnut Creek | 11/18/02 in SF | 11/11/2001 in Richmond

Saturday March 26th was the 10th annual San Francisco Anarchist Bookfair. Thousands of people from all over the United States flocked to the edge of Golden Gate Park to browse indoor tables with books, zines, t-shirts, patches, and more; to listen to speakers; and to hang out outside, where more merchandise was on display. Speakers included writer and professor Ward Churchill, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (author of Red Dirt and Outlaw Woman), Peter Werbe (of Fifth Estate), artist Eric Drooker, primitivist John Zerzan, Lynn Breedlove, Chris Carlson, and Entartete Künst. Dozens of organizations had reserved tables inside well in advance; these ranged from Indybay to the Long Haul Infoshop to AK Press. The event was a benefit for the Bound Together Anarchist Collective Book Store.
Photos, Video & Audio: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Read more about Anarchy Week

Philadelphia RAGE (Resistance Against Genetic Engineering) is calling for people to converge in Philadelphia from June 18th to 21st, 2005 to Reclaim the Commons and Resist Biotechnology. The BIO 2005 International Convention, a gathering of the Biotech Industry Organization, will be held in Philly from June 19th-22nd, 2005.

Philly RAGE organizers say, "We welcome this opportunity for local residents to come together and learn from each other, and for visiting activists to share energy and ideas from your home communities! With a shared commitment to putting our values and vision into action, we can and will counter their corporate bio-devastation with our peaceful uprising for BIODEMOCRACY!" Read more

Indybay coverage of San Francisco Reclaim the Commons 2004 protests against BIO and the G8: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Reclaim the Commons | Biodevastation Website | Philadelphia IMC | Biotech IMC

The Mobilization for Global Justice is inviting people to join it in Washington, DC to challenge the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and "their plans for a world of unbridled greed." The Mobilization for Global Justice is calling for "all those interested in helping to construct a mass movement against neo-liberalism and the devastation it is wreaking on the world to converge on Washington, DC from April 15th-17th."

The theme of this year's mobilization against the World Bank and IMF during their spring meetings is “A Better World is Under Construction!”
April 15th: Serve a notice of eviction - The protest will gather at the G-7 Finance Ministers meeting, location TBA at Noon. Protesters will wear hard hats, and carry "tools and banners." "After a close inspect(ion) of the World Bank and IMF’s structural integrity the people will post a notice to all that the institutions will be demolished do to a lack of structural soundness and usefulness to the community within 24 hours."
April 16th: The Demolish Team Arrives…. "Converge at the World Bank and IMF, 18th and H Sts. NW at Noon. The people have served notice to the World Bank, IMF and wealthy elite. Their greed and destruction will not do. 24 hours since first posting the eviction notice we will demolish the institutions (symbolically of course)... March to Dupont Circle with music and puppets. Once in Dupont four construction zones will be set up in four themes, peace and true security, health care/housing/education, a clean environment, and direct democracy. Here participants can help in the construction of what represents these themes.
April 17th: Let the Construction Begin! DC community organizers will lead a day of community service. Read more about the A16 2005 Mobilization

Mobilization for Global Justice | 50 Years is Enough

Remaining events during Anarchy Week include the fifth annual BASTARD (Berkeley Anarchist Students of Theory And Research and Development) Conference on Anarchist Theory. This event will be held at Barrows Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus on March 27th from 10 am - 6 pm. There will also be an Anarchist Pride Parade on Sunday March 27th starting at Dolores Park at 11 am. The first annual Anarchist Music Festival will be held Sunday night at 8pm at Balazo Gallery in San Francisco.

The 8th annual Anarchist Cafe was held on Friday night March 25th at The Kitchen in San Francisco. Last night the 8th Annual Anarchist Cafe was held at The Kitchen at 225 Potrero Ave. Hundreds attended, watching performances by spoken word artists and punk bands, eating vegan food, meeting new friends and old, and dancing to 80's and 90's music outside. The 10th annual the Anarchist Book Fair was held on Saturday, March 26th. West Bay vs. East Bay All-Star Anarchist Soccer Showdown was scheduled for 2pm during the Bookfair. A benefit concert held on Saturday March 26th from 8 pm - 1 am at 924 Gilman was a benefit for Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed magazine. Anarchy has just moved to the Bay Area and this party celebrated the first issue produced by the new collective.