Black Bucket Bloc Takes to Streets Against Bush in Fresno

With a small crowd turn out against Bush speaking in Fresno Wednesday, of only around 250-300 people, CVAC (Central Valley Anarchist Collecitves), and various other amti-authoritarians, organized a successful breakaway Black/Bucket Bloc march of around 50-60 people.

At about 10am, CVACistas, and DAAA (Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians - Modesto, both part of the Red and Anarchist Action Network [RAAN]), operatives arrived at the convention center, to find that protesters were confined to the opposite side of the street. A CVAC banner stating "Pro-Community, Anti-Capitalist (DAAA-RAAN CVAC-RAAN), was put up between trees. An info both was set up, with everything from NEFAC, Green Anarchy, Crimethinc., to the ELF, and Go Vegan!, and other anarchist prop. Food Not Bombs Fresno began feeding, and we broke out the buckets and snare drums for all to use.

Black anarchist flags, upside down American flags, and a RAAN red/black "Class War (Sickle A)" flag was taped up, flown by people, or put up somewhere for use. The drumming started along with chants of "Bush is a Liar". The drumming then moved down about half a block, to where the "pro-Bush" people had collected. One man (Freeper?), had a sign saying, "How dare you Demoralize our Troops?", and yelled at us. Along with our drumming, he started to dance, and yelled at us more, we responded by gathering around (the 300 pound + man), and chanted, "Dance Monkey Dance". Later, that same man grabbed a young woman and her friend forcefully, and then made rude (sexual?) comments to her. While the man was being quoted by a news reporter, a group of spirited radical women chanted, and screamed, "Sexual Harasser!", and "I abuse little girls!". The man latter left, and local Fresno activists thanked the bucket bloc not only for the energy, but also for chasing the Freeper? off, being he apparently counter protests alot, and never leaves activists alone. Three radical queer women also created a "make-out" bloc, in response to some of the more conservative pro-Bush supporters.

One CVAC collective member describes the Freerepublic incident as such: "The man who harassed our female comrades was none other than the founder of "Freerepublic", (very conservative online news service), Jim Robison. He said to them, "talk dirty to me" and "all my girlfriends are under 20". He then grabbed on (one of the women), her husband jumped in to protect his wife and, I jumped in with a excuse to break the nose of some Freepers. One of the Freepers came in to help his buddy and I got in his face asking, "you wanna get your nose broke, cus?" After me yelling, "sexist" and "I touch little girls" (to Jim), Jim Robison left immediately after not to be seen, (with sign folded up). This incident was on the news, but it was spun around to look like we were the aggressors. Another case study of bad journalism, or just American journalism. CVAC-RAAN 1 punk ass bitches 0"


A RAAN banner was then placed by the "pro-Bush area", reading, "Smash the State, Build the Community, Sustainability, Cooperation, Autonomy RAAN". As soon as it was put up, we were verbally attacked by a liberal. She began stating her distain for our "violent banner", at a "non violent protest". After some discussion, it was pointed out to her the her sign for Kusinich was violent, because he had voted in favor of US aid to Israel to kill Palestinians, she stormed off. She later was seen standing in front of the banner, covering it up.

Collecting ourselves back by Food Not Bombs, and after CVAC scouts returned with a game plan to getting by Bush's motor blockade, we decided to head out on an un-permitted march. The banner was hoisted, and after a spirited chant start by a CVACistas, we started down the block, screaming: "Who's Streets; Our Streets". Collecting about 50-60 (counts go up to around 60), or so people, we took off with buckets, flags, and the RAAN banner in front.

We went up for about three blocks, and then went right, following the path discovered by CVAC scouts. We then poured into the right side lane of the street, chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, this capitalist systems got to go!", and "Drop Bush, Not Bombs". We then went right after a block, to find the street blocked by a cop car, and police lines. We took over the street, and screamed/chanted, "Fuck Bush", to a nearby cheering and supportive bar full of drinkers. Bush's car pasted, and we were told by police to get back onto the street. After some commotion, we decided to get back on the street, and keep going.

We then headed forward again, and then went right onto the street were the front of the convention center was at, and we originally couldn't get to. We set up the RAAN banner right in front of where all the people were coming out of the dinner, and drummed, chanted, screamed, and yelled as they passed. A Modesto man then went up in front, and put his hands to signal to be quite. When quite was reached, he asked very quietly, "Who's streets?", the crowd answered back with "Our streets!", equally quite, and then it built up for a huge out burst of energy, music, noise and anger.

After all the dinner eaters had left, we then headed back to the other side, and to collect our things.

All in all, a successful action happened. Bush ended up speaking about 3 hours late, and the drumming made the protest energy stay there, and made many people, especially younger folks want to stick around. The breakaway march was also an event that many people came up and later thanked us for, saying that they were happy for what we did, and that they were so happy to participate in the action. Thus, a group of people that would have probably just stood around and held signs, got to see that they can in fact do things directly to at least try and change the cohesive forces that are in control over their lives. Liberal forces trying to contain the protest were unsuccessful in limiting what the people were interested in doing as young people, veterans, and anarchists swelled into the streets. Let Bush know wherever he goes, we will try and stop him! For central valley anarchists and anti-authoritarians, this is just the beginning!

A CVAC collective member stated on the days events: "CVAC, DAAA, and RAAN have gained legitimacy with the Fresno movement. For a long time anarchist groups like Student Action Front (SAF) and Food not Bombs Sunday were run by very egotistical 'haters' that worked to stop other anarchist organizers. Now a united community of anarchists and anti-authoritarians has emerged with a purpose and with energy that has surpassed anything in this town that I can remember. When I turned around and saw only 5 activists across the street just looking at us (as the rest of us were militantly in front of the Convention Center), dancing, making beats and showing emotion, it said so much. People want dancing, music; they want emotion. Not just weekly meetings or signs. We have to build on this."

CVAC is working on a prisoners book project, and DAAA is gearing up for a teach-in/film showing/letter writting event about Mumia and Sherman Austin (Nov. 7th). You can reach both at: http://www.redanarchist.net

Contact DAAA at: modanarcho [at] yahoo.com