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Dear Anarchists: STOP THE BLACK BLOC!
a call on anarchists to drop the black bloc tactic.
Dear anarchists,
I was a part of the anti-war protests on march 19th, and as a fellow anarchist, i feel i need to get this out into the open.
Stop the Black Bloc. By this statement i don't mean stop the act of bloc-ing or the actions assoicated with the black bloc. What i mean is that our "dress code" needs to change if we are to have actions in mass protests.
Here are some reasons why:
1. The black bloc is expected by police and other law enforcement. Law enforcement take it upon themselves to profile anyone wearing black. Being in a group of black in a typical anti war march also makes the "radical and violent people" stick out like a sore thumb allowing police to compromise our actions.
2. Switching up the "black" of our blocs will take down the guards of the state and allow for better more effect actions with less pre-action repression. How about Pink blocs? green blocs? Doctor blocs? it will also disable the ability of police to infiltrate the bloc.
3. The most effective action of march 19th was the shutting down of chevron. This only occurred when activists dressed in suits (not black from head to toe) and got in the building.
We need to use the element of surprise if we are to create massive change. The black bloc has run its course. it's time for a new style.
Police bloc anyone?
Black Bloc R.I.P.
1991-2008
I was a part of the anti-war protests on march 19th, and as a fellow anarchist, i feel i need to get this out into the open.
Stop the Black Bloc. By this statement i don't mean stop the act of bloc-ing or the actions assoicated with the black bloc. What i mean is that our "dress code" needs to change if we are to have actions in mass protests.
Here are some reasons why:
1. The black bloc is expected by police and other law enforcement. Law enforcement take it upon themselves to profile anyone wearing black. Being in a group of black in a typical anti war march also makes the "radical and violent people" stick out like a sore thumb allowing police to compromise our actions.
2. Switching up the "black" of our blocs will take down the guards of the state and allow for better more effect actions with less pre-action repression. How about Pink blocs? green blocs? Doctor blocs? it will also disable the ability of police to infiltrate the bloc.
3. The most effective action of march 19th was the shutting down of chevron. This only occurred when activists dressed in suits (not black from head to toe) and got in the building.
We need to use the element of surprise if we are to create massive change. The black bloc has run its course. it's time for a new style.
Police bloc anyone?
Black Bloc R.I.P.
1991-2008
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Anarchists/autonomists are probably not the best people to try to get to come up with "one" tactic.
The black bloc has been effective in many actions, most notably internationally, and it is a great community-building exercise for participants. It's true that it is mostly not effective here in the US. But for people who don't have a lot of time to prepare for a demonstration, it can be a handy way to get a group of people together to accomplish an action together, often safely. Depending on the cops, of course.
I'm trying to find something online that I read in the past about "Why we wear black." Maybe it's from the old Reclaim MayDay handout about the origins of red, green, and black in relation to MayDay. The anarchy faq has a nice history of the red and black flag and the black flag:
http://www.infoshop.org/faq/append2.html
The black bloc has been effective in many actions, most notably internationally, and it is a great community-building exercise for participants. It's true that it is mostly not effective here in the US. But for people who don't have a lot of time to prepare for a demonstration, it can be a handy way to get a group of people together to accomplish an action together, often safely. Depending on the cops, of course.
I'm trying to find something online that I read in the past about "Why we wear black." Maybe it's from the old Reclaim MayDay handout about the origins of red, green, and black in relation to MayDay. The anarchy faq has a nice history of the red and black flag and the black flag:
http://www.infoshop.org/faq/append2.html
Totally. This last week, police were clearly targeting folks wearing dark clothes, regardless of what they were doing. This could have been written a couple of years ago. I've been wearing generic clothes for some time now, and it makes you invisible. Go with either stylish high schooler clothes, 'I'm going hiking' apparel, or perhaps hippy dresses or Stanford football watching gear.
easy and obvious to say "stop the black bloc," now how about some ideas for effective actions and tactics? Of course, you probably don't want to post any specifics here in public. But something to discuss in more secure channels.
Some reasons in support of the black bloc as a reliable protest "tool", though certainly not the only one!!
Large numbers of people in crowd dressed in black makes it easier to be concealed. This is important when unarresting someone and then returning to the crowd. Although this sets up a scenario for confusion and police nabbing the wrong person, that is also the idea as police and witnesses will see an entirely different person being grabbed than the one they are looking for..
Blending in and safety in numbers are found as defense mechanisms to avoid predation throughout the natural world, so evolution also supports this tactic..
Pink, green and red blocs could also be used, though it is often easier to get access to black clothing since that is prevalent in anarchist fashion circles. The tactic also recommends that people's attire be as bland as possible, leaving distinguishing patches, buttons and other items of notice at home or in safe storage for the day..
So instead of attempting to get anarchists to drop a tactic that has shown good results, why not create and evolve your own tactics with others? There's plenty of other ideas, roadblocks and lock downs, "yes" people (EF!) infiltration of corporate boardrooms, where a plain black uniform is not needed. The black bloc uniform is mostly for large turnout protest events where breakaway marches and other evasion tactics are used..
Large numbers of people in crowd dressed in black makes it easier to be concealed. This is important when unarresting someone and then returning to the crowd. Although this sets up a scenario for confusion and police nabbing the wrong person, that is also the idea as police and witnesses will see an entirely different person being grabbed than the one they are looking for..
Blending in and safety in numbers are found as defense mechanisms to avoid predation throughout the natural world, so evolution also supports this tactic..
Pink, green and red blocs could also be used, though it is often easier to get access to black clothing since that is prevalent in anarchist fashion circles. The tactic also recommends that people's attire be as bland as possible, leaving distinguishing patches, buttons and other items of notice at home or in safe storage for the day..
So instead of attempting to get anarchists to drop a tactic that has shown good results, why not create and evolve your own tactics with others? There's plenty of other ideas, roadblocks and lock downs, "yes" people (EF!) infiltration of corporate boardrooms, where a plain black uniform is not needed. The black bloc uniform is mostly for large turnout protest events where breakaway marches and other evasion tactics are used..
We could all wear rainbow clown costumes and we would still represent the Black Bloc. If your flag is all black, or half black, and you stand in solidarity with your brothers and sisters, then you are a member of the Black Bloc.
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