G-20 Diary: My Friendly Neighborhood Anarchists

Organized anarchists? OK, we've heard the joke enough times. But, indeed, the anarchists in my neighborhood -- just about four straight, uphill miles from the site of the G-20 summit meeting -- have set up shop. And they have made many of us nervous.

It's not that our multiply diverse neighborhood isn't used to protesters. Just up a block from the anarchists are the pacifists at the Thomas Merton Center, which maintains a pretty good calendar and news portal of the alternative G-20 events. Somebody has to do it.

Our local media, no surprise, tend to look at my newer neighbors (as of this writing, the site isn't working, for whatever reason I'd rather not speculate), who can scare people just by showing up.

The Greater Pittsburgh Anarchist Collective .... is part of the Anti-Racist Action Network: a decentralized network of militant Anti-Fascists that are dedicated to building a fun, diverse, liberated and explicitly anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic youth culture. ....

We are students, workers, un-employed workers, immigrants, ex-cons, current cons .... [who] seek to attack the things in life that limit our freedom. ....

As bombastic as their rhetoric is, in person the young newcomers are polite, even respectful and friendly. Their storefront, sandwiched between an old bicycle shop and a new art gallery, offers free food and conversation. No bogeyman. Yet.

So far, their presence is being felt mainly via the mild vandalism of street poles and bus stops with their anti-capitalist signs and slogans. Nothing worse than what any number of local rock bands, performance artists, etc. do for publicity. The next step is a public event, just down the street.

On Tuesday, September 22, Pittsburghers who are opposed to global destruction will be gathering in Friendship Park ...from 5pm to 7pm to share food, music and conversation. This is not a protest; this is a chance to directly tell our story of the world for which we're fighting.

Organizers will provide some tasty food, but bring something delicious to share if you can! Local singer/songwriters will be on-hand with tunes, and feel free to bring your own acoustic or percussive instruments if you feel musically inclined.

Small musical gatherings are nothing new, and I've seen these guys playing their instruments in the park several times, to the accompaniment of dancing dogs and kids. The problem? Anarchists are not going to even try to get a city permit for the event. Will local police, and/or their many out-of-town backups, going to play nice or get tough? Stay tuned for the next installment.

 

 

Comments

[anticapitalist1983]

i am an anarchist. i think everyone should watch this talk by elizabeth warren of the COP about the collapse of the middle class to get where we are coming from. we see both parties as controlled by corporate interests. we want an economy that is democratic, not one in which a company who lays people off = a rise in their stock price. that pits the economy vs. the people. if the economy isn't working for us, what is it for???
Warren's talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A

Obama may say he is against the protests at the G20 this week publicly, but you can bet he'll be using the protests as a threat to try to get the banks to agree to the limited reforms he wants soon enough. he will say, "look, you deal with me, and agree to these reforms, or you'll have to deal with these angry mobs of people more and more in the future....­"

it's just like how MLK used to specter of more riots to get leaders to the table and get civil rights enacted.

support these protesters: http://www.resistg20.org
indy media on the protests: http://indypgh.org/g20/

the bigger, louder, and more often protests like this happen, the better the reforms will be. the more room progrssive dems will have to push on obama, and the more room he'll have to push on the banks.

[S1m0n]

"Anarchist" is not a precise descriptor.

[Evan Schoepke]

Some of these people actually believe in their causes too... it's easy to be mainstream, it's easy to be reactionary, it's easy to be apathetic, and it's easy to be jaded, but it is not easy at all to have ideals and fight for them even if it means risking being beaten or arrested. Anarchist by the way are not against good governance or organization they're against control of power by the hands of the few (ie; the state, massive corporation). Think for a second would you rather not have the radicals out there. Do you want the finance ministers of the G20 to be able to make unfair and critical decisions behind doors unopposed. They're honestly talking about making a new global non-sovereign back currency taking the control of money farther and farther from the people. The world needs radicals just like the world needs trees, they keep the air fresh and circulating. I think you should get to know your neighbors more, oh and the trees too.

[111]

What you should be afraid of are the world governments that are waging class warfare. Yes, "anarchists" may break some windows but that damage is quickly fixed. The damage caused by the G20 is global and semi-permanent. There are corporations that are purchasing clean water rights, corporate agriculture gaining more and more control over the seeds used by farmers and worse. You should be terrified in fact, especially if you have children.

[130512]

Norma, perhaps you've never met an anarchist. If you have met people who identify as anarchists and fit the description you have so graciously provided, I am sorry for your trouble.

Your accusation of our nostalgia for 60's era drug culture and drug use makes absolutely no sense, and I believe you are thinking of hippies. I would have thought our general differences in appearance would have made it easy for intelligent types like yourself to discern between the two.

Is bicycling wrong? Because, if it is, I can point you to quite a number of anarchist friends of mine who drive cars, because perhaps ownership of a vehicle equates to respectability for you. I also know many who walk. And, I think it may be relevant to point out that "not being able to afford" motorized transportation and choosing bicycling instead is a lifestyle choice which many of us make for a variety of reasons. Concerns over insurance, repairs, car safety, leases, etc. do not worry us, as we do not partake in them.

Anyway, don't be worried about the anarchists in the neighborhood. We're lovely people, really. Stop by for some food.

[normathumb]

I have known anarchists for more then forty years. Most of whom had little patience for hippies. I have also known a lot of self proclaimed anarchists that worked in coffee shops and book stores who, once they finished graduate school, gave up vegetarianism, developed carreers, started families, bought insurance, worried about the 'right' schools to send their kids to, consulted with financial planners to develop their portfolios and joined the Republican party. They typically regard their former proclivities as "youthful indiscretions". I also have friends living in communes that were established in the early 70's. One thrives because it has been more open to bringing in new people. The other struggles because it is ideologically driven. Personally, I am a social worker in the field of mental health, particularly in the areas of substance abuse and homelessness. Most of those who I regard as true anarchists, frankly, are dead. The survivors are really struggling with poverty, poor health and are plagued with alienation, regrets and self doubt. The revolution they hoped for never materialized and their ideological purity hasn't served them well.

[normathumb]

Every city has it's share of stoner revolutionaries with their bad drum circles and worse vegetarien food, (These folks really do give vegetarian food a bad name.) until they actually learn how to cook. Poseurs nostalgic for memories they never had, maybe their parents took them to a Dead concert when they were children and that rates for back in the day and they never took a job and worked for the "man". They have their tattoos and various body piercings and actually read Naked Lunch, or at least tried to. They smugly possess the secret knowledge which gives them ultra hipper then thou attitude of phony superiority and ride their bicycles everywhere, (because they really can't afford a car and insurance) and wear their poverty as a badge of honor until they finally do get a job and become capable of paying their own way. Calling yourself an anarchist is a cheap way of justifying your indolence. The question is which came first.

[dwatkins9]

Not all are poor - many have trust funds - although the recent financial troubles may have cramped their style a bit.

[anticapitalist1983]

LIES. most protesters are poor. it is insulting that you would say that, especially because they are out there protesting AGAINST the rich and their control of our economy and politics.
myths unwound:
http://www.crimethinc.com/texts/atoz/twelvemyths.php