| PE #36 |
PE #36: NEWS CONTENTS
Minneapolis Cops Brutalize Zapatista Supporters
Aryan Nations Confronted in Idaho
Just a Few Days in Spring: German Action Report
Gold Medals for Beating Nazis in St. Paul
High Days for the Gent Squat Movement
Squatters' Resistance Continues in Italy
The Agony of Defeat: Short News Reports
Critical Mass: Report from Minneapolis, July 1998
Metelkova Center Opens in Lubjiana
Minneapolis Cops Brutalize Zapatista Supporters
Nine Protesters were arrested in Minneapolis
on Friday, June 19th, during a peaceful demonstration in support
of democracy and demilitarization in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.
The demonstration was held outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis where Riordan Roett, director of Latin American Studies at Johns Hopkins University, was giving a presentation for the Minnesota Internatinal Center's fund-raiser. In 1995, Roett was an advisor to Chase Manhattan Bank when he authored a memo advising the president of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo, that military force to quell the Zapatista uprising in the Mexican state of Chiapas would be necessary to maintain the security of US investments in Mexico.
"While Chiapas, in our opinion, does not pose a fundamental threat to Mexican political stability, it is perceived to be so by many in the investment community. The government will need to eliminate the Zapatistas to demonstrate their effective control of the national territory and of security policy."
Approximately 75 people attended Friday's demonstration on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The demo included speakers, chants, and traditional Aztec dancers. Buses, taxis, and other morning traffic were greeted by colorful banners, signs and leaflets explaining the connection between Wall Street and the current violence in Chiapas.
The demonstration was interrupted when Minneapolis Police ordered the removal of the sound system bing used by the MC to counter the noise of downtown traffic. The police threatened to confiscate the equipment, claiming that a license was necessary to use amplified sound, yet officers where unable to prove specifics of the sound ordinance and did not have any kind of device to measure the decibel level of the system. Luckily, the resourceful protesters had a bullhorn and the demonstration continued.
When the scheduled demonstration came to an end around 9am, approximately 25 people decided to attempt to enter the Hyatt through a connecting skyway, near the conference room where Riordan Roett was speaking. The protesters were met at the doors of the Hyatt by a security guard who denied them entrance into the hotel, and informed them that police were on their way upstairs. When more police arrived in the skyway, protesters were asked to leave. The protesters began a slow retreat while continuing to chant and discuss their cause with the police. The skyway became more congested as more and more officers arrived, including two who blocked the nearest exit door. One of the retreating protesters was engaged in a heated political discussion with officers when he was told he was going to be 'taken downtown'. At that point the protester held his hands out to be handcuffed. After handcuffing him, police began roughing him up. The protester was practicing non-violent, non-cooperation, when a police officer put him in a choke hold which rendered him unconcious.
Meanwhile, other officers attempted to block video taping by forming a police line of bodies and signs (confiscated from the demonstrators). The protester with the video camera was asked by police to hand over the camera. When she refused, the camera was batted out of her hand and she was thrown to the ground by an officer. When there was no longer a threat of video footage, police escalated the violence. Officers began attacking protesters with their fists, throwing people to the ground and against walls. At this time, the police officers who had been blocking the exit shouted for people to leave and threatened them with mace. During this commotion, 8 protesters were violently pinned to the ground and handcuffed. Police kept the handcuffed youth in the skyway for approximately 10 minutes, spouting verbal abuse and laughing amongst themselves. The ninth person arrested had already left the hotel and was outside unlocking her bike when two officers grabbed her arms and placed her in handcuffs. She was also verbally abused as the officers dragged her to a squad car. Two of the arrested protesters continued to offer non-violent, non-cooperation and police were forced to carry them from the skyway and out of the hotel. All nine arrested were eventually placed in a paddy wagon and taken to the Hennepin Adult Detention Center where they were held on probable cause of Inciting Riot and Obstruction with Force. Two were held in solitary confinement for arbitrary reasons. Five of the protesters were released after 42 hours, the remaining four were freed eight hours later.
Although the press and local media had recieved press releases informing them of the demonstration, they didn't deem the event newsworthy enough to cover until police scanners indicated that there had been arrests.
The nine protesters are currently awaiting charges and court dates.
INFO: Frente del Norte 2441 Lyndale Ave S. / Mpls, MN / 55405
Aryan Nations Confronted in Idaho
WHILE PACIFIST WHINERS TURN THEIR BACKS TO REALITY
By Geoff
On July 18, 80 year-old Richard Butler (founder of the Hayden, Idaho based Aryan Nations) got his wish of having a parade in downtown Coeur d Alene, Idaho. Butler and his 92 marchers walked the parade route which was about a mile for a little under an hour under heavy police protection.
The hundreds of protesters that attended showed their opposition in ways ranging from turning their back to the march, to running into the street and throwing rocks. People were shouting chants such as "Smash the nazi scum!" towards the racists and things such as "Cops and Klan go hand and hand!" to their bodyguards in blue. The protesters far outnumbered the bigots, who were obviously intimidated by such a huge presence.
On an upsetting note, hundreds of "activists" decided to drive to Spokane, Washington to have a human rights rally, claiming that the only way to stop the racists is to ignore them. I watched footage of this event and it seems that almost the whole rally was to badmouth the people who were out there on the streets trying to make a difference. Still, in this community, when people find out that someone went to that march to protest, they start throwing out insults.
Cops were called out from all over the state, they arrested 22 people including myself. One protester was dragged down the street by his hair to an awaiting van. I told the police to stop beating on a protester, and 20 min later, I received a stick in my stomach and was told not to tell them what to do and then I was arrested. I was then charged with obstructing an officer (ha ha). Only four of the people arrested were racists. On a surprising note, the racists were for the most part peaceful, and not so surprising is the fact that the police caused more violence than the nazis.
In the aftermath of this event, people in this small resort town still refuse to believe that we have a problem with racists in North Idaho. The people who do believe it is a problem take an ostrich approach and bury their heads in the sand. As long as we have so many people who refuse that racism is, indeed a problem, then we will never be able to act on a solution.
Just a Few Days in Spring: German Action Report
Leipzig, Germany was the site of much activity
at the end of April. On the last weekend of the month, an attempt
was made to get into the Guiness Book of Records by squatting
as many houses as possible within a 24 hour time period. The actions
were planned to give a boost to the squatting movement that has
been heavily in decline for the last years, as well as mobilise
people for the upcoming May Day when a fascist party were supposed
to hold a large rally in town. City maps with a list of 1000 empty
houses were prepared and handed out. There is an official police
doctrine in Germany that says that the cops won't tolerate new
squats longer than 24 hours. The goal was to break this rule by
having so many new squats that the cops wouldn't have time to
evict everything. Flyers were sent out to squatting contacts throughout
Germany, as well as to other countries like Holland, Italy, Poland
and Czech Republic, hoping to get as many people as possible into
town. Things started on Friday morning at 10 with the first squats
and until 5 PM the number had risen to 40, with the cops running
all over town to evict many of these. Because many people from
out of town participated, there was no interest to get into a
battle with the pigs over a house that nobody was wanting to stay
in, afterwards. In addition, it would have been necessary to have
many people to defend a house in a militant way, but the concept
was geared more towards decentralized actions of many small groups
of people. In some places, short street battles broke out as the
cops tried to shut down those parts of town where a lot of squatters
and punks live. In the early hours of the night, about 80 houses
were reported to be squatted, 33 of them were evicted. At this
point, the tragic highlight of the events happened: one of the
squatters fell from a window to his death. Many people were shocked,
angry, frustrated,etc. Adding to the misery were the first organized
attacks of the local nazis who had gotten wind of the activities
and wanted to give the cops a helping hand. There were several
assaults on 2 squats with the nazis being driven back, but the
houses were abandoned because things could have turned out not
as lucky. The next day, a few new houses were squatted but the
momentum was gone, partially because of the death. A day later,
no houses were reported to be squatted and most of the out-of-towners
started their return trips.
Many days before May Day, the planned demonstration of the fascist NPD (National-Democratic Party) made national headlines. In the last years, various fascist organizations have tried to organize demonstrations on May Day but the demos are regularly banned or have to be held "in secret" in small towns. This time things were a bit different, the NPD had announced that they were expecting 10000-15000 participants, a number that would ensure it to be the largest neo-nazi gathering in Germany after World War II. The local authorities tried to ban the demonstration but because the NPD is an officially approved political party (they never make any outright nazi statements!) they have the right for a rally since election time is around the corner. In the end, they were allowed to have a rally in front of a War Memorial but their demonstration through a working class area of Leipzig was banned because of potential disturbances. Seeing as the right wing was going to use this opportunity to show off it's their strength, anti fascist groups, in a coalition with many mainstream political groups, initiated a nation-wide mobilisation to prevent the nazi rally. The traditional May Day demo in Berlin was rescheduled from 1 PM to 6 PM to enable people to go to nearby Leipzig and still make it back to the main event in Berlin. It has always been a problem to get large numbers of people to demos to other cities. To uphold strength in numbers, large transport buses are usually rented and then taken in convoy to the destination so that you can have 300-500 people going together. Unfortunately, the police have adapted to this tactic: a recent convoy to an anti-fascist demonstration was stopped by police on the highway. Nevertheless, bus convoys from several cities in Germany were organized and over 5000 people were present in Leipzig to oppose the fascists. With about 6000 cops on duty, they tried to shut down all access roads to the city one day earlier, but more than enough people managed to get there anyways. Most of the nazis were driven to the rally point in a bus convoy, too. The cops had closed down all roads to the War Memorial, only letting in the facists. The goal of the anti fascists was to get to this square and stop the rally. Riot Squads with water cannons were stationed in a ring around the area and had to fight pitched battles with angry demonstrators trying to get at the fascists. The main fighting concentrated around the only access road the police had left open for the arriving fascists. A decently sized crowd of anti fascists gathered along the road and attacked both cops and fascists, seriously destroying about 30-40 buses and a good number of police cars. In addition, many fascists were attacked and beaten on their way to the buses. All in all, it was a relatively sucessful day in terms of showing opposition to the ugly cancer of fascism, although the NPD got national headlines for a few days. On a curious sidenote, the anti-fascist convoy from Berlin, numbering about 500 people in half a dozen buses, were followed on their way back to the May Day Demo in Berlin by police helicopters. The cops in Berlin had decided that they weren't letting people join the demo so an ambush on the highway near Berlin was planned with several hundred cops waiting for the buses. Getting wind of this through mobile phones, the buses split off, trying to get into Berlin from various directions. Two of the buses secretly dropped off people near a train station and continued their journey. A while later, the buses were stopped by police who were extremely embarrassed to find them empty! HaHa! Meanwhile, the demo in Berlin with about 8000 participants got under way but the cops repeatedly provoked things by charging into the demo and beating demonstrators. After several people were seriously injured in such attacks, the organizers of the demo decided to officially close the demo. What happened was that several thousand people were left standing in the streets, so after a few warm-up minutes, the largest riot of the last few years got into swing. With angry attacks on the cops, looting, and general mayhem it took the cops until the late hours to restore order in the area. Unfortunately, there were over 300 arrests and a large number of injured demonstrators. (Y@hoo)
Gold Medal Awarded for Nazi Beatings in St. Paul
Members of the neo-Nazi organization the National Socialist Movement had planned to hold a "national white unity meeting" on the weekend of April 18-19 at hotel in Golden Valley, a suburb of Minneapolis. But their plans were shattered when the hotel owners cancelled the event after learned the nature of the gathering, which boasted an appearance by WAR (White Aryan Resistance) leader Tom Metzger. The gathering was being organized in secrecy by the fascists, but were exposed by infiltrators within their ranks, and demonstrations against the gathering were organized by Anti-Racist Action and other area antifascists.
On Saturday, April 18 the Nazis called a press conference to whine about their "violated" civil liberties to the media. Antifascists protestors got wind of the event, which was to take place in front of the Federal Courthouse in downtown St. Paul, and hastily assembled to kick the fascists off the streets. History has taught all too much about Nazi's respect for civil liberties and the protestors were not about to hear their pathetic bleating. The dozen or so brown-shirted, swastika flag waving buffoons were met by more than 100 angry antifascist activists. The Nazis beat a hasty retreat after being completely drowned out by the demonstrators' chants and receiving an unhealthy dose of loose phlegm and the odd projectile. What followed was a complete rout of the fascists as the swastika flags were confiscated and the poles turned into weapons to beat both the Nazis and their vehicles. A second, late arriving group of Aryan warriors was also given the same treatment and left under the protection of the police who had just arrived on the scene. One Nazi bonehead and one demonstrator were arrested as a result from this second incident.
Once again, careful planning and organizing by anti-racists activists had kept the Nazi scum from holding an event in the Twin Cities. Efforts to expose the fascist organizations must be strongly supported in order to prevent them from growing in our communities. Three cheers to Anti-Racist Action and all of those who showed up to kick the bastards from our streets!
Highdays for the Gent Squat-Movement
Squatters vs. Gent Community-Council: 2 - 1
What was supposed to become a sad episode in the history of the Gent squat-movement, has eventually resulted into something that later probably will be marked as 'The Highdays of the Gent Squat-Movement'. Yes indeed, the 'Hogepont' has been evicted but not without putting on the big means and a big horde of riot-cops. The 'Schelderatten' and their friends didn't keep quiet after the eviction. Meanwhile already two buildings (one owned by the community and another complex that the community-council wants to demolish) have been squatted. In the following article we try to describe chronologically the events of the weeks around the eviction. Momentarily (May '98) the Gent-agglomeration counts five squatted buildings (including two complexes: the 'Boma' and the newly squatted 'Franse Vaart').
January '98
Mid January the inhabitants of the squats at the Hogepontstraat and Scheldekaai received the message that they had to leave their buildings by February 16th. At that moment the demolition of the squats is supposed to start. About two and half years ago the Hogepontstraat 48 was squatted and a while later the neighboring factory-complex along the Scheldekaai (opposite to the Vlaamse Kaai) was taken as well. Soon a weekly 'people's kitchen' (potluck), a rehearsal room for several bands, a sports-room, an exchange-shop, a vegetable- and herbs-garden were installed, and about monthly a concert or festival was organized. The Hogepont developed in the course of two years into an international meeting place, an autonomous complex, where different people lived in a self-determined, alternative way. The support and dedication of many people and organizations opened new perspectives and opportunities... It remains possible to create our own world, outside of society - where everything is fixed and predestined, to just be consumed, without consultation, fantasy or identity. They decide over our heads how we have to spend our time neatly within the boundaries of the system, to pull all power towards them and keep it. Environment, nature and humankind is sacrificed for the profits of a few moguls. Like those who speculate with residential quarters and reduce living to something prestigious and practical. At this moment, the squat of the Schelderatten in Gentbrugge is evicted to be demolished. This just to serve one of the many prestigious projects that are being realized since a few years - specially along the most important approach-roads and the ring. The social tower-flats come after the destruction, street-life changes, typical neighborhoods are being churned up and transformed into concrete boxes of bricks. Squatting is, and remains, a denunciation against the social ghettos and bunker-flats as the solution for the housing shortage.
The city of Gent is the new owner of the biggest part of this quarter. One by one the houses were expropriated or just bought, some buildings were empty for years after the inhabitants were 'driven out', many times the sites remain empty long after the demolition. Those who dare to litigate, soon notice that, once the administrative merry-go-round is behind them, justice is on the side of the institutions. The right to have a roof over your head is subordinate to the interests of the building-companies and their contracts... Meanwhile the eviction-methods of institutions like the social welfare department or the community-council are already known (e.g. in October '94 during the eviction of the Slinkemolen). Besides the usual police-repression a group of squatters also gets marginalized and criminalized as action group via the bourgeois and conservative media. The inhabitants of the buildings and sympathizers of the squatters of the Hogepontstraat and Scheldekaai intent to make things as difficult as possible for the authorities while snatching the free territory.
End of January, beginning of February the demolition will start. People are working day and night to turn the Hogepont into a fortress. The ramparts are being fortified and the living-space is turned into a bunker. People chose for a concept in which an occupation group of squatters and sympathizers remains inside during the eviction. This as a trial to postpone the eviction as long as possible. It's been decided that no violence will be used. All windows are barricaded with heavy joists and welded radiators. Extra steal hatches are being placed to force the cops to go through different layers while breaking an entry. A huge pirate-flag is hoisted on the roof.
February 5th '98
The press gets notified with the following fax:
"Press-statement Eviction 'Hogepont'- Squat (Scheldekaai 36, Hogepontstraat 48, Gent):
Is this finally it? After two and a half years we can go. Thanks to the unceasing efforts of the Gent Community-Council we can leave our slums to make place for beautiful new apartment-blocks where indeed a thousand people can live. There's even gonna be a lawn for the little dogs! We, the present inhabitants, are all very grateful to the governors who will save us from more evil. Also to the contractors and their fearless troops. Without them no party!
So let's all celebrate the day of liberation on Monday February 16th, at the latest(!), a little party that we and those mentioned above will remember for a while (for those who don't know yet: on February 16th our houses are being demolished).
We're not interested in their compromises, won't leave our houses because they tell us to. We, inhabitants and sympathizers of the buildings at the Hogepontstraat and Scheldekaai resist in a playful way against the state-violence and promise to make things as difficult as possible for them to take away the territory we fought for. We will resist our expulsion in a PEACEFUL way!!!
Signed, the Schelderatten, present inhabitants and sympathizers of the squatted buildings at the Hogepontstraat and the Scheldekaai in Gent."
February 12th '98
About thirty 'Feminist Anarchist Maids' (FAM) protest against the threatening eviction on the Woodrow Wilson Square during the evening rush-hour. By means of a little theatre-play they try to make clear the difference between squatters and speculators. Meanwhile flyers are being passed around. The action goes animated but calm and even gets a positive press-coverage, something that is not so evident when it comes to squatting. The action of the FAM makes it clear that the whole action-movement in Gent is concerned about the eviction of the Hogepont. In contrast, the crowd from many different cities and countries that usually comes to the Hogepont for concerts, stays away massively. One of the few minuses during these action-weeks.
February 16th '98
Monday February 16th (8.15 a.m.), the head of the technical department of the city Mr. Warchal, the demolition-team, the contractor and Electrabel (electricity-company) were standing in front of the fortified walls of our squat. After some deliberation between the squatters and those mentioned above, the unwanted visitors slunk off with the promise to undertake juridical action. Will this mean an expulsion-order?
After telephone contact with the head of the cabinet of the mayor, Mr. Van Massenhove, it appeared that this one wasn't very pleased with the fact that we were still occupying the squats and hadn't left them. According to him, there was an 'agreement' between both parties. During former deliberations however it appeared each time that he finds the demands of the squatters 'un-negotiable' and he gives only his own directions. An equivalent alternative building is out of the question. We have never promised to leave the buildings after a month's notice. The only concession Mr. Van Massenhove ever did, concerned the announcing (a month before) of the date of the start of the demolition. To go short: there's no way of communicating with this man.
February 17th '98
Nobody knows that today, Antoon De Schrijver, president of the 'Court of First Instance' passes a sentence concerning the Hogepont and the squatters there. The petition states the following: "The claim can only be brought by unilateral request because the identity of the squatters is unknown, and because they totally refuse to reveal their identity in all contacts. Besides, there are indications that the composition of the group regularly changes."
February 18th '98
Eviction of the Hogepont tomorrow? This morning at 9.30 a.m. a letter was pushed under the door of the squatted building at the Hogepontstraat (Gent). It appeared to be the signed sentence of the 'Court of First Instance' that stated that we had to leave the building 24 hours after this had been signed. This proves that the juridical system does work when money is involved.
During the only contact the Schelderatten had with the cabinet of the mayor, we clearly demanded that we would get a replacing living-space. Something that seems entirely within the possibilities of the community-council to us, regarding the (still!) big list of empty buildings. Since this appears to be out of the question again, we refuse to cooperate in any way. It should be evident that an approaching eviction is something we are told about, not a favor that is granted to us. If the community-council seriously thinks that we will fuck off at their command and describes it even as a 'promise' we made, we can only conclude that they try to cover their arse.
More on the sentence of the court... The city was represented by barrister Tom Balthazar (the son of governor Balthazar) on the trial of the 'Court of First Instance'. Let no-one ever ask this pig to represent him/her after an action. The sentence is full of irregularities. Again the squatters (who remain anonymous) were not heard in any way or told about the trial. The number of the house isn't even stated in this sentence. It was delivered by a bailiff who didn't even try to hand it to someone in person. It was pushed under a barricaded door and could have been taken away by any passerby. It was found by a squatter, who'd seen the bailiff walking on the street from the rooftop. Stuck-up arseholes like this do get noticed in the neighborhood of a squat...
On February 18th the last barricade is raised. The Hogepont is ready for the struggle.
February 19th '98
9.30 a.m.: The hour of the eviction. Nothing happens. No police in the neighborhood. The press slowly slinks off. A bit more than 30 people are inside the Hogepont. Journalists report that deliberation between the police and the mayor is taking place at the townhall. The eviction is supposed to happen between 1.00 and 2.00 p.m.
1.20 p.m.: Trucks of the fire-brigade are arriving and a little boat to save drowning persons is lowered on the river the Schelde.
1.30 p.m.: The press gets notified again.
2.00 p.m.: Reports of ambulances and police-cameras.
2.05 p.m.: 'Megaphones' are asking to 'leave peacefully'; ladders of the fire-brigade are ready.
2.15 p.m.: The riot-police tries to break in; the eviction has started.
2.30 p.m.: They break through the front-door at the Scheldekaai 37 and a gate at the Hogepontstraat.
2.50 p.m.: They try to enter through the roof and enter via the roofing-tiles.
3.15 p.m.: The police on the roof threatens to use teargas. After the facts there has been discussion whether that threat was that real. Fact is that the riot-police was about to break through.
3.25 p.m.: All occupants come out and surrender. They are arrested and taken to the police-office at the Ekkergemstraat.
At around 6.00 p.m. everyone was free.
Meanwhile, everything in the Hogepont gets demolished to prevent immediate re-squatting. All windows and doors are taken out immediately. In the evening everyone gathers at the 'Drie Charels', on of the three remaining squats. The first agreements for the next squat are made.
The eviction gets the news on both federal (VRT) and commercial (VTM) television; and gets widespread attention in the media. This time it's all reasonably positive even though the facts aren't always presented correctly, but that's something we've gotten used to.
February 23rd '98
In the night of February 22nd to 23rd, the house at Achterstaat 208 is squatted by four people. Squat #4 and we keep counting.
March 2nd '98
Number 5: The Schelderatten are back!
"Our answer to the false promise of the city Gent to give the squatters of the Hogepont a replacing living-space is simple: a new squat; in fact the empty housing-block at the Bisschopstraat and the Franse Vaart in the quarter of Ledeberg.
Because this block (annex garden, there are even still trees) indeed offers us about the same capacities as the Hogepont, we will go ahead and try to build up our living- and activity-spaces (concert-space, café, people's-kitchen,...) here again. The city asked for it: we keep on squatting!
How does a housing-block like this end up empty? The answer is simple again; under the motto 'revaluation of neglected (sic) neighborhoods' they're first putting (old) people out of their (old) houses to put new people in new tower-flats.
Here's what we say to the city of Gent: the Schelderatten are back! Start preparing the ever so enthusiastic police-force and fire-department (don't forget the teargas) because again we don't intend to make way just like that for a social housing-projects! No-one cares about an extra half-million eviction-costs anyway."
This was originally written in dutch by Karel for the anarchist monthly 'De Nar'; translation by Brob (Tilt!); for updated news write: Brob / Tennisbaanstr. 85 / 9000 Gent / Belgium.
Info: Schelderatten (don't mention on the envelope) / P.O.Box 395 / 9000 Gent / Bel.
Squatters' Resistance Continues in Italy
During the night of March 5th the cops raided
three squats in Torino (La Casa, L'Asilo and L'Alcova) and arrested
three squatters from La Casa (Edoardo, Soledad and Silvno). Since
Edo and Sole were the only people who lived in La Casa, the cops
closed it. They also tried to evict L'Alcova, but this was prevented
by the presence of too many people. At L'Asilo the squatters went
on the roof to resist, the cops broke in, searched the place damaging
many things, used people's beds and mattresses as toilets and
left.
The next day a presidium was taking place out of the city council to protest for the raids and the arrests. Cops charged and a riot broke out, shop windows were smashed and seven people were arrested and detained for a few days. Many demonstrations and direct actions were organized, almost every day something was happening.
Edo, Sole and Silvano were still detained with charges such as theft, possession of explosives, armed gang and conspiracy. According to the cops (who were following them for months) Edo, Sole and Silvano were responsible of a whole series of direct actins taken against the T.A.V. project. The T.A.V. (high speed trains) is a line for tracks still under construction, designed for trains able to run up to 200 mph (300 km/h). In order to lay down the tracks, they are digging tunnels, expropiating fields, etc. Also such a fast and noisy train is harmful for the people and the environment. Behind this project there is too much money for them to care about it.
Obviously the newspapers started to write about this "dangerous commando of terrorists" with the hobby of arms and bombs. Edo already passed through this shit in 1993, when the cops found a small amount of gun powder on him. This gunpowder was barely enough to build a fire cracker, but the cops preferred to believe it was enough to build powerful bombs. He had to serve one year and seven months for this.
On the night of March 28th, Edo decided he couldn't stand another farce like that, to wait maybe one year or more for a trial, detained by people who more and more often frame you up. People able to use any dirty trick to make you stay in prison as long as they want. He was found in his cell with a blanket wrapped around his neck. He was killed by the government, the cops, the prison system, the media, multi death corporations and the fucked up world they are building. And by the upright citizens who silently swallow up this shit.
La Casa where Edo and Sole were living, was resquatted. The day of Edo's funeral, riots and actions took place in different cities around Italy while in Torino, Edo's parents clearly stated they didn't want to see any fucking journalists. But the vultures couldn't stay away from such an event. Six of them were beaten up and their cars were smashed. One of them will spend the next two months in the hospital. He got what he deserved.
On April 4th thousands of squatters and the likes from all over Italy marched over Torino to show their anger and their solidarity with Soledad and Silvano, still detained in prison. Rocks and bottles and paint bombs were thrown at the cops, the prison walls and the court house where tens of windows were smashed. It was decided not to riot, 'cause it was what the cops and the media were waiting for, and it wasn't the right time nor the place to do it. People's anger didn't stop with the demo and there are many ways to fight back. We decide where and when. Not them.
PS On April 15th Luca Bertola has been arrested for the aggression against the Journalists. He's being charged with the injuries.
Since April 16th Sole is out of prison. She is still under arrest, but she can wait for the trial in a private home. She is not allowed to go out.
If you want to write 'em, please write to:
Maria Soledad Rosas / c/o L'Asilo Occupato / Via Alessandria, 12 / Torino Italy
Silvano Pelissero / c/o L'Asilo Occupato / Via Alessandria, 12 / Torino Italy
Luca Bertola / c/o L'Asilo Occupato / Via Alessandria, 12 / Torino Italy
Again bad news from Milano...
MILAN SQUATTER RECEIVES HEAVY SENTENCE
Last Monday (June 8) Patrizia's trial ended. She was sentenced to five years in prison and to pay a fine of more than 200 Million Lire for damage. When the jury read the verdict there were around fifty anarchists in the room, there was a scuffle with the cops when they took Patrizia away. During the day we did two spontanious non-authorized demonstrations giving out flyers and we placed a banner near the cathedral in the center of the city. The night demo ended in front of the Laboratorio Anarchico where we blocked the traffic for a couple of hours. No troubles with the cops this time.
Since Monday I don't have any news about Patrizia and I don't know if they'll move her to another prison. I'll Let you know....
[see "Cop's Smash 'Terrorist Den' in Milan," PE #34, for more information regaurding the trial of Patrizia Maria Grazia Cadeddu.]
The Agony of Defeat: Short News Reports
LAS VEGAS ANTI-RACISTS SKINHEAD MURDERED
Two anti-racist skinheads from Las Vegas were abducted and killed during the weekend of July 5-7. Dan Shersty and Lin "Spit" Newborn were last seen Friday night telling friends that they were going to go to a party with a couple women that the two had met. On Saturday (7/4) morning, Dan's body was found, and Spit's was found on Monday (7/6) a small distance away from where Dan's body was found.
An ARA-Las Vegas member said to reporters that Newborn had had 'many' run-ins with local neo-nazi skinheads, and that there is a strong possibility that this might be related to his and Shersty's murder. There is also a good chance that the two women are neo-nazi skinheads. This is only the latest in a pattern of violent killings by racist extremists. A few weeks ago, three white men, two having ties to the KKK and the Aryan Brotherhood, a racist prison gang, dragged James Byrd, Jr. behind their truck, mutilating and killing him.
Anyone interested in sending donations towards flowers and such can send them to ARA Las Vegas, PO box 29057, Las Vegas, Nevada 89126-3057.
INFO: ARA Columbus / P.O. Box 82097 / Columbus, Ohio 43202 / Tel. 614-424-9074
Check out our websites at:
http://www.coil.com/~ara
http://lorax.antioch-college.edu/Columbus_CopWatch
ICQ 6691267
PORTLAND ANTI-COPORATE ACTIVISTS JAILED
Three Activists Arrested During 'Art & Revolution' Parade;
Activists Charge Police With Brutality, False Arrests!
Portland Oregon - Four nonviolent protesters were arrested in the afternoon of June 1st during a parade and demonstration organized against corporate dominance. This was the closing event to the Regional Conference to End Corporate Dominance held at Portland State Universaty last weekend.
Asante Riverwind, Ryan Burns, and Neil Robinson were all arrested during the event and are being held on disorderly conduct charges at the Justice Center in Portland. Activists were burtally thrown and shoved by Portland Police Officers who arrested the three under questionable circumstances.
The 'Art & Revolution' parade was organized to educate the public on the importance of ending corporate dominance and its symptoms such as sweat shop labor. The parade toured the downtown shopping district stopping at places such as NikeTown and The Gap which activists claim are notorious for exploitation and greed. Similar 'Art & Revolution' parades have occurred in Seattle and San Francisco.
This parade and protest was organized by the End Corporate Dominance Allicance. For more informaition contact ECDA at: (503) 241-5468
BOSTON DISASTER AT LUCY PARSONS CENTER
(And They're Not Blaming It on El Nino)
The Lucy Parsons Center, Boston's only collectively-run autonomous infoshop/bookstore was hit with disaster on Saturday, June 13th. An extraordinary amount of rain hit the Boston area over that weekend, and flooded our basement with over a half a foot of water.
The Center was relocated to this temporary space in Davis Square after having been evicted from our former location in Central Square just over a month ago. With plans to move to a permanent storefront within the next month or so, our morale has been crushed as about 2/3 of our stock was stored in the basement. We have no estimate of the damage done at this point, but we have absolutely no insurance that will cover the loss.
Already suffering from very low sales and participation due to our low visibility location, our funds have been depleteing quickly and we are not sure how we will afford the higher rent of a new location. We need to set forth a plea for any fundraising help that anyone can give us. Never in our 30 year existence have we been dealt with such a blow. Please extend your solidarity in helping us to ensure that the Lucy Parsons Center continues to exist.
Lucy Parsons Center / 259A Elm Street / Somerville, MA / 02144
Mexican Anarcho-Punk Report:
Mexican @-Team Keeps Torches Alight!
Greetings to all anarcho-punks in the world!
With this we wish to communicate and inform you about the activities that have happened in Mexico, as done by the "United Libertarian Punks," which is comprised of different groups of anarchists, libertarians, anarcho-punks, and other militants in the scene working together. This is a short report of our activities since January until this time.
Anarcho-Punk Gathering in Uruguay
In order to be able to attend the gathering we had to organize many activities, like selling vegetarian food at the market called "the Chopo" (a weekly punk flea market), as well as selling libertarian materials like cassettes, fanzines, books, patches, etc. at hardcore punk shows. Much of this material was donated by the people in the punk community as an act of solidarity to collect more funds. A show was also put on in order to raise a little more money. All this time we were informing people about the gathering and what the gathering was aspiring to do (we utilized information that the people who were organizing the gathering had sent to us). Thanks to a friend that has emigrated to the US from Mexico for his financial support, for without his help it would have made it a lot more difficult for anyone to actually go to the gathering. Ultimately we were only able to send one person from the U.P.L. to Uruguay. He took with him our bulletin of activities and proposals from one sector of the libertarian scene, as well as information of the things that have happened in this part of the world, like zines, groups, collective activities, etc.
Murders in Acteal
After this, many disagreeable things occurred in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Around 46 indigenous, the majority children, women, and elderly people, were brutally assassinated by paramilitary bodies such as "Paz y Justice" (Peace and Justice) and "Mascara Rojo" (Red Mask) - both of which are financed by the government. The public responded immediately to this situation and in the month of January three marches were organized in order to bring attention to the occurrences in Acteal, Chiapas. The anarcho-punk movement doesn't just stand around with their arms crossed nor are we merely spectators. Rather, we participate in these acts. How? By flyering in the buses, schools, and neighborhoods, informing the public as to who were the real assassins and financiers of the massacre, as well as giving support to the central collection place (where they collect staple food, medicine, clothes, etc.) located at the "Angel de la Independencia" (a commemorative in Mexico City). All of these donations were given to various civil organizations in Mexico, which in turn send them to Chiapas. In the three marches the punks participated by renouncing and rejecting what happened, not only for this particular slaughter (in Acteal), but for all the slaughters that have occurred since the armed uprising in Chiapas, for we know that the government has brought a low-intensity war upon the indigenous communities that support the EZLN. The punks also sprayed graffiti on the buildings of multinational companies, banks, and government centers demanding a public clarification for what happened and for punishment to be given to the assassins.
February-March
During these months in the city of Mexico we organized a campaign against police brutality, constructing different activities, all of which were very successful:
* We sold anti-military and anti-police material (zines, cassettes, shirts) in order to raise funds to print anti-police posters.
* Information: We put together a posterboard display, posters, and informative flyers about the issue of police brutality, the majority of which was seen and displayed at the Chopo.
* A show: We put on an informative show about that campaign and the truth about the game which police play in "protecting" the state.
* Brigades: We organized various brigades of postering, stickering, and graffiti against the abuse of the people by the authorities.
* March: On the 14th of March we held a demonstration/march that denounced police brutality. Around 200 people (the majority punks) distributed and wheat pasted propaganda in the streets during the march, as well as spraying graffiti along the way. At the end of the march, at "Glorieta de Insurgentes" (a part of town in Mexico City), an event took place where some comrades spoke about police brutality.
With this short letter we want to inform the international community about the events that are happening here. We also wish to use this space to ask for financial support in order to pursue further projects. Our economic situation in Mexico is very awful and we hope that with solidarity and mutual support we can create a stronger force to fight against the state.
If you would like more information about the U.P.L. (United Libertarian Punks) you can write to the following:
NOTE: During the campaign against police brutality we mad an informative video; if you would like to obtain it write to the U.P.L. Punk was, is, and always will be a real threat against the state!
¡Viva el punk, libre alternativ@ autogestiv@!
Critical Mass: Report from Minneapolis, July 1998
The July critical mass in Minneapolis was the biggest gathering that there has been so far this year. Over 130 Cyclists took our bikes to the streets on Friday afternoon during the middle of rush hour traffic to assert our right of way, destroy car culture, and celebrate biking as a way of life. After about two hours of backing up traffic on all the major streets, passing out literature to pedestrians and motorists, we turned onto highway 55. We did this to protest the reroute of highway 55 that would destroy trees and greenspace to shorten car commuting by 5 minutes. That's when we saw two squad cars coming up behind us, which we expected because the cops usually follow us to keep things "in order". An officer told one of the cyclists to get to the right side of the road. Without any repeated warnings the cop jammed the cyclist, Jessica, up against the cur with his car, Grabbed her off her bike and started to yell at her. Then he pushed her into the car giving her bruises on her arms and head. Then more cops with they're sirens going came up beside us on the sidewalk. The cyclists got over to the side of the road and kept going. After we turned onto a residential street, one cop threatened a cyclist named Theo, saying that after this he would be going to jail. That cop then swerved into the lane designated for bicycles, got out of his car, tackled Theo to the ground, and dragged him to the squad car. The cop told him that if it would have been nighttime and no one else was around he would have ''beat the shit out him". After that a few people were put into squad cars and had they're bikes taken. One cyclist, Pete, started to question the cops only to find himself in a headlock, then three other cops jumped on him and maced him when he started to yell "leave me alone, somebody help me.'' He tried to hold onto his bike and asked the cops not to take it, and he was thrown into the car. The window was only open a crack, and he having trouble breathing because of the mace. He asked the cops to roll down the window but instead they rolled it all the way up. The remaining cyclists decided to regroup at a nearby park. We were then told we were holding an illegal assembly. Someone asked to see the ordinance that said it was illegal, and she told by a cop" I don't have to get into that with you, go look it up yourself". We did look up the ordnance later on and we found that...Public meetings and constitutionally protected expressions shall be allowed, given or held in parks..." as long as no park rules are being broken. (PB2-19). We decided to leave the park and make phone calls to find out what happened to the people who were taken away by the police. Jessica got a ticket for not being on the right side of the road, Theo got a ticket for not riding next the curb and was arrested for disorderly conduct, Pete was also arrested for disorderly conduct and blocking traffic. In the police report it stated no force was used on him.
Critical Mass doesn't actually block traffic, because in the city ordinance, blocking traffic is defined as, sitting, standing, or laying in the road, and we were moving. Also... acts authorized as an exercise of one's constitutional rights of freedom of speech or assembly...shall not constitute interference with pedestrian or vehicular traffic. (386.65)
It's important that we have a big turn out at the next Critical Mass to show the police that they wont stop us by illegally harassing us. The next Critical Mass will be held on Friday, August 28th at 4:30 in Loring park. If your worried your bike being impounded you can register it with the park board or the Government center. It costs ten dollars, and the money goes to make more bike lanes and trails. Critical Mass happens all over the world, find out about one near you, or start your own!
Insurrecreation Center: A Minneapolis Infoshop
The Insur-Recreation Center is a new infoshop and DIY gig space located at 816 E. 38th St. (corner of 38th & Chicago Ave.) in South Minneapolis. A loose-knit group of about 12-15 people have opened the doors in the beginning of 1998 after saving money all winter and various fund raising attempts. The space consists of a large floor level room with an ever-growing library of anarchist, environmentalist, situationist, punk, and other radical books and zines as well as interesting fiction. There's lots of chairs and couches to sit and read and coffee to drink. There's also loads of fliers on upcoming events in the area and free information on current events. Gigs are held in the basement which can capacitate about 80-100 people.
Vegan Cafe
Every Wednesday at 7pm we host a cafe of full coarse vegan meals which are prepared at various kitchens in the area and brought to center directly. Every week's dish is different, but the high level of quality is the same. We ask for a three dollar donation which includes beverages and desserts. All of the money is donated back to the center to cover the high costs of operation. The cafe is a cool atmosphere to relax, eat good, meet new people, see who is in town, and find out about upcoming events. Bring an empty belly and an open mind!
Bookings
Bands should send us a sample of some sort (tape, record, etc.). Be sure to include lyrics (this is the most important part) and a contact phone number and address. We can do shows just about any night of the week, although we try to avoid Wednesdays because of the cafe. Weekends always get a better turn out than weekdays. Bands get a large percentage of the door money, depending on how far you've come and are going, and the rest goes to the Center to cover expenses like rent and utilities. We can find a place for touring bands to stay and usually provide veggie food before the gig (so come early!).
We can't however, guarantee every band who contacts us a show. We try to avoid doing too many shows in a given week because the turn outs are low for all of them and those of flyering, cooking food, collecting door money, doing sound, etc. won't be able to keep up. If your band can be a bit flexible with dates, that would be great. We want to book bands who want to put something into the DIY movement, not move on to the next big thing. If you're only "doing it yourself" until you can get signed to that indie or metal label, don't bother contacting us. We've got better things to focus our energy on. It should also go without saying, but we won't book any bands with dodgy macho, sexist, nationalist, or homophobic lyrics or attitudes.
Don't feel intimidated about the style of music you play. We need some diversity in that department! It's your lyrics and attitudes that are most important. Remember "Musicianship counts for nothing when you attitude stinks!"
Other events that have included film showings, hip-hop DJ parties sponsored by Anti-Racist Action, a benefit disco and techno party, etc. The film showings will be a regular weekly event next fall and more benefit parties and performances will be scheduled as well. Coming soon will be the Sunday morning hangover brunch!
Weekly meetings
At 8:30pm on Wednesdays (following the cafe) we have an open discussion meeting. Here is where we decide on future events including gigs, menus for the cafe, volunteers for shifts, who will coordinate events, etc. If you want to get involved with the space, have an idea for an event, or just want to see how things are run, this is the place to do it.
After the first two and a half months, things seem to be going good. The cafe and the shows are covering the costs and more and more people are coming by. We have no idea how the fall and winter months will fare though. We're just taking it month by month and hoping for the best. We would like to start a winter savings fund for when things slow down. If you would be interested in making a pledge or helping with fund raising event,- please get in touch! We would all like to thank everyone who has helped out from the start- everyone who's made donations of money, books, zines, furniture, and utensils, helped paint, clean, and construct, driven, cooked- to make this space a reality. The Insur-Recreation is a real DIY alternative which will hopefully be here for some time. Cheers!
Drop by at 816 E. 38th St. Minneapolis
mailing address: Insur-Recreation Center/
P.O. Box 8172/ Minneapolis, MN 55408.
Metelkova Center Opens in Lubjiana
The reading room/infoshop we planned to open for so long is now finally open! We had a small opening party as well (on 28th of January)!
A cooperation between "Skrati (Elves) and the KAPA Assocaition, the reading room/infoshop is located in Metelkova, a developing social and cultural center in Ljubljana. For those of you visiting, Metelkova center is 500m east of the central train/bus station in Ljubljana and the reading room/infoshop is in Lovci (Hunters) building - the official address is Masarykova 24. We would recommend, though, that you inquire about opening time before your arrival.
The reading room is a place where people can get in touch with the abundance of radical, revolutionary, libertarian and humanitarian thought in the form of books, comics, fanzines and magazines. We also organize regular video showings plus we plan to include lectures, debates, presentations and other events as well. We only started, so give us some time, eh? We are trying to from a space which will be able to bring together people and groups interested or involved with radical social change. We would like to provide a forum for the dissemination of DIY/independent creativity, to establish an info-point which would serve as a real contact resource for people using our reading room, but also a place where one could get thought provoking, intelligent, and hopefully inspiring material of any kind that is often very hard to get in mainstream/'established' institutions.
With the help of many generous individuals, groups, distribution/mail order services and publishers we have managed to secure many magazines, journals, pamphlets, and books on radical social theory and critique, permaculture, forest gardening, anarchism, feminism, human and animal rights, social ecology, class issues and struggle, racial and native issues, lesbian and gay studies, bioregionalism, liberation struggles, biotechnology and genetic engineering, civil unrest, vegetarianism/veganism, libertarian thought, communes and intentional communities, open/multiple relationships, political propaganda, appropriate technology, third world issues, critical communication, science, direct action, countercultures, ecological projects, engaged art, animal liberation (front), political prisoners, squatting...
We still need your help, though: if you can afford to send us material (publications of any kind, audio, video, etc), put us on your mailing list, give us a subscription, or even donate money, please do! We are eternally grateful to anybody who has done so so far and will be to anybody who will do it in the future.
If you require any additional information or would just like to write, don't hesitate to get in touch. Thank you very much in advance!
Skrati c/o Retina / Meteldova ulica 6 / 1000 Ljublajana / Slovenia
Junto Local Ninety-One
...is a lending library run by an anarchist collective of volunteers. Junto (a Spanish word meaning "To Unite") was named after a debating group from the 1720's, who decided to pool their personal collections of books in order to have materials with which to educate themselves. Junto was built on the foundations of the late
Liberty Library; the name change celebrates the changes brought about by the collectivisation of the library. Our committment to providing rare, radical and relevant political materials remains steadfast. We feel it is vital to see ourselves reflected in print, to provide a forum for alternative information and lifestyles, to challenge ourselves to unlearn what we've been spoon-fed, to share the skills and knowledge we need to live our chosen lives to the fullest, and to inspire ourselves and each other to Action!
Junto's operating costs are paid for by donations, fundraising, and (mostly) out of the pockets of the volunteers.
Any help you can offer is desperately needed and very much appreciated!
*If you have any excellent materials that you would like to share, please consider donating them to the library, either permanently or temporarily.
*Any cash you can spare will be put towards rent, supplies, and the purchase of new materials.
MEMBERSHIP to Junto is free of charge and entitles you to borrow any item(s) for two weeks, usually. Due dates are negotiable, but, otherwise, late fees will be charged.
*Liberty Library memberships will be honored!
Junto Local Ninety-One /
2D 91 Albery St. / Winnipeg, Manitoba / R3B 1G5 / Canada / (204)
942-6994
