The "Black Bloc", and where do we go from here?
POSTED BY: Niki2
UPDATED: Monday, June 17, 2024 21:43
VIEWED: 2957
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As I just posted to Riona, I find myself on the fence right now, and it appears I'm not the only one. Doing things by the book didn't work for the Tea Party, so I'm not sure what the answer IS, but I may be beginning to get a hint. This article speaks to the "black bloc", the group of self-proclaimed "anarchists" who created all the problems in Oakland, and their effect on the Occupy movement there. They've finally been recognized, locally at least, whether the national media wants to continue to say their violence was done by regular protesters. But...well, here:Quote:
Since last week, the conventional wisdom among progressives has been that Occupy Oakland needs to condemn and expel the black-clad vandals who seek out violent clashes with police. The morning after last week's general strike turned into a night of chaos, many liberals showed up at Occupy Oakland urging demonstrators to embrace nonviolence, and some protesters responded in kind, by helping clean up debris and graffiti in downtown Oakland.
But over the past week, the Occupy Oakland General Assembly has stopped short of denouncing violence, even though many occupiers have distanced themselves from what happened last Thursday morning. At times, calls for peace have been shouted down by the more militant members of the movement. In fact, since last week's events, there appears to be a contingent at Occupy Oakland that is openly embracing violent tactics.
Oft called "The Black Bloc," or "the anarchist wing" of Occupy Oakland (even though many anarchists scorn them), the small group who turned last week's protest into chaos uses a methodology that gained currency after the 1999 World Trade Organization demonstrations in Seattle. They dress in black and obscure their faces with ski masks or bandanas, both to conceal individual identities, promote "solidarity" (i.e., the group looks like one autonomous bloc), and make it difficult for police to apprehend the protesters who throw rocks or light trash cans on fire.
Not all Black Bloc protesters are violent; some merely wear the uniform as a fashion statement, or to show sympathy for their counterparts. One occupier said the black dress helped prevent mass arrests and persecution of individuals. He emphasized that Black Bloc protesters don't subscribe to any uniform political ideology — meaning that not all believe in violent revolution.
But prior to last week, the Black Bloc didn't seem to play a strong part in Occupy Oakland. When a group called the Oakland Liberation Front distributed "anti-peace brigade" fliers a couple days before the general strike, its members were largely denounced. When angry protesters advanced toward a line of cops during the October 29 march against police brutality, peaceful demonstrators intervened. In fact, the Black Bloc was a very small minority on the morning of the general strike. Wednesday's peaceful protest was dominated by union members and progressives who had not been camping out at City Hall.
Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had marching orders to help direct traffic, diffuse conflicts, and keep the peace as large groups of people disrupted service at each of the big banks downtown. For the most part, the peace-keepers were successful. Even after a group of Black Bloc rogues broke off from the main protest to vandalize Whole Foods, the strike remained largely nonviolent. At 4 p.m., a giant group of strikers marched through West Oakland, en route to shut down the port. A couple people in front wheeled a life-size Gandhi float. People held signs that criticized bank bailouts and reframed the protest in economic terms. For a time, it looked as if the general strike would be wildly successful.
But then as the evening wore on, the Black Bloc grabbed control. A group of thirty to fifty suc
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And there's another aspect to this. The Oakland police are having more and more difficulty getting the numbers they want to go after the protesters. Given that all localities are suffering from budget cuts, is this a time when an uprising of the people, should it happen nationwide, BE controllable?Quote:
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday, a man was shot and killed at Frank Ogawa Plaza, feet away from the Occupy Oakland encampment. Almost immediately after the shooting, the protesters tweeted, "This was unrelated to the occupation."
Members of Occupy Oakland may have been concerned that the shooting could precipitate a police raid, something they have been bracing for, as City Council members have demanded the immediate closure of the camp. Even Mayor Jean Quan, who allowed protesters to set up another encampment soon after authorizing a raid on the encampment last month, is calling for protesters to leave peacefully.
"Tonight’s incident underscores the reason why the encampment must end. The risks are too great," the mayor said in a statement Thursday night.
Oakland police have begun to plan another eviction operation, but it appears that this time, they may not be able to rely on other law enforcement agencies. Quan's indecisiveness has frustrated many agencies that provided mutual aid during the eviction and two subsequent demonstrations. Some of the agencies say they cannot afford to send more police to Oakland, when their own departments are understaffed.
“There are some chiefs and some city councils that I think are upset with having to keep sending officers to Oakland,” said Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. “And their point is: ‘Why are we sending people there when their own mayor can’t make a decision on what to do?’”
The Sheriff’s Department told Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan Wednesday they will charge $1,000 per deputy for a 12-hour shift. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said his deputies would only come in for free if the situation prompted an emergency.
“After we assisted Oakland in removing the occupiers who were unlawfully camping in Frank Ogawa Plaza, the government officials allowed them back into the plaza and allowed them to resume camping,” said Ahern. “They're trying to allow people the right to free speech and it's a very difficult line that we're dealing with here. But once they allow it, then they have to understand . . . it’s no longer an emergency.”
Oakland police officers say they understand why other departments are reluctant to help. During a confrontation Nov. 3, demonstrators dressed in black clothing, wearing masks and bandanas, set fire to homemade barricades, threw firecrackers at police and smashed the windows of downtown businesses.
"No one wants to come back," said one police supervisor. "They sustained injuries, they spent all this money on overtime. We used them for nothing."
Oakland police officers, unsure of which agencies they can rely on, are bracing for what they believe will be an inevitable showdown with protesters, who are preparing for a fight.
“We’re going to defend the camp,” said protester Brooke Anderson, who was arrested during an Oct. 25 confrontation with police.
As the encampment enters its second month and the city's costs rise, Quan is facing more pressure to take action.
On Wednesday, City Council President Larry Reid and four other council members, along with business and religious leaders, attempted to stage a news conference at Lake Merritt to call for the immediate closure of the tent city. A swarm of protesters chanting, "We are the 99 percent" interrupted the event. The council members yelled back, "Occupy Oakland must go."
On Thursday, Reid said some council members wanted to schedule a "no confidence vote" in the mayor, but it's unclear whether such a vote, which has no legal impact, will make it onto the council's
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I recall a pro-Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) march in 1978... 100,000+ supporters marching in Washington. They picketed, picked up their trash on the way out and ... nothing happened. The only coverage it got in my city's newspaper was a picture on the back page of two women cooling their feet in a fountain.
"Move your money" was a good idea, and it should continue. I would suggest a nationwide general strike. Also, the pressure needs to be on Washington, since they make the rules. Occupy DC should be much, much bigger. Let's start by trying something specific: getting rid of corporate personhood, or getting rid of NAFTA, or requiring the government to directly offer loans to homeowners.
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Occupy Oakland is, as you say, at a crossroads as a group. And it's a numbers game.
If you REALLY BELIEVE you have 99% of the people behind you, you don't need violence. For all their organizational power and resources, 1% simply can't control the other 99% if the 99% refuse to go along. It's that old Vietnam War saying - what if they called a war, and nobody came?
So, what if OWS was able to call for a genuine nationwide general strike? Of some significant time frame, like 3 days. There is nothing like power in numbers.
But if you don't have the numbers, then violence becomes a potential tool. They are the "and if you don't ..." arm of the movement.
Personally, I think it would be a mistake for Occupy Oakland AT THIS TIME. I think they SHOULD espouse non-violence. I think it would be a great teaching tool, and a way to bring people along into the movement. I think they should condemn violence as being 'not us'. Otherwise, they (and I understand this means you as well) are the Tea Party.
But then, you can't control everyone. And some people will be violent. That's OK. OA can't stop them. As long as you are clear - THEY are NOT US. And violence is a good reminder of the 'or else' side of the equation.
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Yes to everything you said, Sig. There are lots of other things out there, closing loopholes being an obvious (and probably impossible) one; getting rid of the cap on SSI taxes, taxing derivatives (since we can't seem to stop them...). Move your money IS continuing, and one of the things we're working hardest on here in Marin. At least THAT has been having a nationawide impact, of sorts.
One of the things that bothers me most is that it shouldn't BE "OccupyWallStreet", since Wall Street just did what Washington made it possible for them to do (and probably wanted them to do), and it's not really about Wall Street, so I'm wondering why they focused on that. It's Washington that's the problem, and I'm not sure how it gets turned to focusing on what it SHOULD be focusing on. "Occupy Wall Street" is too much class warfare-ish and doesn't begin to solve the problem. Someone said they should have called it the "99%ers" to start with, and I think that would have been a better idea.
I'm way too tiny a cog in the wheel to accomplishing much of anything on my own, and WE'RE waaaaay too tiny compared to SF, Oakland, Berserkeley and San Jose, much less the really big guys, to have much of an impact. It's just very frustrating.
I dunno I dunno I dunno...having a bad brain day. Need to do some PHYSICAL stuff, like brush the dogs and wash my hair, and leave my brain alone for the rest of the day, I think. But you're certainly on the right track!
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Ooops, cross-posted with you, Kiki. Yes to everything you said, too, with a caveat. We know we're not the whole 99%, obviously, and I see there's now a group starting up calling itself the "53%"--as in the 53% that pay income taxes (and I notice nowhere are they saying "income", just "taxes"). I don't know how we increase our numbers to a sufficient point where we can be a power, and I know the camps aren't the answer, I just don't know what the answer IS. The camps were a good starting point, but, as Riona mentioned, they get dirty, violence and non-protesters come in, so it's got to GO somewhere from the starting point that got attention. And so far it's not, from what I see, and frustration will turn people to violence if something doesn't happen. Gawd KNOWS I pray we can accomplish something without violence, I just don't know what, and WHEN, if a direction doesn't come along before frustration gets too big. If I'M feeling it...well...
Also, Oakland's strike got attention, but did turn violent. Dunno what Berserkeley's will do, but if we can't manage little one-city strikes, what happens if they call a nationwide one? I think it would be a fantastic idea in SOME ways, but in others it would hurt people financially, and violence would be more bad press...
Like I said, I dunno...just been doing far too much thinking in the last 48, so time to take a break I guess.
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Anyone who needs to wear a mask to exercise his right of free speech is a coward, probably an agent provocateur (in the employ of whom I won't predict.) and possibly a terrorist. You will note that terrorist cowards in the IRA and Hamas always wear masks. And the KKK wore hoods.
No excuse. NONE.
Dunno how they could be removed-- if by the cops, it does come very close to infringing on the right of free speech. The Occupy movement itself is too disorganized, too leaderless, not strong enough to do it. Maybe those Occupy Marines from the other thread could step up and do it.
But it needs to be done.
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
So, what if OWS was able to call for a genuine nationwide general strike? Of some significant time frame, like 3 days. There is nothing like power in numbers.
Given the response to the strike call in Oakland, where only 15% of the teachers - supposedly a big player in the movement - took one day off, and not too many other folks went out, I'd think that if a call for a nationwide strike showed few numbers it would look like a weakening of support for the Occupy movement.
Recent polling seems to indicate a lessening of support as problems in Occupy camps occur and no defined goals are being developed. Violence or property damage by folks associated with Occupy aren't going to help these numbers.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Quote:
Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Anyone who needs to wear a mask to exercise his right of free speech is a coward, probably an agent provocateur (in the employ of whom I won't predict.) and possibly a terrorist. You will note that terrorist cowards in the IRA and Hamas always wear masks. And the KKK wore hoods.
No excuse. NONE.
Dunno how they could be removed-- if by the cops, it does come very close to infringing on the right of free speech. The Occupy movement itself is too disorganized, too leaderless, not strong enough to do it. Maybe those Occupy Marines from the other thread could step up and do it.
But it needs to be done.
Hello,
I do not think the desire to remain anonymous, by itself, is the mark of a coward or a criminal.
It is important to remember that all of us here on Fireflyfans (and much of the internet) exercise our Free Speech while wearing a Mask.
I consider that to be a sacred right.
--Anthony
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"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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I'm amazed; this is the second time someone's claimed the OWS movement is down in the polls...why is that? Four days ago:Quote:
Poll: Occupy Wall Street Is More Popular Than Wall Street Or Washington | A new poll released today by Knowledge Networks finds that protesters on Wall Street are winning over the public more than two of their chief targets: Wall Street and Washington. Thirty-five percent of respondents “had a favorable impression of the protest movement that began in New York City and gained support worldwide,” while the government in Washington, DC netted 21 percent. Only 16 percent of respondents had a favorable impression of Wall Street. http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/07/362842/poll-occupy-wall-st
reet-is-more-popular-than-wall-street-or-washington/ say much, of course, given how people feel about the Tea Party and Wall Street, and the source is ThinkProgress, so will be immediately dismissed. Nonetheless, last week:Quote:
Support for the tea party has cooled while Occupy Wall Street is showing an early burst of popularity in Pennsylvania, a Daily News/Franklin & Marshall College Poll released Thursday shows. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/133128223.html, I'm sure we're losing support on the news of violence...in the past week or so. But that's right NOW, and as we know, immediacy in polling changes by the day.
There's no doubt people don't like violence. I don't either. But that doesn't mean it's over...by a long shot.
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