LAIN WORD PA BLOOMINGTON ANARCHIST PUBLICATION S ISSUE SIX FREE FALL 2018

CONTENTS: ! PLAIN WORDS

Plain Words is a website and publication that focuses on spreading news and developing analyses of struggles in and around Bloomington, Indiana. As anarchists, we approach these struggles from an anti-state, anti-capitalist perspective. However, we aren’t interested in developing a specific party line – even an anarchist one – and instead value the diverse forms resistance can take. Our is vibrant, undogmatic, and finds common cause with all others who fight for a world without the state, capital, and all structures of domination.

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Everything in Plain Words that is not explicitly attributed to its editors is either taken from the internet or anonymously submitted to us online. All content is presented for educational purposes only. The editors of this project have no connection to content beyond trans- mitting it for others to read. ACCOUNTABILITY THOUGHTS ON

ike many of my peers, I was taught dividuals both hold truths of being harmed accountability. Sold on this false linear vi- that I was solely responsible for my by one another. One person’s truth is that sion, I became caught up in the unexpect- Lactions, that admission meant guilt, they were harmed and another’s is that they ed detours. I could not differentiate needs and that guilt meant punishment. To avoid did not harm. Beginning with an individu- and wants, and my wants changed weekly. punishment, I knew never to admit fault, al’s truth makes room for the messy human- While I know my trauma will likely never to say I’m sorry. As a survivor of childhood ity at the core of transformative practice. cease, I also know that my assaulter’s ac- abuse and sexual violence, I was intimately countability is not dependent on my heal- familiar with harm. In a world of binaries, Rejecting Disposability ing. After all, healing is not curing. Mariame I became both a survivor and a perpetra- Kaba says that our goal should never be tor. I was convinced that accounting for my t a recent training on community ac- for someone never to harm again. While harms would somehow erase the former. countablity Mariame Kaba, founder the desire is fair, this standard denies our In the ten years I’ve lived in Aof Project NIA, said “I don’t want humanity. Expecting people to be their best Bloomington, I have spent countless days you ostracized or thrown away and I don’t selves on their worst days is far from trans- and nights studying and contemplating want to sit with you, and that’s okay. Ac- formative practice. In How We Learned Not what “accountability” means with the countability and boundaries must coexist.” to Succeed in Transformative Justice, Bench An- help of friends, zines, and books. I’m still For years, I envisioned the success of an ac- sfield and Jenna Peters-Golden remind us, unpacking my intentions throughout that countability process marked by my ability to “where a success model might seek to push journey, but the impact is clear. In a search share space with someone who once made through the disappointment, convolutions, to mitigate and prevent harm, I’ve harmed me feel powerless and scared. I’m not sure and complexities intrinsic to this work, our countless friends and allies. Harm can’t be how a world without boundaries became approach aspires to hold a transformative undone but I do believe it can be learned my standard for transformative justice. I’m process in its messy entirety.” from. Conflict is generative. What I offer learning to disrupt this false success/fail- here is a series of lessons I’m still learning ure binary. In Bleeding Out in a Prison Visiting Privacy about what it means to practice transforma- Room, Walidah Imarisha reminds us that “it tive justice, to reject notions of disposability is so much easier to imagine a new world wo truths I’m learning to hold: and binaries, and to embrace the unknown than to go about the painful work of con- of building the world we want. structing it out of our bones and hearts.” T“Gossip is a valid, important, sur- vivor-oriented form of communica- Two Truths Non-Linear tion (pass it on).” Femme Filth #1 by Karina Killjoy e are capable of holding two ealing, nor accountability, is linear. truths. One truth does not have The second accountability process I A certain degree of privacy is neces- Wto dismantle another. Refusing Hparticipated in (as the person who sary for transformation. to sit with this complexity and discomfort was harmed), I expected a smooth progres- disregards the complexity of harm. Two in- sion from harmed to healed, from denial to Transparency should be intentional. In other words, how do we resist culture and hearing our harms named. We We will not cancel us, but we must earn our place the ways in which notions of “privacy” practice building the world we want (healthy on this earth. We will tell each other we hurt peo- have allowed violence to flourish and - re relationships and sexual practices) rather ple and who. We will tell each other why and who peat in communities for long periods of than simply tearing it down. hurt us and how. We will tell each other what we time, while also recognizing that account- will do to heal ourselves and heal the wounds in ability is messy and blasting our worst selves Unknowns our wake. We will be accountability. Rigorous in across digital space motivates few to achieve our accountability. All of us unlearning. All of us meaningful change? ’m still lost in a sea of questions and I crawling towards dignity. We will learn to set and don’t think that’s necessarily bad. If hold boundaries. Communicate without manipula- Scope Itransformative justice relies on commu- tion. Give and receive consent. Ask for help. Love nity, what resources can people without our shadows without letting them rule our relation- n KatyKatiKate’s article “Not that Bad,” community garner? What happens when ships. And remember we are of earth, of miracle, about the survivor who outed Aziz Ansa- online discourse about a harm precedes, of a whole, of a massive river, love life, life love. We Iri, she writes “…if what happened to her coincides, or follows an accountability pro- all have work to do. is a violation, then we are all violated. And cess? How do we develop shared values How to Survive the End everyone is a violator. And that’s a scary and definitions for this week? How do we of the World podcast fucking world to live in. I don’t want to be build capacity for life-long transformative in the world I live in.” This doesn’t mean justice processes? When have we tried hard we downplay sexual violence or we raise our enough and what happens when transfor- threshold for what is “bad enough.” Rath- mation doesn’t come? er, we learn to sit with the reality of rape

SOME NOTES ON POPULISM & ACTIVISM narchists sometimes organize ral- of the day. A break-out march from a marches and street demonstrations, if that’s lies, demonstrations, and break-out liberal rally might reveal to them the all they remain, fall under freedom of ex- Amarches that we know are mean- existence of options besides voting pression. You’re making your voice heard, ingless and boring, entirely for the sake of and liberalism. that’s it. What makes them different from “new people.” That is, we do things that sap liberal rallies? That we’re sometimes in the our energy and waste our time trying to ap- 2. Organizing a demonstration where street? As long as we’re marching down- peal to people who are not in our radical we walk down the street could be an town, the BPD leaves us alone. The city milieu. From what I can tell, there are two opportunity for us to meet said newly government seems to have caught on that arguments for this activity: excited/outraged/motivated people, us marching in the street is our version of and for them to meet each other. attending a rally at The Square to listen to 1. There are probably people excited/ speeches by politicians. It’s the radical way outraged/motivated around the cause Do these arguments hold water? Break-out of feeling like we’re doing something. Are our marches different because gle and popular revolt has dulled anarchy’s boast about to people you barely know. As some people posture with militant chants radical edge, and aimed the anarchists’ if our desires are decadent and indulgent. and banners that don’t reflect what we ac- sight onto appealing to the masses. Since Activism is exhausting. Running tually do? Again, the first amendment guar- oppressed people threw down against the between projects and tasks that don’t seem antees freedom of speech. Unless we’re a police and white supremacy en masse, all to be going anywhere is a recipe for burn- threat for other reasons, what we say is not of a sudden everything is about that, about out. And yes, burnout is real, and no, feeling subversive in the United States. trying to pull more people into these popu- it doesn’t mean you are lazy or uncommit- Demonstrations in the street can lar struggles. While more people struggling ted. potentially be interesting, like the night of and revolting against white supremacy and Here’s a theory: the best way to Trump’s inauguration in downtown Bloom- police would clearly be a good thing, the appeal to new people is not trying to appeal ington, where ATMs, parking meters, the problem is that chasing after these people to new people. Watered-down populism is jail, and a bank were fucked with by a group and moments is self-defeating. boring. Its goal is its very downfall. Tame of people wearing masks. But, that’s not Riots and revolt used to be scorned demonstrations are not exciting. If a lot of seen as targeting “new people,” despite ev- by the populist anarchists, who were chiefly people show, like they did after Charlottes- idence to the contrary regarding who came interested in building working class organi- ville last summer, it’s probably because they to that demo. Apparently, “new people” are zations that would supposedly imbue their care about the cause and want to feel like all cowards with middle class morals regard- members with an anti-state brand of class they’re doing something about it. Not be- ing respect for property. They couldn’t pos- consciousness. Things shuffled around once cause the practice itself is effective or inter- sibly be interested in fucking shit up. oppressed people began regularly rioting in esting. In my experience, the more talk the US alongside a clearly identifiable social Instead of draining yourself with of appealing to “new people,” the more struggle. Now, riots and revolts are in the obligatory-feeling demonstrations, feel out watered-down, tame, and boring the actions populist playbook, but only if they’re part and follow your desires. Go down a path are going to be. If these practices some- of a popular struggle, consisting mostly of that makes sense to you. If you’re cre- how do bring new people into our circles, non-radicals. Revolts taken without a social ative, your activity likely won’t fit the image or prompt them to begin their own radical base are scorned as irresponsible, juvenile, of radicalism and social struggle legible projects separate from us, they will only and insular. through the spectacle. That’s fine. If you’re have learned to do things that are tame, Anarchist insularity is the boogie- earnest and audacious, and people notice boring, and meant to appeal to new people. man that appealing to “new people” sets it- you, your actions may be contagious and Organizing demos to walk down Kirkwood self up against. Criticisms of anarchists be- the ideas behind them appealing. teaches organizing demos to walk down ing insular are almost always calls to water And if nobody cares, oh well, at Kirkwood. Break-out marches from Indi- things down and hide our politics. To wage least you’re doing what you want to any- visible rallies teach break-out marches from Gramsci’s War of Position, like Communist ways. Better that then burn yourself out Indivisible rallies. If there’s no combative- Party cells operating in the McCarthyist playing “more righteous than thou” with ness, creativity, or spark of joy and life, then 1950s. We shouldn’t talk about anarchy or liberals at their parades and rallies. what’s the point in bringing in new people? openly identify as anarchists, no, that’s too My arguments are based on my percep- Just to have more of us? Orienting our much of a bugbear for the timid masses. tion of a political tendency that I disagree with. I goals towards growth is to adopt the log- Activists look down on “nihil- don’t mean to yell at strawmen. Did I get something ic of our enemies: of capitalism, political ists” (their predecessors called us lifestylists wrong? Submit a response article to Plain Words. parties, and religions. (see Fredy Perlman’s twenty years ago) for not filling our days Against His-Story, Against Leviathan!) with visible, populist, activist projects. As if Admittedly, there are benefits to the only valuable activities are those you can people new to radical politics entering our circles, or starting their own, separate proj- ects. Folks who haven’t been anarchists or radicals for a while tend to have energy and excitement that’s revitalizing and inspiring. They usually aren’t as jaded and cynical as we are, at least regarding radical politics. And it’s possible, but in no way guaranteed, that we can impact the world in some way, perhaps even spread our val- ues throughout society. If there are more of us, that could mean more opportunities for such possibilities to play out. But, if the mentality we adopt is one of growing a movement, that’s going to produce none of those effects, since the only value we’ll be imparting is the imperative to grow. Since Ferguson erupted in the summer of 2014, a fixation on social strug- FINESTTHE

ART

contributions to a dialogue

he following is a continuation (of of Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus in opposition Museum Amsterdam, with most damage in- sorts) of the dialogue on art started to the state’s repression against suffragette flicted to theHoly Family by Lorenzo Costa. Tin issue five of Plain Words. It is an Emmeline Pankhurst, stating, “If there is effort to contribute another perspective to an outcry against my deed, let every one 1972: Tony Shafrazi sprays “KILL LIES the debate. Where one side decries televi- remember that such an outcry is an hypoc- ALL” across Picasso’s Guernica, protesting sion (and, by proxy, art) as a social pressure risy so long as they allow the destruction of Richard Nixon’s pardon of William Calley valve and apparatus of pacification, and the Mrs Pankhurst and other beautiful living for the latter’s actions during the My Lai other finds hope and beauty in art appre- women, and that until the public cease to massacre. ciation, I wish to offer an alternative: the countenance human destruction the stones oft-neglected fine art of revolt. cast against me for the destruction of this 1974: A handicapped woman, upset by the What becomes possible when we picture are each an evidence against them Toyko National Museum’s policy for the transcend the mere consumption of beau- of artistic as well as moral and political disabled, sprays red paint at the Mona Lisa. tiful things and become active participants humbug and hypocrisy.” [Note: Richardson in the creation of new moments, new cre- later, disgustingly, became a fascist, an act for which 1975: William de Rijk, an unemployed ative expressions? What world-transform- I have no affinity.] school teacher, cuts dozens of zigzag lines ing works might spring from the bodies of Rembrant’s Night Watch with a knife. those who take Bakunin’s words seriously: 1956: The Mona Lisa is severely damaged the urge to destroy is also a creative urge? Or, bet- when a vandal douses the painting with 1976: Blue dye sprayed over Carl Andre’s ter, Breton’s: beauty will be convulsive or it will acid. Later the same year, Ugo Ungaza Vil- display of bricks at London’s Tate Gallery. not be at all. legas damages the painting with a rock. 1977: Ruth van Herpen kisses a painting by margot v. 1959: A vandal throws acid on The Fall of the Jo Baer at the Oxford Museum of Modern Damned by Peter Paul Rubens. Art, claiming to having been trying to cheer up a “cold” painting. A chronology of 1964: Edvard Eriksen’s the statue The Little emergent possibility Mermaid has its head sawn off and stolen by 1978: A Dutch artist, disgruntled over the individuals associated with the Situationist non-payment of his welfare by the Am- International. sterdam authorities, makes three long cuts 1911: An unemployed navy cook tries to cut in the center of the painting La Berceuse by Rembrandt’s Night Watch with a knife. 1967: Pierre Pinoncelli sprays art critic and Vincent van Gogh. French culture minister André Malraux 1913: Abram Balashev attacks with a knife with red paint. 1978: An Italian man slashes the painting the painting Ivan Grozny and his son Ivan by The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Ilya Repin. 1969: Unidentified persons leave long Poussin at the National Gallery in London. scratches in five paintings at the Stedelijk 1914: Mary Richardson slashes the canvas 1985: Rembrandt’s Danaë attacked with acid trade and merchandise... What I did was not 2003: The Little Mermaid blown from its base and a knife. against the painting. I view my act as a dia- by explosives. logue with Malewitz.” 1990: A man throws acid on Rembrandt’s 2006: Pierre Pinoncelli attacks another copy Night Watch. 1998: Michael Bethell paints a yellow pound of Duchamp’s Fountain with a hammer. sign on Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait at the Age 1991: Pietro Cannata, maligned by authori- of 63, citing the Situationist International in 2006: A 12-year-old boy sticks chewing gum ties as insane, attacks Michelangelo’s David his defense. to $1.5 million abstract painting The Bay by with a hammer, damaging a foot. Helen Frankenthaler. 1998: The Little Mermaid decapitated again. 1993: Pietro Cannata returns, scribbling 2007: Police arrest artist Rindy Sam after with black pen on a fresco by Filippo Lippi 1999: Yuan Cai and Jian Xi Ianjun jump on she kisses the all-white canvas of Phaedrus in Prato Cathedral. My Bed, a work by the British artist Tracey by Cy Twombly, leaving a red lipstick mark, Emin comprising an unmade bed accompa- explaining “It was just a kiss, a loving ges- 1993: Pierre Pinoncelli urinates in Marcel nied by empty bottles, dirty underwear and ture. I kissed it without thinking; I thought Duchamp’s Fountain (a signed urinal) and used condoms. the artist would understand... It was an ar- attacks it with a hammer. tistic act provoked by the power of Art.” 1999: Pietro Cannata strikes again, hurling 1994: Mark Bridger pours blank ink into the a pot of ink at a Jackson Pollock painting 2007: Vandals break into the Orsay Muse- tank of Damien Hirst’s Away from the Flock at the National Gallery of Modern Art in um in Paris in the early morning, set off the – a white sheep floating in formaldehyde. Rome. alarm and damage the painting Bridge at Ar- genteuil by Claude Monet. 1996: Canadian artist Jubal Brown vandalis- 2000: Yuan Cai and Jian Xi Ianjun urinate es Raoul Dufy’s Harbor at le Havre and Piet on the Tate Modern copy of Fountain, not- 2009: A Russian woman, distraught over Mondrian’s Composition With Red and Blue by ing that Duchamp himself said artists de- being denied French citizenship, throws a vomiting primary colors on them. fined art. terracotta mug at the Mona Lisa.

1997: Alexander Brener paints a green dol- 2001: Another work by Damien Hirst – a 2012: Uriel Landeros spray paints a bull and lar sign on Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematisme, display of coffee cups, dirty ashtrays, beer writes “Conquista” with black spray paint stating in court that “the cross is a symbol bottles, etc. – is thrown away by cleaners over Woman in a Red Armchair by Pablo Pi- of suffering, the dollar sign a symbol of who mistake it for refuse. casso.

Hungarians stand over the toppled statue of Joseph Stalin on October 23, 1956 Their Own Game S ON t is easy to belittle taggers – those who T PA choose to spray-paint initials or nick- H I Inames on walls to show that they’ve been G N there. Certainly, they could leave a message, U T an insurgent slogan, an explicit expression O of rage or rebellion. Wouldn’t that be more & worthwhile? I used to be among those who H made such complaints about taggers, put- ting them down for the lack of content in T W their graffiti. But one day, as I was walking through the city where I lived, I began to

A notice the places where taggers would leave their marks. I realized that although most

L taggers are not, by any means, insurgent an-

L archists, there are aspects of their activity S that challenge some of the fundamental as- pects of this society, and do so in a playful and adventurous way. They are playing their own game. One of the most basic institutions of this society is exclusive property. Every space is the legally protected property of a particular person, institution or collectivity. When individuals use spaces that are not legally theirs for their own purposes with- out asking the legal owner’s permission, it is considered a crime. This is what taggers do. reprint these texts with hope that they care for “craft.” Screeds that defy logical Tagging can be seen as an uncon- will affirm or outrage. The first, a chal- understanding. The more ugly the tag, the scious challenge to officially recognized I lenge to some anarchists’ dismissal of more it places itself in conflict with the property rights, to the law and to cops. So graffiti, is from an old issue of the insurrec- manicured, boring city and its legalized street as not to delude ourselves though, it is nec- tionary anarchist periodical Willful Disobedi- art. I am strengthened by every vain deface- essary to be aware that some tagging is done ence. The second is text from a wheatpasted ment of local artists’ “public art” (especially by gangs who are seeking to establish their manifesto left behind by the Splasher, an attempts to fuck up the bland, gentrifying power and to claim a certain space as their individual or group who began vandalizing excreta of certain punks and former anar- exclusive property within the subcultural famous works of street art in New York chists in pay of the city). context of gang society. There is nothing City in 2006. Together, I believe they offer Perhaps a new level of defiance is the least bit insurgent, even in a latent, un- questions for anarchists and vandals alike. to be found in rejecting the symbolic alto- conscious sense, in this gang usage of tag- First though, I’ll bring things to the present gether – abandoning words and images in ging. It is merely a subcultural reflection of with some of my own thoughts. favor of paint thrown haphazardly onto any the dominant culture’s values. However, the I don’t give a damn about the surface that one despises. Local breweries, majority of taggers either play solo or in tag politics behind graffiti. I am happy to see banks, condominiums, luxury cars, ATMs, teams which are not street gangs, but exist my imprisoned friends’ names on walls (a police stations, art galleries, advertisements, solely for the game of tagging. practice that anarchists in Bloomington security cameras, hip coffeeshops, vegan And what a game! Late in the sadly have abandoned in recent years); I bakeries, Mayor John Hamilton: the possi- night, these adventurous vandals climb am drawn to action to eliminate white su- bilities are endless. Let’s not forget that it twelve-foot fences topped with razor wire. premacist graffiti when I see it. Otherwise, took a year for them to clean the exterior of They scale vertical walls without ladders. I am delighted by the proliferation of new the jail after anonymous individuals splat- They venture into subway tunnels and up tags, especially from those who seem to tered its façade with paint in January 2017. on to billboards. All of this while having to approach their crime playfully. As Bloom- These actions won’t be taken seriously by keep an eye out for the cops and other up- ington seeks to legalize certain forms of humorless “revolutionaries,” but what’s pet- holders of the law and property rights. It is graffiti as “street art” to bolster its image as ty vandalism without the pettiness? certainly a game of wits, strategy and cre- a hip liberal oasis, there are those who don’t ative imagination. It involves an energetic, bother to wait for permission before acting it’s OK to destroy nice things, practical defiance of the law and property in the world. Whatever the content of their A menagerie in revolt, a jungle, liberty rights. And it is a game that is played purely tags, I feel affinity with these vandals. for the pleasure that is found in the risk of I love irrational vandalism. Tags such practical defiance. thrown up every few feet without much Those of us who have a con- sciously insurgent perspective, who know would be useful tools for insurgents, for (the smashing of the clock) guaranteed this that we want to destroy this society and its those who willfully want to defy and destroy outcome. Like an idealistic politician, the institutions, might do better to learn from society in its totality. The combination of piece of paper, despite its creator’s intent, these games rather than belittle them. Com- conscious insurgence with the playful spirit can only represent, and it is for this reason pared to the safe little backroom orgies and of tagging could lead to more adventurous that it instantly became a ‘fetishized’ object the street theater/performance art pieces and daring games, games of defiant attack segregated from the action. Only in a cul- that all too often seem to be the sum total on ever-greater levels. ture obsessed with its own excrement are of “insurgent” games played by anarchists, the by-products of action elevated above this game seems much more challenging, action itself. both to the institutions of society and for *** Representation is the most ele- the players. It requires real courage and wits. mental form of alienation. Art as repre- The sorts of activities pursued by most an- sentation is no exception. It is just another archists to “challenge” the institutions of Art: The Excrement of Action means by which our perceptions and desires society indicate an underlying belief that are mediated. Art is the politician of our these institutions are predominantly mental Dadaist once smashed a clock, senses: it creates actors and an audience, constructs that merely have to be argued dipped the pieces in ink, pressed the agents and a mass. True creativity is the away or symbolically exorcised. In tagging, Aink-soaked pieces against a sheet of joyful destruction of this hierarchy; it is the the physical reality of these institutions is unmediated actualization of desires. The paper and had it framed. His purpose was squarely faced and recognized as an essen- to criticize the modernist idealization of passion for destruction is a creative pas- tial aspect of what must be attacked. Not efficiency. Rather than inspiring the - wide sion. We are all capable of manifesting our that the psychological aspects of these in- spread smashing of clocks and the reval- desires directly, free of representation and stitutions are unreal, but they are an out- uation of time in society, the piece of pa- commodification. We will continue mani- growth of the physical basis of power. The per has become a sought-after commodity. festing ours by euthanizing your bourgeois energy, the courage, the adventurous spirit The production of a representative organ fad. and the practical imagination of taggers (the ink-imprinted paper) for the action

FREE

JEREMY HAMMOND

eremy Hammond is an anarchist Corporate corruption, US government sentenced to ten years in federal prison. serving 10 years in prison for spying on foreign leaders, the Department He has repeatedly been punished with long Jleaking information about Strategic of Homeland Security’s report on Occu- stays in solitary confinement for his outspo- Forecasting, Inc. (), a private intelli- py Wall Street and its plans for infiltration, ken beliefs and intransigent attitude. As Jer- gence firm engaged in spying at the behest spying on activists in Bhopal following the emy continues to struggle behind bars, let’s of corporations and governments. DOW Chemical and Union Carbide gas give him all the support we can! The documents, published on disaster in 1984, and a hidden indictment Wikileaks, show Stratfor’s collaboration against Wikileaks founder For more information: with corporate and state institutions against were all exposed by Jeremy’s action. FreeJeremy.net individuals and movements for change. In November 2013, Jeremy was profound challenge to the entire religion. you exist in a wider community and are re- ANARCHISM & However, there are also other sponsible for it, whether you asked for it or facts to consider. Jesus of Nazareth was a not. The virtue of sharing also reminds us brown-skinned Hebrew rebel, nailed to a that our work needs to be intergenerational. CHRISTIANITY Roman cross as a threat to the empire. Jesus We cannot be radicals if we are not hospi- FRUITS of Nazareth went to his death challenging table to children and to old people. There unjust state power. Jesus proclaimed a new will never be a if the only people FOR THE Kingdom, one that opposed the powers of who can participate are single, able-bodied his day, a Kingdom that privileged the poor 16–to-36-year-olds. SPIRIT and outcast while condemning the rich. He At the Bloomington Catholic invited his followers to “take up your cross Worker, we talk about “personalism”: that and follow me,” inviting them to a life of we are bound to take personal responsibil- , peace and confrontation ity for the people around us at a person- with empire and its enablers. These facts al sacrifice. We commit to caring for our offer a continual reminder that the white, homeless sisters and brothers, for our own blond-haired, blue-eyed, gun-toting, wom- children and our neighbors’ children, even an-hating Jesus of the religious right is a if it means we have less time, money, or god of their own making. And that “god” is energy for ourselves or things we want. To one I have no interest in defending. take sharing seriously, then, we also have to So what am I defending, then? I cultivate selflessness. want to discuss six characteristics empha- sized in that are beau- Selflessness tiful, good and true: sharing, selflessness, reconciliation, hope, tradition and love. A apitalism is dependent on selfish- fine definition of “anarchism” I once read ness. Indeed, the profit motive is am a Christian Anarchist. I have been for in Plain Words suggested that anarchism de- nothing other than a monetized fifteen years. As a founding member of C mands “we sow the seeds of a new human- form of self-concern. We daily swim the Bloomington Christian Radical Cath- I ity now.” These six virtues, I propose, are through a morass of propaganda and adver- olic Worker Community, my faith has been good seeds; and we who are trying to forge tising telling us to be selfish and to pursue instrumental in arriving at a revolutionary new societies should cultivate them. our own self-interest. One of the traditional criticism of modern capitalism, and my pol- To provide practical examples, “seven deadly sins” is Avarice, also known itics have been instrumental in developing I will also touch briefly how these seeds as “greed” or “desire for wealth;” and yet my religious beliefs. I want to share some are (imperfectly) lived out in our Christian Capitalism lies by elevating greed to a virtue particular gifts that Christianity can bring to Radical Catholic Worker community. I’ll say rather than the vice it is. anarchist thought and practice. more below, but the Bloomington Catholic Because selfishness is so deeply in- These gifts are gifts of emphasis; Worker is a community gathered together grained in our culture, it is exceedingly dif- these elements can be found both in people to imitate Jesus’s nonviolence, voluntary ficult (and counter-cultural) to uproot. This of different religious traditions and in peo- poverty and radical hospitality. We are com- is one place where spiritual roots and tra- ple with no religious traditions at all. But mitted to caring for children, homeless peo- ditions can be valuable. Reflecting on God they have a distinctiveness within the Chris- ple and the earth. We have no connection can help us cultivate selflessness. A friend tians tradition, and they can enrich secular to the Roman Catholic Church or any other once told me that the heart of all religious political radicals. I share these reflections church institution. traditions can be summarized as “Get Over not to convert anyone to Christianity or to Yourself.” Christian Anarchism reminds us get folks to join the Catholic Worker, but Sharing that the individual self, while good, is not rather to encourage reflection and dialogue the object of ultimate concern. on these ideas and also to build awareness t is reported that the first Christians re- At the Bloomington Catholic and comradeship between my Catholic jected private ownership of any pos- Worker, one way we try to cultivate selfless- Worker community and Plain Words readers. session but instead held everything in ness is commitment to Voluntary Poverty: But first things first. I am painfully I common. Those who had wealth sold their we pledge to serve God rather than money, aware that people who claim to be Christian possessions and distributed the proceeds to success or stability. By accepting less than have perpetrated some of the most oppres- whomever had need. This tradition of com- we want, we learn to place a higher value sive evils and reprehensible crimes against munities in which people work according to on sharing and we learn to give up our own humanity in the history of the world. Many their ability and receive according to their wishes in order to better serve one another. of the most dangerous people alive today need has been unbroken for 2000 years, claim the mantle of Christianity. The ma- continuing through counter-cultural Chris- jority of Christians either stood aside or Reconciliation tian communities. And it reminds us that cheered developments such as slavery, the the first work of culture-building is taking crusades, colonialism and nuclear weapons. veryone who hangs around in radical care of one another. Those facts are indisputable, and the hypoc- or community circles learns a very The Amish call this duty of shar- risy and failure of professed Christians is a Edifficult lesson: even if our politics ing “mutual aid.” It is the recognition that are good, even if we’re badass, even if we Tradition Love all like the same music, we are all of us nev- ertheless still broken and damaged people. f we are marching toward a new society, t the Catholic Worker, we “hope (If you haven’t learned it yet experiential- it helps to have a sense where we are go- and work for a new society brought ly, hang around for a while… you will.) We Iing. Moving toward an utterly unknown Aabout by the revolution of the gather as comrades to escape the senseless destination is not only disorienting, but heart.” We hope to be the vanguard of a cruelty of imperialist capitalism, and then more importantly it allows our own preju- revolution of values, declaring eternal hos- we turn around and act senselessly cruel dices and flaws to sabotage the journey. It tility to poverty, racism and militarism by to one another. If a community is going is good, then, to remember we are not the continually welcoming the poor and home- to be truly life-giving, if it is going to be first humans to strive for justice, nor are we less into our midst, affirming the sacred val- sustainable for a new future, then it has to the first people to try and love-in-action. ue of all human beings, and by nonviolently create spaces that accept our own failures Heroic and inspiring people have come in resisting the works of war. This must be no and hurts. It has to be an instrument of for- every generation before us, and we can use weak and sentimental love; but Love as an giveness. their lives and examples as signposts to dis- empowering force that actualizes the saving Forgiveness is a pretty unnatural cern the path before us. choice of life and good against the damn- concept, and yet it is essential for any group ing forces of evil and death, Love as the su- of people who will truly and intimately live preme unifying principle of life. Anger and together and bear one another’s burdens. hate are completely justified in this world of At the Catholic Worker, we have capitalist oppression; and yet anger and hate a weekly ritual of reconciliation. We sit to- are self-defeating. We must love another, gether quietly, we encourage one another, love our children, love our friends, love our we confess if we’ve made mistakes or hurt planet, love our neighbors and, yes, even one another, and we share grievances if work to love our enemies. there is conflict between or within people. This is not about dictating to op- We try not to leave the circle until everyone pressed people how they should respond to is in right relationship with each other. Be- their oppression or encouraging victims to cause there is no joy or love in one another love their victimizer; no one should do that. without forgiveness. But we must also not be ashamed to rec- ognize that communities and nations built Hope upon hatred, fear or violence inevitably spawn greater hatred and violence; while ne persistent enemy of all those communities and societies truly organized who work for justice is despair. around the principle of love create beauty OThe powers and forces of oppres- and human flourishing. Whoever does not sion are so great, and our resistance is so love abides in death, and so we must love in small. The planet is unlikely to survive long truth and action. enough for even the most short-term rev- olutionary timeline. The game is rigged on ove, Tradition, Hope, Reconciliation, the side of the rich and we can’t change the Selflessness, Sharing: these are indis- rules. This is not to discount the serious Lpensable nutrients for planting a new And yet the message of Easter flaws of previous (and current) generations. society. If we want a world without police, is “Do not be afraid.” An affirmation of Consider Francis of Assisi, Harriet Tub- we need to build communities where people Christian hope is that Love Wins; as Dr. man, Oscar Romero, Fannie Lou Hamer, know how to get along. If we want a world King said, “The moral arc of the universe Dr. Martin Luther King: there’s not an an- without corporate power and upscale con- is long but it bends towards justice.” We archist among them, and yet we still have dos, we need communities that are content should not despair but have hope, hope much we can learn from these forerunners. with sharing and simplicity. If we want a that nothing, not even death, will defeat the , co-founder of the Catholic world without national anthems or borders, cause of the just. What can stand against Worker, once wrote “Tradition is the de- we need to build communities rooted in us? mocracy of the dead,” meaning that we will something deeper than patriotism. We need At the Catholic Worker, we try to be severely impoverished if we limit our deep reserves of power to fight the masters express hope by continuing to work and en- pool of wisdom to only those who are still of postindustrial capital. We can find deep gage in against war, knowing breathing. wells of that power in religious traditions that we are merely sowing seeds. We contin- Our community has a “saint wall,” and in Christianity, and we should take it. ue in protest and hospitality not because we with pictures and stories of flawed yet pro- We all have so much to learn, one from an- expect them to yield results, but because we found examples of well-lived lives: folks other. are part of something greater. We also have like Basil the Blessed, the Buddha, Eugene babies, which reminds us that God has not V. Debs, John Donne and Therese of Li- Ross E Martinie Eiler given up on people. We also like to sing a seux. It reminds us that we don’t have to lot. figure it all out ourselves, but can receive the torch from others before we pass it along. ANARCHIST PORTRAITSNOVATORE RENZO

enzo Novatore was born Abele to say goodbye to his dying son. In another On November 29, 1922, Novatore Rizieri Ferrari on May 12, 1890 instance, he used home-made grenades to and Pollastro were ambushed by carabinieri Rin Arcola, Italy. A rebellious child drive away fascists who came to his home (Italian military police). Pollastro escaped, from peasant stock, he rejected formalized to kill him. but Novatore was killed as he lived: on his schooling immediately, favoring self-educa- Though a fierce individualist, No- feet, shooting at the cops. With his body, tion. Fleeing labor on his father’s farm, he vatore formed close bonds with other an- investigators found a Browning gun, false stole fruit and chickens to sell in order to archists, bringing forth common projects documents, a hand grenade, and a secret purchase books, and through this studied strengthened by the collaboration of auton- container filled with cyanide. theory, fiction, drama, and poetry. From omous individuals. He participated in an an- Max Stirner, Friedrich Nietzsche, Oscar archo-futurist collective, pushing it to join hile Novatore’s writings appear Wilde, Charles Baudelaire, and Henrik Ib- with the Arditi del Popolo (The People’s to many to be elitist and con- sen, he looted critiques of mass society Daring Ones), an anti-fascist group dedicat- Wtemptuous of the oppressed, and its herdlike behavior, formulating for ed to militant opposition to Mussolini. how can one look at the horror of World himself, through theory’s grand soirée with Alongside action, Novatore gave War I - in which the proletariat of oppos- lived action, an insurgent individualist an- life to words, writing for anarchist papers ing countries were riled by nationalist fer- archism. from 1914 on: Cronaca Libertaria, Il Libertar- vor to slaughter each other - and not rail His war with society escalated in io, Gli Scamiciati, Nichilismo, Pagine Libere. He against the herd mentality of “the Peo- 1910, when he was imprisoned for three published a magazine, Vertice, and, with in- ple?” How can one see the crimes against months for burning a local church. In 1911, dividualist youth Bruno Filippi, formed the life perpetuated by those who daily choose wanted by the police for acts of theft and journal Iconoclasta!. Novatore’s writings have conformity and not bring to arms against robbery, he chose clandestinity, but was been translated and collected in Toward the this one’s own biophilic crime? In our con- arrested on September 30 for vandalism. Creative Nothing and Novatore, both available temporary world, in which the individual is With the approach of World War I, he was freely online. shattered by technologically-induced mania drafted, deserted his regiment, and was By 1919, Novatore was captured and reduced to prescribed (and increasingly sentenced to death for desertion and high after being ratted out by a farmer. He was numerous) identities, Novatore’s insurgent treason. Once again living in clandestinity, sentenced to ten years in prison, but released offers us tools of escape, Novatore spread propaganda against the a few months later in a general amnesty. weapons of war. army, and in favor of desertion and insur- With fascism quickly spreading throughout The unique individual - straight- rection against the state. Despite pursuit by Italy, Novatore went underground, pursu- jacketed by social duty, manacled by moral- state authorities, Novatore - married with ing a life of crime and revolt amongst the ism, broken by work, hounded by police of two children - returned home at great risk gang of famed robber Sante Pollastro. all breeds - finds herself with no option but to develop, alone and with others in mutual The dogmatic frogs of societari- and won himself walks on his own path and affinity, projects of revolt against society. anism and the gooses of the ideal croaked, follows his free course. Novatore’s comrade-in-spirit Max Stirner but their croaking only served to fill my But let no one come to me to im- distilled this into a simple truth: one must rise heart with intoxication and distill poisons in pose his belief, his will, his faith on me. By in revolt to rise in the world. my words. denying god, fatherland, authority, and law, The theoretical and philosophical I have achieved anarchism. By refusing to communize material wealth, chattering of the ruling plebeian “wisdom” sacrifice myself on the altar of the people individualize spiritual wealth, no longer moves me, just like the choreo- and of humanity, I have achieved individu- margot v. graphic demonstrations of starving mobs alism. or those of the people cheering new re- Now I am free... deeming Jesuses no longer move me... The war that I opened against The Revolt of the Unique I have a personal truth of my own phantoms has ended with my victory. Now (an excerpt) that isn’t and can’t be universal “truth.” I the cycle of a new war has opened! by Renzo Novatore am guided by an instinct, by a feeling, by a The war against the brute force of dream, that are only the trilogy composing society, of the people, of humanity. Against don’t want to dictate moral maxims to my the unique ideal that is my individuality. In- these terrible and colossal monsters that “neighbor,” or teach anyone anything... I dividuality that nobody except me and my aren’t ashamed to dare to act against the Ileave this task to the missionaries of all power can make strong, free, and happy!... unique and the brutal force of their thou- I don’t deny to anyone the beauty sand monstrous arms, I “authorize” myself faiths, the priests of all churches, the dem- agogues of all parties, the apostles of all of their ideas, the strength of their dream, to defend myself with all the weapons that ideas. and the truth of their thought. it is possible for me to dare to use: with all I only want to howl my extreme I know that everyone may lock those means that I have the power and the rebellion against everything that oppresses within himself precious mines filled with ability to make use of. Without scruples! me; I only want to push far away from me unknown treasures; I know that where a Because I am one who really fol- everything that the religious, socialist, or human being lives there is—or can be—a lows himself! libertarian priesthood wants to impose on world with all its lands and seas, its joys I cultivate the flowers of my my individuality without me having freely and sorrows, its sun and stars, its loves and garden and I quench my thirst at my own accepted and wanted it. hates. springs. Digging into the underground of Let each human being therefore If for you my flowers are poison- my depths, I have been able to penetrate the work—if he thinks this way—at the discov- ous and my waters bitter, to me instead they mystery of my “I” (emotional—spiritual— ery of his own I, at the realization of his fill the heart with a fierce joy and give me physical—instinctive); I have been able to own dream, at the complete integration and wild and heroic quivers in the flesh and spir- discover my will and my power; I have been full development of his own individuality. it. able to take possession of my “uniqueness.” Every human being who has discovered WHAT IS COURT SUPPORT? I’m not a lawyer. I’ve learned all this stuff from tus, or other factors. While I’ll focus mostly charges. There’s a decent chance that what- being in court rooms and sometimes reading stuff on pretrial support here, we can apply some ever the state actually charges someone with on the internet. of it to post-conviction hearings such as will be different from anything the cops tell sentence modifications or appeals, or civil you, since that’s the decision of the prose- ne could write volumes on legal cases. cutor, but it’s helpful to have an indication proceedings and responding to Court support can start before we of what you’re dealing with. In Blooming- Ostate repression, so this piece is ever get to the court room. Witnessing an ton there’s only one place an arrestee is go- meant only as an introduction. For the most arrest can be very helpful for understanding ing to be taken, but if you’re in a bigger city part, I’ll be talking about supporting defen- the circumstances and the behavior of the with multiple police stations and jails, it’s a dants facing criminal charges; most of my cops. Filming the police has become a bit good idea to ask where they’re taking them. experience is in arrests for protests or other of thing lately. Sometimes it’s a good idea, Also, if they seem to have closer friends or political activity. But the practice of court sometimes it isn’t. Think about whether that family around, talk to them! Get a name, support can also be useful for arrests due to person would want the arrest and possibly ideally a birth date, and whatever you can lifestyle, either by choice or coercion, such preceding events to be on tape, and poten- on what kind of support they might need. as , theft, or sex work or for peo- tially end up in discovery. If you’re present Ok, so somebody has been ar- ple who have been profiled and targeted by for the arrest, you can ask the cops what rested. Maybe you saw it, maybe you heard the police because of their race, mental sta- they’re arresting this person for, on what about it, or you just suspect it. The next step is to call the jail. We’re primarily trying to pretrial conference, if any. They often only wills in place, so we have to navigate things figure out a few things: charges, holds, bail, last a few minutes. But they can deal with more carefully. Generally people appreciate and the condition of the person arrested. things like filing motions and talking about court support, but sometimes a personal or Some jails are more forthcoming than oth- discovery and taking depositions. This is embarrassing thing may come up in court ers. I find that in Bloomington you generally a good opportunity to invite more people and they don’t want a bunch of people to don’t need a person’s DOB to inquire about to attend court to show support, if that’s hear it. I’d say just use your best judgment them, but in some places you do. If the per- what the defendant wants. These hearings and that it will get easier with practice. son appears to have been injured during the are also some of the only times you’ll see The second is the importance of arrest, or you know if they have any medical the lawyer face-to-face, so make the most being an active defendant. And there’s a conditions, ask how they’re being cared for. of it. Have questions ready. Prep with the lot we can do as supporters to enable that. The honest answer will always be “poorly” defendant if the lawyer won’t talk to you di- I find a lot of people are so confused by but if someone’s asking, perhaps it will be rectly. the proceedings that they have a hard time a small incentive to do better. Ask what In most cases, after a few months knowing how they want to handle it. Or it’s they’re being charged with. Again, these of hearings, a plea deal will eventually be too stressful to think about so they avoid it. might not be finalized, but it informs the offered by the prosecution, or negotiated Here, we can be really helpful by explaining bond and the holds, so they’ll have initial between the prosecution and the defense. the processes to them. Even being familiar charges at least. With less serious charges, Sometimes the charges will be dismissed with the local judges and public defenders a person is often OR’d, or released on their outright, or the defendant could be offered can be useful. (Most of the judges for crim- own recognizance. That means they don’t a pretrial diversion. The vast majority of inal cases in Monroe County are leaving the have to pay any money. Otherwise, they’ll criminal cases are settled with pleas and bench soon, but the worst one, Diekhoff have a bond set. If they want to be bailed never go to trial. Sometimes a defendant - yes, as in married to the chief of police out, and you have enough money, you go can hold out for a better plea, but there’s - will still be around). You can develop a to bail bondsman and pay a percentage obviously some risk to that, so that’s a con- sense of what’s normal and thus be able to of the bond to him, as well as a fee to the versation to be had between them, their interpret things that the prosecutor or judg- jail. The jail should be able to tell you what lawyer, and their supporters. It’s important es do. Another vital aspect is helping people this amount is that you’ll need in cash. If to say that many pleas are non-cooperating, figure out how to talk to their lawyer. Public someone has a hold, you won’t be able to but not all of them are. Sometimes the state defenders often get a bad reputation, and bail them out right away, even if you’ve got will try to get someone to snitch to get a sometimes for good reason, but they (sort the money. There’s many kinds of holds, better deal. There’s been much written on of) work for the defendant and I believe but the most common one I’ve seen is the the dirty tactics of prosecutors and the state they will do better if they are pushed. Often 24-hour battery hold. This means that if so we won’t get into that here, but it’s some- we see lawyers as this authority and let them they’re being accused to battering someone, thing to look out for. take the lead, but the defendant themselves including battery on an officer (a charge If no acceptable plea is offered, should be leading. Ask a lot of questions. sometimes tacked on when the prosecution the case will go to trial. It could be a bench Contact them often. Challenge them. Be is feeling ambitious) they have to wait 24 trial (presented only to the judge) or a jury pushy! Emotional support is also indicated hours in the jail. trial. Trial support is a whole other thing, so here. We’re here to support and empower Hopefully you’ve gotten your I recommend looking into that more deeply them to get the most favorable outcome (as friend out of jail, or maybe they’re still in, if a friend is going to trial. But I will empha- defined by the defendant) while also build- but you’re figuring out how to support size, again, the importance of not throwing ing practices to resist state repression. them and reach them. Next is the arraign- other people under the bus in the defense, ment. Generally, this happens the morning and the need to consider multiple angles in *** following the arrest, Mondays for weekend deciding how to conduct oneself in court Discovery is basically the legal word for arrests. This is their first hearing, where and on trial: the individual, larger impacts, ‘evidence.’ they’ll be formally charged. The judge may and personal and political convictions, to also make a ruling about the bond amount. name a few. A hold is put on someone in jail when they The judge will ask how the defendants So now that we’ve got a general are ineligible for release. In addition to the pleas, and, in my experience, that plea is al- road map to facing charges, I want to point 24-hour battery hold, there are holds for ways not guilty at this point. In fact, I doubt out a couple considerations. The first is re- warrants in other counties and for ICE, a judge would even accept a guilty plea at specting the wishes of the defendant. This among others. the arraignment, but I’ve seen people try to can be hard when people don’t know what do it. The judge will also ask about assets they want or if it is difficult to communicate A deposition is a recorded testimony, tak- to determine if the defendant qualifies for with them in jail. One good practice is to en pretrial, of witnesses or other parties a public defender. In my experience, most make arrest plans with your friends before relevant to a case. Depositions are part of people do. Of course, movement lawyers or anything happens. Do you want to be bailed discovery. paid lawyers often give more attention to a out? Who should or shouldn’t be contact- case, but it often isn’t possible to get one. ed? Are there any medications we should try A pretrial diversion is an alternative res- After that, the defendant will (ide- to get to you if you’re in jail? Talk through olution to a case in which the prosecutor ally) start meeting with their lawyer and at- these things with the people who are closest agrees to drop the charges if certain condi- tending pretrial conferences. Sometimes it’s to you who will have your back if you get tions are met. I’ve only seen this offered to hard to know what point there is to a given popped. However, people rarely have arrest people in their first criminal case. THE ELECTORAL CIRCUS

lection time is here again and the Slowly they exit the car. Clarabell I voted. Doink adds his sticker leftist clowns are honking away! The trips over his big red shoes, drops his little proudly beside his Scaramouch Against Esocialist jesters pile into their tiny car. red book. Thank god Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Scaramucci button. I sure did. Bozo, do you know how to get to the polling station? wasn’t here to see this. The work of voting is exhausting. The past months have been a flur- The line at the polling station Some of our guffawing gagmen, worked ry of activity on the campus of the clown stretches around the block. There’s Emmett into a fever over their brave acts of subver- college. The stand-bys of the past two years from the local co-op, Ronald who teaches sion, have begun to sweat, transforming the – Drumpf, Cheeto-in-Chief, small hands – just at the university, Herschel from the Love sidewalk into a mess of pancake makeup wouldn’t cut it anymore. The old tall tale Rumps Hate queer dance troupe, even that and crimson noses-come-unglued. That’s the was exhumed from the chest-of-drawers: ol’ wingnut Pogo is here. sacrifice we make, thinks Pennywise. A progres- this election is just too important, we have to vote. One by one they enter the voting sive clown’s job is never done. Dust it off. Mend its edges with some fine booth. Gacy aims his gloved finger at the new silk: the fascist state, left unity, revolutionary button marked “Democrat,” presses down, reformism. and smiles. Long live the Resistance!

IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO VOTE, YOU CAN... ook a meal. Listen to a friend. Dry leaves. Glue a lock. Write a poem. Hike a landlord. Listen to a record. Encrypt your Wheatpaste a poster. Identify a a trail. Pull survey stakes. Call your mom. computer. Swim laps. Run a mile. Prank a Cflower. Pick berries. Watch the Stretch your muscles. Punch a heavybag. priest. Build a barricade. Take a nap. Prac- clouds roll by. Have sex with yourself or oth- Shoplift. Learn a new word. Spraypaint a tice your fighting stance. Cut a fence. Make ers. Break a window. Read a chapter. Paint a wall. Write an essay. Take a child to the park. medicine. Mend a tear. Sabotage machinery. watercolor. Slash a tire. Write to a prisoner. Throw a rock. Plant a seed. Write a song. Steal campaign signs. Not vote. Do pushups. Give a massage. Crack a squat. Bandage a wound. Can vegetables. Harass We all love conflagrations. When the sky changes color, it is a dead man’s passing.