Anarchist Summary

Overview:

Anarchism is a social movement whose members would create a society based on individual freedoms and voluntary cooperation. The anarchists’ movement consists of dozens of loosely organized groups and individuals that state they do not seek chaos or disorder and rather than incite violence, claim to reject it. However, encounters with anarchists have the potential to become violent, as evidenced during the G20 Summit in Toronto in June 2010. A small group of anarchists broke from the main demonstration and began a destructive march downtown where a number of police vehicles where either smashed or lit on fire. Anarchists’ activity usually includes graffiti, stenciling, and flyers that represent an anti-government philosophy. Typically, anarchists will be more visible near public transportation as it presents an easy method of travel and greater access to all areas of the city. This also allows them to become anonymous and blend in with the crowd, should any illegal activity take place. Additionally, reporting has indicated anarchists are known to take advantage of charitable / subsidized housing near an area they want to protest. It is important to note that anarchist groups should not be confused with legitimate protest groups, who have constitutionally protected rights of assembly and free speech under the First Amendment. However, anarchists can infiltrate legitimate protest groups in an attempt to hide their activities.

Tactics Used:

Anarchists and affinity groups - crowds of people who share a common interest, background, or goal, engage in vandalism and/or strategic property damage not only as a means to inflict financial damage, but also to express their views through what they categorize as “non-violent” tactics. Common acts of vandalism include acid etching, arson, spray painting, and property destruction.

Other tactics used include but are not limited to: Black Bloc (BB)= Tactic whereby individuals wear black clothing, scarves, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing items. The clothing is used to conceal marchers' identities, appear theoretically as one large unified mass, and promote solidarity. Refers to “people willing to destroy property and fight cops.” Auto-brigades = Tactics involving the use of an automobile stopped or disabled at a targeted location to impede or stop traffic flow. Blockades = Tactics used to deny access to a certain building(s) or location(s). Breakaway Marches = Perpetrators deviate from the path of a larger mass of people into smaller breakaway groups to deplete security, conduct vandalism, and isolate officers. Cover = Perpetrators mingling with legitimate peace groups, videotaping officers and undercover units; embracing the “cause of the day” to provide the opportunity to cause unrest. De-Arresting = Tactic(s) involving separating an individual who has been arrested for a criminal act from the custody of law enforcement. De-Blocking = Perpetrators huddle together and covering the group with large banners. The BB participants change clothes underneath the banners so that the police cannot photograph

the individuals. When everyone has changed their clothes, other individuals gather around the group, and then everyone emerges from the banners in their new clothes. Die-Ins = Tactics involving all group members lying on the ground symbolizing deceased persons. Direct Action = The use of strikes, demonstrations, or other public forms of protest rather than negotiation to achieve one's demands. Dog Pile = Perpetrators lie limply on ground and wait for officers to bend over to pick them up. When they do, the perpetrators grab the officers and pull them to the ground while others pile on. Privacy Circles = Perpetrators form a circle and interlock arms, all facing outwards. Perpetrators then hide in the middle and engage in illegal activities.

Identifying Anarchists Signs and Symbols:

Listed below are a few of the bigger movements, but there are dozens of sub-categories of anarchists. Anti-Fascists: o Examples include: Anti-Racist Action, Anti-Facist Action, Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP), etc. Green Anarchists o Examples include: EarthFirst, Negotiation Is Over, Animal Liberation Front (ALF), Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Religious Anarchism: o Examples include: Brotherhood Church, Catholic Worker Movement, A Pinch of Salt. Social/Individual Anarchists o Examples include: International Workers Association or the Industrial Workers of the World (Or Wobblies). As of January 2010, IWW moved its headquarters to Chicago, and they have a list of slang terms used by members of their organization.

Black Bloc Photos

Graffiti examples

Stylized version of the anarchist symbol (Circle A) Animal Liberation Front (ALF)

A symbol used to represent squatters (Circle N) Earth Liberation Front (ELF)

Black flag (General Anarchist flag) Anti-Fascist Action

Social Anarchist flag Anti-Racist Action

Green (Eco) Anarchist flag Militaristic Anti-Fascist