Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 1

£1 www.freedompress.org.uk Vol 72 No 04 • 26 FEBRUARY 2011 VISIBLY ORGANISING? Do anarchists exist in the LENS CAP HACKED OFF! current wave of social unrest?

On Saturday 19th February over 50 branches of Barclays banks were closed down by co- ordinated actions across the country orchestrated by UK Uncut, a direct action based initiative targeting those businesses currently avoiding paying tax (Boots, Philip Green, Tesco and Vodaphone who alone have withheld £6bn in unpaid tax) and institutions that have benefited from public money bail- outs, notably the big high street banks Barclays, RBS and NatWest. On the same day a range of local anti-cuts groups organised demonstrations against their respective councils who are all in the process of voting through massive cutso t spending, affecting essential services, in order to comply with the coalition’s enforced austerity measures. Thousands took to the streets in Bristol, Nottingham, Brighton, Shrewsbury, London, York, Pontypridd with rallies, marches and pickets.

If we take this in hand with the massive Che of courtesy Photo student anti-tuition fees protests and subsequent Over 700 people from London’s most militant borough didn’t let the wet weather dampen their occupations of campus buildings, it forms an spirits as they marched defiantly through the streets to Hackney town hall on Saturday 19th February impressive array of po litical objectives that catalogue the anger and determination of an to protest against the cuts which will have a devastating impact on the area. Accompanied by the increasingly radicalised population. It could samba band, the Whitechapel Anarchist Group were out in force in cross-borough solidarity. page 38

SAME OLD NEW LABOUR TRICKS INSIDE8 The three main political parties once again issued on average 745 job ‘at-risk’ notifications, Royal wedding souvenir page 2 show there’s little to chose between them compared with 498 and 414 respectively when it comes to listening to the people they fro m Tory and Lib Dem councils. Anarchism and big society page 4 are supposed to represent. Cameron’s Tory elite are targeting the Labour controlled councils, despite the bigger metropolitan councils, traditionally Battle of Wisconsin page 7 angry anti-cuts rhetoric doubtless carefully coming under Labour control, who are scripted by the spin doctors at Labour Party suffering the greatest budget cuts, with a 7% Reports from Egypt pages 8 and 9 central office, are making bigger cuts and reduction in ‘spending power’ on average, are making them more quickly than their compared with 5% in Tory areas and 6% in Svartfrosk column page 10 Tory or Lib-dem counterparts. Lib Dem areas. Figures from the GMB, the local government But instead of defying the financial Reviews pages 14 and 15 union, show Labour councils are getting rid impositions by voting against them, Labour of 50% more posts than the Conservatives councils have embraced the Tory cut s and ISSN 0016-0504 at local level. thrown all their energy into ensuring their The figures come from the councils ‘at-risk’ implemented. notifications issued to employees ahead of It should be remembered it was a Labour proposed funding cuts to all local authorities controlled council in Lewisham that called 9 770016 050009 by the government. Labour authorities have page 118 Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 2

2 Freedom • 26th February 2011 NEWS IN BRIEF LENS CAP COMING UP GOOD

ART: Cheeky anti-cuts activists took their message to the bloated art world by bringing to a halt the world’s top auction houses. Over 100 anti-cuts activists disrupted Sotheby’s Contemporary Art auction in London, in the middle of bidding for an Andy Warhol print, in protest against bankers’ bonuses and funding cuts to public services and the arts. A dozen protestors inside the auction rooms staged a noisy protest in what they termed the ‘Orgy of the Rich’. The Warhol eventually went for £2.8 million.

CRIME: Under the new criminal behaviour orders (the Tories answer to New Labour’s ASBO) police and community support officers will have the power to order someone over the age of 10 who is behaving in a ‘disruptive manner’ to leave an area for two days, which can be done without court approval. Needless to say ‘disruptive manner’ is not defined so it will only be a matter of time before the order is used against demonstrators the police find unpalatable, i.e. anarchists. For those who are preparing for the onslaught of media sycophants and establishment groupies tugging The British government has DEFENCE: their forelocks and grovelling at the feet of the country’s two latest benefit scroungers, an enterprising approved the sale to Libya of a wide range of equipment for use against civilians, including company have produced the necessary accompaniment to all the royal wedding hyperbole. An ideal teargas and ‘crowd control ammunition’ souvenir on a day we’re sure to forget, available at all good anarchist outlets soon. (currently being used to quell pro-democracy protestors) official rep orts show. Export licences increased significantly over the first nine months of last year, valued at more than £200m according to the Depart- Occupational hazards ment for Business, Innovation and Skills. Official UK guidelines say the government Since the beginning of the year, three spaces with the now re-named ‘Free Hetherington’ will “not issue an export licence if there is have been occupied inspired by the anti-cuts we’ve gone for something quite different. What a clear risk that the proposed export might movement and student occupations. All we’re now operating is a fully functioning be used for internal repression” – which promote the idea of self-organisation and social centre – a space for students and staff begs the questions just who it is supposed political autonomy along with accessibility to socialise and relax in a non-commercial to be u sed against? to radical ideas. environment, and to utilise as a hub of anti- The Really Free School in London has just cuts activism. The move to re-open the SECURITY: G4S, the multinational security been evicted from Guy Ritchie’s abandoned building, which lay empty for a year, has company hired by the government to deport townhouse in the heart of the student district, been incredibly popular on campus, with refused asylum seekers, was repeatedly and immediately moved across the road to a lots of staff offering their time to give free warned by its own staff that potentially lethal disused pub on one of London’s busiest lectures, and we’ve made the space available force was being used against deportees. Their shopping junctions, where they continue for bookings by student societies and evidence was secretly submitted to the home their programme of alternative educational community and activist groups. affairs select committee in the aftermath of talks and lectures (previous speakers “The response from Uni management has the death of an Angolan, Jimmy Mubenga, included Paul Mason from Newsnight). so far been minimal – beyond formalities who was killed while being forcibly restrained In Leeds, the Cuts Cafe was opened for a with campus security, we’ve heard very little. on a flight from Heathrow in October. week offering daily workshops on such But with proposals at stake to clash £20m Meanwhile G4S still holds contracts worth topics as surveillance, unionism, benefits, from the university budget over the next three £600m with several government departments, free education and the NHS, and could years, they clearly have their eyes on bigger managing four prisons, three immigration justifiably boast “… what a success. The issues at the moment. A mass movement is removal centres and also escorts around place has been buzzing, great workshops, emerging on campus against these cuts, which half of all prisoners to and from court. tasty food and lots of exciting conversations. look set to see a number of courses, including Great turnout, the dance and film night was nursing, social work, several modern languages UNEMPLOYMENT: Official employment packed.” and the department of adult education, which statistics for January show an unexpected But perhaps the most interesting of the caters for 5,000 adult learners, scrapped increase in the jobless total by 44,000 to 2.49 occupied spaces is The Free Hetherington. entirely. Recently 2,000 marched on a meeting million, with women and the young suffering Here one of the occupiers gives Freedom an of the university court, and the lecturers’ th e most from latest wave of job losses. exclusive insight into the initiative: UCU union are balloting for strike action. The Tories were relying on the figures to “Since 1st February, students at Glasgow The Free Hetherington has emerged at the prove that austerity measures were key to the University have occupied and re-opened the heart of these struggles, and we’re now economic recovery, but in Cameronesque- Hetherington Research Club, a fo rmer post- hoping to hold the space indefinitely.” style a spin doctor responded “The labour graduate social club that ran into financial market data are disappointingly softer overall difficulties a year ago and was forced to close Open to all, The Free Hetherington, Glasgow University and fuel our suspicion that unemployment down by university management. Unlike Campus, 13 Universi ty Gardens, just off University is likely to trend up gradually in 2011.” occupations elsewhere, which have focused Avenue near the Queen Margaret Union, G12 8QQ, on administration buildings or lecture theatres, see http://freehetherington.wordpress.com/ Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 3

Freedom • 26th February 2011 3 NEWS

Tower for drilling horizontally into the Marcellus shale formation for natural gas, just north of Pennsylvania in the USA. A history of profit and death Through time and space, the proof of how most notoriously shown in the film Gaslands, So what’s their next stop? Blackpool. easily industrialists would kill for a quick where affected residents pulled off the neat The northern seaside town is the first profit comes thick and fast. trick of setting fire to ‘drinking’ water as it foothold in Europe for gas firms’ fracking Our latest example centres on the poisoning flowed out of their taps. about, with three sites being looked at by of communities for the sake of energy money, Equally worrying have been rising numbers private firm Cuadrilla Resources on nearby while also throwing in a weird reference to of massive gas leaks and explosions. Fylde – Grange Road, near Singleton, Preese the historic anarchist troublemaker As a result, today there is a court case being Hall, Weeton, an d Anna’s Road, Westby. Alexander Berkman. brought state-wide to try and put a moratorium Green research institution the Tyndall Shale gas is this decade’s gold rush, on extraction until the safety of the process Centre has already sent out a strong warning according to the mining industry. Simply by has been better proven. It may be a while – on over the speed of the exploration and building drilling into the bedrock of the world, setting 352 wells on the state’s ‘Marcellus’ deposit process, arguing in a report commissioned by off copioius amounts of explosives down alone inspectors found 85 violations last year. the Co-op that a moratorium should be put there and then pumping the crater full of And in a twist to the tale, the case is taking on future exploration until the wider poisonous seawater slurry we get lovely place in the very courthouse where union environmental concerns have been “fully burnable gas. members were put to trial after the infamous addressed.” The only fly in this plan is that astonishingly, Homestead steel mill strike in 1892, a conflict Locally, Green Party councillor Philip even with concrete barriers in place to which saw Alexander Berkman attempt to Mitchell is compiling a petition which asks contain the slurry, it turns out the process, assassinate the brutal industrialist Henry for the exploration work to be put on hold known as fraccing, isn’t 100% safe. Clay Frick for his Pinkertons’ murder of the and on a national level, a Select Committee Toxic chemicals leaking into the environment mill workers. So here we are over a century has been formed by the government to look have poisoned nearby drinking water in its later and Frick’s spiritual descendents are into the future of shale gas. Plus ça change. main testing ground of Pennsylvania USA, killing working people in a whole new way. Rob Ray

Visibly organising?

7page 1 be argued that the unrest we are witnessing colonise the discourse by consuming any and Solidarity Federation put into their organisa - now isn’t ideologically driven but a gesture all political and practical strategies. The role tions, but how is that effort translated into a of defiance against the erosion of all the usually adopted by anarchists is to fight tooth something tangible and visible? There are of social expectations that have been hard won and nail to prevent this. course thousands more anarchists who aren’t over the years – the right to a free education, Which brings us to the question: where is part of any formal organisations, who do basic public services, a job. As such it’s both the anarchist movement? Do we have a role turn up and get involved, as committed universal and defensive. to play in amongst all this political upheaval individ uals if not as part of an anarchist The radical left hasn’t deviated from its and social conflict? Are we even necessary? movement. traditional methods of organising, an approach We have two organised and functioning March 26th is fast approaching, the left’s that can be mapped out in the formation of federations who made a noble effort to big day in terms of stamping their identity a myriad of front groups (Coalition of create a visible presence in the form of a on the anti-cuts movement. It is where the Resistance, Right to Work, etc.), and figure- ‘radical workers bloc’ on the first big student radical left, the trades unions and the New heads from trusted trade union leaders to demo where Tory HQ got trashed. After Labour party leaders formally join together hypocritical Labour MPs pretending that the which they have sunk back into the shadows. as official opposition. Is it a day the last 13 years didn’t happen in an attempt to There’s no doubting the efforts and energies anarchists mobilise as a movement to offer become the legitimate voice of dissent and members of the Anarchist Federation and an alternative? Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 4

4 Freedom • 26th February 2011 ANALYSIS Anarchism and the Big Society Iain McKay gives Cameron’s big idea the heave ho

In The Independent (16th February 2011), Brian Lincoln from Edinburgh wrote a letter discussing David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ and anarchism: “In proposing the ‘Big Society’ as the antidote to ‘big government’, has David Cameron converted to anarchism, the political philosophy which most wants to get the state out of everything? Inn a 1896 text, the Russian revolutionary Peter Kropotkin explains that anarchism ‘seeks the most complete development of individuality combined with the highest development of voluntary association in all its aspects, in all possible degrees, for all imaginable aims’. Familiar?” Yet this is a selective account of anarchism, completely ignoring its economic ideas and the means advocated to achieve it. This can be seen from the text quoted, namely Kropotkin’s Anarchism: Its Philosophy and Ideal. Yes, Kropotkin does argue for free heard on the utility of what he is about to insurrections.” This was the means by which association but he recognises that this is only produce and on the way of producing it.” “they will be able to start the destruction of truly possible in a society without class Similarly, it is doubtful that Cameron would the present economic system” as well as the division for “we know full well today that it conclude that “this ideal presents itself based state which protects it, that “mutual insurance is futile to speak of liberty as long as on the necessity of Communism, imposed on society of landlords, bankers, priests, judges, economic slavery exists.” Thus capitalism our modern societies by the eminently social and soldiers.” The means of production would meant the worker must “sell his labour power character of our present production.” Anarchy, be seized and run by those who use them, for less than it is capable of bringing in” and argued K ropotkin, “refuses all hierarchical for “how can the peasant be made to believe Kropotkin points to “the fatal consequences organisation and preaches free agreement.” that the bourgeois or manorial land belongs to of the present forms of property.” This applies economically as well as politically. the proprietor who has a legal claim … how Thus:“when we analyse the evils of the The hierarchical capitalist workplace based make the worker in a factory, or the miner in present economic system, we see – and the on wage-labour must be replaced by the self- a mine, believe that factory and mine equitably worker knows it full well – that their essence managed socialist one based on associated- belong to their present masters”? lies in the forced necessity of the worker to labour. Anarchists, unlike the Tories, “loudly Would Cameron be praising such actions sell his labour power … he renounces the ask for the return to the community of all as the ‘Big Society’ or would he be invoking benefits his labour might bring him in; he riches accumulated by the work of preceding ‘Big Government’ to crush such revolts? The abandons the lion’s share of what he produces generations” and the “holding in common answer is all too obvious. to his employer; he even abdicates his liberty; of land, mines, factories, inhabited houses, To conclude, it is not a wise thing (unless he renounces his right to make his opinion and means of transport.” you wish to discredit anarchism!) to suggest Again, unlike Cameron, anarchism sees Cameron’s vision of a privatised society is free association as being created from below similar to anarchism’s socialised one. It rather than legislated from above: “Communist staggers belief that anyone could suggest organisation cannot be left to be constructed David Cameron has ‘converted’ to anarchism by legislative bodies called parliaments, or seeks the same society as Kropotkin. Yes, municipal or communal council. It must be anarchism is for free and self-managed the work of all, a natural growth, a product association but it is premised on a transforma - of the constructive genius of the great mass. tion of economic relations and property. Communism cannot be imposed from above; Cameron has not decided to become a it could not live even for a few months if the (libertarian) socialist nor, like Kropotkin, constant and daily co-operation of all did renounce his own social position to work not uphold it. It must be free.” for the self-emancipation of the working Again, unlike the Tories, anarchism sees a classes from our slavery from capital and its free society being created by the direct action defender, the state. Quite the reverse as the of the working class: “The worker perceives cuts and the Tory agenda he is trying to hide that he has been disinherited, and that begin his ‘Big Society’ rhetoric are aimed at disinherited he will remain, unless he has increasing our slavery to capital. The road recourse to strikes or revolts to tear from his to private serfdom, if you like… masters the smallest part of riches built up Suffice to say, anarchism has never been by his own efforts.” purely anti-state and to suggest otherwise is Unlike the attempts by the Tories to to impoverish it. As can be seen from restrict the right to strike and to organise Kropotkin’s 1896 text, we recognise that unions, Kropotkin stressed the need for free association cannot exist as long as “collective revolt – strikes and working class capitalism does. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 5

Freedom • 26th February 2011 5 COMMENT IN BRIEF

BRISTOL: Forest of Dean Tory MP Mark Harper was besieged by an angry mob of Advisory Service for Squatters 300 people over the proposed government sell off of all publicly owned forest land. The owners who’ve popped out to the shops only unadvertised meeting was packed inside and Fourth in the series of groups to find themselves locked out by squatters out as the demonstrators, which included upon their return. Needless to say, this is a children and pensioners, chanted slogans who operate out of the rare occurrence (not to mention already a such as ‘Tunis – Egypt – Forest of Dean’ all criminal offence!). evening. The Oxbridge accountant and Freedom Press building In reality, what ASS volunteers tend to see member of the rightwing Freedom Association most of in the course of our work are victims had to be rushed from the building in a police The Advisory Service for Squatters (ASS) was of violent, illegal evictions, homeless people van which was then pelted with eggs. formed in 1974 after a split in the Family who have been denied the housing they are Squatters Advisory Service (FSAS) over the legitimately entitled to by councils and LUTON: The English Defence League once issue of support for licensed versus non- tenants who are being wrongly treated as again tried to whip up social divisions as they licensed squatters. The rift was resolved and squatters by cynical and unscrupulous land - paraded through the city centre with a heavy FSAS was no more, as was their funding from lords and borough councils. police escort on another of their big day’s Shelter (expressly for the purposes of short-life In spite of those within the current govern - out. An estimated 1,500 EDL supporters, and hard-to-let housing leases, thus precluding ment who are openly salivating for the accompanied by the usual frenzy of support for unlicensed squatters). criminalisation of trespass (Eric Pickles, inappropriate sloganeering and ghoulish Since then, the ASS has been run entirely Grant Shapps et al) remember that squatting football chants, were gu ided through the by an unpaid collective of volunteers – no is still legal. The Hague has also ruled in streets, which for many is the group’s spiritual workers, no bosses and no pay. Our role is to reference to the Dutch kraakverbod that it is home, to offer up its customary blend of give legal advice not only to squatters but a contravention of the European Convention reactionary speeches and little Englander anyone in need of housing advice. We publish on Human Rights to evict squatters without a rabble-rousing before being escorted back the Squatter’s Handbook, currently in its prior ruling from a judge. The criminalisation on their coaches and off home again. thirteenth edition, and can also provide of squatting in the UK is clearly therefore a practical legal advice on some of th e day to much more complex and troublesome to OXBRIDGE: As predicted, the race is on day aspects of squatting such as dealing with realise than the government and mainstream for the elite universities to see who can cops and owners and can help with police media would have us believe and would charge the most. Despite assurances by the complaints. involve a sizeable and dramatic change to privately educated minister for universities, The government has been making noises current UK legislation. David Willetts, that the £9,000 top limit will recently about making squatting a criminal Now, as ever, the ASS needs more only be allowed in ‘exceptional circum- offence; prior to the last election a proposal volunteers and help. We also need cash, which, stances’, it now emerges senior managers at was made for new legislation against as our volunteers are mainly statutorily home - Oxford and Cambridge are intent on charging ‘intentional trespass’, which, amongst other less, would predominantly be spent on drink the maximum permitted as a matter of course. things, would have the practical effect of and drugs. Squatting is still free, legal and An internal report reveals Cambridge criminalising homelessness. necessary! university wants to almost triple its fees to Dutch comrades have been resisting £9,000 as soon as it can by autumn next year, legislation forbidding squatting since a similar The ASS is open between 2pm and 6pm Monday to with Oxford bleating that fees of less than law came into effect in Holland on the 1st Friday for help and advice. You can call ua or drop £8,000 would lose the university money. October 2010. in any time we’re open. As we are staffed by A recent UK media campaign against volunteers, it’s normally a good idea to ring before SHEFFIELD: The threat of a 48-hour strike squatting has also prompted the Ministry of coming by to double check that someone will be by journalists at Sheffield Newspapers NUJ Justice to release a wildly misleading and there. Call us on 020 3216 0099 or see our website Chapel was enough for management to back legally erroneous set of guidelines for home - at http://www.squatter.org.uk/ down and capitulate on forcing through compulsory redundancies. Nearly 60 journal - ists won a new deal with management to resolve a dispute over plans to halve the number of production jobs at the regional newspaper empire Johnston Press ‘editorial hub’ in the city. This went along with the demands by the workers to offer freelancers the opportunity for permanent contracts, something they’ve been fighting months for.

SOUTHAMPTON: Council workers took their protest against the cuts just that little bit further by invading the town hall to stop the Tory controlled council voting through its austerity measures. Binmen were among those who got into the building and banged on th e doors of the council chamber where councillors were passing the controversial budget. Activists were removed from the public gallery for heckling and jeering the finance director as he tried to justify limit council workers pay. Council staff will be forced to accept pay cuts to help balance a £25m black hole along with 250 job losses. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 6

6 Freedom • 26th February 2011 INTERNATIONAL IN BRIEF LENS CAP A WHALE OF A TIME

FRANCE: A worldwide conference featuring activists and radicals from Europe, Tunisia, Japan, the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Argentina, was held in Paris under the banner ‘For a new Europe: university struggles against austerity’ to discuss and organise a network based on common struggles. It called for days of action from 24th to 26th March, against banks, debt system and austerity measures, for free education and free circulation of people and knowledge. They will meet again in London in June.

IRELAND: Up to 3,000 student nurses and midwives took part in a march and rally in Dublin in protest at Government plans to phase out and ultimately eliminate the payments that they receive during their mandatory 36-week placement periods in hospitals. This coincided with an hour-long lunchtime protests at 13 hospitals across the country. The protests are the first stage in a campaign against Government plans to A major victory for the Sea Shepherd marine conservation group, whose motif is the Jolly Roger, as phase out and ultimately eliminate payments Japan recalls its whaling fleet from the Antarctic early after being hounded across the southern ocean to student nurses during their mandatory 36-week work placement in hospitals. by seaborne activists trying to disrupt the illegal whaling operation. Their early departure has raised hopes that the hunts could be halted altogether. ITALY: the far-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, personal friend and political ally of Tony Blair, is being forced to stand trial accused by of paying for sex with an under - age girl. The 74-year-old billionaire will also Arab unrest spreads face a charge of abuse of power for allegedly pressuring police to drop theft charges In the wake of the popular uprising in Egypt him to Tunisia’s ousted President. A common connected to the same girl. It is claimed he that saw the overthrow of the president feature of all the protests seems a spontaneous spent 13 nights with the girl at his private Mubarak, anti-government protests have popular expression of dissent, a call for villa. It is unclear if it’s the same villa the erupted across much of the Middle East, greater freedoms and dispossession of the religious puritan and war criminal Tony including Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, and ruling elite. Blair shared during their holidays together. Libya and Algeria in north Africa. The current wave of unrest is something Social unrest has been met with violent of a conundrum for western leaders. On the PUERTO RICO: Police have finally with- repression by state forces on almost all one hand it could signal the start towards a drawn from the main University of Puerto occasions. more social democratic form of rule in the Rico campus in San Juan after a two-month Security forces in Libya and Yemen have region, on the other political instability and occupation to quell unrest amongst students. shot and killed numerous anti-government the removal of key figures, especially those Riot squads took over the campus in protesters, while thousands of pro-democracy who have been groomed by western foreign December following a massive student strike activists in Bahrain having suffered brutal policy, could see the unravelling of against fee hikes and privatisation. Some attacks have returned to a major square profitable multi-national economic interests. 200 people have been arrested and scores following the withdrawal of security forces. BP for example has a high stake in the oil of students beaten and injured during the Over 20,000 anti-government protesters fields of Libya, a deal brokered by the then occupation by state forces, prompting gathered in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen to prime minister Tony Blair. And it is Tony professors and university workers to walk demand the removal of President Ali Abdullah Blair, supposed peace envoy to the middle out f or two days last week in sympathy Saleh. Students, activists and opposition groups east, who has so far been conspicuous by his with the students. chanted slogans against the ruler, comparing silence.

MEXICO: On 15th February, over 12,000 members of the Section 22 teachers union blocked major highways in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca and cancelled Notes from the US classes in more than 15,000 schools after teachers protesting a visit by President Felipe Economy for low income families, education, social Calderón were attacked by police. Protesters Some of the themes we’ve been looking at in services, for example. But military spending called for the resignation of local political recent issues of Freedom continue to intrigue. increases. Republicans, too, have plans: US$74 and education leaders, including the Public Debt: The Congressional Budget Office (£46) billion in cuts, which include a 10% Safety Secretary Marco Tulio Lopez. Protesters now estimates that the US federal deficit is reduction to a food project for pregnant also torched a government vehicle and beat going to reach a record US$1.5 (£0.9) women and their children, firing of 4,500 the Oaxaca state Public Safety Secretary trillion in 2011. It seems as though the deal police, drastically down-funding the federal Marco Tulio Lopez when he tried to call for struck between president and law maker to high-speed rail initiative, and gutting the US calm. Federal Police opened fire with live extend Bush-era tax cuts is the main cause. Environmental Protection Agency by 17%. rounds and tear-gas grenades, resulting in at Obama’s next budget (for 2012) has just And more on Congress’ attack on women’s least 14 people wounded or hospitalised. been announced: essentially a freeze with health as part of its legislative programme key social projects axed or curtailed – heating page 78 Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 7

Freedom • 26th February 2011 7 INTERNATIONAL The Battle of Wisconsin Public sector workers respond to attack on collective rights

The announcement by Republican Governor Scott Walker to end the collective bargaining rights of all public sector workers in Wisconsin was met with thousands upon thousands of workers flooding the state capital, bringing the city to a standstill and storming the Capitol Building in anger at the proposed legislation. So far there has been four days of protests and rallies including a mass walk out by teachers and students. An estimated 40,000 people flocked to Madison, the state’s capital, and surrounded the senate building in a show of solidarity for the unprecedented attack on basic labour rights, in scenes some compared to what was happening in Egypt. One protestor commented “It was similar to Tahrir Square, that’s the only thing I can think to c ompare it to.” Walker wants to remove all collective bargaining rights, except for salary, for What hasn’t been widely reported is that initiative stormed the Capitol Building, roughly 175,000 public employees to Walker and the Republican-controlled followed by masses of rank-and-file workers balance a $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Any Legislature gave away $117 million of public who occupied the Capitol rotunda where requests for a salary increase higher than the money in tax breaks for businesses and people packed onto four floors of the building consumer price index would have to be private health savings accounts, less than a chanting ‘tax the rich’, and ‘kill the bill’, approved by referendum. He also wants to month ago. He also rejected $810 million in waving banners and placards, including one force state employees to contribute 5.8% of federal money that the state would receive in declaring ‘Welcome to Cairo’. their salaries to cover pension costs and building a rail line between Madison and The effects of Wisconsin is already having more than double their health insurance Milwaukee. far reaching consequences, already public contributions. But for those workers the attack on their sector workers in Ohio and Indiana are Walker claims the measures will save rights is not one of balancing the books but gearing up for all out confrontation when $137 million and remained unapologetic a direct assault on union organising. The the same measures are introduced there. about its effects “I’m just trying to balance mood of the protests were said to be jubilant Ironically Wisconsin, traditionally one of the my budget,” he said. “We don’t have and defiant. A contingent of firefighters, who more progressive states, was the first to let anything to give. Like practically every other won’t be affected by the bill, came out in public employees organise and bargain state in the country, we’re broke. And it’s solidarity and were met with thunderous collectively, it was also first to grant workers time to pay up.” applause. A group of students on their own and unemployment compensation. Notes from the US Greece: hunger strikes

7page 6 continue next time – for instance, it may soon be the choose between letting the walls fall or paying law in South Dakota that to kill a provider the price to keep them standing. Governments A massive march took place through the of abortion is ‘justified homicide’. that arrest bloggers, pry into the peaceful streets of Athens on 18th February in support activities of their citizens, and limit their access of the 300 immigrants who continue their Hypocrisy to the Internet may claim to be seeking security. indefinite hunger strike (February 18th was Just as Obama was condemning the crackdown In fact, they may even mean it as they define day 25 of the strike) to demand the legalisation on protest in Iran in the third week in February, it. But they are taking the wrong path.” of all immigrants and equal rights with yet ignoring both the same in Bahrain (where The irony here? These comments come at Greek workers. the US has bases for its own weapons of a time when Senators Joseph Lieberman and On 25th January the 300 migrants, who mass destruction) and conveniently forgetting Susan Collins are planning to re-introduce work without papers or any civil rights, began two members of his own cabinet who powers under the Homeland Security Act what is perhaps the largest hunger strike in supported Egypt’ s Mubarak in recent weeks, (2002) to give the US president powers to Greek history. Mostly from north Africa and Hillary Clinton spoke out against attempts shut down internet services in the country; employed in menial jobs, they occupied the to stifle freedom of expression using the and government lawyers were appearing in a Law faculty at Athens university, with 50 more internet: “We believe that governments who court in Virginia to argue their case against in Thessaloniki, calling for “the same political have erected barriers to Internet freedom – WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange and subpoenas and social rights and obligations as Greek whether they’re technical filters or censorship against Twitter, seeking to oblige the company workers.” The workers decided to organise regimes or attacks on those who exercise their to hand over all correspondence involving the hunger strike after they held a series of rights to expression and assembly online – the whistle-blowing site were being pressed ‘democratic assemblies’, asking anarchist will eventually find themselves boxed in. They again. and anti-racist organisations to support and will face a dictator’s dilemma, and have to Louis Further organise solidarity campaigns. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 8

8 Freedom • 26th February 2011 FEATURE Anarchists report from the Egyp The masses gathered in Tahir square self- An anarchist from Lebanon, organise through an assembly that has issued communications and organised the organising solidarity with feeding of the people there, the cleaning of the streets, and self-defence from government people in Egypt, gives a report thugs. Multiple times, foreign media have quoted spokespersons from youth organisations on the situation in Egypt, who claim to represent the protestors. Every single time this has occurred, the spontaneous followed by interview with assembly of the square has released an unequivocal statement that they have no Nidal Tahrir, from Black Flag representatives. Emphatically, no organisation is behind the protests or has been particularly anarchist group relevant within the protests. Many factories and workplaces are also organising The revolution in Egypt has been spontaneous committees. and self-organising, spreading from Cairo The Muslim Brotherhood has been on the and other major cities to the countryside, streets along with everyone else. Their where in some areas Bedouins took up arms representation is no more than a quarter of against the police and the military. The all the participants, and they are not in a revolution ha s not been peaceful, but in particularly strong position. Either cynically most cases it has been unarmed, owing to or because they too are caught up in the the simple fact that most people don’t have insurrect ion, they are making no move to recourse to weapons beyond stones, clubs, increase their power or lead the uprising, nor spray paint, and molotov cocktails, all of would they be able to do so. The comrade which have been used against police forces in on the square emphatically stated that the abundance. When government paramilitary fear of an Islamic takeover in Egypt is the thugs attacked the protestors on Tahir Square paranoia of the Western media and nothing (the incident initially described by Western more. The discourse of the protestors’ media as a clash between Mubarak supporters spontaneous assemblies, which is the only and Mubarak opponents), they were expelled power in the country next to the military, with violent force. which has chosen generally not to intervene, Because Egyptians have lived under has consistently stressed goodwill and solidarity dictatorship for so long, only the elderly have between Muslims, Christians, and atheists (in any experience street fighting, so a major form a cultural context where usually the existence of solidarity by comrades in other countries of atheists is never even mentioned). has been the creation of informational flyers The demands of the protestors are over - in Arabic explaining what are essentially Black whelmingly for rights and democracy. A Bloc street tactics. Given the participation by common demand is for elections within nine anarchists and anti-globalisation activists in months, with no power-holder in the transition this direct aid, the reference to the Black Bloc period being allowed to run. The attitude of is not intended as metaphor or exaggeration. the p rotestors and their intense experience Another major form of solidarity was with self-organisation suggests at least the group, a Facebook page, not really organised, reconnecting Egypt to the internet. Either possibility that Egyptian society will not go called ‘we are all Khalid Said’. through personal connections or even, in back to sleep after elections, but that there is Khalid Said was an Egyptian youth who many cases, faxing infosheets to random fax potential for increasing struggle. was killed by Mubarak police in Alexandria numbers in Egypt, hundreds of people outside last summer. It was that Tuesday which Egypt showed protestors in Egypt how to started everything, it was the spark for the get around the blocks and reconnect to the INTERVIEW WITH AN EGYPTIAN whole fire. On Tuesday big demonstrations internet. ANARCHIST were in streets in every Egyptian town, on Participation in the uprising has been Wednesday began the massacre. It began general and multigenerational. In a country Please tell me your name and what with trying to finish the sit-in in Tahrir of 80 million, three million have regularly movement you are from. Square on Tue sday late night, and continued come out in Cairo and many millions more I’m Nidal Tahrir, from Black Flag, a small in the following days, especially in Suez town. in other major cities. The rural population is group of anarcho-communists in Egypt. Suez has special value in every Egyptian less likely to mobilise in central locations heart. It was the centre for resistance against but they have participated in the uprising in The world is watching Egypt, and even Zionists in 1956 and 1967. In the same other ways. moving in solidarity. However, due to the district that fought Sharon’s troops back in Many Western media outlets have tended internet being cut, information was difficult Egyptian-Israeli wars, Mubarak police carried to focus on male participation in their images, to find. Can you tell me about what has out a massacre, at least four people killed, but from the first day many women have happened in Egypt in the past week? What 100 injured, gas bombs, rubber bullets, fire participated in protesting and street fighting. did it look like from your perspective? guns, a strange yello w substance thrown The comrade we talked to in Tahir Square is The situation in Egypt is so crucial right above people (maybe mustard gas). Friday a queer anti-authoritarian, so when she says now. It began with an invitation to the day was called the Jumu’ah of Rage. Jumu’ah is “everyone is united” we are inclined to of rage against Mubarak regime on 25th Arabic for Friday, it’s the national weekend interpret this differently than if a union January. No one expected an invitation to in Egypt, in many Islamic countries also, it’s representative had said the same thing. a day of rage which came from a loose the sacred day in Islam, because there are Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 9

Freedom • 26th February 2011 9 FEATURE ptian uprising stability, safety and security. In this way he has really made some progress. The holy national alliance now has been formed against Tahrirites (Tahrir protesters) and Commune de Tahrir. Many people are saying, especially middle class people, that the demonstrations must end because Egypt has been burned, famine has begun, and it’s not true at all. It’s only an exaggeration. Every revoluti on has its difficulties, and Mubarak is using fear and terror to stay longer. Personally I’m saying even if the protesters were responsible for this situation, even if this is so, Mubarak must leave, he must go out, because of his inability to deal with the situation right now.

What do you see happening in the next week? How much is the position taken by the US government affecting the situation there? Nobody can figure out what will happen tomorrow or next week. Mubarak is a stubborn idiot, and the Egyptian media is making the biggest media campaign in its history to detain the protests on Friday, 4th February. There are calls for another million march to Tahrir, called ‘Jumu’ah of salvation’, the position taken by the US government is affecting us more than the demonstration. Mubarak is such a traitor who could kill the whole people, but he can’t say no to his masters.

What has the participation of class struggle anarchists been? Who are their allies (obviously keep security in mind)? Anarchism in Egypt is not a big trend. You can find some anarchists, but it’s not a big trend yet. Anarchists in Egypt joined both protests and popular committees to defend the streets from thugs. Anarchists in Egypt put some ho pe in this councils. The allies of the big prayers on this day, called Jumu’ah papers, about Luddites in many towns, about anarchists in Egypt are the Marxists of prayer. It was planned for demonstrators to thieves firing at people. People organised course, we are not now in the moment of go on a march after this prayer, at noon. The ‘people committees’ to secure every street. It ideological debate. The whole of the left is police tried to prevent the marchers, with all was welcomed by the regime to make people calling for unity and argue about anything of their power and violence. There were many more scared about instability in the country, else later. Anarchists in Egypt are a part of clashes in Cairo (downtown, in Mattareyah – but it was also a point we could start from the Egyptian left. east of Cairo), and all over Egypt, especially to build workers’ councils. in Suez, Alexandria, Mahalla (in the delta, What forms of solidarity can be built between one of the centres of the working class). As of Wednesday, there have been clashes revolutionaries in Egypt and revolutionaries From no on to sunset people marched in between pro- and anti-Mubarak people. Is in the ‘West’? What can be done immediately Cairo downtown, to a sit-in in Tahrir till the that the correct way to describe it? Who are and what should we do in the long term? removal of the Mubarak regime, chanting the ‘Mubarak supporters’? How are these The most difficult obstacle Egyptian revolu- one slogan, ‘The people demand the removal clashes affecting the attitudes of average tionaries are confronted with is the cut-off of the regime’. working class Egyptians? of communication. Western revolutionaries At sunset, 5pm CLT, Mubarak declared a It’s absolutely wrong to call it clashes between must put pressure on their governments to curfew and brought the army into Egyptian anti- and pro-Mubarak. The pro-Mubarak prevent the Egyptian regime from doing this. towns. This curfew was followed by a demonstration consisted of many Baltagayyah That’s for now, but no one can say what will planned escape by police, letting out the and secret police to attack the protesters in happen in the long term. If the revolution criminals and thugs which called Baltagayyah, Tahrir. It only began after Mubarak’s speech wins, then western revolutionaries must and police planned a great escape of criminals yesterday, after Obama’s speech too. Personally build solidarity with their Egyptian comrades in many Egyptian prisons to scare people in I think Mubarak feels like a slaughtered ox against expected aggression from USA, and Egypt. With no police, many army troops that tries to throw its blood over its Israel. If the revolution is defeated then there couldn’t control the street. It scared people, slaughterers; he feels like Nero, who wants will be a massacre for all Egyptian and it was followed by a news jam on to burn Egypt before his removal, trying to revolutionaries. Egyptian television channels, radio and news - make people believe he ’s a synonym for page 118 Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 10

10 Freedom • 26th February 2011 COMMENT ABOUT FREEDOM ANGEL ALLEY A sideways look by SVARTFROSK This episode of Angel Alley is pleased to report that we have finally cleared the backlog Spin has entered the language as something ridiculous is the spin that this can be solved of sending out the paper. All should now politicians and their media advisers do to by paying chief execs of councils less and be running smoothly so if you still missing stories. It’s probably fair to say that it is just merging back-office functions. Many back- any previous issues then it’s probably some an extension of politics and that there is office functions are outsourced already, evil vendetta we’re running against you rarely a benevolent aspect to it. The coalition meaning the service is merged and the council personally. If you haven’t got this issue you came to power and promised that the excesses feeds money into a service company’s won’t be reading this anyway. of spin under Labour, particularly Alistair profits. I’ve worked for a local council or Another long overdue event is the arrival Campbell, would be at an end. As the old one of their suppliers for years – I cannot of the s econd print run of Beating The joke goes, how do you tell when a politician remember a year when there weren’t cuts Fascists. This means we now have enough is lying? Their lips move. And while the or redundancies. stock to do some proper marketing and coalition have not yet been guilty of the sort Enough of the bad news, how do we getting it out to mainstream bookshops. of lies Campbell dreamed up to justify the respond? The media and both sides of the Unfortunately we have to disappoint Iraq War, they are at it too. Parliamentary divide want to make this an comrades who have invited us to the forth- I’ve no particular love for council chief argument about how and when to cut. The coming Bristol Anarchist Bookfair. This isn’t executives – most of them are hatchet-men left, particularly the Socialist Party, wanto t laziness but a deliberate policy to encourage and -women of the worst sort, but it is pure make this a rerun of their ‘finest hour’, the groups to take books on sale or return. spin to suggest that their salaries are fight over rate-capping in the 1980s. They Finally we’d like to thank Jim Huggon comparable to the Prime Minister’s. For a want Labour councillors to refuse to for donati ng copies of two old Kropotkin’s start, most of them earn in the £100o,000 t implement the cuts and take the risk of being Lighthouse pamphlets, A Report of Speeches £200,000 range, a lot to you or me but surcharged and banned from being a and Discussions from the Anarchist Summer peanuts compared to most bosses in the councillor. Never mind that the fight then Camp, Cornwall, England 1969 and A check - private sector. None of them, as far as I know, was lost and the famous fighting Liverpool list of Freedom Press Publications 1886–1927. have grace and favour living quarters in the councillors were reduced to sending their Both are for sale in the shop at £5 and £1 centre of London or rural Buckinghamshire. staff redundancy notices out by taxi. respectively and will soon be added to our No business organisation is going to pay silly There is no legal way to fight the cuts. You long list of titles available post free on the money to hear them lecture when they have cannot fight them by electing better politicians, website left the job. And perhaps most telling in because they are all bound by the same rules today’s terms, they tend to be time-served and, in the unlikely event of them going local governme nt managers with a more down the illegal budget route, would be SUBSCRIPTIONS ruthless streak than their colleagues, unlikely replaced by government appointees. I don’t This is issue is vol 72 no 04, so if the number to have the financial background of a multi- think anyone needs to go through the motions abo ve your name on the address label is millionaire pursuing his class interests under of this classic Trotskyist transitional demand 7204 or less, then your subscription is now the humbug of ‘we’re all in this together’. to see it as a dead end. What does that due for renewal. There’s a renewal form on The cuts the government have imposed on leave? Only direct action. Direct action by page 16 of this issue or you can subscribe local authorities are draconian. They hit the workers and service users. The unions are online at freedompress.org.uk/news/subscribe poorest hardest, as they have also cut a lot off to a slow start, desperate to keep control or, if you don’t want to worry in the future of the support that goes to poorer areas. of what looked like a movement before about remembering to renew your Freedom Hence Manchester, Merseyside , Inner Christmas. sub, ask us to send you a standing order form London, Newcastle and Hull were hit We’ll see what March 26th brings. Public by emailing [email protected] or hardest and Dorset, Surrey, West Sussex and services, benefits, welfare, health – all these you can write to us at ‘Subscriptions’, Buckinghamshire has the smallest cuts. None are concessions made by our rulers for fear Freedom, 84b Whitechapel High Street, of this is really surprising, all governments of us becoming revolutionary. We’ve been London E1 7QX. Unfortunately our sub look after their own supporters. What is quiet too long. rates will be soon be increasing, but you can still renew at the old rate for now.

CONTACT DETAILS Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX Tel/fax: 020 7247 9249 www.freedompress.org.uk Enquiries: [email protected] Copy/Letters: [email protected] Subscriptions: [email protected] Bookshop: [email protected] Freedom Press Distribution (for trade book orders): [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE The next issue will be dated 12th March 2011 and the last day to get copy to us for that issue will be Thursday 3rd March. You can send your articles to us by email to [email protected] or by post addressed to ‘The Editors’, Freedom, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 11

Freedom • 26th February 2011 11 LETTERS AND COMMENT

require applicants to declare cautions on Donate your old Books. The ravening wolves of capitalist depredation are Being cautious about their application forms or at interview. Their constantly howling around Angel Alley seeking the immigration rules may mean that a person destruction of our noble bookshop. You can help cautions who has received a simple caution is refused keep these fey hounds at bay by donating books Word reaches us that a lot of people who entry as though he or she has a criminal that you no longer want so we may sell them on to were arrested at Millbank on the 10th conviction. A caution will appear on a knowledge-hungry proletarians for a pound apiece November have been offered ‘a caution’ by subject access request made by the offender (more to rich arty types who only came in ’cos they the police. under the Data Protection Act 1998. It may got lost on the way to Whitechapel Art ).Gallery ‘What’s that and where can I get one too?’ also be disclosed for employment vetting You ask, guileless eyes aflame with lust for purposes and your employer will be told filthy lucre or at least a stress-ball type immediately if you’re in a notifiable Sale or Return All Freedom Press titles as well as a variety of Rebel gimmick with ‘I’ve met the Met’ on it. occupation. Press, Phoenix Press and Attack International titles Well it’s bad news kids. They’re not a are available to anarchist groups on a sale-or-return reward but a punishment! It’s an admission Who benefits? basis. You take the books, we keep a list of what of guilt for which you don’t go to court to In short the cops and the Crown Prosecution you had, you try to flog the books at stalls, events, be sentenced but are told off by the police. Service. They get a high clear up rate book fairs, etc. You bring the unsold ones back Nevertheless it looks like you’re getting without the inconvenience of proper and give us 50% of the money for the ones you away scot free. However consider this. investigation or a fair trial. It also makes it sold. Anarchist idea are thus propagated amongst much harder for you to sue the police later the toiling masses, Freedom Press doesn’t go bust Does it stay on my record? for their misconduct. Individual cases differ and the establishment of a global human A simple caution is not a technically a and there may be circumstances where community based on freedom and co-operation criminal conviction, but it will be recorded taking a caution is in your interest (e.g. Mr moves a step closer. on the police database. It may also be used J.T. Ripper will you accept a caution for in court as evidence of bad character, or as carrying a bladed instrument in a public part of an anti-social behaviour order place). However don’t do it until you have (ASBO) application and the record will carefully considered the pros and cons. Anarchists report from remain on the police database, along with Remember you are entitled to have the photographs, fingerprints and any other evidence against you disclosed to you and the Egyptian uprising evidence taken. If you are cautioned for a your lawyer before you take a caution 7page 9 sexual offence, you could be placed on the You can read more (and if you’re offered What will the main tasks be once Mubarak sex offenders register. If a crime victim a caution should de finitely read more) here: leaves? Has there been much planning about requests your name and address for civil http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ this on the street level? What have anti- proceedings, the police are legally obliged to +/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/ capitalist revolutionaries proposed? give this information out, so you may still be publications/home-office-circulars/circulars- The main task now, speaking about street sued for damages. Countries requiring 2008/016-2008/index.html demands, is new constitution and a provisional foreign nationals to obtain entry visas may LDMG government, and then new elections. There’s much planning about these issues from many political trends here, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. Anti-capitalist revolutionaries are not very big in Cairo – the communists, the democratic left and Trotskyites are calling for the same demands about a constitution and new elections. But for us, as anarchists, we are anti-capital and anti-state too – we will try to strengthen the committees that have been formed to protect and secure the streets, and try to turn them into real councils.

What do you want to say to revolutionaries abroad? Dear comrades, all over the world, we need solidarity, a big solidarity campaign and the Egyptian revolution will win.

Special thanks to Northern Eastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (http://nefac.net/), for the interview, and Infoshop News (http://news.infoshop. org/) for the sources of information.

Same old New Labour tricks 7page 1 in the riot police with dogs and horses to attack demonstrators protesting the cuts outside the Town Hall late last year, and peaceful protestors were attacked by police during the Labour controlled Islington council voting through their spending cuts recently. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 12

12 Freedom • 26th February 2011 GETTING ACTIVE PRISON NEWS

Further news has been leaking out of Egypt about the prison uprisings that occurred during the early days of the recent protests, despite a concerted effort by the authorities to clampdown on access to all prisons. Many of these uprisings involved mass breakout attempts and in most cases prison guards responded with live fire, killing an unknown number of prisoners across the country. In one of the most serious incidents, guards at al-Qatta prison deliberately killed at least 65 prisoners following an escape attempt by a small group of inmates on 28th January. Officers in the prison watch- towers then started firing live rounds at the prisoners “in an attempt to kill as many people as possible, and not in an attempt to deter the uprising, as regulated by the prison law,” according to a statement from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), the organisation collating the information currently available on these incidents, much of it coming via illicit mobile phone calls from the prisoners themselves. In the ensuing chaos, a senior prison officer was killed. In retaliation, guards with shotguns spent the following three days WAG’s latest publication On The Streets contrasts the Poll Tax Riots, pictured above, going from cell to cell randomly executing with Stop the War. inmates. Water and electricity was cut off to the prisoners for a week, and prisoners ● A new group, involving many anarchists, ● Another Solfed off shoot is the Education trying to get to a water tank in the prison has been set up to support workers and Workers Network who have just published yard were shot. There was no food, the claimants in Sheffield. Mutual Aid Sheffield their new bulletin (#6). With its emphasis kitchen having burned down, and prisoners ( M.A.SH) is a voluntary group providing heavily on the recent student unrest it offers an were forced to catch and eat cats. All this solidarity and support for strikes, work insight into the academy schools programme time the dead and decomposing bodies place actions and community struggles (privatising education through the back door) were left in the cells, with prisoners being through direct action. as well as a resistance round-up and overview forced to wrap them in blankets and store Initially its intention is to help every of the student struggles. them in empty cells as guards refused to member of the group with problems with The EWN is open to all those working in allow them to be removed. Some reports landlords, housing issues, benefit claims, education whether porters, lecturers, cleaner, claim that prisoners were still being fired problems with access to public services, teachers, clerical staff, technicians, and seeks upon when trying to move dead bodies to bullying and victimisation, sexual harass - to work to provide support to those in educa - the main gate two weeks after the initial ment, discrimination and unpaid wages. tion and to do so through self education and incident occurred. The group is open t o any worker or activism. At the same time, those outside the prison unemployed person across any sector and it For those who work in education, from whatever trying to find out what has happened to is independent of all political parties and perspective contact [email protected] or visit their their relatives have been prevented by the trade unions and is also non-profit making. website at http://www.ewn.org.uk/ prison authorities from visiting and a The group makes it clear it is not a service number of scuffles have broken out with but what they offer is an approach and a ● Another new publication is the Whitechapel further reports of prison guards again using network of support that is effective in Anarchist Group’s eagerly awaited and much live fire to quell the disturbances. addressing any problems in the workplace anticipated full length paper, On the Streets. and/or claiming. It offers up WAG’s usual incendiary mix of Ford Open Prison Their website is at http://mutualaidsheff.org/ or provocative articles and militant propaganda The tabloid press continues to mine the email [email protected] for m ore details. from an unapologetic working class perspective, rich seam of prisoner-baiting opened up to it’s both critical and confrontational voicing them by the New Year’s Day riot at Ford ● A group of SolFed members, who work or the anger and concerns of the forgotten, open prison. The funniest recent article is have experience in the door-to-door sales disenfranchised masses. by The Sun’s ‘crime editor’. This rather and charity fundraising industry, have Not unsurprisingly the cuts take up much shifty looking character apparently started a blog under the name Door-to-Door of the free eight-page paper. There are articles smuggled himself into Ford one morning at Workers’ Network for those working in on social cleansing, the rise in support of dawn, where he allegedly persuaded a door-to-door sales and fundraising jobs. reactionary ideas both in the EDL and BNP, prisoner to photograph said reporter in The aim is to build up a useful resource Cameron’s big society gets a pasting, while front of a stash of alcohol, cannabis and a offering advice, information and support. In there’s a useful guide to when the government mobile phone, all on the prisoner’s own the long-term, it is hoped the blog will cuts actually come into effect and a neat mobile. Needless to say, the posed photos evolve into an active component of SolFed’s little history lesson with Anti-Poll Tax vs taken by The Sun’s own photographer Private Sector Network, helping to facilitate Stop The War. Rabble-rousing with a outside Ford look exactly the same as solidarity and self-organisation among rank- revolutionary intent. those supposedly taken inside the prison and-file workers. On the Streets is now available from Freedom by prisoners. What a con! Visit the Door-to-Door Workers’ Network website at bookshop or visit WAG’s website to order your copy: http://door2doornet.wordpress.com/ http://whitechapelanarchistgroup.wordpress.com/ Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 13

Freedom • 26th February 2011 13 HISTORY Marie Louise Berneri Anarchist, political activist, editor, author…

Maria Luisa Berneri was born on 1st March 1918 in Arezzo near Florence, the elder daughter of Camillo and Giovanna Berneri. Her father, originally a socialist, became an anarchist in the early 1920s, and was soon one of the best-known (and at times most controversial) intellectuals in the Italian anarchist movement. He was a teacher who after Mussolini’s seizure of power in 1922 refused to accept the demands laid upon the teaching profession by the Fascists, and in 1926 he went into exile in France. In Paris his – and his family’s – home soon became a centre of anti-Fascist activities, and his two daughters grew up in a highly politicised environment. Adopting the French version of her name, Marie Louise obtained her baccalauréat and in the mid-1930s started to study psychology at the Sorbonne. She soon became involved more and more involved in anti-Fascist of War Commentary who were tried for in the anarchist movement and participated activities and eventually the anarchist move - incitement to disaffection, but she was in the production of the short-lived paper ment, was during the War arrested in France, acquitted on a legal technicality (a wife Revision (with Luis Mercier Vega, alias S. interned for a while in the South of Franc e, and cannot conspire with her husband), and Parane, alias Ridel). then eventually handed over to the Italian when her three comrades were imprisoned authorities; she was imprisoned in Italy till she took the main responsibility for continuing the end of the War, and then after the the paper into the post-war period. She It is not by changing ministers – such Liberation became one of the most prominent maintained her interest in psychology, and and active anarchists in Italy. she was one of the first people in Britain guilty men! – or issuing declarations that From 1936 until her death twelve years who discussed the work of Wilhelm Reich, in fascism and capitalism will be conquered. later, every activity undertaken by Freedom an article ‘Sexuality and Freedom’ in George Press was infused by Marie Louise Berneri’s Woodcock’s Now 5 (August 1945). The problem is more complex than that. personality. Already in Paris she had been At the end of 1948 she gave birth to a We do not intend to add our voice to closely involved (with her father and Tom still-born child, and on 13th April 1949 she those who delude the workers that their Keell) in the preparatory discussions and herself unexpectedly died from a virus collecting of funds for Spain and the World, infection. She was a highly intelligent and ‘leaders’ will get them out of the mess. The which Vernon Richards started in December deeply committed revolutionary anarchist; “problems need a complete transformation 1936. After coming to England in 1937 she she was also a remarkably beautiful woman took an active part in the production of the and a widely loved personality. Her sudden in the present attitude of the working paper, and between February and June 1939 death at the age of only 31 was a tragedy class (War Commentary, December 1940) she took part in the attempt to provide some not only for her friends and comrades but formal link for the anarchist movement by for the whole anarchist movement. the production of Revolt!, the successor of Apart from her many contributions to the At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Spain an d the World (with Vernon Richards, Freedom Press periodicals, she added an her father went to Spain and, after a short Albert Meltzer, Tom Brown, Mr and Mrs interesting postscript to Vote – What For? period of active fighting on the Aragon front, Leach, and Sturgess). She also was one of the (1942), a new version of Malatesta’s anti- eventually took up residence in Barcelona in small group which started War Commentary election pamphlet of 1890, and she wrote a order to edit the I talian language paper in November 1939. Already knowing Italian, substantial part of the Freedom pamphlet Guerra di Classe, perhaps the most clear- French and Spanish, she quickly mastered The Russian Myth (1941), partly reproduced sighted revolutionary anarchist paper to English and became one of the main editorial in her Workers in Stalin’s Ru ssia (1944), a come out of the Spanish ”Revolution. Marie writers, specialising in international affairs. detailed and influential booklet describing Louise went twice to Barcelona, the second She was an effective public speaker, paper- the real situation in the Soviet Union. time after her father’s assassination by seller, and meeting organiser. But above all After her death the Marie Louise Berneri Communists in May 1937; subsequently she she was the emotional and intellectual centre Memorial Committee produced Neither East came to England, where she joined her of the group. Nor West (1952), an anthology of her editorial companion, Vernon Richards, and spent the At the end of the Spanish Civil War she articles from 1939 to 1948. Another post - rest of her life. (They married to give her the was active in organising relief for Spanish humous publication was Journey Through protection of British nationality.) orphans and refugees. Her wide contacts in Utopia (1950), a survey of utopian ideas Her sister Giliane remained in France and knowledge of the international movement which was originally published by Routledge where she studied psychology and in the gave her great authority among anarchists, and is still avai lable from Freedom Press. years after the War also became active in the but her libertarian principles and personal anarchist movement. Their mother Giovanna, modesty prevented her from misusing it. In Taken from Freedom: 100 Years published by who during the 1920s and 1930s had become April 1945 she was one of the fou r editors Freedom Press. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 14

14 Freedom • 26th February 2011 REVIEWS WHAT’S ON MARCH n 5th Campaign Against Arms Trade Spring Gathering, a day-long event to focus on BAKUNIN ON STATISM our work to end DSEi, the huge arms fair taking place in September in London. The means of opposing the reactionary forces of gathering will cover case studies of the Iain McKay revisits another the state” was the “organising of the impact of British weapons sales, top tips neglected classic of anarchist revolutionary force of the people” (156). on working with the media, tackling the Marxist myths notwithstanding, Bakunin’s arms companies’ spin, how to take on thought opposition to “the dictatorship of the local arms producers and more, so come proletariat” never reflected a naïve believe along for a great introduction to CAAT for that a revolution did not need defending! new people and an energising, informative Statism and Anarchy is the first complete Similarly, his syndicalist ideas are mentioned day for all at MERCi, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a English translation of the last work by the almost in passing when he argues that the en Beswick Street, Manchester M4 7HR from Russian anarchist Michael Bakunin. Given proletariat “must enter the International his influence, it is surprising that this 1873 masse, form factory, artisan, and agrarian 10.30am until 5pm, to find out more call work was his only book and even this is sections, and unite them into local federa- 0207 281 0297, email annemarie@caat. technically incomplete (referring as it does to tions” for “the sake of its own liberation” org.uk or visit http://www.caat.org.uk a second part which was never written). It (51) as it “indicated to [the proletariat] the n 6th Squattastic, our task is at hand, we aimed to influence Russian populism and the ways and means of organising a popular must save squatting, occupations are alive ‘to the people’ movement, although most of force” (32). but under threat so join us for discussions, it is an account of European history in the The key to understanding Bakunin’s action and supper from 2pm until 6pm at nineteenth century. critique of Marxism is to understand his Colorama, 52 Lancaster Street, London If that were all, there would be little interest analysis of the state. The state “stands SE1 0RY, for more details and information in it, but Bakunin also prophetically critiques outside the people and above them” (136), see http://squattastic.blogspot.com/ Marx’s “dictatorship of the proletariat” as “the government of society from above n 12th Countercultural Connections with nothing more that a dictatorship over the down ward” (198) and resulted in the “actual speaker/performer Michael Horovitz, a proletariat (176–81). It also sketches subordination of the sovereign people to the News From Nowhere Club event at The Bakunin’s vision of an anarchist society and intellectual minority that governs them” Epicentre, West Street, Leytonstone, the social forces that will achieve it, both (13). Wh ile recognising that the modern London E11 4LJ, 7.30pm buffet (bring important (and much distorted) aspects of state defended the capitalist class, Bakunin something if you can), 8pm talk and his ideas. rejected Marx’s reductionism and argued it discussion, for details call 020 8555 5248 Marshall Shatz has provided an excellent could and did have interests of its own. He or see newsfromnowhereclub.org. introduction. He does repeat the usual pointed to Turkish Serbia where economically n 12th Mothers march for everyone’s stereotype that Bakunin’s agent of social dominant classes “do not even exist – there survival and welfare: end cuts, poverty and change was the lumpen proletariat while, in is only a bureaucratic class. Thus, the discrimination, organised by Global fact, Bakunin viewed all exploited and Serbian state will crush the Serbian people Women’s Strike, assemble Trafalgar Square oppressed social classes as agents for for the sole purpose of enabling Serbian (north side) London at 12 noon, women revolution – artisans, peasants, proletarians. bureaucrats to live a fatter lif e” (54). The and men, young and old – bring your Bakunin’s actual position on such key same would occur under the so-called demands to the march, for details email revolutionary isssues i in Statism and “workers’ state” of the Marxists simply [email protected], call 020 Anarchy, but unfortunately these insights because it was a state and, consequently, was 7482 2496, join GWS on Facebook and on are often buried within discussions on other a centralised, top-down structure. www.twitter.com/WomenStrike or see matters. Statism, then, was the “government of www.globalwomenstrike.net. While, for example, Bakunin discussed the society from above downward” rather than obvious need to defend a revolution in a social organisation federated “from below APRIL previous works, here he states “the sole page 158 n 1st to 3rd Zagreb’s Seventh Anarchist Bookfair at Galerija Nova, Teslina 7, Zagreb, for more information or to book a PRIZE CROSSWORD ANSWERS stall see www.ask-zagreb.org or e-mail The answers to our prize crossword which Down: 1 Paella, 2 Flowerpots, 3 Chosen, 4 [email protected] appeared in the 18th December issue. Scot-free, 5 Boar, 6 Pulsated, 9 PLO, 10 n 2nd Campaign Against Arms Trade day- Navy, 15 Car, 17 Vertebrate, 19 Awakened, long event to focus on our work to end Across: 7/8 Paul the octopus, 11 All, 12 20 Conflict,1 2 Nae, 24 Sops, 25 Nudism, DSEi, the huge arms fair planned to take Flew, 13 Svartfrosk, 14 Vagrancy, 16 Rivets, 26 Climax, 28 Pom, 29 Hold. place in September in London, a great 18 Waco, 20 Crane, 22 Reds, 23 Carson, 24 introduction to CAAT for new people and Sentence, 27 Cephalopod, 30 Raid, 31 Noo, The first correct entry out of the hat was RA an energising, informative day for all at 32 Hemlock, 33 Ash-tray. from Carmarthenshire. RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS from 10.30am-5pm, call 0207 281 0297, email [email protected] or QUIZ ANSWERS visit http://www.caat.org.uk for more. n 9th Guerrilla Gardening with speaker 1. She was given an informal police caution, claimed to be about more than fox- Richard Reynolds (the founder of which has meant she lost her job as it hunting. Seems the ‘more’ was “the guerrillagardening.org), a News From showed up on the Criminal records significant revenue potential”. Nowhere Club event at The Epicentre, Bureau check. 4. It remained above that level every West Street, Leytonstone, London E11 2. The war criminal and committed month for the next 21 years until July 4LJ, 7.30pm buffet, 8pm talk and and democrat visited Egypt five times while 2000. And during Thatcher’s time in discussion, for details call 020 8555 5248 PM – at one time Mubarak even paid office, the definition of ‘unemployment’ or see newsfromnowhereclub.org. for his flights. was adjusted a dozen times in a futile 3. The Countryside Alliance, who always attempt to reduce the figures. Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 15

Freedom • 26th February 2011 15 REVIEWS SM AND ANARCHY

7page 14 upward.” He recognised that a democratic government did not change this as it was simply electing rulers. Thus socialism was to be created “not by the orders of any authority, even an elected one … but as the natural development of all the varied demands put forth by life itself.” Revolutionary ideas rested in the people and so “no scholar can teach the people or even define for himself how they will and must live on the morrow of the social revolution. That will be determined first by the situation of each people, and secondly by the desires that manifest them- selves and operate most strongly within them” (198–99). All revolutionaries should do was participate in social movements, make these instinctive notions conscious by debate and argument. Unsurprisingly, he rejected those “managers of all po pular movements” (136) who would “impose … an ideal social organisation … drawn from books” (135). A category which, he suggested, included Marxists as they wanted to seize state power and so automatically place themselves above the people. They were blind to the reality of state power. Bakunin sketches the two alternatives suggested by Marxists: peaceful reform by electoral struggle and violent revolution. The former, he correctly predicted, would mean “the election to the German parliament of one or two workers” and was “not dangerous.” In fact, it was “highly useful to the German state as a lightning-rod, or a safety-valve.” Unlike the “political and social theory” of the anarchists, which “leads them directly and inexorably to a complete break with all governments and all forms of bourgeois masses by a new and very small aristocracy as they become rulers or representatives of politics,” Marx ism “inexorably enmeshes of real or pretended scholars. The people are the people will cease to be workers and will and entangles its adherents, under the pretext not learned, so they will be liberated from the begin to look upon the whole workers’ of political tactics, in endless accommodation cares of government and included in entirety world from the height s of the state. They with governments and the various bourgeois in the governed herd” (178–79). will no longer represent the people but political parties – that is, it thrusts them In this Statism and Anarchy was truly themselves and their own pretensions to directly into reaction” (193, 179–80). prophetic. Yet while it is fair to proclaim govern the people” (178). Marxism in While Marxists like to assert anarchists Marx ‘a Jacobin’, Bakunin’s suggestion that power proved the correctness of this argue that working people should ignore Marx’s “favourite dream is of a political prediction. politics, Statism and Anarchy explicitly rejects dictatorship” was unwarranted (182). Far Attempts by Leninists to blame “objective this. Bakunin pointed to a group in Germany better to argue as he does at times that, in circumstances” (civil war, economic collapse, that argued workers “were supposed to dis - spite of their best intentions, Marxists would etc.) for this confirmation of Bakunin’s engage themselves systematically from all create a new class system simply because of arguments are unconvincing. Space precludes political and social concerns and questions their impoverished analysis of the state and any real discussion but suffice to say about the state, property, and so forth.” the hierarchical social relations it creates Bolshevik authoritarianism predated the This “completely subordinated the proletariat between governed and government. start of the Civil War. Given that Leninists to the bourgeoisie which exploits it and for While many Marxists view their new state mock anarchists by (inaccurately) suggesting which it was to remain an obedient and as a radical democracy, Bakunin disagreed. we think the capitalist class will disappear mindless tool” (174). If it truly were the case that the “entire without a fight after a revolution, it seems As well as predicting Social Democracy’s nation will rule” then “no one will be ruled. self-contradictory to blame Bolshevik descent into reformism, his warnings about Then there will be no government, no tyranny on something (civil war and its the realities of a Marxist regime came to be state.” However, this was n ot what was resulting economic disruption) they think is in Bolshevism. The party hierarchy did meant: “By popular government [Marxists] inevitable! “concentrat[e] in their own hands all ... mean government of the people by a small Given this analysis of the state, Bakunin production ... under the direct command of number of representatives elected by the argued that revolution mus t be “an end to state engineers, who will form a new privileged people.” This was “a lie behind which the all masters and to domination of every kind, scientific and political class” (181). It was despotism of a ruling minority is concealed” and the free construction of popular life in “the highly despotic government of the made up “of former workers, who, as soon page 168 Freedom 7204:Freedom 24/02/2011 02:21 Page 16

Review “centralised states” and was “contrary to their essence.” The end of “sham popular THE QUIZ 7page 15 sovereignty” would create “real as opposed accordance with popular needs, not from to fictitious freedom” (13). This would be 1. How did the police treat a mother who above downward, as in the state, but from based on a self-managed economy, with co- left her three year old with his fourteen below upward, by the people themselves, operation being the “just mode of future year old brother in the Thames Valley in dispensing with all governments and parlia - production” and “all forms of land and 2009? ments – a voluntary alliance of agricultural capital” becoming “collective property” (201). 2. How many times did Tony Blair holiday and factory worker associations, communes, In short, “a popular federation with it based in Egypt as a guest of deposed dictator provinces, and nations” (33). In short, a on emancipated labour and collective Hosni Mubarak? system of workers’ councils (one based, as property” (22) – a socialism from below. 3. Which countryside lobby group is most he stressed in earlier works, on mandated To conclude, this is an important, if flawed, upset about the coalition backing down and recallable delegates). work. It is fair to say that this is a book best over selling off the forests? B akunin stressed that not all social suited for extracts within an anthology – but 4. When Thatcher took office in May 1979 structures were states. Thus a “federal what extracts they are! proclaiming “Labour isn’t working” organisation, from below upward, of unemployment was 5.3%. When did it workers’ associations, groups, communes, Statism and Anarchy by Michael Bakunin, edited by fall to beneath that figure? districts, and ultimately, regions and nations” Marshall Shatz, published by Cambridge University could not be considered as the same as Press, £18.99. Answers on page 14

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