The Criminalization of Dissent Protest Violence, Activist Performance, and the Curious Case of the Volxtheaterkarawane in Genoa Michael Shane Boyle

The Criminalization of Dissent Protest Violence, Activist Performance, and the Curious Case of the VolxTheaterKarawane in Genoa Michael Shane Boyle

VolxTheater. People, who want to make theater. Volxtheater as a collective, nonhierarchical concept, whether onstage or in the street. Theater from below, from the head, the stomach, the ass, the fist, from each tiny toe and from the chest! — VolksTheaterKarwane (No-Racism.net 1995–2005)1

[T]he last time I was in Italy was in June, more than a month before the protests. At that time, it was already clear that the police were running out of control, getting their excuses ready for a major civil liberties crackdown and setting the stage for extreme violence. Before a single activist had taken to the streets, a preemptive state of emergency had been essentially declared: airports were closed and much of the city cordoned off. Yet when I was last in Italy all the public discussions focused not on these violations of civil liberties but on the alleged threat posed by activists. — Naomi Klein (2002a:149) The Arrest Genoa’s Discourse of Criminality When I first met Gini Müller in Berlin in late May 2007, it was just a week before the G8 Summit being held that year in the sleepy resort town of Heiligendamm, Germany. As a veteran of the VolxTheaterKarawane from its origin in the mid-1990s to its disbandment in 2005, Gini was happy to answer my questions about her time with the Viennese activist-performance collective. With the 2007 G8 summit looming, Gini and I could not help but chat at length about the demonstrations planned for Heiligendamm and the German government’s massive $130 million security crackdown. Since I knew of Gini’s precarious legal position stemming from her arrest at the 2001 G8 Summit six years earlier, I was not at all surprised when she expressed serious reservations about joining the 2007 protests. On the afternoon of 22 July 2001, a small but conspicuous convoy belonging to the VolxTheaterKarawane departed the Italian city of Genoa, leaving behind the G8 Summit and the tumultuous events of the previous days.2 But while parked at a rest stop some 20 kilometers outside Genoa’s city limits, the summit — or more specifically, a large group of heavily armed Carabinieri — caught up with them.

1. “VolxTheater Konzept,” http://no-racism.net/volxtheater/_html/vktfset.htm; All translations from German into English, unless otherwise noted, are my own. 2. While not standard German spelling, “VolxTheaterKarawane” often appears in English articles and documents as “PublixTheater Caravan.”

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114 Michael Shane Boyle

physical abuse. tody forthenextthreeweeks. fronting themhadwieldedmachineguns. with analtogethernovelalthoughunwantedexperience:this was thefirsttimeauthoritiescon- of thepolice, thesurprisemeetingwithCarabinierijust outsideofGenoapresentedthegroup in Genoa, indefinitedetainmentandtorture. Despitebeingaccustomedtotherepressivetactics tion oflocalauthorities, oftenresultinginsearches, seizures, andinthecaseofG8summit Italy. Their slow-movingcaravanandcolorfulpublicspectaclesroutinelyattractedtheatten- demonstrations, andthrowingpartiesonthestreetsofcitiesthroughout Austria, Slovenia, and Europe forfourweeksaspartofamigrantrightsactivisttourperformingactions, organizing were certainlynostrangerstopoliceharassment. The tight-knitgrouphadbeentouringcentral nal organizationandchargedthemunderalawmostoftenreserved forthemafia. Whilethe 4. 3. in ourproductionseason,andcollaborationwithcommunitypartners. projects wedevelopwithourstudents,staff,andfacultyintheclassroom,research, our dailycommitmenttocollaborationandthekindofrigorouslycritical,team-based full packageofsupport,includingfellowshipandteachingassistantships.We takepridein geography incontemporarydrama.StudentsadmittedtothePhDprogramareoffereda contemporary Shakespeareanacting,fromthediscoursesofLatino/atheatertofeminist theatricality totheperformanceofmedicine,frompuppetsandperformingobjects studies. Currently, PhDstudentsareworkingonsubjectsthatrangefrompostcolonial which itselfrangesacrossthecontemporaryhorizonofdrama,theater, andperformance opportunity toengageinperformanceactivitiesthatcomplementdissertationresearch, drawn fromacrossthearts,humanities,andsocialsciences.Doctoralstudentshave Group PhDinPerformanceStudiesatBerkeleyiscomposedofanunrivalledfaculty material and tocreateanenvironmentinwhichstudentsengagewiththeoreticalhistorical engagement. Thedepartmentaimstobridgethedividebetweenpracticeandscholarship, be amodeofcriticalinquiry, ameansofcreativeexpression,andvehicleforpublic Bay Areaartsandcommunityorganizations.InTDPS,weunderstandperformanceto Center, CalPerformances,andtheBerkeleyArtMuseumaswellaneclecticarrayof campus organizationssuchastheTownsend HumanitiesCenter, theArtsResearch the doctoralprograminPerformanceStudies.Thedepartmentinterfacesregularlywith ofTheater,The Department StudiesatUC-Berkeleyhouses Dance,andPerformance in [email protected] Quarterly, forthcomingissuesofTheatreJournal and contemporaryactivistperformancehaveappearedinCounterpunch, fellowship fromtheSocialSciencesResearchCouncil.Hisarticlesonpostdramatictheatre the FreeUniversity, BerlinonaFulbrightResearchGrantanddissertationfieldwork New Left.Hespentthe2010/11academicyearatInstitutfürTheaterwissenschaftof and theroleplayedbyperformance,violence,criticaltheoryinshapingGerman at theUniversityofCaliforniaBerkeley. Hisdissertationexamines1968historiography Michael ShaneBoyleisaPhDcandidateintheGraduateProgramPerformanceStudies no-racism.net/nobordertour/noprison/pk_20801_state_01.html (No-Racism.net 1995–2005). For a general of overview the group’s detainment written in English by the VolxTheaterKarawane, see http:// press releases obtained from the VolxTheaterKarawane, sources. and secondary with group members, documents on the VolxTheaterKarawane’s website (http://no-racism.net/nobordertour), The information presented in this essay on the VolxTheaterKarawane’s arrest in Genoa comes from interviews All 25individualstravelingwiththecaravanthatafternoonwere arrestedandheldincus- By thatswelteringmid-summerSundayin2001, membersofthe VolxTheaterKarawane — deepening theirworkaswriters,thinkers,analyzers,andmovers.TheGraduate 4 Italianpoliceaccusedtheactivist-performancecollectiveofforming acrimi- 3 There theyweresubjectedtoaggressiveinterrogations and Student EssayContestWinner Theater Survey,andShakespeare South Atlantic

The Criminalization of Dissent 115 militant tactics of corporate globalization contours [...] more and more a Figure 1. The VolxTheaterKarawane at the FreeRePublic parade parade FreeRePublic the at VolxTheaterKarawane The 1. Figure 2002. June 15 Austria, Vienna, Italy. in arrest their after year a (CourtesyNo-Racism.net) behavior of police (see Carroll 2002; Klein 2002b; Allen Jr. 2001). 2001). Allen Jr. behavior of police (see Carroll 2002; Klein 2002b; The lingering case of the The lingering case of of the the public memory and activists have noted, journalists, As a number of scholars, movement as a whole (see Graeber 2007; Perlmutter and Wagner 2004; Atton 2002). As is well Atton 2002). 2004; Wagner movement as a whole (see Graeber 2007; Perlmutter and public and legal scrutiny of the the violence in Genoa led to intense known, demonstrators and the brutal yielded The drive to attribute blame and prosecute those responsible for the violence in Genoa 1978) that quickly infiltrated the public memory a powerful discourse of criminality (Hall et al. Like 2001). 2004; Hislop Wagner of the Genoa demonstrations (Hooper 2008; Perlmutter and that characterizes what Kristin Ross has described as the “active forgetting of the events” the the demonstrations against the 2001 G8 Summit Paris, of the May 1968 protests in “afterlives” increasingly vague in [their] “disembodied, have also become VolxTheaterKarawane was eventually released following a massive public outcry that fea- public outcry following a massive was eventually released VolxTheaterKarawane and governments, pressure by foreign diplomatic Europe, actions throughout tured solidarity Nobel laureates Amnesty International, as disparate sources of support from such open letters dubi- 10 years later the as of this writing U2, and the rock group and Dario Fo, Elfriede Jelinek 25 arrested None of the group are still pending. Vienna-based against the ous charges brought against them dropped. let alone seen the charges in court, have received their day con- VolxTheaterKarawane help us cretely reveals and can of the analyze the consequences and vio- overlapping, multiple, that state lent repressive tactics at the 2001 authorities exercised Italy. G8 Summit in Genoa, My argument makes a careful, albeit admittedly artificial dis- tinction between the descrip- tive discourse of criminality that emerged from the Genoa demonstrations in the media and the discourse of criminalization that provided crucial conditions of possibility for the violent events I privi- that ensued in Genoa. lege the discourse of criminalization in my analysis of the arrest VolxTheaterKarawane’s the police’s handling of the Genoa demonstrations and detainment in order to examine how response corresponds to the general refusal as a criminal problem that demanded a repressive against corporate globalization as legitimate politi- of political elites to recognize movements My methodological decision to analyze how the discourse of criminalization cal interlocutors. effort to study the demonstrations against the Genoa operated on a specific activist group is an typically have been employed by the mainstream G8 Summit outside the abstract frames that media. Juris has what anthropologist Jeffrey and violence, Genoa G8 Summit is largely one of chaos In his study of the Genoa dem- (2008:162). destruction” “an iconic sign of wanton described as “Genoa has become synonymous Juris writes, onstrations and their representation in the media, and black-clad pro- burning cars, images of tear gas, a metonym evoking with protest violence, His (2008:161). testors hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at heavily militarized riot police” confron- analysis corresponds to other studies that highlight how evocative images of violent pub- tations between militant demonstrators and heavily armed police have adversely affected but the anti- lic perceptions of not only the Genoa demonstrations, Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

116 Michael Shane Boyle as awhole, forwhichGenoahasbecomeacentralreferent(FAIR 2003). events, whilealsoinfluencingpublicperceptionoftheanti-corporateglobalizationmovement strong performativeeffects. This discoursedramaticallystructuresreadingsofrelatedprotest demonstrations inthepublicdiscoursearoundanti-corporateglobalizationmovementcarry globalization movementasawhole. Abstract yetseeminglyobligatoryreferencestotheGenoa has transformedGenoaintoanabstraction, orasJurissuggests, a “metonym” forthealternative ities ofthedemonstratorsthemselves. Perhapsmoreimportantly, thisdiscourseofcriminality bly leadstoaforgettingand/ordiscursiveperversionofthepoliticalaims, goals, andsubjectiv- depoliticization ofthedemonstrationsintosomethingamorphouslycriminal, whichinevita- ate, ofcourse, onthemilitantanddestructiveactionsofdemonstrators. This focusreliesona public perceptionsoftheGenoademonstrationstoadramaticextent. Suchperceptionsfix- violent imagesandstoriesfromtheprotestshasundoubtedlyshapedsymbolicregisters sense ofGenoaasbeingthescenemultiplecrimes. ceedings againstdemonstratorsandpolicefollowingthe2001G8Summitonlyintensified invariably presentssuchturbulenceasacrimeagainstsocietyitself(1978). The manylegalpro- argued, theunsurprisingnarrativestrategiesusedbymediatorepresentprotestviolence Juris2005;Graeber2002). Yet“framings” inthemedia( asStuartHalletal. havecompellingly bined tocreateanatmosphereofsiegeandconflictthatlendsitselfparticularpredictable the repressivetacticsofpoliceand “protest aesthetics” ofmilitantactivists(Day2007)com- tions. Yet responsibilityforthisframingcertainlydoesnotrestsolelywiththemedia. After all, Genoa’s discursiveprominenceinthemedia, whichfocusesontheviolenceofdemonstra- any “shroud ofsilence” aroundtheGenoademonstrations(Ross2002a:184), butresultsfrom purely discursivephenomenon” (Ross2002a:182;Ross2002b). This forgettingisnotdueto

repressive manifestations? case ofthe VolxTheaterKarawane offerfornegotiatingdiscoursesofcriminalization andtheir nalization onactivistpracticesaswellbodies? And finally, whatpossibilitiesdoesthe does thecaseof VolxTheaterKarawane revealabouttheimpactofthisdiscoursecrimi- discursive challengesfacingmovementsagainstneoliberalismandcorporateglobalization. What themselves. Moreover, theparticularcaseof VolxTheaterKarawane revealsthematerialand criminalization ofdissentinliberaldemocraciesoperatesonandinfluencesactivistpractices their participationintheprotestsagainst2001GenoaG8Summitilluminatehowroutine tially violentcriminalswhoseassemblyinGenoarequiredrepression. informed policetrainingbefore theprotestsandwhichcharacterizeddemonstratorsaspoten- cation indiscriminate. Policebehaviorwasguidedbyapotentdiscourseofcriminalizationthat the repressivetacticsofpoliceinGenoawerenotanomalous, norweretheirtargetsofappli- ditions ofpossibilityforthetumultitself. As thecaseof VolxTheaterKarawane illustrates, demonstrations, therewasalsoapowerfuldiscourseofcriminalizationthatprovidedcrucialcon- 5. The descriptiveandhighlyperformativediscourseofcriminalitythatemergedoutthe Klein 2002b). Klein 2002b). in the world while demonstrating for issues similar to those addressed by the Genoa activists (see Klein 2002a; not the least of which is the general lack of attention to those activists who are murdered or injured elsewhere balization. Thishasanumberofdiscursive and materialeffectsforactivistsoutsideof Europe and America, North and North America that are even included in this public discourse around the movements against corporate glo- At the same time, it should be remembered that it is mainly activists from and demonstrations in Western Europe The conditionssurroundingthe VolxTheaterKarawane’s arrestanddetainmentfollowing In additiontothediscourseofcriminalitythatemergedinrepresentationsGenoa 5 The Criminalization of Dissent 117

- - - (1996), Fo’s Fo’s (1996), Penthesilia (1997). Descriptions, pictures, videos, and sound files of of files sound and videos, pictures, Descriptions, (1997). Auftrag Der (1994), an adaptation of Kleist’s Kleist’s of adaptation an (1994), Opera Threepenny The group’s interest in combining performance with direct action ulti- 7 While the group’s membership would constantly change throughout its 11-year While the group’s 6 In addition to their stage work (almost all of which premiered in the EKH), the VolxTheater VolxTheater the of which premiered in the EKH), In addition to their stage work (almost all (1996), and Müller’s Müller’s and (1996), Pay! Won’t Pay? Can’t (No-Racism http://no-racism.net/volxtheater/_html/vktfset.htm at: online found be can productions stage these 1995–2005). .net (2007) Raunig by in texts found be can actions performative direct early VolxTheater’s the on Information (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/volxtheater/_html/vktfset.htm at online as well as (2007), Müller and 1995–2005). These productions included Brecht’s Brecht’s included productions These The end of the VolxTheater’s theatrical work set the stage for their first caravan project: VolxTheater’s The end of the 7. 6. existence, the VolxTheater’s founding principles of nonhierarchical organization, collective col- founding principles of nonhierarchical organization, VolxTheater’s the existence, and openness to all persons remained intact. consensus decision-making, laboration, that blurred the lines between site-specific perfor also regularly produced public direct actions with European migration laws and detention prac- The group’s concerns mance and activism. Flight One of their earliest actions, from Transdanubia tices largely defined their political agenda. working together with other activist VolxTheater took place in May 1995 and featured the Vienna’s In the middle of Austria’s deportation policies. to raise awareness of Vienna groups in Austria by staging publicly dramatized the plight of refugees in VolxTheater the second district, struggled to swim “Transdanubia” from fictional a highly theatrical exodus in which refugees the group began holding what In early 1996, Danube River to the other side. Vienna’s across the In one iteration of this intervention, Vienna. throughout “racist purity checks” they called There they Hofburg Imperial Palace. Vienna’s set up a portable toilet in front of VolxTheater which they then ostensibly used to confirm the sought voluntary stool samples from passersby, racial purity of citizens. mately took precedence over their desire to produce work for the theatre. After being invited to to produce work for the theatre. mately took precedence over their desire a Country Goes Haywire...and Austria, Schauspielhaus to stage the cabaret production, Vienna the newly formed right-wing coalition Austria’s an incendiary response to Is to Blame, the Foreigner began devoting its energy solely to VolxTheater the only to be promptly banned, government, performance would remain a however, In these explicitly activist interventions, activist projects. central part of the group’s action strategy. the group visited nine different cities through- of May 2000 in which Tour the so-called EKH called the Austrian movement The caravan was part of a larger Austria in just nine days. out Austria’s which had been founded in 1999 to protest without Racism, World Platform for a

formances. The group drew on the vastly different theatrical talents and training of its members group drew on the vastly different theatrical The formances. quality as the group’s pieces defined not so much by their production to create performance - the work “From the beginning, As member Gini Müller noted in 2002, production process. lasting several months long, as a collective process and was accordingly ing process was defined stage featured musical adaptations of Their experiments on the (2002). and rich in conflicts” and Heiner Heinrich von Kleist, Fo, Dario playwrights like Bertolt Brecht, works by prominent text’s interpretations of the chosen Productions invariably included loose dramaturgical Müller. and highly tendentious per raucous, energetic, themes and staging practices that often yielded formances. The VolxTheater Konzept The VolxTheater 1994–2001 Vienna Haus in the Ernst Kirchweger by squatters living was founded in 1994 VolxTheater The district whose residents included a mix of 10th Vienna’s social center in an autonomist (EKH), Favoriten (as participants VolxTheater the Initially, and migrants. artists, students, anarchists, mission as a cultural center that an attempt by the EKH to expand its originally called it) was and presented its own per like concerts to one that actually produced regularly hosted events Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

118 Michael Shane Boyle VolxTheaterKarawane respondedtotheseallegationsbyholdingapartyandpublicviewing of weapons depotthe VolxTheaterKarawane wascarryinginoneoftheirvehicles. When the the groupthatsummer, Austria’s largestnewspapertheKronenZeitungreportedonasecret innertubes. Inwhatwouldbecomethefirstofmanyquestionable accusationsleveledagainst meeting placeandconstructedamassiveabsurd-looking “WEF-monster” madeofblack central the VolxTheaterKarawane infiltratedtheheavilyguardedredzonearound WEF’s mets andgreenfatiguesorinbrightorangejumpsuitsemblazonedwiththeNoBorderlogo, added theirowncolorfultwisttothemaindemonstration. DressedasUNsoldiersinbluehel- There the VolxTheaterKarawane organizedstreetparties, conductedinformationsessions, and NoBorder bannerssetoutforSalzburgwheretheyjoinedthedemonstrationsagainst WEF. outdoor party. The nextmorning, 20activistsincars, vans, andsmallbusesdecorated with wanted tocomealong. ers. The groupalsoreadilymaderoominthecaravanforanyonetheymetalongwaywho Viennese independentRadioOrange, andsentoutregularmobilephoneupdatestosupport- group maintainedanonlinetourdiary, frequentlybroadcastedreportsoftheiractionsoverthe sized transparency. Inadditiontotheircolorfulandhighlyconspicuouscaravancamps, the am Main Airport inGermany. Throughout theirentiretour, the VolxTheaterKarawane empha- planned toconcludethetourinearly August withamassiveNoBorderCampattheFrankfurt deportation practices. in SalzburgandtheG8SummitGenoa. tation centers, andparticipatedindemonstrationsagainstthe World EconomicForum(WEF) and Italy, wheretheyconductedstreetperformances, setupNoBorderCamps, protesteddepor VolxTheaterKarawane (as itwasrenamedatthebeginningofthistour)toured Austria, Slovenia, practices. Undertheslogan, “For freedomofmovementandcommunication,” the at Europe’s heightenedimmigrationcontrols, biometricsurveillancetactics, anddetention on aninternationalactivisttour, sponsoredbytheNoBorderactivistnetwork, whichtookaim prise ending. Since26June, thegrouphadbeentravelingthroughcentralandeasternEurope The VolxTheaterKarawane’s arrestinGenoabroughttheir 2001tourtoasuddenandsur The 2001NoBorder Tour Performance andPolicing lowing summer. over thenextfiveyears, includingtheonethatledtotheirarrestjustoutsideofGenoafol- activist-performance collective. These earlycaravanslaidthefoundationforfourmore with streettheatreandimprovisationaltacticswhilelearninghowtofunctionasatraveling new conservativegovernment. Inbothoftheseearlycaravans, the VolxTheater experimented became acentralpartoftheproteststhatsweptthrough Austria in2000againstthenation’s ing acaravanthefollowingOctobercalled The CultureCaravanagainsttheRight Wing, which from the VolxTheater’s stagerepertoire. The successofthisfirsttoursoonledtoothers, includ- hosted apublickitchentomakefoodforpassersby, andperformedvarietyactsexcerpts city’s mainsquarewheretheyplayedmusic, heldpiefights, distributedpoliticalliterature, 9. 8. The NoBordertourkickedoffin Vienna on26June2001withapressconferenceand 1995–2005). German, Spanish, and Italian at www.no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/2606/2606.html (No-Racism.net daily during the tour until the group’s arrest on 22 July. The contents of the “Caravan Diary” are in English, A detailed daily log of the VolxTheaterKarawane’s entire 2001 caravan can be found online. The log was updated cers strapped him to a seat of the plane and sealed his mouth with tape, causing him to suffocate. Omofuma flight from was killed during a deportation Vienna to Sofia on 1 May 1999 when three Austrian offi- The Platform for a World without Racism was a response to the death of Nigerian refugee Marcus Omofuma. 8 Oneachstopofthetour, thegroupsetupcampinmiddleof 9 Beforetheirarreston22July, thegrouphad - - The Criminalization of Dissent 119 - - resulting The officers promptly The officers 10 the group’s next stop in 12 11

13 “Caravan Diary: Tuesday, July 2,” http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/0207/0207.html (No-Racism.net (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/0207/0207.html 2,” July Tuesday, Diary:“Caravan 1995–2005). (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/0307/0307.html 3,” July Tuesday, Diary:“Caravan 1995–2005). (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/1007/1007.html 10,” July Tuesday, Diary:“Caravan 1995–2005). (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/1307/1307.html 13,” July Tuesday, Diary:“Caravan 1995–2005). Following the demonstrations in Salzburg, the caravan traveled to the Slovenian town of the caravan traveled in Salzburg, Following the demonstrations From here the group began their journey to Genoa to join the protests against the G8 From here the group began their journey Confronting the armageddon. Monday is the day to enter what has almost been built up Monday Confronting the armageddon. or alcatraz or a wicked combi- to be something equivalent to entering the twilight zone, There was or so we began the trek toward Genoa. After another hour nation of both [...] Lendava, on the border of Croatia, Hungary, and Austria to join other activists in setting up a to join other activists in setting up Austria and Hungary, of Croatia, on the border Lendava, held workshops on pro- gave performances, VolxTheaterKarawane Here the NoBorder Camp. information about migra- and distributed invisible theatre techniques, test tactics using Boalian produced a number VolxTheaterKarawane the to the NoBorder Camp, In addition tion issues. of members Action Day on 7 July, For the NoBorder actions in Lendava. of performative direct border stations on the highway as UN soldiers and set up temporary the group dressed again to distribute NoBorder passports border where they stopped cars along the Slovenian-Croatian After organizing a demonstration in migration policies to drivers. and information on Europe’s “to protest the inhu- groups center in Ljubljana with Slovenian activist front of a deportation freedom of migration,” mane conditions faced by those denied the left when all they discovered was a collection of cooking utensils, juggling sticks, and as the and as sticks, juggling utensils, a collection of cooking they discovered was left when all with our inner “great fun having local children tour diary explains, VolxTheaterKarawane’s waterpistols.” tubes and Eisenkappel, Austria, once more attracted the attention of police. Following a lengthy and thor once more attracted the attention of police. Austria, Eisenkappel, be head- the police demanded the names of everyone who would ough search of their vehicles, these aggressive diary entry for the day indicates, As their online ing to the Genoa protests. “long discussions prompting them to have group, police tactics made a strong impact on the and police repression and how these topics were influencing our responsibility about the tour, groups dynamics.” 10. 11. 12. 13. their “secret weapons depot,” the Austrian police arrived to investigate. Austrian the weapons depot,” “secret their Summit. Before even crossing into Italy, however, the VolxTheaterKarawane experienced what VolxTheaterKarawane the however, Before even crossing into Italy, Summit. Beginning of dissent by European governments. has become a familiar ritual in the regulation which the Italian government mounted a massive border control operation, on 11 July 2001, on the free movement of people within the included suspending the Schengen agreement allowed the government to conduct border checks This exceptional measure European Union. These the final day of the summit. and 21 July, on over 140,000 individuals between 11 July Upon learning 2006:157). 2001; della Porta et al. checks resulted in 2,930 entry refusals (Hajnal at dif- decided to split up and cross into Italy VolxTheaterKarawane the of these strict plans, three members were the group entered Italy successfully, While most of ferent border points. a dubious government watch list prepared specially refused entry because their names were on about reunited in the small town of La Spezia, VolxTheaterKarawane When the for the summit. time officials not This they were again detained by local police. 100 kilometers from Genoa, also conducted a full search of their vehicles only recorded their passport numbers but in the destruction of a number of the VolxTheaterKarawane’s theatre props. Despite these Despite theatre props. VolxTheaterKarawane’s in the destruction of a number of the tour diary reveals that heading into VolxTheaterKarwane’s the encounters with Italian police, wary of what loomed ahead: albeit Genoa the group’s spirits were high, Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

120 Michael Shane Boyle VolxTheaterKarawane reveals theshockandgravityofthatfirstday’sevents: and anattemptedsiegeofthesummitvenue. An unusuallydryandtersediaryentryfromthe 2008). Onthefirstdayofprotests, nearly80,000demonstratorstookpartinmarches and thedeathofoneprotestor, Juris 23-year-old CarlosGiuliani, whowasshotbypolice( lent anti-corporateglobalizationdemonstrationtodate. pendent mediacentergatheringphotos, videos, andnewsofwhatwouldbecomethemostvio- group. While somejoinedotherdemonstrationblocks, therestworkedforsummit’s inde- between protestorsandpolice, the VolxTheaterKarawane chosenottoappearinGenoaasa and campsite: Genoa, the VolxTheaterKarawane wasrudelyawakenedbyapolicesearchoftheirvehicles would onlyrepeatitselfuponthegroup’s arrivalinGenoa. Ontheirsecondmorningin The processofsearch, seize, anddestroythe VolxTheaterKarawane experiencedinLaSpezia the Armageddon Confronting 17. 16. 15. 14. demonstrations wouldendthatevening, policeattacks and brutalraidsonactivistcenterscon- Juris2005).people showedupforasolidaritymarchthefollowingday, Although the 21July( In responsetoGiuliani’s deathandtheheavy-handedtacticsemployedbypolice, nearly300,000 and acrowdofover20,000people. Europe’s migrationpolicies. The demonstrationfeaturedvarietyacts, streettheatre, skits, music, G8 Summit, the VolxTheaterKarawane ledahighlytheatricaldemonstrationinGenoaagainst As partoftheso-called “Alien-Nation Block,” on19July, onedaybeforetheofficialstartof were organizingthefollowingdayinGenoawithactivistsfromItalyandrestofEurope. That afternoonthe VolxTheaterKarawane beganpreparationsforamigrant-rightsmarchthey ch.imc andde.imc. of themseriously. Formoreinformationontheevents, pleasegotoit.imc, uk.imc, at.imc, Day ofactionagainsttheG8-summit. Oneprotestershotdead, manyinjuredwithsome The GenoaG8demonstrationsresultedinover1,000injuries, morethan200arrests, of jumpingballs, tires[...]andorangecloths. sliced alreadyatthecontrolsLaSpezia. Still, nobodyherecanunderstandthedanger database. Therefore, wediscovered, thatallourjumping-ballsandtiresmusthavebeen weapons werefoundandobviouslynocaravanistshadterrorism-e[n]triesinthe Austrian that wewouldbeterrorists, tryingtosmuggleweaponsfortheG8Summit. Ofcourse, no ities in Austria. According tooneofthepolicemen, the Austrian policehadtoldthem, the campandsearchedcarsbussesalsosentpassport-datatoauthor [W]e wokeupat8.30amwhenbetween20–30civilpolicemen(quitehardtotell)invaded tinuing. Iaskedthen “so howfarisGenoanow?” withthereplyof “we’re here.” take inagorgeousviewofthebeachandmediterranean, beforepilingbackinandcon- ful mountainsandItaliancountryside. We stoppedatonepointtogetoutofthecarsand an airofexcitement, concernandanticipationaswedroveupwardthroughthebeauti- 1995–2005). The internet links referred to in the diary entry are1995–2005). The internet links entry websites of differentreferred to in the diary Indymedia outlets. “Caravan Diary: Tuesday, July 20,” http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/2007/2007.html (No-Racism.net July 19,” http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/1907/1907.html (No-Racism.net 1995–2005). For photographs and a video of the VolxTheaterKarawane’s actions at the march, see “Caravan Diary: Tuesday, 1995–2005). “Caravan Diary: Tuesday, July 18,” http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/1807/1807.html (No-Racism.net 1995–2005). “Caravan Diary: Tuesday, July 16,” http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/1607/1607.html (No-Racism.net 17 16 Duringthenexttwodaysofextremelyviolentclashes 15 14 - The Criminalization of Dissent 121 - - The group’s arrest generated substan- The group’s 20 19 Understandably unnerved by these events, the VolxTheaterKarawane VolxTheaterKarawane the by these events, Understandably unnerved 18 Another investigation determined that the two Molotov cocktails, presented as the most serious evidence of of evidence serious most the as presented cocktails, Molotov two the that determined investigation Another themselves police the by school the in planted been had school, the inside people the of dangerousness the ( Juris 2008). 1995–2005). (No-Racism.net http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/noprison/pk_20801_state_01.html (2001). Hajnal see summit, the of preparation in Genoa in taken measures the security on information more For Yet as the group waited just outside of the small town of Mocconesi (about 20 kilometers just outside of the small town of Mocconesi as the group waited Yet and some left with a feeling of guilt for being treated less some being beaten badly ror, distancing themselves from what was happening to There were also a few policemen bad. now Before leaving the Carabinieri station the groups of men and women, us that night. Early in were kept in a small cold cell with no blankets and windows open. seperated, hands up in a painful position causing cramps, the morning they had to stand with their the which were used to strain in chains, before they were handcuffed and taken away whereby the Someone complained the handcuffs were too tight, handcuffs even more. police put them even tighter. The things which happened at the station carried on in an atmosphere of systematic ter The things which happened at the station tial news coverage in Italy and Austria, as well as around the world. Solidarity actions calling for as well as around the world. Austria, tial news coverage in Italy and release took place throughout Europe and the United States and VolxTheaterKarawane’s the When and if their trials ever August. deportation from Italy on 16 continued until the group’s Although convictions are highly prison sentence. each member could face a 15-year take place, the question remains: unlikely considering the dearth of evidence and absence of wrongdoing, 18. 19. 20. In the media frenzy that ensued during their confinement, the head of Italy’s antiterrorist the head of Italy’s confinement, In the media frenzy that ensued during their militant activ- the with the Black Bloc, “spiritual complicity” task force accused the group of 2003). G8 Summit ([email protected] ists blamed by police for the violence of the Austrian a member of the right-wing foreign minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria’s VolxTheaterKarawane by express- responded to the indefinite detainment of the Party, People’s system.” “her complete trust in the Italian justice ing tinued into the night and the following days ( the night and the following tinued into of these The most notorious Juris 2008:186–88). Armando Diaz High activists in the raid on sleeping undoubtedly the midnight attacks was the Genoa meeting place of serving as the official the school was raid, At the time of the School. demonstrations in Genoa most of the that coordinated the umbrella organization Social Forum, police beat and arrested the attacks, During a nonviolent activist strategy. and was committed to 62 out the 93 people had to be An incredible inside the school building. almost every activist only one person the 93 arrested, Of with three left in comas. the raid, hospitalized following was officially charged. was thankful just to get out of Genoa (relatively) unscathed the following morning on 22 July. out of Genoa (relatively) unscathed the was thankful just to get to collect some theatre equip- few members who had returned to Genoa east of Genoa) for a confronted by a large was suddenly VolxTheaterKarawane the behind, ment that had been left hot sun for hours while they thor detained the group outside in the Officers troop of police. oughly searched the vehicles and hastily interrogated a few members before escorting the vehicles and hastily interrogated a few members oughly searched the back to Genoa where the group was eventually charged with form- VolxTheaterKarawane against them consisted solely of those items confis- The evidence ing a criminal organization. theatre props harmless T-shirts, including black clothing such as a bra and a few cated by police, knives that the and a set of cooking equipment, gas mask and fire juggling like a 50-year-old Although members repeatedly explained used for their public kitchen. VolxTheaterKarawane detained for they were not any criminal organization, that they belonged to a theatre group and and deprivation, sleep suffered through interrogations, over three weeks during which time they and psy- One member’s description of their first night in custody reveals the physical beatings. forced to endure in custody: was VolxTheaterKarawane chological ordeals the Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

122 Michael Shane Boyle Genoa thatshookItalyjustdaysbeforetheopeningofsummit. tensions throughoutItaly a numberofexceptionalsecuritymeasurestakenbytheItaliangovernmentandheightened public discoursearoundtheGenoaG8Summitbeforeitevenbegan. This discourselegitimated Juris2008:54). The much-publicizedturbulenceattheseprotestsengenderedapowerful coma ( protestors forthefirsttimeataEuropeanglobalizationdemonstration, leavingoneactivistina European Unionweremetbyahighlymilitarizedpoliceforcewhofiredliveammunitionat one monthearlierinGothenburg, Sweden. There 25,000peopleprotestingthemeetingof series ofincreasinglyviolentproteststhatincludedtheextremelybrutaldemonstrationsjust tion activistshadroutinelybeentargetsofpoliceviolence. The violenceinGenoafolloweda and theIMFinPraguewhere600protestorswereinjuredbypolice, anti-corporateglobaliza- in September2000withthefirstlarge-scaleprotestagainstmeetingsof World Bank against massgatheringsofanti-corporateglobalizationactiviststhroughoutEurope. Beginning ber thattheGenoademonstrationswereclimaxtonearlyayearofharshstaterepression demands andsubjectivitiesofanti-corporateglobalizationmovementsaroundtheworld. particular toGenoa. Itcorrespondstothegeneralstrategytakenbypoliticalelitestoward by policeinGenoa. Yet thecriminalizationofdissentpracticedat2001G8Summitisnot a directconsequenceofthediscoursecriminalizationthatguidedrepressivetacticsused being anomalous, actionssuchasthearrestanddetainmentof VolxTheaterKarawane were taken bypoliceinGenoawereaberrationsorrationalresponsestoactivistbehavior. Farfrom leadership. Inwhatfollows, Idisputeclaimsthatsuggestthebrutalandextra-legalmeasures exceptions, oratleastmistakes According tothisrhetoric, theviolentactionsofpoliceinGenoashouldbeunderstoodas tality inGenoawascarriedoutagainstordersorbyrogueofficers(Carrol2002;Klein2002b). Italian politiciansandpoliceofficialstoldthepresscourtsthatmuchofbru- activities inGenoawarranted. When theywerenotfixatingontheviolenceofprotestors, criminal organizationandmembersweresubjectedtounjustpunishmentsnoneofthegroup’s tity asanactivist-performancecollective, the VolxTheaterKarawane wascastintotheroleofa inscrutable actionstakenbypoliceagainstdemonstratorsinGenoa. Despitethegroup’s iden- The arrestanddetainmentofthe VolxTheaterKarawane isonlyoneofanumberseemingly Genoa’s Discourse ofCriminalization and subjectedtosuchpolicebrutality? organizing acolorfulmigrantrightsmarch, bechargedwithformingacriminalorganization How couldanactivist-performancegroup, whosesolecollectiveactioninGenoaconsistedof 21. Genoa G8[...]ledthepolicetoanundifferentiatedimageof the ‘no globals’asbaddemon- globalization movement, dellaPortaetal. conclude: “The informationstrategiesusedforthe tributed topolicebeforethedemonstrationused “teach” officersabouttheanti- violent criminalsseekingtodisruptpublicorder. Through analysisofthetrainingliteraturedis- erbated byatrainingprogramthatinstructedsummitpoliceto viewprotestorsaspotentially mit (2006). Suspicion, distrust, andfearof anti-corporateglobalizationactivistswasonlyexac- profoundly influencedtheattitudesofvariousItalianpolice forcesmobilizedforthesum- ing attheGenoaG8protests, thepublicdiscoursethat precededtheGenoademonstrations To understandhowthisdiscourseofcriminalizationemergedinGenoa, onemustremem- accountability, as well as their politicization (174). lent response of police including the degree of militarization of the Italian state police and Carabinieri, their low tions favored escalation strategies, a number of organizational features enhanced the vio- of the police further della Porta et al. go on to note that while the image of protestors promoted by police before the demonstra- As DonnatelladellaPortaetal. havecompellinglyargued intheirrigorousstudyofpolic- — tensions thatwereonlyintensifiedbyaspateofbombthreatsin — certainly notrepresentativeofanypolicydecisionsorpolice 21 corporate The Criminalization of Dissent 123 - Della Porta et al. argue that ingrained structural tendencies within Italian Della Porta et al. 22 As Juris explains, before the protests, the Genoa Social Forum, a coalition of more than 800 organizations from from organizations 800 than of more coalition a Forum, Social Genoa the protests, the before explains, Juris As forthput activ- urging guidelines action Genoa, in demonstrations the of many coordinated who Italy around in and debate, extensive After police. the attacking physically or infrastructure city’s the damaging avoid to ists - pre dedicate to groups diverse among agreement tacit a emerged there ethic,” tactics of “diversity a of spirit the themselves further to sought activists Many differentiate tactics. action to specific Genoa in spaces determined non- avowedly an included this of Examples worn. colors the to according choices tactical their demarcating by militant and Overalls), White (the Biachi Tute by led action large a march, bloc” “pink carnivalesque and violent (police with confrontations Bloc Black 2005:417). Juris What della Porta et al. describe as a guideline for action constituted a discourse of crim- describe as a guideline for action constituted al. What della Porta et Although the VolxTheaterKarawane’s conspicuous dress and actions clearly did not fit the conspicuous VolxTheaterKarawane’s Although the 22. rorists (2006:173). strators” (172). Protestors were depicted as young, misinformed, and destructive with little and destructive with misinformed, were depicted as young, Protestors (172). strators” - by rumors that circu views were aggravated Such protested. in the issues being direct interest suggesting demonstrators findings, dubious Italian intelligence police forces from lated among hostage or using them police officers measures as holding to take such drastic were prepared officers make quick decisions on High-pressure situations demanding as human shields (173). “as a stereotype of protestors further pushed police to develop how to react to demonstrators “These stereotypes, argue, Porta et al. As della (172). and danger” possible sources of difficulty for the actions of individual [became] a sort of guideline knowledge, filtered through police (171). as a whole” policemen and the force This informed and on a discursive depoliticization of the protestors. inalization that relied In the absence of any political brutal tactics used by police in Genoa. legitimated the various superiors instructed the summit, scale in the years directly preceding demonstrations of similar analogizing the protests the demonstrations as a public-order disturbance, Italian police to treat or ter mafia, the encountered with soccer hooligans, to familiar criminal disruptions they had policing such as “a broad conception of public order as being a higher order than civil and “a broad conception of public order as being a higher order than policing such as (179). further contributed to the discursive depoliticization of demonstrators political rights” with poor coordination among different police The discourse of criminalization combined strategy of escalated force that all but negated policies forces present in Genoa ensured a police in favor of public order and the smooth functioning that prioritized protecting rights of dissent as criminals Protestors were approached not as political interlocutors but of the summit (154). that structured the police strategy at the dem- The discourse of criminalization to be repressed. study which every independent and international onstrations led to brutal and even fatal actions, During the two days of by police behavior. has concluded were exacerbated or even provoked least 13 officers and at over 6,200 tear gas grenades, police launched demonstrations in July, The arrest 2006:160). with one fatal outcome (della Porta et al. fired pistol rounds at protestors, example of how this discourse of criminalization offers a concrete VolxTheaterKarawane of the case was far from an VolxTheaterKarawane’s The manifested itself in the tactics used by police. against them were repeated against several other anomaly especially since the measures taken Armando Diaz High School incident. perhaps most shockingly in the aforementioned groups, prefer the protection of anonymity to avoid arrest, profile of militant activists who typically followed logically the conditions of their arrest In fact, they were not targeted indiscriminately. and even activists, many scholars, Yet in Genoa. from the discourse of criminalization at work draw- Genoa created what Jeffrey Juris has called, police officers have argued that police in attacked and arrested in which activists were “a zone of indistinction” Agamben, ing on Giorgio without regard for their tactical choices (According to Agamben 1998). Juris 2008:162; see “refusal”) to differenti- inability (or in Juris’s words the Genoese authorities’ this argument, ‘zone “‘good’ a “quash dissent altogether within ate between led them to ‘bad’ protestors” and Juris’s study draws a stark contrast between the efforts made of indistinction’” (2008:162). to be the by activists to distinguish themselves according to their tactics and what he deems Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

124 Michael Shane Boyle indiscriminate targetingofgroupsbythepolice(2008:172). 23. legitimate useofviolencewithinitsborders;therefore, withinthatterritory, policearebydef- state,” Graeberwrites, drawingon the workofMax Weber, “the statehasamonopolyonthe capital andneoliberalgovernance, butstructuresofauthority aswell. “Police representthe globalization activistsandtheirprovocativeactionschallenge notonlytheoperationsofglobal the surestwayistochallengetheirrightdefinesituation” (2007:404). Anti-corporate own “right” tobeincontrol. Graeberasserts, “If youwanttocauseapolicemanbeviolent, Instead ofprotectingthispoliticalright, policearechiefly concernedwithpreservingtheir police disregardfortherightofdissentthatissupposedlyguaranteed byliberaldemocracies. heavy-handed measuresbypoliceagainstevennonviolentactivists isonlyfurtherevidenceof as welllegitimatingtheharshtacticstakenagainstthem(2007:396). According toGraeber, “calculated campaignofsymbolicwarfare” thataimsat damagingpublicperceptionofactivists that suchexceptionaleffortsonbehalfofpoliceto “change thescript” ofprotestsconstitutea in the Armando DiazHighSchool, promptingthe21Julyraid(Carrol2002). Graeberargues ing thecontroversycausedbyItalianpolicewhoconfessedtoplantingMolotovcocktails cites resonatestronglywiththatofthe VolxTheaterKarawane andothersfromGenoa, includ- ization activists, oftenusingextra-legalmeanstodoso(2004and2007). The casesGraeber in whichpolicehavegoneoutoftheirwaytodefameandcriminalizeanti-corporateglobal- onstrations intheUnitedStatesandEurope, DavidGraeberdetailsnumerousrecentcases establish order. Inhisstudyofpolicebehaviortowardmassanti-corporateglobalization dem- TheaterKarawane weresittingducksforapoliceforceeagertoreasserttheirauthorityand tab the VolxTheaterKarawane’s arrestwas, toparaphraseMichelFoucault, notmeanttorees justice. Ifitwere, thegroupwouldlikelyhavereceivedsomesortoftrialbynow. Instead, clear, the VolxTheaterKarawane’s arrestanddetainmentwasnotaboutexactinganyformof of demon state’s ownperformativeresponsetotheprotests. The hugecrowdsandprovocative side oftheroadwouldcourseraisesuspicion(dellaPortaetal. 2006:172). strators as “possible sourcesofdifficultyanddanger,” alargegroupofactivistswaitingonthe force unnervedbytheturbulenteventsofprevioustwodaysandtrainedtoassessdemon- instructed policetoapproachthedemonstrationsasapublic-orderdisturbance. Forapolice of theirarrestonconspicuousnessfollowedfromthediscoursecriminalizationthat to isolateagroupsettingoutfromGenoasovisiblyandslowly” (2007:234). The dependence backfired atthemomentofattackbystateapparatus:nothingwaseasierforpolicethan “[I]nstead ofhavinganexoneratingeffect, theCaravan’sself-chosenconspicuousnessactually because of, notdespite, theirdistinctivenessfromotherprotestors. As GeraldRaunigwrites, tion, thesameasithadthroughouttheirentiretour. The VolxTheaterKarawane wasarrested Departing Genoaasacaravanandstoppingjustoutsidethecitylimitsattractedpoliceatten- very distinctivenessfromotherprotestorsthatledpolicetonoticetheminthefirstplace. arbitrary andtheirtargetsfarfromindiscriminate. Infact, itwasthe VolxTheaterKarawane’s within whichpolicebehaviorinGenoawasenmeshed. that informedthepolicebrutality. Instead, itleavesunexaminedthelargerstructuresofpower which policesuppressedallformsofdissentinGenoa, itdoeslittletoexplainthediscourses in whatseemedtobeahaphazardmanner. While Juris’sargumentemphasizestheextentto ceeded totreattheprotestorsasasingleundifferentiatedmob, attackingandarrestingthem ist attemptstodemarcatethemselvesaccordingtacticalchoicesprovedfutileaspolicepro- lish justicebuttoreactivatepower([1977]1995:49). Thus, the25membersof Volx http://no-racism.net/nobordertour/noprison/pk_20801_state_01.html (No-Racism.net 1995–2005). The VolxTheaterKarawane’s criminalizationmustalsobeunderstoodaspartofthe The repressivetacticsusedbypoliceagainstthe VolxTheaterKarawane inGenoawerenot strators undoubtedlychallengedestablishedstructuresofauthority. As shouldbe 23 Yet asJurisnotes, theseactiv- tactics The Criminalization of Dissent 125 24 rial interest mate globalization, globalization, VolxTheaterKarawane Press Conference, August 2001 August Conference, Press VolxTheaterKarawane —

to present dire challenges to anti- consequences that continue — It is important to note that the disbandment of the VolxTheaterKarawane in 2005 was not due to their arrest or or arrest their to due not was 2005 in VolxTheaterKarawane importantis the of disbandment the that note to It (2007b). Müller see disbandment, their on information more For Genoa. from case legal pending The massive publicity the VolxTheaterKarawane received following their return to Austria received following their return to VolxTheaterKarawane The massive publicity the Yet as Graeber makes clear, the situation he describes is not limited to the Genoa G8 the situation he describes clear, as Graeber makes Yet 24. When asked during our May 2007 conversation about the impact of the Genoa arrests on When asked during our May 2007 conversation (2007a). “a near disaster for the group” Gini Müller described it as VolxTheaterKarwane, the widespread international support and VolxTheaterKarawane Although the arrests brought the Their detain- both emotionally and physically. the group was for a time shattered solidarity, disagreements arose over While in custody, group. ment produced multiple schisms within the When it came time for their arraignment, authorities. whether members should cooperate with even respond to the charges brought against the group was split over whether they should of the charges was out of the question; to do so the mere acknowledgment For some, them. but the corrupt legal structures would be to recognize the legitimacy not only of the charges, warning that convinced them to speak, however, Their legal counsel, positioned against them. to say nothing before the judge would be tantamount to offering a confession. the media’s As Gini told me, only worsened the multiple rifts growing within the group. She recalled being personally hounded by reporters for interviews, “hell.” in the group made life This publicity had a dramatic effect even being confronted at her home on multiple occasions. struggles arose When it came to speaking with the press, on the group’s internal dynamics. Still others expressed skepticism over the need to over who would talk and what would be said. stood speak to the mainstream media at all and questioned the motives of those who willingly Apart from the political aspects of the arrest and charges, being held in prison for three weeks not knowing for for knowing not weeks three for prison in held being charges, and arrest the of aspects political the from Apart tryingof way another is just this and implications psychological has prevent happen, to will what or long how GOES ON!!! CARAVAN THE BUT beliefs. their for up stand and action take to people “But the Caravan Goes On!!!” “But the Caravan characterized chiefly by the refusal to recognize anti-corporate globalization activists as legiti- by the refusal to recognize anti-corporate characterized chiefly involved both a VolxTheaterKarawane The criminalization of the mate political interlocutors. Even before a criminal frame. shifting of the group from a political to discursive and material as a problem that VolxTheaterKarawane the police positioned in Genoa, they took any action clearly demon- VolxTheaterKarawane As the case of the criminally. needed to be dealt with profound discursive and of political actors into criminals has this translation strates, inition incommensurable with anyone else” (2007:401; see Weber 1958). The challenge anti- The challenge 1958). Weber see (2007:401; anyone else” with inition incommensurable often to Graeber, according pose to this incommensurability, globalization activists corporate the situation.” right to define “their to regain to take extreme measures leads police at work in Genoa corresponds to the the discourse of criminalization fact, In Summit protests. against corporate by political elites toward the movements general strategy taken consequences for activists corporate globalization movements. Moreover, the discourse of criminalization mobilized the discourse of criminalization mobilized Moreover, movements. corporate globalization in Genoa was not the work of errant and other activists VolxTheaterKarawane against the of police in Genoa cannot be understood simply as a ques- The brutal behavior police officers. As della Porta et al. and coordination of police. tion of activist provocation or the poor training or practical the repressive measures taken in Genoa are not a question of technical have argued, processes of It is the discursive (195). “reflect the quality of democratic systems” missteps; they tactics that the state routinely uses to regulate criminalization and the corresponding repressive and the rationality behind neoliberal governance. dissent that most clearly reveal both the limits Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 by guest on 02 October 2021 Downloaded fromhttp://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/DRAM_a_00126 bygueston02October2021

126 Michael Shane Boyle ued toattracttheattentionofpolice. to combineperformancewithactivism. They continuedtotourEuropeand, ofcourse, contin- the VolxTheaterKarawane continuedtocreateactionsthatsoughtnovelandprovocativeways piece ofthegroup’sfuturecaravanswithNoBordernetwork. Beforedisbandingin2005, used someofthesefundstopurchaseanolddouble-deckerbusthatwouldbecomethecenter only supporttheirlegalstrugglesbutalsofundfutureprojects. The VolxTheaterKarawane even they receivedfromsympatheticdonorsasaresultoftheirarrests. These donationswouldnot them torecruitnewmembersandresources. They tookfulladvantageofthefinancialsupport conferences anddocumentsreleasedonline. Inaddition, theirnewlyacquirednotorietyhelped going ontheoffensiveandmakingpublicfulldetailsoftheirarrestdetainmentinpress nities theirarrestaffordedthem. They utilizedtheattentiontheircasereceivedinpressby of succumbingtotheterrortheirdetainment, thegroupmadeuseofsurprisingopportu- subject” (Feldman1991:109). Instead note howardentlythegrouprefusedtobea “‘tortured’ esced tothepassiveandpowerlesspositiontheyweresubjectedinGenoa, itisimportantto (Müller 2004). Lestonebeleftwiththefalseimpressionthat VolxTheaterKarawane acqui- memorating the VolxTheaterKarawane’s 10-yearanniversaryin2004)tostopordefinethem VolxTheaterKarawane. chological torturemanyenduredduringtheirindefinitedetainment, somemembersleftthe in thelimelight. As aresultofthesedivisions, nottomentionthephysical, emotional, and psy- Hall, Stuart, CharlesCritcher, Tony Jefferson, JohnClarke, andBrianRoberts. 1978. Policing theCrisis: Hajnal, Peter. 2001. “Civil Societyatthe 2001GenoaG8Summit.” Journal International 58, 1:13–15. Graeber, David. 2007. Possibilities: Essays onHierarchy, Rebellion, andDesire. Oakland, CA: AK Press. Graeber, David. 2004. “Lying in Wait.” TheNation,13April. Graeber, David. 2002. “The New Anarchists.” NewLeftReview , January–February. www.newleftreview.org [email protected]. 2003. “16 Genoa Foucault, Michel. [1977]1995. DisciplineandPunish: The BirthofthePrison. Trans.Sheridan.New York: Alan Feldman, Allen.1991. Fairness and Accuracy inReporting(FAIR). 2003. “Media Advisory: MediaMissingNewEvidence About della Porta, Donatella, Massimillano Andretta, LorenzoMosca, andHerbertReiter. 2006. Globalizationfrom Day, Richard. 2007. “Setting upShopinNullity. Protest Aesthetics andtheNew ‘Situationism.” Reviewof Carroll, Rory. 2002. “Italian PoliceFramedG8Protesters.” TheGuardian , 22June. www.guardian.co.uk Atton, Christopher. 2002. Alternative Media. London:Sage. Allen, JohnL., Jr. 2001. “Fascism’s Face inGenoa.” TheNation,20August. Agamben, Giorgio. 1998. Homo Sacer:Sovereign Power andBare. Life Palo Alto, CA:StanfordUniversity References Yet thegroupneverallowed “Genoa-Repression” (asGinidescribeditinanarticlecom- Mugging, theState, andLaw Order. London:PalgraveMacmillan. (2 July2011). /A2368 (2July2011). [email protected] listserv. July2011). www.mund.at/archiv/mai3/aussendung260503.htm#16 ( Vintage Books. Chicago: UniversityofChicagoPress. Genoa Violence.” www.fair.org/activism/genoa-update.html (2July2011). Below: Transnational Activists andProtestNetworks. Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress. Education, Pedagogy, andCultural Studies29, 2:239–60. /world/2002/jun/22/globalisation.rorycarroll (2July2011). /fascisms-face-genoa (2July2011). Press. Formations of Violence: The Narrative oftheBody andPolitical Terror Ireland inNorthern . — trials againstprotestorsandpolice.” Emailsentoverthe www.thenation.com/article/lying-wait www.thenation.com/article

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