PLAIN WORDS An Anarchist Black Cross Federation Publication Fall 2009 "Give flowers to the fallen rebels with a glance turned toward the new dawn"- (old anarchist hymn) Issue #1 In the 80s, however, the ABC began to gain What is the Anarchist Black Cross Federation? popularity again in the US and Europe. For years, the A B C ’s name was kept alive by a The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began provide support to those who were suff e r i n g number of completely autonomous groups shortly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It because of their political beliefs. scattered throughout the globe and support- formed after breaking from the Political Red In 1919, the org a n i z a t i o n ’s name changed ing a wide variety of prison issues. Cross, due to the group’s refusal to support to the Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu- In May of 1995, a small group of A B C Anarchist and Social Revolutionary Political sion with the International Red Cross. collectives merged into a federation whose Prisoners. The new group, naming itself the Through the 1920s and until 1958, the org a n- aim was to focus on the overall support and Anarchist Red Cross (ARC), began to pro- ization worked under various other names defense of Political Prisoners and Prisoners vide aid to those Political Prisoners who but provided the same level of support as the of Wa r. were refused support by the PRC. other groups working as Anarchist Black Various groups have since merged in In the early decades, the organization had Cross. numerous networks throughout the globe chapters throughout Europe and North After 1936, the ABC expanded its aid to working on various prison issues. T h e America. These chapters worked together to places such as Greece, Italy and Spain. Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) provide assistance to prisoners only in In 1958, the organization collapsed but has continued its mission to focus on the aid Russia. Soon other groups, such as the r e e m e rged in 1967 in London, England. and support of Political Prisoners. We take Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerged to Once again ABC chapters spread throughout the position that PP/POWs demand our top provide aid in other Eastern European coun- the globe providing support for imprisoned p r i o r i t y. We strive to continue with the same tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid a n d comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 1970s dedication and solidarity to our fallen com- s o l i d a r i t y, these groups worked tirelessly to only a handful of ABC chapters still existed. rades as those before us have shown. Introduction: The ABCF is: “Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of this organization is the fact that Branch Groups and Support Prisoner Committee Groups are freely autonomous to take on whatever initiatives BILL DUNNE SEKOU KAMBUI they can to further the Unity of Purpose of the A B C F. So long as these initiatives do not contradict any preexisting #10916-086 (W. TURK) #113058 / agreements (Tactical Unity) that have been made by the Box 2068 Box 56 A B C F, it is not necessary for all groups to approve of and/or Inez, KY 41224 SCC (B1-21) agree with programs, projects or work of other ABCF col- Elmore, AL 36025 lectives.” [from the ABCF Constitution and Structure] MALIKI LATINE #81-A-4469 JAAN LAAMAN The following definitions are used to describe the below Clinton C.F. #W41414 terms whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any PO Box 2000 BOX 100 other ABCF literature. Dannemora, NY 12929 South Walpole, MA 02071 P o l i t i c a l P r i s o n e r ( P P ) : A person incarcerated for actions carried out in support of legitimate struggles for self deter- mination or for opposing the illegal policies of the govern- ment and/or its political subdivisions. [Special Federation Chapters International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights ALBUQUERQUE ABC PHILLY ABC of PP/POWs in U.S. Prisons and Jails, Dec. ’90] PO Box 27662 PO Box 42129 Albuquerque, NM 87125 Philadelphia, PA 19101 P r i s o n e r o f Wa r ( P O W ) : Those combatants struggling against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes ARCATA ABC TORONTO ABC captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of pris- PO Box 380 PO Box 97048 oner of war and their treatment should be in accordance Arcata, CA 95518 RPO Roncescalles Ave with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Relative to Toronto, Ontario the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 DENVER ABC M6R 3B3 Canada (General Assembly resolution 3103) C/O P &L Printing 2298 Clay Street 4strugglemag Issue 14 Out Now! Denver, CO 80211 Check it out at http://www.4strugglemag.org LOS ANGELES ABC Help keep this project going! Paper copies of each PO Box 11223 issue are sent to over 200 prisoners, at no cost to Whittier, CA 90603 them. Get a “solidarity subscription” - one year of NYC ABC issues for yourself and for a prisoner for only $30. PO Box 110034 Donate online or contact : [email protected] Brooklyn, NY 11211 www.abcf.net 1 ISSUE #1 Fall 2009 Solidarity Action in Germany News From Greece NEWS FROM THE FRONT On Oct. 13, a police station was attacked by persons unknown in Chilean Anarchists Arrested L i c h t e n b e rg. According to a communique Bonanno Arrested in Greece In the early hours of September 27th, posted online, the attack was done in sup- On Oct. 1, Anarchists Alfredo Bonanno Chilean Police (the Carabinieros) Special port of political prisoners in Germany and and Christos Stratigopulos were arrested Operations (GOPE) and Criminal G r e e c e . in Greece on suspicion of having carried Laboratory (Labocar) Investigation teams out a bank robbery. The two were arrested raided a squat in the center of Santiago. Mexican Eco-Anarchist Held a few minutes later at a road block. According to corporate media reports On Oct. 27, Diego A. a 16-year old the Carabinieros arrested six individuals, 5 anarchist was held for ELF activities. Group Attacks Near PM Chileans and one Spaniard. A u t h o r i t i e s Police tried to stop him while he was riding On Oct. 2, the group, “Conspiracy of claim that the arrested squatters are part of his bike. The young man attempted to dis- the Cells of Fire,” set off a low-intensity an anarchist network who are responsible pose of his backpack and his bike. Despite explosion a few meters away from the for rioting and molotov attacks during the his attempt to elude the police, they cap- podium where PM Karamanlis was deliv- past few months after the student uprising tured him and discovered 4 incendiary ering a speech. In their communique they and protests commemorating the anniver- devices a molotov and other questionable sent a revolutionary greeting to Bonanno sary of Pinochet’s US backed military coup i t e m s . and Stratigopulos. September 11th, 1973. Police suspect the young man in six According to media reports, authorities actions between March 22 to September Banks Attacked in Solidarity found “subversive material” as well as 26. According to the press, he admitted On Oct. 8, a group of people attacked “materials to fabricate molotovs”. participating in the actions as well as being banks and corporations in central Athens in It is important to keep aware of develop- an anarchist and also part of the ELF. broad daylight. The attacks were solidarity ments and to support these prisoners as well with three anarchist prisoners, Masouras, as anarchists in Chile who will undoubtedly Belgrade Anarchists Held Hadjimichelakis and Yospas. The three be facing repression in the weeks to come. On September 3, 6 anarcho-syndicalists were charged with participation in the were arrested in Belgrade and are being “Conspiracy of the Cell of Fire” group. Anarchists Attack in Chile tried for international terrorism. They are On November 3, an anarchist group accused of having connection with Black Anarchist Squats Attacked known as the Efrain Plaza Olmedo Elijah (Crni Ilija) and participation in a Two squats in the center of A t h e n s Explosives Band attacked a branch of molotov attack on the Greek embassy last came under attack in the first week of Banco de Credito e Inversiones inside a August 25th. They face 15 years in prison. N o v e m b e r. The first incident occurred in Marriott hotel. The attack left windows The six accused have denied any the early hours of Nov. 2. Several molotov shatters and a security guard injured. involvement in the incidents. The anar- cocktails were thrown at Lelas Karayianni Chile has experienced 101 such bomb- chists, Ratibor Trivunac, Tadej Kurepa and No. 37 causing serious damage. On Nov. ings since 2004, most of them involving Ivan Vulovic, are members of the Union 3, Villa Amalias was attacked. This was l o w - p o w e r, homemade explosive devices. Confederation A n a r c h o - S y n d i c a l i s t second time in the last two months. T h e r e No one has died in the incidents. Initiative, which is affiliated to the was no damage at this location.