A Brief History of the Black Bloc Black Bloc in Rostock, Germany, anti-G8 2007 Published by AutonomousResistance, Vancouver * Summer 2010 AutonomousResistance Can't Stop Kaos! “We came to realize that the rulers do A Brief History of the Black Bloc not fear our militancy because it results in material damages but that they are in “Black Bloc is not an organization. It has no leaders. Like a fear of us and everyone who picks up a spectre, it simply appears out of nowhere, wreaks havoc, then stone because they know that we are vanishes.” (“The violent protesters who never were,” Toronto Star, June 27, 2010) determined to fight and that no dialogue will ever be possible with us again.” Introduction (Statement by Autonomist and Anti- Imperialist Groups in W. Germany, Resistance No. “Can't Stop Kaos” was the slogan of a banner carried in the Black 5, Winter 1983 Bloc in Rostock, Germany, during the June 2007 anti-G8 mobilization. Despite thousands of police, a Black Bloc of some 5,000 gathered and engaged in street fighting, burning barricades and destroying corporate Think You're Hot Cuz You March in a Black Bloc? property. When I saw footage and photographs of this banner, I immediately appreciated its simple yet powerful truth. In describing the Black Bloc tactic and its history, such a slogan is Why not be a often appropriate considering the large security operations carried out in Heatscore efforts to stop such actions. Yet, the tactic itself is some 30 years old. While the German police are by now 'experts' in riot control, the events in and get this Rostock show the difficulty in controlling a Black Bloc, even for T-Shirt!? 'professionals.' Another recent example was the anti-G20 protests in Toronto, Just June 2010. Amidst one of the largest security operations in Canadian $20 history, pre-emptive arrests of protest organizers, and with several thousand riot cops in the streets, a Black Bloc was still able to carry out (+postage) extensive property destruction, including the arson of four police cars S, M, L, XL (with two in the financial district, just over a block from the security [Black only] fence). In the midst of this, I thought again of that banner: “Can't Stop Hoodies? Coming Kaos.” Soon!!! Yet, within this 'chaotic' method, there is thought and analysis. The Black Bloc arises from a radical perspective that sees no hope in reforming the system—only in destroying it. What is the Black Bloc? AutonomousResistance.wordpress.com The Black Bloc is not an organization. It is a tactic used primarily in street protests during which militants wear uniform black clothing to counter surveillance and identification by police. An essential part of the [email protected] 1 Can't Stop Kaos! Can't Stop Kaos! 26 In the aftermath of the attack, the police went on a rampage of repression, attacking 'peaceful' protesters and citizens alike, 'kettling' hundreds for hours in the pouring rain, violently assaulting scores of people, and arresting over 1,100 in total (the largest mass arrests in Canadian history). Many reformists, ideologically opposed to revolutionary struggle and militant resistance, immediately condemned the Black Bloc action, with some prominent movement 'celebrities' asserting that police allowed the attacks to occur as a way of justifying the massive budget (already a subject of public criticism and debate prior to the protests). The reformists joined with conspiracy theorists, who alleged the Black Bloc was full of police provocateurs sent in to cause mayhem as a means of justifying the police state of the 'new world order.' Neither of these groups offered any proof, aside from speculation and an attempt to 'document' certain types of shoes worn by protesters as proof they were cops. As the history of the Black Bloc itself shows, militants have been able to overcome massive policing operations and inflict material damage on many occasions. ☀ Black Bloc is the use of disguise to conceal one's identity (including gloves and masks). The most distinguishing feature of the tactic is the wearing of black. The Black Bloc has its origins in W. Germany's squatter's and Autonomen (Autonomist) movement, arising from a necessity to defend squats and demonstrations from police attacks. This is most commonly believed to have been in 1980-81 in W. Berlin. From W. Germany, the tactic spread to nearby Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden, throughout the 1980s. Following the integration Toronto G20, June 26, 2010, burning cop car of the European Union (EU) in 1993, Black Bloc techniques became more common in Italy, France, Britain, and Greece. By 1989-90, Black Bloc tactics also began to be used in North America. RAF: A Documentary History, Vol. 1: Projectiles for the People, by J. Smith and Andre The Black Bloc is most commonly used in advanced Moncourt, Kersplebedeb/PM Press, Montreal/Oakland 2009 industrialized nations where widespread surveillance technologies greatly Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire, Continuum, New York 2007 The Black Bloc Papers: An Anthology of Primary Texts From The North American increases the risk of identification and arrest during protests or direct Anarchist Black Bloc 1988-2005, Edited by David Van Deusen & Xaviar Massot, actions (including occupations, blockades, etc.). Breaking Glass Press/Alternative Media Project/Infoshop.org., Shawnee Mission, KS, This surveillance includes documentation of the identities of most USA, First Online Printing, January 2010 of the population, automatic tracking of electronic banking and purchases, The Subversion of Politics: European Autonomous Social Movements and the mandatory vehicle registration, biometrics (including facial recognition, Decolonization of Everyday Life, by Georgy Katsiaficas, AK Press, Oakland/Edinburgh, 2006 25 Can't Stop Kaos! Can't Stop Kaos! 2 iris scanning, voice analysis, etc.), widespread use of internet and cell On June 15, 2007, a Black Bloc of 70 persons was formed in phone communications (the most easily intercepted and tracked), as well Halifax, Nova Scotia, during a local mobilization against the 'Atlantica' as CCTV cameras in nearly every store and building (as well as many regional economic summit between the US and Canada. Marching behind street intersections). a banner reading “G8 to Atlantica: Resistance is Global”, the bloc wore Other factors that contribute to the use of Black Blocs in N. helmets and carried shields. Bank windows were smashed and police America and Europe are similarities in social conditions, cultural forms, vehicles hit with paint bombs. During skirmishes with police, 21 people and levels of conflict engaged in by social movements. Communication were arrested. This was the first use of a Black Bloc in Halifax. and interaction between the two continents is also stronger than with other In September 2007, Black Bloc militants were able to carry out regions, due to the history of colonialism and imperialism. property damage despite pre-emptive arrests and thousands of police during the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. More recently, the September 2009 anti-G20 protests in Defining Autonomy Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, saw a Black Bloc that attacked numerous corporations, banks, and police vehicles. This was despite the deployment The tactic of the Black Bloc cannot be seperated from the social of some 5,000 cops and National Guard troops (and with a smaller overall movement from which it arises, since tactics are themselves an expression mobilization of some 10,000 protesters). Over $50,000 in damages was of the organization and methods of the fighting force that develops them inflicted (along with terrain, etc.). In this case it is the Autonomist movement of W. Europe. Although the Autonomist movement is often described as Black Bloc 2010 anarchist, it also includes in its analyses Marxist and feminist critiques of During the February 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a Black society. Autonomy does not advocate a single ideology and in many ways Bloc of 100-150, with 300 or so other militants, caused over $25,000 in avoids classification except as a radical Left or social revolutionary damages by smashing the windows of the Hudson's Bay Company (a movement. major sponsor of the 2010 Games and a vital part of the colonization of Part of the lack of a clear ideological line is the diversity of groups Canada), a bank, and vandalizing police cars. that participate in the movement (i.e., squatters, anti-nuclear groups, anti- This action was titled '2010 Heart Attack' and its aim was to “clog fascist, prisoner solidarity groups, etc.), making such definition difficult. the arteries of capitalism' by disrupting traffic and commerce on the first Another is a tendency to avoid ideological struggles and doctrine within day of Olympic events (Feb 13). Due to the protest, police shut down the the movement (such as Anarchism, Leninism, or Maoism, etc.). Lion's Gate bridge, delaying some 700 Olympic buses en route to the The main characteristic of the Autonomists are decentralized and Whistler ski resort (site of skiing events). anti-authoritarian methods of organizing. While these were part of the The anti-Olympic action was followed by the June 26, 2010, anti- earlier student and counter-cultural movements (in 1960s Italy and W. G20 protests in Toronto, where some 150 militants in Black Bloc with Germany), they became more influenced by the experience of the women's several hundred other militants, carried out over $1 million in property movement in the 1970s (including the politics of the first person, concepts damage. Scores of corporate and bank windows were smashed, and four of autonomy, etc.). cop cars were arsoned in downtown streets during the action. The Autonomist movement is revolutionary in that it seeks the The significance of the Toronto G20 Black Bloc, along with the destruction of the state and capitalism through decentralized social scale of destruction, was that it occurred during the 'largest security revolution.