Anarchists in the Occupation Movement 2009-2011

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Since the first day that Zuccotti Park was occupied there has been a shadowy figure haunting Occupy Wall Street. The anarchist. Who is this anarchist? What role has she played in the Occupy Movement? What would Occupy be without him?

This is a book where anarchists, in their own words, express how and why they engaged in Occupy, what methods they used, and evaluates the success of Occupy on anarchist terms. It also expresses the flexibilty, energy, and experience that anarchists brought to The Occupy Movement as it moved beyond lower Manhattan onto the docks and streets of Oakland, the town square of Philadelphia, and abandoned buildings around the country.

The anarchists’ way of operating was changing our very idea of what politics could be in the first place. This was exhilarating. Some occupiers told me they wanted to take it home with them, to organize assemblies in their own communities. It’s no accident, therefore, that when occupations spread around the country, the horizontal assemblies spread too.
-From Nathan Schneider in The Nation

Contributors: Antistate STL, Anon, Ben Webster, Cindy Milstein, Crescencia Desafio, Crimethinc, David Graeber, Denver ABC, Dot Matrix, Ignite! Collective, ingirum, John Jacobsen, Phoenix Insurgent, R.R, Serf City Revolt, TEOAN, Tides of Flame, TriAnarchy

Edited: Aragorn! publishes at Little Black Cart, edits The Anvil Review and writes on popular culture, nihilism, and identity. He blogs and does technology consulting.

Buy: January 2012
250 pages, Digest
$15
ISBN 978-1-62049-000-6

Purchase at Little Black Cart

*Table of Contents*

Introduction

History

1. From Tsarist Russia to Zuccotti Park: the Paradox of Anarchism by Thai Jones
2. Squatting in the Beginning by ADILKNO
3. We are the Crisis by anonymous
4. The Characteristics of the Occupation by anon
5. Resolution by Public Assembly of Syntagma

Ideas as Origins – Theory

1. Autonomous Organization and Anarchist Intervention by Wolfi Landstreicher
2. Occupy Wall Street’s Anarchist Roots by David Graeber
3. Reclaim the Cities by Cindy Milstein
4. Occupied with Class by Phoenix Insurgent

Locations

various

1. Chicago – Open Letter to Occupy Chicago by some potential friends/enemies
2. Portland – An Anarchist Account by A Former Occupier
3. Southern Ontario – Why are Anarchists Involved by Some Southern Ontario Anarchists
4. Vancouver – Occupation is a Fuckin’ Freak Show & notes for We, Antagonists by d.
5. Chapel Hill – This Building is Ours by anonymous
6. Santa Cruz – 75 Hours In by anonymous

Philadelphia

1. Who Threw the Can of Green Paint by Ben Webster
2. We are Anarchists by anonymous
3. We are Our Own Demand by Cindy Milstein

Denver

1. #occupywallstreet Begets by Ignite! Collective
2. Eyewitness Testimony by anonymous
3. Denver ABC Statement on Occupy Denver

St Louis

1. Introduction by anonymous
2. Are We an Occupation or Just a Gathering by anonymous
3. N17 by anonymous

Seattle

1. The Port Shutdown was a Wild Success! by anonymous
2. Capital Hell Commune by anonymous
3. Becoming Uncontrollable: an Anarchist Reflection on Occupy Seattle by anonymous

Oakland

1. Open Letter to the Anarchists of Occupy Oakland by TEOAN
2. #occupyoakland: One Week Strong by Autonomous Individuals
3. Dear Occupy Oakland by ingirum
4. Letter from an Anonymous Friend after the Attack by anonymous

Oakland General Strike/Port blockade

1. Statement on the Occupation of 520 16th St. by Some Friends of Occupy Oakland
2. Blockading the Port is Only the First of Many Last Resorts by Society of Enemies
3. The Anti-Capitalist March and the Black Bloc by member of Bay of Rage
4. Oakland’s Third Attempt at a General Strike by Hieronymous

Violence and the Police

1. Seven Myths about the Police by CrimethInc

Next Steps (Strategy)

1. The Other Way to Occupy Denver by igloosRforever
2. A Somewhat Belated Intro Communique by The Turritopsis Nutricula Collective
3. Occupy Wall Street Act 2 by Peter Lamborn Wilson
4. Occupy Boston’s Anarchist Alliance Calls for Neighborhood-Based General Assemblies by anon
5. Occupy Wall Street’s Next Steps by John Jacobsen

Criticisms

1. Lost in the Fog by Lost Children’s School of Cartography
2. A Debate on Occupation and the 99% by Cresencia Desafío & R.R.(anon)
3. Occupation, the Other Word for Work by Wylden Freeborne
4. On the Recent #occupations: a communique from W.A.T.C.H.
5. Occupying Terminology by Dot Matrix
6. I’m Tired of This Shit by anonymous

Appendix

• Thank You Anarchists by Nathan Schneider