Anarchists in the Occupy Movement 2009-2011
Anarchists have been part of Occupy since before it was even clearly a movement. This is a book where anarchists, in their own words, express how and why they engaged in Occupy, what methods they used, and how to evaluate 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
Table of Contents
Introduction
History
From Tsarist Russia to Zuccotti Park: the Paradox of Anarchism by Thai Jones
Squatting in the Beginning by ADILKNO
We are the Crisis by anonymous
The Characteristics of the Occupation by anon
Resolution by Public Assembly of Syntagma
Ideas as Origins – Theory
Autonomous Organization and Anarchist Intervention by Wolfi Landstreicher
Occupy Wall Street's Anarchist Roots by David Graeber
Reclaim the Cities by Cindy Milstein
Occupied with Class by Phoenix Insurgent
Locations
various
Chicago – Open Letter to Occupy Chicago by some potential friends/enemies
Portland – An Anarchist Account by A Former Occupier
Southern Ontario – Why Are Anarchists Involved by Some Southern Ontario Anarchists
Vancouver – Occupation is a Fuckin' Freak Show & notes for We, Antagonists by d.
Chapel Hill – This Building is Ours by anonymous
Santa Cruz – 75 Hours In by anonymous
Philadelphia
Who Threw the Can of Green Paint by Ben Webster
We are Anarchists by anonymous
We are Our Own Demands by Cindy Milstein
Denver
#occupywallstreet Begets by Ignite! Collective
Eyewitness Testimony by anonymous
Denver ABC Statement on Occupy Denver
St. Louis
Introduction by anonymous
Are We an Occupation or Just a Gathering by anonymous
N17 by anonymous
Seattle
The Port Shutdown was a Wild Success! by anonymous
Capital Hell Commune by anonymous
Becoming Uncontrollable: an Anarchist Reflection on Occupy Seattle by anonymous
Oakland
Open Letter to the Anarchists of Occupy Oakland by TEOAN
#occupyoakland: One Week Strong by Autonomous Individuals
Dear Occupy Oakland by ingirum
Letter from an Anonymous Friend after the Attack by anonymous
Oakland General Strike/Port Blockade
Statement on the Occupation of 520 16th St. by Some Friends of Occupy Oakland
Blockading the Port is only the First of Many Last Resorts by Society of Enemies
The Anti-Capitalist March and the Black Bloc by member of Bay of Rage
Oakland's Third Attempt at a General Strike by Hieronymous
Violence and the Police
Seven Myths about the Police by CrimethInc
Next Steps (Strategy)
The Other Way to Occupy Denver by igloosRforever
A Somewhat Belated Intro Communique by The Turritopsis Nutricula Collective
Occupy Wall Street Act 2 by Peter Lamborn Wilson
Occupy Boston's Anarchist Alliance Calls for Neighborhood-Based General Assemblies by anon
Occupy Wall Street's Next Steps by John Jacobsen
Criticisms
Lost in the Fog by Lost Children's School of Cartography
A Debate on Occupation and the 99% by Cresencia Desafio & R.R. (anon)
Occupation, the Other Word for Work by Wylden Freeborne
On the Recent #occupations: a communique from W.A.T.C.H.
Occupying Terminology by Dot Matrix
I'm Tired of This Shit by anonymous
Appendix
Thank You Anarchists by Nathan Schneider