Organized by a coalition of leftist organizations and unions, Durham’s May Day saw three different marches and speeches at CCB Plaza. The first march left from El Kilombo’s social center on Geer St., snaking its way by sidewalk through neighborhoods into downtown. After a brief rally at the plaza, the larger crowd of about 150-200 pushed slowly into the street and sidewalk, led by a number of banners and drums.

Tensions were constant, as some wanted everyone to get on the sidewalk because several undocumented folks were present, while many others desired to take the street. One organizer was heard screaming at a man holding a banner, “I know police, I’m a lawyer; get on the fucking sidewalk!” This same person later called out “the anarchists” for refusing to get out of the street, though a large number of families and individuals seemingly unconnected to anarchist groups had joined in blocking traffic as well. (The irony of anarchist scapegoating, on a day supposedly established to commemorate anarchist martyrs, was not missed.)

Ultimately, people took both the street and the sidewalk, with no police interference (or even presence).

The march continued and made stops at both Town Hall and the Post Office, with brief speeches interspersed. A third stop was supposed to be made in front of the downtown jail, but as a single patrol car pulled up within 100 yards of the facility, organizers and distressed members of the crowd turned around and started milling about confusedly in the opposite direction.

Angered at not getting to address prisoners in the jail, and frustrated with the general tone of things, a lone individual unconnected to the organizing addressed the crowd, encouraging folks to come to the jail if they wished regardless of the organizers’ intents. In the middle of this address, a march organizer ran up, distressed, and yelled to not break up the march. About fifty people ignored him, however, and promptly assembled in front of the jail.

It was the right decision: prisoners banged on their windows and waved small signs that said “I heart you.” Others handed out information about the history of May Day to those visiting their loved ones, while a small troupe did an embodied performance about the prison-industrial complex from Spirithouse’s Collective Sun. Children and their parents waved upward at the cells, while prisoners waved back. Drum sounds echoed off the walls of the jail.

After about 30 minutes, folks decided to march back to the plaza, and took the street almost the entire way with no issues, led in front by a large black banner that read, “Total Liberation from Domination.” The day finished with a series of the usual speeches and milling about, while some handed out a bilingual history of Mayday (which contained an all-too-timely anarchist critique of the Left) and folks headed home.

GREENSBORO — A man was charged with disorderly conduct today during a protest that was otherwise peaceful, police said.

During an event to recognize “May Day”, also known as International Workers’ Day, protesters met at the Governmental Plaza on Greene Street and marched along February One Place to the intersection of Elm Street at about 5:45 p.m., Lt. J.W. Thompson said.

The group of about 30 people was blocking traffic on Elm Street during a breakaway march from the rally, so an officer requested that the group move, Thompson said. One person then began cursing and yelling at the officer.

Christopher Stella, 21, of 201 Tate St. was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, , Thompson said. He was jailed under a $100 bond. Stella was released at about 8 p.m. after posting bond.

The Farm Laborers Organizing Committee, the N.C. Defend Education Coalition and Occupy Greensboro held the joint rally, which included speakers, music and food.

Thompson said that police, who were at the plaza on bicycles, had no other issues with the protesters.
 

Though the handout is designed to match a large banner anarchists will be carrying here, we thought it might be useful to others nevertheless.

The english version of the text is available below. To view a pdf of the design for printing, go to:

http://trianarchy.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/bilingualbxwmayday.pdf

Enjoy, and good luck to everyone next week!

-comrades from the dirty south

A Brief History of May Day

On May 4th, 1886, after a workers’ demonstration for the 8-hour work-day was brutally repressed four days earlier, a large crowd assembled at Haymarket Square in Chicago. When the police arrived to suppress the crowd, a bomb was thrown in their direction, a viscious riot ensued, and ultimately 8 police were killed by gunshot.

Eight anarchists involved in the struggle for the 8-hour day were soon the victims of a government witch hunt. Though the prosecutor and judge admitted none of the men had thrown the bomb, and that most were not even present at the demonstration, the court put the men’s ideas on trial, and found them guilty. Four of the men were hung; one killed himself in jail to deny the State the pleasure of murdering him at the gallows.

The international radical holiday of May Day grew from this history. The US government has repeatedly tried to eliminate this celebration, at various times offering “patriotic” alternatives to the anarchist holiday under the auspices of “Americanism Day” or “Loyalty Day.” Labor Day is part of this history of liberal recuperation as well, seeking to divorce organized labor from its anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian roots.

Nevertheless, May Day continues to be celebrated around the world, known as a day of both festivity as well as attack – one-day wildcat strikes, attacks on police, and riots are common throughout the world on May 1st. This year, thousands will participate in autonomously organized general strikes in several American cities, similar to the one which occurred in Oakland last November. Much like the original 8-hour struggle in Chicago, this organizing has superseded the political party affiliations and legally constrained methods of institutionalized labor.

Who are these Anarchists?

Anarchism is less a singular political identity than an ongoing practice, based in permanent opposition to hierarchical social relationships rooted in coercion, domination, and exploitation. Much of the world’s early labor movements were anarchist in nature, emphasizing direct economic action and social revolution as opposed to electoral reformism. These movements understood the nature of the State to be inherently and inextricably tied to class society; taking over the State in the name of “the people” or “the workers” was and is seen as a farce. History has shown that equality cannot be coerced from the top-down, and States do not just “wither away.”

Since the early days of Haymarket, anarchists have integrated an increasingly wider body of theory and practice into their organizing, including an array of critical thinking around race, gender, and ecology. In the past year, anarchists have been instrumental in the emersion and growth of Occupy groups around the US, Oakland’s general strike on November 2nd, university and building occupations around the country, support for prison rebellions, and the West Coast port blockades in solidarity with longshore workers. We continue to try to open up spaces in which new, horizontal practices of revolt and social organization can emerge.

Burying the Corpse of Liberalism

These “new” forms of revolt and social organization, present everywhere from the neighborhood councils and attacks on political party buildings of the Egyptian uprising to the general assemblies and affinity groups of Occupy, stand in stark contrast to the decaying model of traditional liberalism practiced by bureaucratic unions and political parties. In the face of economic recession and widespread austerity measures, often imposed by the same politicians such groups bring into power, it has become clear that the traditional Left is at a dead end. Making policy demands, political constituency-building, and negotiating with those in power can not and will not allow us to escape the misery of 21st century capitalism.
Instead, we seek to encourage and popularize forms of rebellion and organization that dispense with these worn out models of political compromise and centralized decision-making. In the face of economic recession, we propose direct expropriation. In the face of politics-as-usual, we propose autonomy and self-determination. In a world where the future has been stolen from us, we propose to steal it back.

Police acted early, sending in squad cars and taping off the road to only allow pedestrian traffic. It appeared that for a good while they were waiting either for clear orders regarding who was the actual owner of the property, or perhaps simply backup.

Throughout the day more folks showed up, and by early afternoon there were roughly 50 folks inside and outside the home, including also media. The environment was peaceful, tranquil even, as folks met old friends, shared food and updates about different struggles, and basically chilled out in the front yard.

Eventually, however, around 3pm the tone shifted dramatically, with as many as 50 police showing up in blue uniforms, marching down the small residential street two by two. They were accompanied by two paddy wagons and more patrol cars, and quickly surrounded the house, ordering folks to leave or be arrested. Most people regrouped at the other side of the street, while some were arrested. Those who regrouped yelled at and argued with the cops, but were eventually pushed farther down the street to view the scene from the yard of a sympathetic neighbor participating in the protest. One teen, who had lived in the house before its eviction, kept up a constant stream of monologue at the cops.

Several police entered the house in riot gear, while others sat with guns drawn facing an open window on the second floor. Two more were pulled out of the house in this manner, the paddy wagons left, and the protest was “over.”

It goes without saying the anger and rage we feel for this army of order-following automatrons, who can simply remove a family from their home at a bank’s will. It’s only equaled by the frustration we feel at our own powerlessness to stop them. There is no easy solution to this problem outside of our own growth, training, and the spreading of ideas and the practices of revolt. What happened today was only briefly planned and of a fairly urgent nature; we can only hope that this practice of home “occupation” spreads, that in the future more neighbors come out to support the actions of a desperate few.

Specifics regarding the number of arrests, ways to support arrestees, background information on the family and their home, as well as photos and video, will probably be available soon at www.occupygreensboro.org and www.occupyraleigh.org.

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, guards soon came and threatened the men into returning to work. Eight of the men, however, continued to refuse to work until their questions were asked. These men were charged with “disobeying a direct order” and “work refusal,” and placed in solitary cells. Just a few days ago, the men were given an abrupt disciplinary hearing, in which they were railroaded into I-Con (Intensive Control) as punishment. I-Con is an intensive form of segregation, typically 23 hours a day in a small solitary cell, with few if any resources available, constantly censored mail, and little recreational activity. Sentences on I-Con often last 6 months or longer. One prisoner wrote about the hearing, “I tried to plead my case to the hearing officer, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t even listen. It was already pre-arranged what the outcome would be. It amazes me what Central Prison gets away with. They don’t even care about policy. They do what they want.”

The men who refused to return to work are calling themselves the “Strong 8,” and have been in touch with outside support groups to spread news of and ask for solidarity in their struggle. It is clear that the attempt to isolate and repress these men’s strike is an effort to intimidate any efforts at organizing on the inside before they start. The struggle to get these men off of solitary is about more than just the freedom of these 8 men – it is about the use of solitary confinement as a tool for political intimidation, prisons as a form of forced labor, and the “new jim crow” of the contemporary prison-industrial complex.

Outside supporters are initially calling for several different approaches to get these men off solitary. First, there will be a mass call-in day to both the prison warden and the NC Director of Prisons on Wednesday, March 14^th. This is being heavily publicized both regionally and nationally – we’re hoping that those who are too far away to attend demonstrations will help out in other ways. The contact information for these call-in days is below:

Central Prison Warden Ken Lassiter

ph:(919) 733- 0800

fax: (919) 715-2645

NC Director of Prisons Robert C. Lewis

ph: (919) 838-4000

fax: (919) 733-8272

Second, there will be a demonstration outside of Central Prison, at 1300 Western Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606, on Sunday March 25^th at noon. We encourage people to bring signs, banners, and drums and noisemaking devices of all kinds. The prisoners have explicitly asked for some banners and signs to read, “Free the Strong 8 Kitchen Workers” and “Fire Mr. Rice.” The protest will be during visiting hours, so we hope to directly spread word of support for the strike throughout the inside via family members, as well as increase pressure on the administration to return the men to general population.

Thirdly, we are asking for people to conduct a massive media and internet outreach campaign around this strike and the subsequent punishment of the workers. Administrations get away with this kind of thing in part by sweeping news of any and all prison resistance under the rug, so that family, friends, affected communities, and other prisoners don’t hear about it. Please spread news of this struggle by any and all websites, newspapers, radio stations, and other media outlets you can think of.

The struggle to get these men off solitary won’t stop with these small actions; this is likely just a beginning. It goes without saying that any and all acts of solidarity and support are encouraged. We will continue to post and send out more information as it is available, both from the inside and outside. To see the original post of the story and find future updates, you can go to prisonbooks.info.

Until Every Cage is Empty,

Against Prisons and the Society that Builds Them,

an ad hoc coalition of groups and individuals supporting the Strong 8

here.

First, in terms of numbers, at least 50 or so people participated in the march to and occupation of the building at 201 N. Greensboro St., not “20.” While a number of people were inside the building, cleaning up broken glass, building furniture, setting up a gas generator, setting up food and literature tables, and painting the walls, many more were outside engaging the public about the occupation itself. This included distributing hundreds of flyers and letters to neighbors, nearby workers, and businesses which advertised a general assembly the following day, at which people could discuss possible alternative uses for the building (other than the highly unpopular CVS).

Second, on a small, humorous note: no one ever asked for or “demanded” ice cream–this was a basically condescending attempt by the Mayor to get people out; it was more or less ignored.

Third, on the sentence “Yet neighbors doubt that the anarchists’ method is more effective…”  This is beyond inaccuracy – this is just bad, lazy journalism, with the agenda right on the table. A responsible journalist (and editor) would at least try to hide their bias and write, “Yet SOME neighbors….” Did the Independent go and talk to ALL the neighbors surrounding the CVS? I doubt it. Occupiers, however, DID go to door to door that day, and had lots of conversations that were supportive alongside those that expressed concern. Even a Daily Tar Heel reporter managed to find one such supporter for her article printed on Feb 8th, quoted as saying, ““I was walking by and I was intrigued,” he said. “To me, it opens up discussion points and that I think helps their cause.” Several of these supporters came in spite of rain and cold and eviction the following day to participate in an assembly that decided on the gardening action. Yet the Independent seems to have missed this, too. What they did manage to find was the one neighbor (Jeff Herrick) who has been outspoken against the action, primarily because occupiers bypassed a political process he feels beholden to.

Fourth, and probably most important, is that the basic narrative arc of this article is fundamentally flawed- that this action created divisions in an otherwise whole community of occupiers, anarchists, neighbors etc. is inaccurate at best. The article asserts that “…the tactics have factionalized the anarchist and Occupy movements.” This is completely ridiculous. This action has NOT created any noticeable conflict within those active anarchist or occupy milieus, at least that this active participant has seen. At the assembly which took place on the lawn of the building the day after the action, the overall mood was enthusiastic, the main complaint towards the action being that the building wasnt held long enough. (The media was even there to observe this – where was the Independent?) This was not officially an Occupy Chapel Hill meeting, its true, but many “occupiers” were there. Either way, not exactly the factionalism this article implies!

A few more points on this issue: Occupy Chapel Hill has been on the whole very supportive of both the building takeovers. This can be seen in multiple marches supporting those arrested and condemning the police eviction, the fact that some of those arrested at the Yates building were themselves outspoken participants in Occupy Chapel Hill, and by the fact that Nomadic Occupy set up a camp and helped support the occupation at 201 N. Greensboro St.

This article could just have easily pointed these things out, along with pointing out the the “Carrboro Commune” participant it quotes (Maria Rowan) was ALSO vocal with Occupy Chapel Hill. If these facts are pointed out, suddenly the entire narrative of this article shifts. But of course the Independent article omits them.

On the note about divisions with neighbors – there are many, many different people opposed to the CVS, for many different reasons. This action didn’t create these differences; if anything it exposed them. Some believe in the town government process to an almost obsessive degree, others believe this process is fundamentally rigged, or hopeless, or too slow, or illegitimate, and would prefer to see non-governmental, open assemblies make decisions about the space. Some would prefer something like a small business to be located there instead; while others would prefer some kind of social center (a free clinic, a radical library, a community garden, the possibilities are really endless) run by and for community members. Some believe in the private property rights of corporations and absentee landlords, some simply do not. All of these differences existed prior to last Saturday; one could argue that exposing such differences with actions like this, fighting them out, if you will, IS part of political and civil discourse. It is at least more honest than simply pushing them under rug, as Mayor Chilton would seem to prefer.

On this subject of division: To some extent, it’s logical to expect some level of difference in perspective between some of the neighbors opposed to the CVS on NIMBY-ist, logistical (parking, lighting, etc.) grounds, vs. those opposed to it for reasons of class anger and political perspective (a critique of the power of corporations, the wealthy, and private property in community relations, etc…). In general the Occupy CH and anarchist camps (which are and have always been overlapping groups) fall in this latter category; probably many of the nearby neighbors fall in the former.

But it is also very easy to imagine how this occupation, as well as future actions like taking over the lawn of the building for a community garden, can benefit the less political, more “logistical” cause of the neighbors opposed to the CVS: certainly this has lit a fire under the seats of the aldermen, and it is already starting to cost CVS extra money (with talk of a fence, security, etc.) that they would rather not spend. The most obvious course for these neighbors, regardless of their political perspective on private property or corporate power, or even their feelings towards occupiers and anarchists, would be to use this added tension and attention to press their cause further. The MLK to the Malcolm X, if you will.

On the subject of the various groupings of neighbors, occupiers, and anarchists, it is amazing to me that the Independent did not take the time or flex the intellectual muscle to point out the obvious: That the opposition of many Carrboro residents to a CVS, and their preference for some kind of community-benefiting space, only begins to make sense in the broader national and international context that characterizes the politics of the Occupy movement (and its anarchist wing).

For how else can we really come to understand a small town mayor TWICE evicting a group of peaceful occupiers from an empty building with armed police, but by understanding the origins of an almost religious devotion to private property and capitalism in the US? How else can we understand opposition to the corporate control of public space, even if such opposition appears “apolitical” in character, but by having some kind of critique and understanding of how 21st century global capitalism has developed? It is the same forces that are attempting to bring a new corporate megastore to 201 N. Greensboro St. that birthed the various perspectives of the occupy and anarchist movements – to not draw these obvious connections and opt instead for a sensationalized story about largely non-existant in-fighting is intellectually lazy. Why not just have the Independent endorse Carrboro’s political class outright, and be done with it? (Oh wait, they do that…)

To further emphasize my original point: None of the “divisions” mentioned in the Indy’s article were “created” by Saturday’s occupation, as this article would seem to suggest. They already existed, just as vast divisions in class, race, and political access already exist in our town. The mayor, the police, CVS, and much of the wealthier, liberal political class in our town fall basically on one side of these preexisting divisions — regardless of their personal identities, we have now repeatedly witnessed that their roles are to preserve the status quo as it exists in our town. The question remains for those who do not fall on this side of these divisions, what we will do. Because, while the occupiers may have been evicted, it looks like they’ll be back.

“On March 17, 2012, join us in Carrboro to grow plants and community through guerrilla gardening! The Carrboro Commune, an open affiliation of community members concerned about the corporate domination of public space, will collaborate with other local organizations to transform the unused lot at 201 Greensboro Street into a vibrant garden providing edible, medicinal, and beautiful plants for the general public.

201 Greensboro Street and surrounding properties are currently slated to be the site of a widely unpopular twenty-four-hour CVS megastore. Activists occupied the building on February 4, distributing a brochure explaining that, “Local residents have repeatedly expressed that the site should serve some kind of community interest rather than corporate profits… [Yet] the channels at Town Hall offer no meaningful way for affected community members to determine what should be here.” On March 17, in solidarity with a worldwide day of action against Monsanto and the worldwide movement for social and economic justice, we will oppose the power of corporations here in our community by reclaiming this space.

Carrboro Commune representatives will attend the neighborhood meeting at Carrboro Town Hall on February 8 to announce this Day of Action.

Press Contact:

Maria Rowan

919-200-0016

cef@riseup.net

Within minutes the crowd had taken over the building, hanging banners from the roof and windows, erecting tables outside with free food, and handing out welcome packets to passersby.

Others arrived with carpentry equipment, wood, furniture, a literature distro, and tools, and began building benches and tables. Some painted a large, cursive “Carrboro Commune @” and large squat symbols on the walls.

Still other supporters spread throughout the neighborhood, announcing the occupation and advertising an open neighborhood assembly in the building the following day.

The takeover, claimed by “anti-capitalists and occupiers” and done under the rubric of the “Carrboro Commune,” was aimed at holding the property permanently and building some kind of community or social center.

Eager to avoid the negative press and angry public backlash of an armed eviction of an occupied building late last year in neighboring Chapel Hill, police and the mayor were initially restrained. Unfortunately, the openness of the occupation towards random passersby also meant the Mayor himself was even in the building.

The occupation continued till around 7:30, after which police entered the building and began threatening arrests. A crowd of masked protesters left the building through a side door, chanting and carrying a banner to meet the crowd in front of the building. There were no arrests.

A bizarre scene then ensued in front of the building, where a large crowd of masked protesters, supporters, police, press, and local politicians packed together, screaming at each other in front of cameras. The mayor repeatedly tripped over his words, while some protesters cursed him and others gave speeches, chanted “ACAB”, and loudly vowed to return.

The Mayor’s sleek attempts to command the narrative of a peaceful de-occupation slowly started to slip away, eclipsed by the near violent hatred and frustration of a screaming crowd. The scene, which occurred in the busiest intersection of town in front of half a dozen cameras, was a bizarre shift for the supposedly tranquil and politically “conflict-free” small liberal town.

–

This is only a brief account by one participant. As of right now, we are still recovering from the last few hours, trying to figure out what went right and what went wrong. Certainly there will be a much more thorough account and analysis to come later; right now we would send our love and rage to all our comrades around the US and the world also struggling to reclaim a world that has been stolen from us.

We hope that our small efforts can inform and inspire others, and in particular offer some encouragement to our friends and comrades currently in jails on the West Coast, kidnapped for trying to also take back a future that has been stolen.

-some friendly neighborhood NC anarchists…

Pictures can be found at www.carrborocommune.wordpress.com or at http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg635/carrborocommune/

For more info:

http://carrborocommune.wordpress.com

@carrborocommune

carrboro commune at livestream.com

Welcome Back!

The end of 2011 saw a blossoming of self-organization and struggle across the US,as the Occupy movement illuminated people’s anger, imagination, and desire. Issues that had been simmering below the surface of political discourse exploded onto the public stage. From Oakland to New York, from Seattle to Chapel Hill, we started to find each other, to find that we are powerful. None of the tensions that catalyzed the movement have dissipated. Bosses, bankers, politicians, and police still hold our communities hostage—no armed evictions, government cover-ups, or election-year sloganeering can hide this. We have occupied this building in the spirit of this growing movement. This is not a temporary protest, but a permanent occupation intended to establish a social center in the heart of Carrboro, instead of the CVS that would have been here.

The proposed CVS has faced near-unanimous local opposition. The building would be out of proportion for the location and a logistical nightmare for nearby neighbors. Local residents have repeatedly expressed that the site should serve some kind of community interest rather than corporate profits.Yet outside the zoning process, where at best we can delay the inevitable, the channels at Town Hall offer no meaningful way for affected community members to determine what should be here. We aim to provide such a venue by occupying this site and holding open assemblies.
This will allow local residents to come together, roll up our sleeves, and share a sense of real ownership over the site. This would be impossible were a corporate drug store to be located here.
This isn’t just about CVS. It’s about an economic system that prioritizes profit over people, a legal system that violently defends it, and a political system that rubber-stamps it. North Carolina is in the midst of a deep recession and budget crisis: education, libraries, healthcare, unemployment benefits, food and housing support, and other services face drastic cuts. Rather than wait for politicians to fix the problems they’ve created, we should be occupying the holdings of corporate profiteers so that people hurt by this crisis can directly decide how to use such resources for community benefit. Corporate and banking interests created this crisis; this occupation is one way of responding while creating something positive at the same time. The space, resources, and activities of our town should benefit everyone. We should have direct decision-making power over the resources of our neighborhoods and workplaces, rather than live at the mercy of speculating absentee landlords, out-of-state drug corporations, or town bureaucrats and politicians.
“Occupy” Squat, Seattle 2011
75 River, Santa Cruz 2011
Rachel Corrie Center, Olympia 2011
The violent eviction of last year’s peaceful Yates Building occupation demonstrates that the governments of Chapel Hill and Carrboro are willing to use potentially lethal armed force to protect the “right” of the wealthy to profit on empty buildings. We are here to show that we are not intimidated by armed police or their bureaucratic defenders. We will not live our lives in fear merely to relieve the political anxieties of a mayor who sips tea and quotes Gandhi while evicting demonstrators at gunpoint.
To that end, we once again encourage residents—in particular service workers, the unemployed and underemployed, the homeless, and those displaced by racist gentrification and outrageous housing prices—to imagine what this “really really free building” could be, free from the stranglehold of rent and the profit motive. A free health clinic? A mutual aid center to help people find work when the economy has failed them?
A community library or media center? A place for free childcare or a free school? Through open assemblies, we can decide together, rather than being forced to accept the decisions of an out-ofstate corporation guided only by profit.
Please join us, not just in supporting this occupation, but in making it your own. We have a world to win, and this is just the beginning. Imagine what this “really really free building” could be, free from the stranglehold of rent and the profit motive:
• A free health clinic?
• A mutual aid center to help people find work when the economy has failed them?
• A community library or media center?
• A place for free childcare or a free school?
Through open assemblies, we can decide together, rather than being forced to accept the decisions of an outof-state corporation guided by profit.