Northeast Anarchists Convene

Anarchists from several northern states gathered in Boston March 24-25 to plan some specific actions, as well as to discuss the establishment of a permanent Network of anarchists and anarchist groups in the region.

NORTHEAST ANARCHIST NETWORK
By Makhno

On February 24-25, anarchists from an undefined “northeast” met in Boston to plan a couple of specific actions for this spring and to consider forming an active network of like-minded people in the region. In fact, almost all of the 75-100 (attendance varied throughout the event) present were from Massachusetts; a few came from neighboring New England states. New York State was also well represented, with several people from NYC, and others from Ithaca, Albany, Syracuse, and (yours truly) from Rochester. As is happily the norm for anarchist gatherings these days, the crowd was very young; I would guess that 80% were under 30, with another 10% under 40. I narrowly missed out on being the Official Geezer.
Called by an ad hoc coalition of Boston anarchist groups, the conference—called a “consulta” after the face-to-face decision making sessions that the Zapatistas in Chiapas hold with the local population—was formed around three agenda items: organizing a May Day action in Boston that would focus on migrant rights; organizing a protest to the May 6-9 conference, also in Boston, of BIO (Biotech Industry Organization); discussion/establishment of a regional anarchist network for the northeast US.

The organizers get top marks . Logistically, directions and parking tips were clearly communicated, Boston Food Not Bombs supplied the free meals (lots of bagels!), and the out-of-towners’ housing problems apparently worked out very smoothly. Although I didn’t go to them, the after-hours socials were a hit, too. There’s a “white sheep” in every family, though, so our hosts (this was held in the UNITE union hall, in Boston’s Chinatown) registered one complaint: some overenthusiastic person had spraypainted or magic-markered a slogan on the wall. My understanding is that it was fixed before the weekend broke up.
Of course, events were running on “anarchist time”, so things got underway about 90 minutes late on both mornings. The facilitators did an excellent job, on the whole, of keeping discussions moving and various competing motions/amendments/points of order straight. As is the norm for anarchist gatherings, the decisions were made by consensus, the principles of which the young but politically savvy crowd were comfortable with. At times the conversation grew tedious, between consensus and a warm day, and at one point the personal “vibes” got riled, but on the whole there was great patience.
The first day started with presentations by “experts” . A local man named “Sergio” (didn’t catch the last name) gave a detailed history of May Day, its origin and its importance, and how this day is celebrated in practically every country on earth—except Guess Where. President Eisenhower created “Law Day” for May1 as “competition”. Sergio didn’t link May Day to the migrant worker issue per se, other than as a general workers’ issue and to remind us that, in 2006, worldwide events on May Day were dedicated to that issue, and there is a sentiment that it should be repeated this year.
The Biotech industry was then outlined by longtime enviro activist Brian Tokar. On May 6-9, BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization, the industry’s association/lobbying group) will host the annual International Biotechnology Convention in Boston, and activists there are determined to make them feel unwelcome. Tokar went into detail about all the scams and crimes that Biotechies are into: genetically-engineered (GE) plants, animals, (hmm, what comes after that I wonder…), abusive animal “husbandry”, prisoner abuse (experimentation!), and bio-weapons. Nice.
A scheduled speaker on a local ongoing struggle against biotech was delayed, so we concluded the first morning with a talk on “security” issues—reminding people how unprivate the internet is and most other forms of communication can be, especially for known activists. Assume it’s tapped! We also discussed “anarchist etiquette”—treating others with respect, using the proper hand signals (this was new to me) during large discussions to indicate the nature and priority of your intended remarks to the facilitators, and the proper use (and abuse) of consensus.
That afternoon was filled with talk of “safe spaces” and who needed them—in general and within our own circles, dealing with the capitalist media, and brainstorming about the two spring actions. Then plans for the specific May actions were discussed in detail. For the May Day action, the importance of making immediate contact with migrant organizations and with the local labor activists (not NECESSARILY union leadership!) was stressed. Anti-Biotech ideas had a lot to do with visibility: puppets, costumes, etc. [For security reasons, more detailed plans are not reprinted here].
[NOTE: for more info on either of these actions: www.springofresistance.org]
Now, it must be said that the long day’s discussion—some of it heated, straining “anarchist etiquette”—on a warm day, got tedious with (over-) attention to Process. So when local neighborhood activist Claire Allen arrived the next day, her energy and great humor was a blast (not breath) of fresh air. Boston University, in connection with the biotech industry, plans to plop a “Level 4” Hazardous Materials facility in the (black; did you guess?) neighborhood of Roxbury, in the heart of Boston. “Level 4” designates the WORST, most dangerous substances on earth—the plague, smallpox, Ebola, etc. (I neglected to ask if L-4s could also house nuclear materials, like plutonium, but, in terms of the effect of release, it hardly matters). When she heard about these plans, Ms Allen, a typically apolitical welfare mom, got outraged, and then—atypically-- got active. She founded “Safety Net”, a truly grassroots group, and had to endure condescending, racist requests from university flacks for “reasonable spokespeople” (not furious mom worried about their children) to talk to. Like Lois Gibbs, the Niagara Falls housewife who educated herself and exposed Hooker Chemical’s infamous and deadly “Love Canal” in her neighborhood back in the 70s, Ms Allen is the newest heroine on the environmental scene. Her talk clearly linked racism and environmentalism, traced the incredible dishonesty and criminal indifference, the world-class greed shown by BU and their corporate patrons. The gallows humor included an explanation of the “emergency/evacuation” procedures that are supposed to happen if something “gets out”;
Federal regulations call for a complete quarantine of the area (IE—the metropolis of Boston/Cambridge) within THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES of release! Perhaps enough time for the second memo from FEMA to the Boston police to reach some captain’s desk. Then people start falling over…
The remainder of the Consulta was taken up with the idea of a regional network: should it/how it can be established; what it should look like, etc. This detailed, complex discussion was demanding on both audience and facilitators, and multiple amendments were piled onto multipart proposals, all subject to consensus. At last, a draft proposal was passed. Attendees were urged to take the draft back to their own groups, discuss, email amendments/suggestions to Neanarchistconsulta@riseup.net, and consider sending delegates to a follow-up Consulta which will actually found (or not found) the network.
As of this writing, the date f r this second meeting is set: APRIL 7-9, but the site has yet to be chosen. Organizers are asking for localities to volunteer to host this—contact the neanarchistconsulta@riseup.net if you might.
[ a link is provided below to the texts of the draft proposal and the amendments that have been floated, as well as those tentatively adopted]