I don't have time to respond right now to Black Blocs, 'Violence' and the Possibilities of Action by Adam Lewis of the AW@L group, on the recent black bloc tactic in Vancouver as well as the debates on violence vs. non-violence. However, I would encourage people to read it even though I have a lot of disagreements with it as I think it's a thoughtful and well-written contribution to the discussion.

By Mick Sweetman

First off, it's been interesting to read the many responses, some in agreement, some in disagreement, and a lot with a mix of both, to my blog post “We need a mass movement not a black bloc”.

I'm glad that my post has resonated with people and contributed to the larger debate on strategy, tactics, and politics in the anarchist movement and on the left generally. That kind of lively public debate is healthy for a movement to honestly evaluate both our successes and our shortcomings as a movement. Public critique in our movements should not be suppressed in a misguided attempt to enforce “solidarity” between activists and sweep our disagreements under the carpet. Sometimes that means we have to talk frankly about the movements we're in and address what we see as mistakes.

By Mick Sweetman

As I sat in an activist meeting at a union's downtown Toronto office on Saturday afternoon, discussing such exciting things as what type of brochure we should produce for the upcoming International Women's Day, a text message flashed onto my cell phone from the Vancouver Media Co-op.

“BREAKING VMC VIDEO: Anarchists Smash Windows @ the Bay”

I sighed, shook my head, and blurted out a single word in frustration, “Idiots.”

Why was I so frustrated by this almost predictable news from across the country? It's because I've seen it before and knew exactly what the backlash against not only the anti-Olympic protests but also against anarchism itself would be.

Below is a recent position statement from the Haitian workers and peasents organization Batay Ouvriye. As an anarchist-communist I don't agree with everything Batay Ouvriye says, notably in this statement their call for a "workers state", but I think it is an important voice that needs to be heard now which is why I'm posting this to my blog here on Linchpin.ca. Read it for yourself, it's well worth your time.

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