Bash Back! News

Communique from the Forgotton:

Human Rights Campaign HQ Glamdalized By Queers Against Assimilation

HRC headquarters was rocked by an act of glamdalism last night by a crew of radical queer and allied folks armed with pink and black paint and glitter grenades. Beside the front entrance and the inscribed mission statement now reads a tag, “Quit leaving queers behind.”

The HRC is not a democratic or inclusive institution, especially for the people who they claim to represent. Just like society today, the HRC is run by a few wealthy elites who are in bed with corporate sponsors who proliferate militarism, heteronormativity, and capitalist exploitation. The sweatshops (Nike), war crimes (Lockheed Martin), assaults on working class people (Bank of America, Deloitte, Chase Bank, Citi Group, Wachovia Bank) and patriarchy (American Apparel) caused by their sponsors is a hypocrisy for an organization with “human rights” in their name.

The queer liberation movement has been misrepresented and co-opted by the HRC. The HRC marginalizes us into a limited struggle for aspiring homosexual elites to regain the privilege that they’ve lost and climb the social ladder towards becoming bourgeoisie.

Last night, Obama spoke at the HRC fundraising gala and currently the HRC website declares, “President Obama underlines his unwavering support for LGBT Americans.” The vast amount of organizing resources the HRC wastes on their false alliance with the Democratic party leaves radical queers on the margins to fend for themselves. Our struggle has always had to resist the repression of conservative tendencies in government and society to gain liberation in our lives.

The gourmet affair was sponsored by 48 corporations including giants Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, and Wachovia Bank. At $250 dollars a plate the HRC served our movement a rich, white, heternormative atmosphere that purposefully excludes working class queer folks.

REMEMBER THE STONEWALL RIOTS! On the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, pigs raided a queer bar in Texas, arrested and beat our friends, and we looked towards politicians and lawyers to protect us. This mentality is what keeps the money flowing to the HRC and their pet Democrats, and keeps our fists in our pockets.

Most of all we disagree that collective liberation will be granted by the state or its institutions like prisons, marriage, and the military. We need to escalate our struggle, or it will collapse.

~~Love and Solidarity~~

In the late hours of Saturday, October 3, while most Bash Backers were out running errands or partying the night away; a fleet of five or so cop cars made their way toward the Marsha P. Johnson Queer Collective (known to many as simply the BB! Memphis Squat) on Bruce Street.

Upon arrival, without any announcement to vacate or any eviction notice in tow, two of the cops promptly approached a side window, using their steel flashlights to break through.

With guns drawn; several cops entered the community room adjacent to the broken window, where two queer youth who had been staying at the collective were making love. They immediately ordered the partially-dressed duo outside, dragging them through the broken window pane.

By this time, several supportive neighbors had began to rally across the street in their defense, screaming things at the cops like “Leave our neighborhood, pigs” and “Leave those kids alone”. At one point, one neighbor, an older person of color, was told if he did not settle down and leave he would be arrested also.

Our next door neighbors, however, who collaborated with the police in the sting, however, began screaming homophobic and racist obscenities and were never asked to “settle down”.

The youth were questioned but refused to give the location of any other house members.

As of today the two youth were released to the custody of their parents without formal charges, while patrol cars have been seen cruising Bruce Street non-stop. The house has not been boarded up yet, and both the locks and our goals remain the same.

Fuck the cops,
-BB! Memphis.

Midwest showing some love for UCSC. If you don’t like what you get set the barricades on fire as an act of revolt, if you do get what you want set the barricades on fire as a sign of celebration.

Some radical kids in Chicago hung a banner on UIC’s campus as a small sign of solidarity to the kids at UCSC, and an even smaller sign of things to come. We don’t demand a thing, we will have it all.

<A3

An autonomous cell of Bash Back!

Dearest Radical Queerz,

The Twin Cities are bashing back cause we’re hot and ready for the
cuming insurrection! Could you link us up on the news site? Folks
can email us or check out our facebook page: Bash Back Twincites.
Thanks!

In love and rage,
BB! TC

The following report is excerpted from an account of the first day of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 24th. This particlar manifestation of pure rage was the crowning moment of an entire day’s worth of riotous activity. The whole text can be found at crimethinc.com. Further reports indicated that several queer anarchists jumped some would-be queerbashers in the midst of all the fun.

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Shortly after 10 p.m., a Bash Back!-themed black bloc a hundred or more strong appeared on Forbes Street between Atwood Street and Oakland Avenue. The march was pushing half a dozen or more dumpsters, which were upended in the intersections while seemingly all the corporate businesses on the block lost their windows. Another dumpster was rolled further down the street and set alight before being upended as the bloc fled north.

We can imagine the atmosphere of the street at that instant: the running figures, the explosions of breaking glass reverberating off the buildings, the dim streetlights on masked faces, the sound of nearby sirens reminding everyone that militarized riot police in full force were on the way from only a couple blocks’ distance.

Pamela’s Diner, Panera Bread, McDonald’s, Bruegger’s Bagels, Subway, Rite Aid, FedEx Kinko’s, American Apparel, the Pitt Shop, and other businesses suffered damage. An H&R Block nearby on Atwood also reported vandalism. The bloc moved north, encountering a police substation on which a particularly bitter revenge was exacted. Police vehicles were already in pursuit and presumably speeding ahead to surround the march; however, the terrain of the college district was too open, and too populated by civilians, for the police to easily entrap their prey. Some participants broke off from the march at this point; others continued together as far as Craig Street, where Quizno’s Subs, PNC Bank, Irish Design Center, BNY Mellon, and Citizens Bank were damaged before the bloc finally dispersed.

Immediately thereafter, the police issued another prerecorded dispersal order to the students gathered in Schenley Plaza and around the so-called “Cathedral of Learning,” then fired several dozen tear gas canisters at the crowd. The following hours saw massive police occupation of the university area and ongoing clashes with students extending into their dormitories. As in St. Paul after the first day of the 2008 RNC, comparatively modest anarchist direct action provoked such a powerful police overreaction that the police ended up precipitating conflict with the public at large.

Shout out to crudo and Vengeance for posting this fine reportback.

-BB! News
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When We Ride On Our Enemies

We are hanging out together. Talking. Reading. Eating. Watching a movie. The door slams open. “Hey, I just drove by the PRIDE festival and there’s a bunch of anti-gay Christian protesters out there with signs.” “Let’s ride,” one of us replies. We do. We’re off. Into a couple separate cars we drive to the festival. We get there and look around. The stage is being taken down. People are trickling out. Christian fascists stand around with signs screaming about sin and proclaiming that we are going to hell; reinforcing capitalist modes of sexual reproduction and patriarchal society. People stand around, just looking. Some of us yell at them. Security tells us to be quiet. One of them approaches and tells us in a hushed voice, “Just ignore them and they’ll get the message.” One of us looks at them and replies, “That’s what Hitler said. The only way he said that his enemies could have stopped him is if they would have fought them in the streets. Which is what we aren’t doing right now.” The security guard looks down at the ground.

We are in the car again, driving. We arrive at our house. Our hands reach out for a blank banner, some spray paint, and video camera equipment. A text message is sent out to friends that reads, “Christians fascists at the park. Throw down. Tell friends.” Quickly a message upon the banner is written that reads: “Reclaim Pride – Bash Back!” We arrive again at the park. We approach our enemies and start chanting for them to get out. A buzz is spreading throughout the crowd. People shake hands, meet old friends, and rush in from elsewhere. The police look worried; more people are coming to meet the zealots head on.

“Why did they shut down PRIDE? Where’s the party at? Get out of the park! Who’s Park? Our Park!” The chants change, but the message remains the same: leave now, or we’ll confront you. The police inform us that we are on the verge of starting a riot and to not confront the protesters. Others tell us we’re as bad as the fascists. We smile and laugh. We’ve heard this before. No. Actually, we’re worse, because we are prepared to stand and fight. The crowd continues to grow. The protesters look at each other nervously as they attempt to preach to us despite the fact that we’re yelling so loud no one can hear what they’re saying at all. The police stand around the zealots and protect them and the social peace that hides the everyday social war. The protesters look at each other. They pack up. They leave. We’ve won.

People smile and slap each other on the back. We’ve had a victory. We later learn from talking to friends who had already been at PRIDE that when the protesters first showed up, the event organizers responded by shutting the event down. We also heard rumors that before we arrived, people threw bottles and confronted those attacking them…But thanks to the organizers of the event, so much for PRIDE. “This is where you’re liberal leaders lead you,” declares one rebel, as some of us make our rounds of the park after the fascists have left. Over 50 people participated in the confrontation. For these people, for a few moments they felt what it is like to come together as a group and push back not only against the police and our oppressors, but also experience something so much more than just listening to boring speakers and staring at the booths of non-profits and food vendors. They felt what it was like to win. To push back against what class society forces against us.

This is what it means to intervene. To stand up for ourselves. At work. In the streets. In our neighborhoods. Everywhere. To all the haters who are tripping off of everyday people bringing da ruckus – you’re the ones that are just as bad. We see you, hi hater. We have begun, where you at? This is Modesto muthafucka. 209. Holla.

-Some of those accused of inciting a riot.

You’ve heard it by now. A Denver anarchist named Ariel Attack and a second vandal who got away allegedly trashed the Democratic Party Headquarters a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the update and plea for cash via Friends of Ariel:

On 9/9/09 at 9am, Denver anarchist Ariel Attack made her first court appearance in fine form and fashion. Ariel was charged with Felony 4 Criminal Mischief and faces 2-6 years in prison plus $$$ if convicted. Legal defense could help reduce these costs as well as prison time. Legal costs are estimated at $1,500-2,500 and restitution could be as much as $11,000.

Please steal some money from your boss this week and help keep our comrade out of prison. You’ll be glad you did! (T-shirts and other commodities are on their way.)

Actions of solidarity are also welcome!* The real struggle is against the courts, not in them. And while solidarity with our anarchist comrades is important, we need to work for solidarity with all prisoners and everyone oppressed by the legal system to bring it crashing down.

Finally, you can follow the Denver Anarchist Black Cross blog for more legal updates, and The Boulevardier to keep track of Ariel’s smashing fashion choices throughout the legal process. And friendsofariel@riseup.net to get up with us.

Up the hammers, down the slammers!

*neither Friends of Ariel nor Bash Back! News supports or condones any illegal action nor are we responsible for the actions of our readers.

This September, the G-20 global elites will be coming to Pittsburgh to meet about furthering their agendas that put world domination and corporate greed above the rights and desires of people. Radical queers in Pittsburgh will be meeting up too, but we’ve got different desires.

As Radical Transfolk, Queers and Allies, we reject capitalism, imperialism and all forms of state power. Basically, everything the G-20 stands for. We fight for liberation. Nothing more, nothing less. We believe that state recognition in the form of oppressive institutions such as marriage and militarism are not steps toward liberation but rather towards heteronormative assimilation. We also actively oppose oppression both in and out of the “movement.” We respect a diversity of tactics in the struggle for liberation and do not condemn an action on the grounds that the state deems it to be illegal.

Therefore, some of us will be in the streets on Thursday, September 24, for the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project’s march to disrupt the summit (http://resistg20.org/thursday). We’re not calling for a formal Bash Back bloc per se, but if you’re a gender pirate, gender outlaw, queer, transfolk, asexual, pansexual or homosexual, get at us if you’d like to roll together.

Love and Rage,
Bash Back Pittsburgh
http://www.myspace.com/bashbackpgh
pghbashback@riseup.net

By now most of you have probably heard that a person affiliated with Bash Back! Denver was arrested for allegedly trashing the Democratic Headquarters in Denver . Today we received this update from Ariel’s support folks.

***UPDATE- 8/27***

Ariel has been released on $5000 bail, and we are not posting new stories until the media hullabaloo has died down. Ariel is doing well and is tremendously grateful for all of your support.

Because we aren’t making any statements at this time, please email friendsofariel@riseup.net for updates. Thanks for everything!!!