Man refused flight on Airplane for carrying Anarchist literature

[Belleraphone]

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/occupy-protester-banned-from-flight-home-for-christmas-6282555.html


John Charles Culatto, 34, claimed he was approached by police at Bristol International Airport who told him they had seen him "acting suspiciously" on the airport's CCTV system when he stopped to talk to fellow travellers.

He said he went to airport security an hour before his flight was due to depart, where staff found posters in his bag linked to the anarchist group Crimethinc and refused to allow him through until they had contacted the airline. He claimed he overheard security staff who were examining his luggage using the word "terrorism".

When he finally got to the boarding gate, he claimed he was prevented from boarding by staff. Mr Culatto said: "[I was told] that because of the very remote possibility I could distribute leaflets on the plane and upset people, the captain had decided not to take me aboard."

A spokesman for Servisair, which manages the departure gates, said Mr Culatto was stopped because he arrived at the gate after it closed because of the time it took to clear security. He said the decision not to allow him to fly was taken by the airline.

Ryanair called the allegations "complete and utter rubbish".

[ed miliband]

inb4 "lol crimethinc"

[Belleraphone]

Is there a problem with crimethinc? Never heard of them.

[Tim Cornelis]

Is there a problem with crimethinc? Never heard of them.

this pretty much sums it up:


CrimethInc begins with the brand name, and ends with the relentless merchandizing of "radical" products on their website. In between there is...an individualist, selfish, and inchoate rebel ideology that eschews work, political organizing, and class struggle. In a world at war and facing terminal crisis, CrimethInc's transcendental philosophy and ahistorical lightness is a form of intellectual masturbation. Like rootless ex-pats unconnected to the daily life around them, CrimethInc's lifestylism is a form of self-imposed exile within their own society.

—Ryan, Ramor, "Days of Crime, Nights of Horror", Perspectives on Anarchist Theory (2004)

Of course ridiculous that he would not be allowed on a plane, what a morons those security guards are. I thought I was paranoid when I decided not to take anarchist literature (black flame) on a plane, just in case, turns out I was not.

[Susurrus]

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/occupy-protester-banned-from-flight-home-for-christmas-6282555.html

[roy]

Explosives, chemical weapons and firearms are no longer the only tool at the common terrorist's disposal... behold the mighty and potentially upsetting power of leaflets!

[Sam_b]

CrimethInc is 'literature' now?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Crimethinc has put out some decent material in recent years, people need to stop hatin'

[Os Cangaceiros]

Also, posting a review about Crimethinc from 2004 (two years before the often referenced "Your Politics Are Bourgeois As Fuck" was put out) is not a very accurate representation of what Crimethinc is about today, they've kind of shifted their emphasis a bit more towards political economy and a bit away from "radical philosophy" or whatever.

[Ocean Seal]

Lets get back on topic. Why would you carry anarchist literature with you when boarding a plane? I mean I know that plane rides are boring, but does it really hurt to just bring a portable dvd player or a laptop.

[ed miliband]

Crimethinc has put out some decent material in recent years, people need to stop hatin'

Yeah man, that 'Work' book is great.



edit: well, good... there's still some shit about herbal medicine, etc.

[Sam_b]

Why would you carry anarchist literature with you when boarding a plane?

When I was in the SWP and going over to the Czech Republic I went on a plane with a heap of materials for the IST section over there. I had newspapers, magazines, posters, badges and flags. So that's one reason.

The second is that some of us like to read theory to pass the time.

[RadioRaheem84]

I don't think I can travel anywhere without some sort of leftist literature to keep me from banging my head against the wall. Imagine only having mainstream newsrags you find at the airport to keep you busy? :crying:

[NoOneIsIllegal]

While traveling via airplanes last year, I read For us Surrender is out of the Question. A book where an American lives on the border of Burma/Thailand with a group that is deemed by the U.S. government as "terrorists." She becomes best friends with the group and is extremely sympathetic, while helping them translate documents and learn English.

I wasn't stopped.

Read a lot more shit on Greyhound buses, but who cares about those? People do crazier stuff on those than any anarchist could ever dream of.

[Firebrand]

Think of it as practice for when they remember the left is a bigger threat to their positions than any religious extremists and starts stopping us in the streets

[Sasha]

I once traveled to the us with the unabomber manifesto in my caryon. Reading it on the planw and all. No one gave a shit. (although this was pre 911 admittedly)

[Firebrand]

Explosives, chemical weapons and firearms are no longer the only tool at the common terrorist's disposal... behold the mighty and potentially upsetting power of leaflets!

In the long run they do more damage. Propaganda is where wars are won and lost. If people don't believe in something it can't succeed.

[Crux]

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/occupy-protester-banned-from-flight-home-for-christmas-6282555.htmlSo basically he was refused to board for a thought crime? how terribly apt.

[Lanky Wanker]

Explosives, chemical weapons and firearms are no longer the only tool at the common terrorist's disposal... behold the mighty and potentially upsetting power of leaflets!

Gaaaaaaaaah! :scared:

[Susurrus]

Explosives, chemical weapons and firearms are no longer the only tool at the common terrorist's disposal... behold the mighty and potentially upsetting power of leaflets!

God help us if the Trotskyists ever realize the true power of their newspapers.

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

Explosives, chemical weapons and firearms are no longer the only tool at the common terrorist's disposal... behold the mighty and potentially upsetting power of leaflets!
not surprising,

[NewLeft]

John Charles Culatto, 34, claimed he was approached by police at Bristol International Airport who told him they had seen him "acting suspiciously" on the airport's CCTV system when he stopped to talk to fellow travellers.

He wasn't the only anarchist!

[cheguvera]

play the game fairly...:thumbup:

[Ocean Seal]

When I was in the SWP and going over to the Czech Republic I went on a plane with a heap of materials for the IST section over there. I had newspapers, magazines, posters, badges and flags. So that's one reason.

The second is that some of us like to read theory to pass the time.
I also like to read to pass the time, however I think I can find things other than socialist literature to read while on a plane. Also does it really hurt to put your materials in your luggage rather than your carry on.

[Bronco]

This happened at Bristol? I'm flying out from there tomorrow, and I'm reading Kropotkin's Mutual Aid at the moment, maybe it'd be best if I left it at home :unsure:

[Frank Zapatista]

God help us if the Trotskyists ever realize the true power of their newspapers.

I have to admit, this actually made me laugh.

[Sam_b]

Also does it really hurt to put your materials in your luggage rather than your carry on.

If you've nothing to hide, why hide it? Last time I checked in I didn't have to declare that I was a socialist.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

This happened at Bristol? I'm flying out from there tomorrow, and I'm reading Kropotkin's Mutual Aid at the moment, maybe it'd be best if I left it at home :unsure:

I highly doubt they would do the same thing twice... besides,as long as your situation isn't the same as the guy in the news story I do not believe that much would happen.

[Summerspeaker]

Why would you carry anarchist literature with you when boarding a plane?

The last flight I took I had various anarchist zines/books with me. One I brought on the trip to show folks, the others I got from a comrade during my travels. I guess I'm lucky I made it through and hope I don't run into any trouble on my next flight. :blink: