Analysis of the anti-capitalists' engagement with the Occupy Movement

[ellipsis]

I'll just pose a quick question and then comment at a later time.

I am looking for an analytic discussion of the radical/revolutionary left and anticapitalists and their engagement and participation in Occupy, in its myriad of manifestations. Successes, Failures, Lessons learned, etc.

[ellipsis]

I personally got a lot out of my involvement with Occupy SF and Oakland. Although it was very frustrating at times, particularly with the peace police, I learned a lot and it was great to be able to gain experience in agitation and other forms of praxis.

I was able to connect with radical and anti-capitalists within OSF and helped to radicalize other folks who were newer to political work. I thought that I was able to harness the energy of the group and push it in the direction that I wanted it to go. And it was a mutually beneficial situation, wherein radical elements of OSF were able to organize impressive direct actions through affinity groups, nullifying the pacifying nay-sayers who would have obstructed such proposals in GA.

[ellipsis]

The impression that I got from many on this site, however is that they were quick to write off OWS and Occupy in general. My opinions are based solely on my involvement with OSF and OO, and conversations with comrades from other Occupy encampments, so I don't want to discount anybodies experiences with their local occupy chapters.

That said, many anarchists soon grew weary of the peace police and their attempts to pacify/control others. I spoke to one comrade who was tackled and turned over to the police for dragging a dumpster into the streets at Occupy Portland.

[ellipsis]

moved to P+P, didn't make sense in OS without an occupy sub forum, too recent for history.

[Ele'ill]

There were some 'great' GA debates where radicals were agitating for various stuff but there were far too many people who opposed radical action involved in every facet of the thing and it came across as this extremely tedious game of convincing people to do the smallest of things coddling them in a more radical direction and I think it comes down to people weren't ready to do anything. It was bringing a diverse group of people together but still a rather small group and attempting to organize them/it into one body or organization to accomplish policed protest. I think the debate is on what the role of radicals is within these situations.
I don't really see the validity of the camps (although the one here was pretty incredible at times despite being right in front of the downtown jail) and would have rather seen building occupations or the arming with knowledge of how to set up building occupations (workshops geared towards squatting, expropriating food, how to not rely on activists or organizers to set up makeshift kitchens twice a week, how to engage in riskier actions political or for personal survival and what to expect in regards to criminal charges and how to get in contact with legal support etc.. etc.. and some of these were done but the focus was pretty much on centralizing all this stuff with committees as part of one organization that's MO was de-escalation and artificial or symbolic conflict)

I think some of the action/demos here were pretty rad with the bridges being shut down. There were a lot of riot lines pushed through, but to where? It all fizzled out.

[ellipsis]

it didn't fizzle out, it was systematically and often brutally repressed.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

One lesson - never try to do with a GA full of liberals what you can do autonomously of GA full of liberals.
That said, a GA full of liberals is probably a useful venue for explaining the political/strategic rationale of the things you do anyway regardless of their approval.

Uh . . . but probably libcom or the PCR wrote something on "lessons". *shrug*

[Ele'ill]

it didn't fizzle out, it was systematically and often brutally repressed.

and it fizzled out

[ellipsis]

and it fizzled out

Occupy as a whole, yes. After the nationwide crackdown, a lot of the smaller and less inspired camps dissolved into nothingness. Some morphed in to local, issue specific organization.

some fizzled out/were torn apart by infighting. OSF for eg split, even though at this point it was pretty much done, when a GA was "obstructed" by somebody not wanting to condemn property destruction pre-may day 2012. so Occupy Bay Area United was formed and went nowhere.

Occupy Oakland, which was really just a continuation/amalgamation of previously active groups/movements, has now morphed into many projects, notably the biblioteca popular/peoples library, which is still active, although out side of the original occupied building, in the fenced in backyard. There are a fair number of street marches that are OO inspired, including an upcoming FTP march.

[Ele'ill]

Occupy as a whole, yes. After the nationwide crackdown, a lot of the smaller and less inspired camps dissolved into nothingness. Some morphed in to local, issue specific organization.

Yeah but let's be clear about 'issue specific' where the larger portion (upper 90's percentile) of the groups formed that were issue specific were liberal reformist nothingness that offered no legit challenge to anything where all of the effort is/was put into making it's own bureaucracy engage on energy sapping tasking with the main goal and parameters for action being to work within the system.


some fizzled out/were torn apart by infighting. OSF for eg split, even though at this point it was pretty much done, when a GA was "obstructed" by somebody not wanting to condemn property destruction pre-may day 2012. so Occupy Bay Area United was formed and went nowhere.

and at what point to people refuse 'infighting' and simply disassociate with a project and begin their own or find people interested with their own ideas- to perhaps come up with and carry out really good things- instead of dropping off the face of the earth. Two big problems that occupy faced here was the rejection of autonomy and free association (I know that is like a dead-cliche phrase, free association, but I think it's quite a bit important none the less)


Occupy Oakland, which was really just a continuation/amalgamation of previously active groups/movements, has now morphed into many projects, notably the biblioteca popular/peoples library, which is still active, although out side of the original occupied building, in the fenced in backyard. There are a fair number of street marches that are OO inspired, including an upcoming FTP march.

Ok, I have heard of such projects still existing but throughout the times you'll see stuff come into existence like that and for a seemingly important social event like occupy to take place I would expect people to realize that maybe occupy was the idea that it's time to start reaching out to one another all the time and not a social or political movement to chill with until it fizzles, fails or is crushed or whatever (and I think this is a point that most people missed)

[ellipsis]

I really wish i had a chance to check out other occupy groups besides ones in the Bay Area, and SLC in its last days of camping on city sanctioned gravel.

[The Idler]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the OP, but any left group worth their salt have reported and discussed Occupy.

[ellipsis]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the OP, but any left group worth their salt have reported and discussed Occupy.

feel free to think to them, but I meant an analytical discussion amongst forum members.

[Orange Juche]

I was treated like shit for being anti-capitalist, interestingly. As if I were sabotaging the movement by being too "radical" or something.

[ellipsis]

I was treated like shit for being anti-capitalist, interestingly. As if I were sabotaging the movement by being too "radical" or something.

I had my same problems. It funny how people who condemn yelling fuck the police as of a sudden approve of radical tactics when building occupations are being orchestrated by anarchists. Proof is in the pudding, all of their attempted negotiations with police got them no where.

[The Idler]

The most interesting division was between Chris Hedges and David Graeber. Don't know if you saw any of that?

[ellipsis]

No but homeboy anarchist comrade schooled hedges in a debate on kpfa. I tuned in for that.