Anti-Gentrification Front

[WilliamGreen]

Recently I had a chance to visit Canada with some of my friends :)

And while in Vancouver I got to talk with some friends active in the scene down there. They where telling me that Anti-Gentrification Front is putting in work down there trying to help the local residents keep affordable housing.

When I reviewed the press statements from the group it seemed angry and ill-written, not trying to be elitest but I think they could have done a better job in getting their views/aims across.

I did however find a local community group that is linked to the organization and they seemed quite well spoken still a bit angry but intelligent.

So for the Canadians out there, whats up yo haha, fill me in :)

[WilliamGreen]

I'm surprised I thought this post would have attracted a lot of the Canada crowd.

Hmm

[Positivist]

Do you have any links to these sites?

[xxxxxx666666]

Do you have any links to these sites?

Well here's a piece on anarchist news:
On the Anti Gentrification Front action Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/21/2013 - 10:05

According to the Anonymous above

"I post this because:
A - I am mad. This is my neighborhood and this petty vandalism in the name of "class struggle" is stupid and cowardly.
B - I cannot stand bullies, posers, cowards and hypocrites"


http://anarchistnews.org/content/anti-gentrification-front-action

Here's their facebook page (I think)

DTES Anti Gentrification Collective
is on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DTES-Anti-Gentrification-Collective/478484188877532

They sound really angry.:mad:

And some more old news:
We’ll be back’: Anarchist group claims responsibility for torching ‘yuppie development’ in Vancouver| May 16, 2013
Anti-Gentrification Front claims responsibility for torching Vancouver home


http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/16/anti-gentrification-front-claims-responsibility-for-torching-vancouver-home/

An interesting quote:

"So far, investigators have concluded that the Wednesday fire is definitely an arson, but they are hesitant to label it as the work of anarchists. “We don’t want to have tunnel vision here; is this an insurance scam? Is this a builder with a disgruntled employee? There’s all kinds of possible motives behind an arson or a fire like this,” said Constable Brian Montague, spokesman with the Vancouver Police."


http://anarchistnews.org/content/anti-gentrification-front-action


They also " Anti-Gentrification Front stole Save On Meats’ sidewalk sign, posed with it by throwing up peace signs"

http://scoutmagazine.ca/tag/anti-gentrification-front/

And another link:

http://anarchistnews.org/content/anti-gentrification-front-strikes-again

Then again, the part the in the opening post of this thread where "telling me that Anti-Gentrification Front is putting in work down there trying to help the local residents keep affordable housing." seems to not make the news (then again violence is what drives attention) please let us know more about them!;)

[WilliamGreen]

One thing I do like about the group is the idea of protecting Canada most vulnerable.

As I understood it the Downtown East side of Vancouver is an area struck by poverty, etc.

The idea that we would displace these people due to economic development is a great analogy for how the system works in regards to everyone.

If they have this kind of a poetic undertone for their condo, etc. attacks then I'm definitely in support. Though like you noted some of the statements and other actions seem kind of silly and childish.

Hopefully they can develop in ideology and tactics.

[xxxxxx666666]

One thing I do like about the group is the idea of protecting Canada most vulnerable.

Agree, there is always a need for people who are willing to protect the vulnerable:)

(as opposed to those who exploit other "just because they can" or something like that)

[ed miliband]

Lots of people who moan about gentrification are first wave gentrifiers themselves.

[WilliamGreen]

Haha I did like the spoof that the Save on meats crew did with the picture and their campaign to feed the woman of that area.

That's why this group seems so confusing. Why target a company in the area that seems to be known for helping the community.

If they sticked to targeting large developments and projects that necessary involve exploitation of the vulnerable in the community and released concise statements on their operations they would be much easier to define and praise.

I would also think with being more coherent in their message/actions they would get the by product of a lot more support in Vancouver and throughout Canada. :)

[WilliamGreen]

Lots of people who moan about gentrification are first wave gentrifiers themselves.

That's probably true.

But I think that's a different discussion. It's like asking why someone that's a communist, anarchist, etc. participates in working in a capitalist system when tax money etc. goes to imperialist wars, spy agencies that monitor and destroy leftist groups, etc.

We're all part of the system in a sense.

But again a different topic I think.

[Sea]

Lots of people who moan about gentrification are first wave gentrifiers themselves.Do you have any evidence to support this claim?