black blocs?

[Big Red]

Been reading about em' and seen many a video of them, just had a few questions. how do black blocs form? That is I'm sure some people get together and plane it out but are they public? can you just walk up in apparell ready to go? are black blocs strictly anarchists? if so why no red blocs? I have a small understanding of direct action but what role does the self defense play? i can imagine its a very liberal sense of it if at all. I may be mistaken but aren't black blocs defined as terrorists cells and if so how does that come into play in demonstrations,arrests, if so why no anarchists in GITMO? I apologize for sounding so naive but was curious about direct action/black blocs and their relation to other idealogies other than Anarchists, ie. any socialists,communists or the likes in the mix?

and if I am right and black bloc is defined as "terrorists" please refrain from telling me how awsome it is to throw a brick through a window, we dont need any revlefters in a good old secret prison.... thanks comrades

[#FF0000]

There is no one specific way for black blocs to form. They can be planned (to an extent) or mostly spontaneous.

I'm not sure where you heard that black blocs are classified as terrorist cells, but I wouldn't really be able to tell you one way or another. I do know that anarchists who protests the RNC and DNC were often charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act or something like that.

As for Guantanamo, it's my understanding that only people designated as "enemy combatants" are held there. Even if an anarchist can be charged with a thoroughly bogus terrorism charge, I don't think it would be too easy for them to put an American anarchist in Gitmo without people raising too much of a stink.

[Sasha]

this wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bloc) is a good way to answer most of your basic questions, as an activist active in both the dutch and german autonomist movement i'll happely answer any further points that arise.... just ask.

[bcbm]

how do black blocs form?

Generally a call for one will be put out before the action occurs, or they can form autonomously at demonstrations or just randomly sometimes.


That is I'm sure some people get together and plane it out but are they public? can you just walk up in apparell ready to go?

Generally, yes.


are black blocs strictly anarchists?

No, there have been many cases of non-anarchists participating in a bloc.


I have a small understanding of direct action but what role does the self defense play?

What do you mean? Usually a bloc will defend itself if attacked by the police, or defend others from the police, if that is what you mean.


I may be mistaken but aren't black blocs defined as terrorists cells

You're mistaken in this.


I do know that anarchists who protests the RNC and DNC were often charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act or something like that.

"Conspiracy to Riot in the Furtherance of Terrorism." The last bit is just a "terrorism enhancer" that doubles the possible jail time. "Terroristic Threats" has also been thrown around.

[midnight marauder]

how do black blocs form? That is I'm sure some people get together and plane it out but are they public?

Black blocks are generally planned beforehand, and there's often a public call out made for a bloc at particular place and time. Sometimes they're kept secret to everyone outside a closed affinity group, other times there's a call out for a black bloc but the specifics about when and where aren't released until the day of the action. It depends entirely on what the situation calls for, i.e., what you want to accomplish, expected police presence, etc.

There are some instances when black blocs have formed spontaneously: for instance, in the 2001 Cincinnati insurrection (dubbed a "race riot" by the media), anarchists passed out hundreds of bandannas, taught people how to make masks out of tee shirts, and gave out grocery carts full of spray paint and backpacks full of rocks and bricks.



can you just walk up in apparell ready to go?

In theory, yes. Make sure you have all the materials you need with you, including water, changes of clothes, etc. A black bloc isn't a punk rock fashion show, the point of the black is to conceal your identity and make you as indistinguishable from your compas as possible. Don't show up with a charged mohawk and all your tattoos exposed and think you're safe because you have on a black bandanna.

http://thecloud.crimethinc.com/images/random/fashion_tips.jpg



are black blocs strictly anarchists?

The black bloc is a tactic, and one that's every easy to reproduce. It's effective because it can be used by almost anyone. Black blocs were created, developed, and are generally used by anarchists, but anyone who's down for the cause can bloc up.



what role does the self defense play?

I'm not sure what you mean by this question. If you're referring shields and other black bloc accessories, they're used for all sorts of things: defence from cops, intimidation, communication (you can put all sorts of messaging on them), and they can even be used as weapons. Just make sure you know how to use a shield if you bring one, so you don't end up the person whose shield breaks in half with one swing from a baton.

If you're asking more generally, black blocs are tremendously empowering. Our society is marked by mass systemic violence: wage slavery, social hierarchy, a complete denial of political autonomy, and global ecocide, to name a few. There's a social war being waged against us in all areas of life. When we choose to resist militantly, we are acting in self defence.


I may be mistaken but aren't black blocs defined as terrorists cells and if so how does that come into play in demonstrations,arrests, if so why no anarchists in GITMO?

Black blocs are not defined by the state as terrorist cells. Black blocs are horizontal and their patrons are autonomous. They are not organizations (which isn't to say that they aren't organized, of course). If you're arrested you probably won't get any added "terrorist" charges.

[apathy maybe]

A list of threads on RevLeft from 2003 to 2007 that are relevant.

http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-t17565/index.html?t=17565&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-t23393/index.html?t=23393&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/fake-black-bloc-t31664/index.html?t=31664&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-t33736/index.html?t=33736&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-t34941/index.html?t=34941&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-t63925/index.html?t=63925&highlight=black+bloc
http://www.revleft.com/vb/black-bloc-and-t64598/index.html?t=64598&highlight=black+bloc


I would suggest that Black Blocs are a great tactic, and nothing else. They are not a means of organisation, they are not a description of an ideology, they are a tactic.

Anyone who says that they are some how more than a tactic is simply wrong.

[Big Red]

I'm not sure what you mean by this question


what i was getting at was this, do Black Blocs generally go to demonstrations and what not with the intent of inciting violence or do they just more than less respond to police repression when there. in other words do black blocs mean to bring da' ruckas? or is the ruckas brought on them? is what I was trying to say.

[Big Red]

thanks for all the info comrades, the links were especially helpfull

[bcbm]

what i was getting at was this, do Black Blocs generally go to demonstrations and what not with the intent of inciting violence or do they just more than less respond to police repression when there. in other words do black blocs mean to bring da' ruckas? or is the ruckas brought on them? is what I was trying to say.

Depends on the bloc.

[Vendetta]

if so why no red blocs?

Red is an ugly color for a large group of people to be completely covered in, imho. ;)

[Sasha]

what i was getting at was this, do Black Blocs generally go to demonstrations and what not with the intent of inciting violence or do they just more than less respond to police repression when there. in other words do black blocs mean to bring da' ruckas? or is the ruckas brought on them? is what I was trying to say.

a litle bit of both, its an tactic to counter police repression but since its an confrontational tactic it also seen by the police as provoking.