The Rebellion in Los Angeles: The Context of a Proletarian Uprising

[KurtFF8]

http://www.geocities.com/aufheben2/auf_1_la.html (it's from an article on libcom but it's formatted better on the geocities site for some reason)


On April 29th, Los Angeles exploded in the most serious urban uprising in America this century. It took the federal army, the national guard and police from throughout the country three days to restore order, by which time the residents of L.A. had appropriated millions of dollars worth of goods and destroyed a billion dollars of capitalist property. Most readers will be familiar with many of the details of the rebellion. This article will attempt to make sense of the uprising by putting the events into the context of the present state of class relations in Los Angeles and America in order to see where this new militancy in the class struggle may lead.


Before the rebellion, there were two basic attitudes on the state of class struggle in America. The pessimistic view is that the American working class has been decisively defeated. This view has held that the U.S. is - in terms of the topography of the global class struggle - little more than a desert. The more optimistic view held, that despite the weakness of the traditional working class against the massive cuts in wages, what we see in the domination of the American left by single issue campaigns and 'Politically Correct' discourse is actually evidence of the vitality of the autonomous struggles of sections of the working class. The explosion of class struggle in L.A. shows the need to go beyond these one-sided views.


Contents:

1. Beyond the Image

2. Race and Class Composition

3. Class Composition And Capitalist Restructuring

4. A Note on Architecture and the Postmodernists

5. Gangs

6. The Political Ideas of the Gangs

7. Conclusion


7 Conclusion

The rebellion in Los Angeles marked a leap forward in the global class struggle. In direct appropriation and an offensive against the sites of capitalist exploitation, the whole of the population of South Central felt its power. There is a need to go on. The struggle has politicised the population. The truce is fundamental - the proletariat has to stop killing itself. The LAPD is worried and are surely now considering the sort of measures they used to break the gang unity that followed the Watts rebellion. The police are scared by the truce and by the wave of politicisation which may follow it. That politicisation will have to go beyond black nationalism and the incorporative leanings of the gang leadership - another leap is required. In the multi-ethnic nature of the uprising and the solidarity actions across the country, we saw signs that the proletariat can take this leap.


For years, American rulers could let the ghetto kill itself. In May '92 its guns were turned on the oppressor. A new wave of struggle has begun.

I thought it was a pretty interesting article. When I posted this else ware someone claimed that it was just a lumpenproletarian uprising, but I happen to disagree and I think this article makes a good case that the proletarian class was quite a key factor in the "uprising". Thoughts?

[Devrim]

I don't think that riots like this, or the ones in France recently have anything to offer the working class. They are an expression of discontent coming mainly from sectors of the working class, but they offer nothing but nihilism, and no perspectives for the future.

Devrim

[black magick hustla]

:shrugs: vaneigem said that this type nihilism is generally a precondition for revolutionary consciousness. I do not know if he was right, but It is somthing to think about neverthless.

[Junius]

Personally, I think Aufheben is wrong on this issue.

I've read a couple of their articles. They seem to be an odd mix of situationism, libertarian Marxism and Left Communism. A comrade said that they refer to themselves as 'ultra-leftist.' Not sure if this is correct, however.

[black magick hustla]

well ultraleftism ihas not really a precise meaning. its a political insult that has been used also against maoists.

[Junius]

Originally posted by Marmot
well ultraleftism ihas not really a precise meaning. its a political insult that has been used also against maoists.Yes I understand this, and I object to the term since it is essentially meaningless - as evidenced by one group of Trotskyists calling another group 'ultra-leftist' or Maoists calling Trotskyists 'ultra-leftists' or Trotskyists calling Maoists 'ultra-leftist'. But I think some call themselves 'ultra-leftists.' Gilles Dauvé seems to use the term a bit - maybe its a French thing?

[Sasha]

I don't think that riots like this, or the ones in France recently have anything to offer the working class. They are an expression of discontent coming mainly from sectors of the working class, but they offer nothing but nihilism, and no perspectives for the future.


i'm not sure about that, groups like "la rage du peuple" (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Rage_Du_Peuple) proof that youth can get politicised through riots like those in france.
And weren't the nihilists in tsaristic russia a prequil to the revolution spirit, emma goldman for example writes exstenivly in het memoirs that the (prosecution of) Nihilists was a key factor in her early political development.
and if you look at belgium the local anarchist newspaper de nar (http://www.denar.be/) seem quite succesful in conecting the brutal fight between imigrant youths and the public transport police to the bigger biger picture of capitalism and institutional racism.

[KurtFF8]

Well I don't think the argument is that the LA Riots were a conscious Proletarian uprising, but instead that is what it was and thus instead of an organized attempt to overthrow capitalism, it was a riot (although there was some organization apparently, including the RCP's involvement which is likely minimal)

Events like this help raise consciousness in my opinion.

[Dimentio]

Yes, the Bloods and Crips are real working class organisations who tirelessly works to improve the standard of life of the working class. As for the single issue campaigns being a sign of "strength" I think they rather show that leftist ideas are more popular than the leftists.

[KurtFF8]

True, I think the Crips were originally meant to be a similar organization to the BPP. Granted that didn't last too long, but there still are efforts to radicalize both gangs.

[The Douche]

Yes, crip stands for "community revolution in progress" and the founders were inspired by the panthers and sought to pick up where they left off, but they had no understanding of revolutionary ideology and little interest in gaining such knowledge and they got more caught up with getting territory and money. The bloods actually came about from a split in the crips, where one set ended up warring with another set, and it eventually spawned a whole different crew.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Mara Salvathruca is my favorite revolutionary organization.

In all seriousness, though, I think it's pretty clear that the Bloods and Crips don't pay much attention to more esoteric issues like "community" and "equality", much less partake in spearheading a "proletarian uprising". Like all criminal syndicates, they're mostly concerned with how their cash flow is doing.

Who knows, though, they may do some good in their neighborhoods...I don't really know. La Cosa Nostra helped out a lot of Italian immigrant families in the United States, but I'd be hard pressed to call them a progressive force, in any sense of the word. :rolleyes:

[KurtFF8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Panther_Vanguard_Movement

Doesn't really seem to have taken off. Apparently the "Black Rider Liberation Party" is another attempt to radicalize gangs though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESpofM5Fj4E

Not really sure how that's going either though, sounds much better than the "New Black Panther Party" (The NBPP obviously doesn't know much about the original BPP however)

(edit to add youtube embedding)

[The Douche]

Mara Salvathruca is my favorite revolutionary organization.

In all seriousness, though, I think it's pretty clear that the Bloods and Crips don't pay much attention to more esoteric issues like "community" and "equality", much less partake in spearheading a "proletarian uprising". Like all criminal syndicates, they're mostly concerned with how their cash flow is doing.

Who knows, though, they may do some good in their neighborhoods...I don't really know. La Cosa Nostra helped out a lot of Italian immigrant families in the United States, but I'd be hard pressed to call them a progressive force, in any sense of the word. :rolleyes:

My friend was a general in a small crew of crips a couple years ago. And while he likes to talk about how it is a "community revolution in progress" he does admit that the only things they really did was steal and sell drugs, and he acknowledged that these things have nothing to do with anything revolutionary. Just about the only thing they did of any value was patrol their neighborhood and keep the pigs out.

[Devrim]

My friend was a general in a small crew of crips a couple years ago. And while he likes to talk about how it is a "community revolution in progress" he does admit that the only things they really did was steal and sell drugs, and he acknowledged that these things have nothing to do with anything revolutionary. Just about the only thing they did of any value was patrol their neighborhood and keep the pigs out.

Keeping the cops out would be a good idea if you were robbing people. I don't really see patrolling the neighbourhood as of any value. Would you want people patrolling your neighbourhood who 'only stole and sold drugs'?

Devrim

[The Douche]

Keeping the cops out would be a good idea if you were robbing people. I don't really see patrolling the neighbourhood as of any value. Would you want people patrolling your neighbourhood who 'only stole and sold drugs'?

Devrim

They didn't steal and rob from people in their territory. Honestly, are you taking a pro-police stance right now? Keeping the pigs out of our neighborhoods is a good thing. It is unfortunate that only the gangs are doing anything about it.

[Junius]

Originally posted by cmoney
Keeping the pigs out of our neighborhoods is a good thing.In the context of a revolutionary situation, yes. Since police are defenders of the state.

However, more often than not 'keeping the pigs out of our neighborhoods' (by the way, a 'neighborhood' is comprised of workers and capitalists alike) has to do with the break-down and decay of society, not any particular revolutionary sentiment. Particularly when it is not really a struggle against police per se, but a struggle against police to expand these people's dominance - i.e. drug dealers killing cops so that they are able to sell their drugs.


Originally posted by cmoney
It is unfortunate that only the gangs are doing anything about it.No, mainly it is nationalist self-determination movements which kill the most police (and other state workers). One could certainly define them as gangsters, however.

[Devrim]

They didn't steal and rob from people in their territory. Honestly, are you taking a pro-police stance right now? Keeping the pigs out of our neighborhoods is a good thing. It is unfortunate that only the gangs are doing anything about it.

I don't really think it matters if gangsters or the police are in charge. I can imagine different circumstances where either would be least worse. So the answer is "no, I am not taking a pro-police stance", but neither would I support gangsters pushing them out.

Devrim

[rebelworker]

The Black Riders were targeted in a Police operation against the RAC recently.

Basically police used an agent provocature to shoplift near a Anarchist Fundraiser, they then stormed the event "looking for the shoplifter" and picked out key people like one of the lead organisers of the LA Guerilla Cop Watch.

Last night the at the Revolutionary Autonomous Communities fundraiser
for the Anarchist Bookfair at the food not bombs warehouse on 6th and
Santa Fe was raided by the LAPD.

They kicked open the door and
unlawfully entered in to the private space.

Joaquin Cienfuegos a
member of RAC and Copwatch LA Guerrilla chapter was targeted by the
police and pulled out from the space.

When folks inside the space
heard what was going on in front they went over to observe and
document what was going on.

Joaquin asked why he was being detained
and they told him to "Shut up" and "Do as he's told".

He was handcuffed
and searched without his permission.

While he was being searched Joaquin
stated loud and clear that he did not consent to their search and once
again asked to please be told why he was being detained.



While i was at the door way observing what they were doing to the
comrade outside i could see the the street was blocked off and there
were about 12 police cars on 6th street and about 30 or more
Deputies/Depupigs.

As we tried to get cameras to document what was
going on the police rushed the door again and i was pulled outside by
4 police officers.

They pushed me against the wall and made me place my
hands on top of my head and searched me.

I asked the Officer why i was
being detained and he said, "A crime had been committed a few blocks
away and they were going to bring the victim to identify the person.

"
As i was pulled out, the folks inside closed the door to prevent the
rush of pigs into the property.

They began to kick the door and yell
at the folks inside to get out.

Not once did they announce themselves as
the Police Department or why they were there or wanted folks to exit
the show.

Police officers were outside making joke;" Do you smell that?
i think its weed, we should go inside and find out", and "This is some
kind of illegal rave or show or what do we call it?".

Clearly unable
to choose a reason why they were trying to raid the space they made up
whatever we want.



After i had been searched, a female officer came over and i asked once
again why i was being detained.

She stated that this was an illegal
gathering and they wanted to figure it all out.

Officers were walking
all over the front in very confused manner having to be told by other
officers to
move out of the way.

I could see the shadows on the officers behind me
and Joaquin who continued to hold their hands on their weapons while
we were handcuffed with our hands behind our backs.



After the police ignored the request by the owner of the space to
present a search warrant or leave the private property, the comrades
from the Black Liberation Party that were there in part to perform for
the fundraiser exited the building and were immediately detained and
sister Nadia and Kambui were placed in handcuffs and the rest of the the
Black Riders where made to face the wall.

The police then rushed
inside and pulled everyone out.

They had us right in front of the
space and then made me walk down the blocked as they lined everyone up
against the wall.

They pull more than 60 people out from the space and had
them with their hands against their back facing the wall.

They
separted the women from the men and began to search everyone.



A police officer that searched me came and asked for my ID.

They said
they were going to check me for warrants or any priors.

He pulled out
my ID and pulled out a card that he began to fill in with all my
personal information.

I asked what that card was for but i was not
given an answer.

My ID was retuned but the card with my information
was kept by them.



After they searched everyone's belongings they lined up all the males
and females and said that this was going to be a line-up and they were
going to bring the the victim of the crime to identify the
perpertrator.

When asked what crime (had been committed) an officer told
another brother
that they had had a crime committed a few blocks away and some beer was
stolen from a liquor store.

When asked why so many officers where
there for stolen beer the officer said, "He didnt know", that they
just felt that whoever committed the crime was in the space.



A police helicopter was circling and made the announcement after
everyone was removed that they were the LAPD.

2 folks from food not
bombs who were in the premise were pulled out and placed in handcuffs.



A police car with 2 Officers in the front and a woman in the back seat
drove by slowly.

The officers proceeded to tell people to look into
the light and not look at the car.

Everyone said they couldn't look at
the light because it hurt their eyes but the officers from inside
continued to shine the light into people's eyes.

As this was going on,
officers continued to line up and make jokes about "overtime" and the
way different folks were dressed.

For one officer in particular he
lamented his rookie friend, "was off tonight because he would have
loved to have been a part of this!" As the police car made its way
down the street they stopped and singled out one youth .

He was
immediately arrested.

They drove back again slowly and continued to
point the light in people's face.

My handcuffs were removed but i was
not allowed to leave.

i was made to remain facing the fence with my
hands behind my back.



After a police officer from some other car came with a pience of paper
and pointed to Nadia and Kambui from the black Riders Liberation Part
and said they were being detained for "148"- interfering with a police
officer.

When people asked why they were being detained or singled out
police officers told them to shut up.

They placed them both in cuffs
and removed all their belongings and put them into plastic bags.

They
were then placed into the backseat of a police car.



Another police officer came and then annonced that the party was over
and people needed to leave.

People still had equipment inside and were
made to line up and escorted inside to get thier belongings.

While
inside i noticed that money from the fundraiser was missing and
according to folks inside the money was there before the police ran
inside to pull everyone out.

We got out all the groups' equipment and
waited for someone to come close the space.

They continued to harass
people and tried to intimidate many of the youth to leave and to learn
their lesson.



Besides the one youth that was arrested for supposedly stealing beer,
everyone was arrested for interfering with a police officer when all
they asked was why they were being detained.



The officers were congragulating themselves and laughing at everyone.


Many of the officers were staring down many of the sisters that were
there and making sexist jokes about he'd rather be home with his wife
than here.

Then he proceeded to
make a hand gesture to 2 sisters who were standing near by.

No one but
the other officers were amused by these pigs but they continued to
talk shit and tell people to leave.

The majority officers left smiling
and staring at folks in attempts to instigate some incident to lead to
further arrest.



While we were waiting the final officer drove by and rolled down his
window.

He stated" Im sorry we had to shut down your party but you
have to keep the youngsters in check and can't be letting them go anywhere
stealing beer.

If they hadn't stolen the beer we wouldnt have cancelled
your show"

Everyone was pissed as this provacateur behavior which is being
utilized as the excuse to enter into private property and raid a
peaceful gathering.

The police looked for whatever excuse to shut the
show down.



Joaquin is currently being held for misdemeanor .

He has not been
taken to jail and is still being held by Central Division.

He will
probably be going to court tomorrow or Wednesday.



Please speard the word help support Joaquin and the Black Riders
Liberation Party and Food Not Bombs folks to get out.



This is a quick report trying to include as many of the important
details as possible but i'm sure i might have overlooked other
important details from last night that other folks who were also
there can maybe share and i will try and write more about last night
later tonight and will follow up with more details.



Free ALL Political Prisoners.

Organize Organize Organize

Mauricio
On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 10:16 AM, johnaimani ..
wrote:
>
>
> Booking No.

: 1698919 Last Name: CORTEZ First Name: JAVIER
> Middle Name:
>
> Sex: M Race: H Date Of Birth: 02/10/1983 Age: 25
> Hair: BRO Eyes: BRO Height: 507 Weight: 155
>
> Charge Level: M (Misdemeanor)
> ARREST
> Arrest Date: 11/16/2008 Arrest Time: 2200 Arrest Agency: 4201
> Agency Description: LAPD-CENTRAL DIVISION
>
> Date Booked: 11/17/2008 Time Booked: 0028 Booking Location:
> 4273
> Location Description: LAPD - JAIL DIVISION
> BAIL
> Total Bail Amount: 10,000.00 Total Hold Bail Amount: 0.

00
> Grand
> Total: 10,000.

00
> HOUSING LOCATION
> Housing Location: LAPD
>
> Permanent Housing Assigned Date: 11/17/2008 Assigned Time: 0028
> Visitor Status: N
>
> Facility:
> Address: City:
>
> Public Visiting Guidelines
>
> For County facility visiting hours, Please call (213) 473-6080 at Inmate
> Information Center.


> COURT
> Next Court Code: Next Court Date: Next Court Time: 0000
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> CASE INFORMATION
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> DateSent.

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