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On 2017-10-27 18:00, Anthony Boynton via Marxism wrote:
Black Bloc tactics are consciously planned, rather than spontaneous,
acts
that have often lead to the arrest of protesters who did not
participate in
the planning and who have no knowledge of the planning, object or
intent of
the black bloc.
All of this sort of talk (especially by Louis who has the loudest voice
on this list) involves over-generalizations based on individuals'
limited experiences and choice of what they want to label "Black Bloc"
(or similarly "Antifa"). So statements like this aren't totally untrue
but nor are they generally true.
What's more, there are enough examples of actions in which nothing like
a black block is present, but where there are arrests of or police
violence against demonstrators uninvolved in the planning (obviously)
and who often did not have any "knowledge of the planning, object or
intent" of the organizers, such as the organizers' intention to legally
march to what they thought was a safe location while the police had a
different idea.
But I have seen many times where those who planned illegal tactics
(whether calling themselves black block or not) cooperated with other
organizers to separate out their contingent in an action specifically so
those not wishing to risk arrest can demonstrate in a separate location
which remains relatively safe. But in some cases the stated nature of
the action is such that ANYONE going to it would be aware of the risk so
this isn't necessary.
Now I would indeed consider it very irresponsible for a demonstration to
be billed as safe when the organizers know otherwise; I'm sure this has
occurred but is the exception not the rule. And again, since groups who
identify themselves as black block or antifa are numerous and generally
disconnected from each other, you cannot extend the blame for some bad
behaviour to all of those with a similar name or appearance. Any more
than is it acceptable to blame all communists for the actions of
Stalinism (does that not ring a bell??).
As I said, there can and should be fruitful debate within the left over
tactics and organizing principles in which these issues will be raised.
But making unfair generalizations about entire "groups" (that is, those
who are perceived to be in a category that an outsider chooses to
ignorantly define and characterize) will only stifle that debate and
poison relations between forces with the same goals but who disagree
over tactics, or who simply want to play different tactical roles having
different levels of risk.
- Jeff
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