A Little Help for the Non Voter
from Surviving Leviathan by Peter Gelderloos
from Surviving Leviathan by Peter Gelderloos
It is one year since the death of Larry, a Greek anarchist partisan whose loss continues to echo-- the ripples of this tragedy are not stilled. I didn't know Larry, but many close to me did, in multiple political and social capacities and of course in his role as an impossibly generous movement lawyer, one who worked nonstop to protect comrades and vulnerable immigrants from the violence of the state. He also possessed the courage to risk his legal career and health fighting in the streets; in one incident the police broke his leg!
From The Polar Blast
The right to vote is seen by most as a necessary prerequisite for freedom across the world. People have fought and died for the right to vote in elections. Women across the world fought bitter battles for the right to vote. So why should anarchists question this as a right worth having?
Company Vehicle Torched at ‘Johnson Controls’ Facility in Cypress, California (U$A)
In the early hours of October 24th, fire was set to a company vehicle at the Johnson Controls facility in Cypress, CA. This was a direct attack against the structural machinery of the prison industrial complex. Johnson Controls—along with their division Tyco Integrated Security—produces surveillance technologies for jails, prisons, and ICE detention centers.
from CrimethInc.
As Election Day approaches in a context of anxiety about the prospect of Donald Trump attempting to hold onto power by force or cunning, the revolutionary potential that was palpable in early June has receded almost beyond the horizon. Anarchism, abolitionism, and direct action tactics have gained traction throughout the Trump era; thanks to the fearmongering of the administration, anarchists have as much visibility as we have experienced in a century. Yet once again, we are watching the election crowd out any other subject or strategy.
It obviously depends on the individual anarchist whether or not they choose to participate in the political process, but I'm writing this piece to point out that the act of voting in state elections stands in direct contradiction with anarchy. If an anarchist chooses to vote, that action has nothing to do with furthering anarchy or anarchist principles. No anarchist worth their salt would pressure other anarchists into voting for their favorite politician.