Adbusters

Black Bloc

Violence or nonviolence: where do you draw the line?

BLUECINEMA

On Feb 6, America author and Occupy activist Chris Hedges wrote a piece for Truthdig.com titled “The Cancer in Occupy.” In it he criticized the violent actions of Black Bloc operatives within the movement, saying they are the greatest threat to the future of Occupy. The article has generated a heated debate online about non-violence, political strategy and protest in America, and has garnered a response by Anarchist thinker Dr. Zakk Flash.

Read both articles and weigh-in.

The Cancer in Occupy by Chris Hedges

The Black Bloc anarchists, who have been active on the streets in Oakland and other cities, are the cancer of the Occupy movement. The presence of Black Bloc anarchists—so named because they dress in black, obscure their faces, move as a unified mass, seek physical confrontations with police and destroy property—is a gift from heaven to the security and surveillance state. The Occupy encampments in various cities were shut down precisely because they were nonviolent. They were shut down because the state realized the potential of their broad appeal even to those within the systems of power. They were shut down because they articulated a truth about our economic and political system that cut across political and cultural lines. And they were shut down because they were places mothers and fathers with strollers felt safe.

URL: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_cancer_of_occupy_20120206

Hedging Our Bets on the Black Bloc by Dr. Zakk Flash

Chris Hedges has written some of the most insightful analysis of the U.S. war machine in recent years. His 2009 book “The Empire of Illusion” was an exploration of how exhibition has eclipsed truth and meaningful connection in American society. His acknowledgment of the ease in which one can buy into such spectacles is a small part of why it was so odd to read his article on Truthdig attacking both anarchists and black bloc tactics entitled “The Cancer in Occupy.”

URL: http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20120207100008741

102 comments on the article “Black Bloc”

Displaying 1 - 10 of 102

Page 1 of 11

me8

From my point of view, it is always hard to tell, wheter the police shut down a peaceful demonstration or they shut down a demonstration, because they were attacked by some black blocs.

I'm currently stationed in Austria, where media coverage about "Occupy movement" is nearly not existing. All I see or know, comes from some "RT America" clips on youtube, or what I'm reading here.

I think that no movement can be peaceful forever, because violence breeds more violence. If police started the violence, somebody is going to react on it... If not, police will do the same thing!

Anonymous

There is no question about the fact that "anarchists" will infiltrate any movement that advocates change, and that is why I personally spoke against the infiltration of communist agitiators into the "GREEN MOVEMENT" in the nation of Germany and they were "terribly offended" when I clearly stated the communist states also had "nuclear power stations" and that they were not "pro environment" but "anti capitalist" now I do not state that "socialism is evil" but "State capitalism" really has resulted in 20 million peasants being murdered in RUSSIA after the takeover of Stalin, therefore it is "ridiculous" to believe that "a dictatorship of a proletariat" will not result in violence, of course it will, and therefore I am not "advocating such a power structure" for then the "intelligent people" will be persecuted merely because they have intelligence superior to those "workers" that are supposed to be in charge of the system and then they will flee the country like the people in East Germany did because they could earn more money in West Germany if they were "DOCTORS" or LAWYERS or Engineers for that matter!

I realize that the OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT is an "anti capitalist movement" but let me just suggest that the problem does not exist because there is "CAPITAL" but the problem exists because this capital is "concentrated" in the hands of a few evil rich thugs, while the majority of the people have been robbed by these evil kings so that they can promote themselves to position of power and wealth and the "UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH" that has been created by the "EVIL KINGSHIP OATH PHILOSOPHY" known as the NEW WORLD ORDER or NOVUS ORDO SECULORUM is

NOT NEW AND NOT ORDER, as FDR stated about the "HITLER DICTATORSHIP" and their new order as they called it!

Cj Williams

OWS is not "anti-capitalist". It's anti-corporate-money-in-politics. That could happen in any sort of economy.

Anonymous

This is obviously a false flag piece intended to sow confusion within the ranks of the power structures.

How else can one explain Mr. Hedges complete lack of awareness to the hypocrisy which pervades every other of his lines?

Anonymous

its easy for hedges to sit in the comfort of his cushy job and collect paychecks from his "liberal-educated class" musings that don't offer much to people who have had their lives demolished by capitalism. i think its pretty obvious that standing around in a nonviolent manner waving a sign with some truth-to-power slogan whilst getting the ol' fashioned police-state beat-down is going to make as much change as voting. this debate must go beyond the passive vs action conundrum. lets put 100 tactics on the table. 1000. 100,000.

lets stop limiting ourselves by this ridiculously narrow minded conversation and open up some possibilities.

Anonymous

I agree; well said. And, if history serves me correctly, a tension similar to this emerged during the Civil Rights Movement between the nonviolent protestors led by Dr. King, and the militant Black Panthers led by Malcolm X. Solidarity is the best option, even if it means embracing a variety of strategies.

Anonymous

Here are some possibilities and I will count them all out, that I consider will result in actual regime change in America, meaning the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Mexico, CANADA and South America and all the Islands where US power reaches, and it does, there is no question about it!

1. No longer believe the lies of the evil kings that tell us that "CAPITALISTIC GREED IS GOOD" and results in the best system of global wealth distribution, this may or may not be the case, clearly if there was "complete freedom of trade" and there is not of course, and if there was no "governmental interference" as to who can or cannot run a business then perhaps, yes, such a system would be ideal in promoting economic freedom and justice, but this is clearly not the case, even in Tunesia it was evident that government hands out special favors to some while it allows others not to compete for the honestly earned dollar, or their own currency in TUNESIA, now this is called governmental interference and oppression in a "FREE TRADE SYSTEM"!

2. I have flagged this here in the US now that I know how the sytem works I have been deprived unjustly of both my "driver's licence" and my bank account and my Charitable trust has been restricted in access because I cannot prove who I am, therefore in effect they have "stated to me" I Must have a "ring on my hand" that shows a "compass and square" and an "evil pirate oath" in my head that may well signify the mark of a beast for it promotes "beastly qualities in man" meaning the "kings are prone to animal courage and animal violence" for it " promotes their own dominance" over those who do not like "violence" for it violates their tender conscience!

3. No longer believe the lie that "CAPITALISM" generates the most wealth and does so without "victimizing the poor" and the oppressed, again this is clearly not the case, for the "EVIL FEUDALISTIC KINGS" who are a left over from the middle ages clearly promote to power those who will "advocate and implement their evil genocidal agenda" not because it is "right and good" but because it is "immensely profitable" meaning "money trumps conscience" on a "consistent and periodic basis"!

4. The extermination of JEWS IN EUROPE by the "FEUDALISTIC MONARCH" MR HENRY FORD who was a "KING" for every freemason is a king and freemasonry is a royal art, proves beyond all reasonable doubt that "capitalism" is not without its victims, therefore to claim that "only communism" results in genocide is a "piece of crap" as also the "AASROF" is a piece of crap, according to the trustees of the estate of Philip prince of Greece and Great Britain who was rescued by the british monarchy because his own people tried to "oust and kill him"!

5. Now he is being worshipped by the FIJI original inhabitants as the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!

needless to say if the AASROF is a piece of "CRAP" or a piece of a piece of encrusted filth, it must be because it is an "encrusted authority structure" that no longer supplies the needs of this globe and perhaps it "never really has" but has always represented the "oppression of the many" by the "EVIL TENDENCIES FOR POWER AND DOMINION" among the few who cover up their "designs on our liberty" by "BEING CHARITABLE" after the motto that "charity covers a multitude of sins" but my question is:

DOES IT COVER GENOCIDE, does it cover secret oppression of the poor by the evil rich, does it cover the consistent denial of justice to those who know and can no longer be deceived by the evil rhetoric of those who claim:

IF YOU SAY THERE ARE EVIL KINGS, then you must be insane and should go into the NUT house!

Why so, there are still kings in the world and to claim these kings are evil is not a crime, certain MR Assad, and MR Khoemeni or other high ranking figures in the Arab world were considered at one time "terrorist sponsors" and some still are considered that and no one seems to object if they are referred to as "THUGS in the gulf" but if you apply this label to GEORGE BUSH, the THUG ON THE GULF OF MEXICO that stole the oil from the Iraqi people then that is considered "EVIL AND OPPRESSIVE" therefore there is a "double standard" here and that has been "ELIMINATED" at the earliest possible time!

Anonymous

You are sadly mistaken if you think Hedges has a "cushy job". He has reported from more conflicts around the world than you probably ever will.
Voting is rigged and always will be as long as a corrupt British system is in control behind the scenes. Most American presidents are directly related to British and or European Royalty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta6PxbEH_3A
You have just been outdone by a 12 yr old girl :P

before limiting yourself to "open some possibilities" it's a good idea you learn the truth first.

Pages

Add a new comment

Comments are closed.