File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_2000/anarchy-list.0004, message 564


Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 10:05:08 -0400
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: Mike Flugennock's Account of the Black Bloc



Mike Flugenock is a D.C. artist and political cartoonist, check out
his site at: http://www.sinkers.org
====================================
The Bomb-Ass Truth: Black Bloc Rocked
by Mike Flugennock 8:09pm Tue Apr 18 '00 
flugennock-AT-sinkers.org 

  I could get on here and join the flamefest over whether or not
  the Black Bloc's tactics are "right" -- in answer to that, I can
  only suggest that you all re-read the introduction to your
  Declaration of Independence -- but instead I'll express my
  feelings about them by passing along this account of what I
  experienced first thing that Sunday morning when I headed out
  for a day's shooting: 

  <ahem...> 

  On the morning of 04.16, splitting the IMC bright and early after
  catching up on early-morning developments, I lock-and-loaded
  the Hi8 and grabbed a train downtown with the idea of leisurely
  moseying down towards the Ellipse and checking out the
  scene. 

  At around 8, 8:30ish, I'd no sooner come up the escalator at
  McPherson Square when I found myself smack in the middle of
  an intersection conquest in progress, at 14th St. and New York
  Avenue NW, featuring the big three-headed cobra puppet. And
  no sooner had I shot a couple of relaxed pans of the street
  scene than a cheer went up and, upon turning to see what the
  fuss was about, found myself rolling camera in the middle of
  the street with a most impressive Black Bloc I'd ever seen,
  coming around the corner in a great, rippling wave of black
  surging towards the intersection, at least a hundred anarchists
  flowing gently around me (much of my footage of this scene is
  truly schweet). 

  There was just a slightest moment's hesitation in me
  emotionally, because of the newness of it, instantly replaced by
  an unexplainable joy and elation as the black tide moved
  around me, many masked, some not, some throwing forearms
  across their faces as my camera swung through the scene.
  Some, glimpsing my Indymedia card on my vest, saluted with
  clenched fists, their masks scarcely hiding their smiles. I
  smiled back, raising a fist with my free hand in salute to all of
  them -- and just kept on smiling, bigger and bigger, and I don't
  know why. The Black Bloc surrounded me, and I just started
  smiling like a ninny. And, as they surged towards the
  intersection and a few scattered motorcycle cops straggled to
  the scene, I amazed myself by taking my cue from the Black
  Bloc'ers, and slipped on my goggles and mask to the "ready"
  position, checked available exits and remembered that "I am
  strong" without the slightest hint of panic, just as outlined in the
  street medical manual. Had anyone but the Black Bloc been
  there, I think I would've been more prone to fear. Had the
  intersection been taken by a bunch of middle-class liberals in
  turtle suits with a Sleeping Dragon, I'd have been a bit
  skankier, but having the Bloc around just sort of sucked all the
  fear out of me. I don't know how to describe it. It's like the Bloc
  had strength and courage to spare, and let me have some. 

  As the last of the Bloc came around the corner and the entire
  group had filled the intersection, the ones towards the back
  grabbed a length of the ten-foot-high jointed wire fence from
  the construction site by the side of the street and dragged it
  across the entire width of the street, effectively controlling 14th
  and New York with one simple and elegant move. I can't begin
  to describe the awe and amazement I felt as I observed the
  quickness and efficiency of this manuver. Never had I seen any
  contingent in any demonstration act with the kind of strength,
  confidence and unity that I saw in the Black Bloc as I watched
  them take over 14th and New York. I saw many other beautiful
  and inspiring sights that day, but nothing really matched that
  first great thing I saw, bright and early in the morning. I never
  felt more peaceful, powerful or alive that day than I did when
  surrounded by the marching Black Bloc. 

  My friend Adam, shares my admiration for the Black Bloc,
  commenting that "we need more of them" and calling them
  "...the Marines of the Movement". God-damned straight, man.
  For a long time, as I've watched Capital and the State become
  more and more hostile to the citizens of this country --
  especially when they attempt to express themselves publicly --
  I've thought that the dissident movements needed their own
  counterpart to the Marines, the Green Berets, the Special
  Forces. 

  Well, now the movements for freedom and justice on this planet
  _do_ have their own Special Forces, and they're called the
  Black Bloc.

  www.sinkers.org

   

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