File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/97-03-01.214, message 3


Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 12:58:33 -0500
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: Re: M-I: Re: the squatters movement


Nice piece Jerry. It earns a place in a future issue of Cockroach!

Bob Malecki

>Bob --
>
>Your word of warning about "single issue stuff orientated to lifestylism"
>is, I believe, off-base in relation to the NYC squatters movement.
>
>While it is true that squatting is an international phenomenon, the
>political direction (and, sometimes, class content) can vary
>significantly. For example, in some urban areas squatters
>have become either a conservative and/or passive force. In other cases,
>they are more radical and militant. In large part, this is a consequence
>of state policy, i.e. in those regions where squatters are tolerated by
>the state, they tend to become more passive whereas in those regions where
>the state has launched a campaign to eradicate the squats the dynamic of
>the ensuing struggle tends to radicalize the squatters.
>
>In addition to supporting city-wide demonstrations and actions against
>police brutality, budget cuts, ending rent control laws, and for
>peddlers, the homeless, legalizing weeds, etc., the squatters have also
>helped to organize demonstrations and benefits in solidarity with
>anarchists and squatters under attack in  other nations, in support of
>Mumia, in support of the Mohawks, in support of the Zapatistas, and in
>opposition to the Gulf War. In many other cases where they  supported the
>actions called by other groups, they would meet first in the LES and then
>march _en masse_ to the demo and  participate as a contingent. Indeed, I
>have seen many actions where every  single housemember of a squat would
>march together to an action (this can be pretty impressive sometimes).
>
>In part, the above is a consequence of the fact that as a result of the
>Tompkins Square Park struggle, which attracted international attention,
>the LES has served as a magnet of sorts for radicals (especially
>anarchists) from other areas. However, more importantly, it is the
>struggle itself -- i.e. the dynamic of resisting the attack by the state,
>the banks, and the real estate developers -- which has propelled this
>community in a radical direction. Moreover, in the course of that struggle
>they have increasingly come to recognize how their struggle is part of an
>international struggle and have been more active in solidarity actions as
>a consequence.
>
>So, no Bob, it is not a "single issue" thing "orientated to lifestylism."
>
>Jerry
>
>PS to Adolfo: As leader of the Stalin Society, you should know that Stalin
>was well-known for falsifying history. It is interesting to see how you
>now follow in his footsteps. Uncle Joe, the Great Patriotic Hero of the
>Russian Empire, would have been proud of you.
>
>
>
>     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>
>



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