Will anarchists show up in Tacoma on Saturday?
March 11th, 2008 by Republican By DefaultAre stickers reading “I [heart] the bicycle bomber” (complete with anarchy symbol) a sign of what’s coming to Tacoma. Protests are escalating in our area and there’s more to it than just a bunch of locals who don’t approve of the war in Iraq. Will this be like the WTO protest that attracted a group of anarchists from out of state?
When the WTO (and the violent protests) came to Seattle in ‘99 I was on contract with a company on the top floor of Two Union Square in Seattle, right in the middle of the protests. The police had a perimeter established (one of the few things they were allowed, by politicians, to do) that I didn’t have any trouble crossing. I think the tie helped. I didn’t look like a protester.
When I got to the building I had to wait 10 minutes before someone could come down (through their security) to let me into the building and escort me upstairs so I could work. Once was enough. I postponed the work until after the protests.
I followed closely what was going on there. Police were hamstrung by politicians who wouldn’t let them deal with violent protesters and their willing human-shields. So it was mayhem mixed with humor. The funniest part for me was seeing the photo of a kid trashing a Nike store, apparently for its decadent capitalism, while wearing Nike shoes. Isn’t hypocrisy fun?
Apparently there’s a national gathering of anarchists. It just wrapped up in DC according to the news release. So that means that a bunch of out-of-control kids are fanning out across the nation, back to the towns and cities they live in. Rebels looking for a cause. The question that follows is, ‘how far will they go when they’re riding the emotional high of a national convention’.
One of the comments on this site mentioned a group here in Tacoma.
A few students in particular that I have debated in the TCC Myspace forums are affiliated with the Pitch Pipe Info Shop, a sort of anarchist booster group located somewhere in hilltop. I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT consider them a terrorist group, however I dont really trust them. I believe they tried to “shut down” downtown Tacoma a few months ago. The Tribune ran a story about it.
Here’s a group (I don’t know if it’s the same one mentioned above) who has posted an announcement of Saturday’s event. Here’s some fun from the announcement:
**Language changed from shutdown to demo to more clearly represent the intent of the demonstration, not to appease right wingers.***
Uh huh.
Here’s some more fun. Another announcement on that site is for the following Saturday:
GI Rights Support Rally
At Ft. Lewis, WA3 PM–March to the Gates of Ft. Lewis
3:30 PM–Bannering at I-5 and Vigil at the gates
4 PM return to park
Um. Wouldn’t the ‘Vigil’ imply vigilance? Thirty minutes is all the vigilance they’re capable of?
March 11th, 2008 at 9:54 am
You sound like an old lady. Are you really that scarred of a bunch of scruffy college kids? Do you really want to hole yourself up and coddle peacocks in your backyard forever?
Anarchists are people with feelings too. You should hang out with some to see what they’re really like. Don’t believe everything you see on Fox News.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am
after all there was only one Anarchist, and he died on the cross.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:03 am
rr anderson, why do you assume all anarchists in tacoma are college students? i think it’s more like 1 in 10 tacoma anarchists that i know of are college students.
but seriously, who actually understands what anarchism is? anarchy is ultimate freedom. the freedom to decide your life for yourself, which is taken away from each of us in the current social order.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I really dont care what a couple of silly college kids do for fun. But RR, dont you agree authorities should at least keep a watchful eye on groups who want to “shut down downtown” or “Make it impossible for business as usual to continue as the Iraq War approaches its 5th year.”
As I stated in a previous thread, protest IS protected speech and these guys can protest all they want. But destroying property and “making it impossible for business as usual” is not freedom of speech.
SDS, or Students for a Democratic Society is a nationwide leftist campus group that got its start around the Vietnam era. The link you have above is just the Tacoma chapter.
PitchPipe Infoshop is not affiliated with SDS, although Im sure some of the local members cross-pollinate.
Here is PitchPipe’s myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/pitchpipeinfo
They posted a link in their calendar mentioning the protest on the 15th, so it sounds like they’ll be there as well.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I find it disturbing that we do have business as usual while the iraq war is 5 years old.
back in the day when our country was at war the everyday civilians had to give up [stuff] they loved like butter and gasoline. now a days our government devalues the dollar and borrows money from foreign governments like a sterno junkie. Combine this with an all volunteer army and you get crooks like team bush eating up our millitary with little or no resistance from a population isolated from reality.
The troops cant complain because they volunteered. The John Q. Popcorn doesn’t complain because they get their big screen TV’s & granite counter tops.
We have bigger problems than a what a bunch of trustafarians want to do with their freetime.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
“The John Q. Popcorn doesn’t complain because they get their big screen TV’s & granite counter tops.”
Is this why the Dems took control of both houses of Congress in the mid-terms? But unfortunately for anti-Bushies, the executive branch decides foreign policy.
Bush is not popular right now, nor is the Iraq war. I think it’s wrong to assume American’s dont care about whats going on in Iraq or Afghanistan, and I think those mid-term elections prove my point.
Would you rather there be a draft and rationing? The electorate has the power to end this war right now if they really wanted to. It’s called “throwing the bums out,” and we just saw the beginning of it in the mid-terms. Furthermore, I think the Dems will likely take the whitehouse and pick up more seats in Congress this year. It’s called efficacy.
Forming PAC’s and casting ballots is a FAR more effective way to get your governments attention, then shutting down malls and harassing military recruiters. (in my humble opinion)
March 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Agreed. When I am king I will make the Draft and Rationing mandatory for every form of military venture.
I also pledge to bring back the gold standard and demolish the tacoma dome.
Furthermore, I will install a prohibition against gasoline. People will now travel in TUBES! Alaska will declare it’s independence and peace will once again rule the day.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Sign me up for abolishing the Federal Reserve and implementing the gold standard! Hayekian economics all the way!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I predict Americans wont care until diesel tops 8 dollars a gallon. I don’t mean token armchair ‘vote for obama’ caring. I mean flipping-over police cars, selling grandma’s gold teeth caring.
March 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
this one’s for you Jeff:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/11/politics.hitechcrime
March 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
CA - Thanks for the link to the group you mentioned. Also, when you look at the mid-term gains from both Bush terms the number of opposition party candidates elected to the legislature is far below the average. ‘94 was a sweep, but ‘02 stayed in Republican’s favor and ‘06 barely squeaked a change compared to most second term mid-term opposition party victories in history. What I think is hilarious is that Clinton couldn’t even reach 45% of the popular vote but still got elected. Bush beat him by 5% in both elections.
Currently, Bush enjoys better approval ratings than congress or the mass media.
RR - Jesus is not an anarchist. He’s the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He’s the ultimate in hierarchy. And speaking of which, please refrain from vulgarity on this site. I edited your comment (without changing the meaning). If you can’t refrain from that, it will count as strike three. Other than that, these are welcome comments and opinions (this site welcomes free speech but it is not anarchistic).
March 11th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
RR - there’s a huge difference between bombs delivered by V2 rockets and bombs delivered by bicycle. Couldn’t do much about one method, but can do plenty about the other.
Personally, I’m happy to spend extra time in airport security lines if it means arriving at my destination alive. As for the freedom to move about our country freely, we have to be vigilant about how much power we allow government to have and how they use that power. I don’t mind a crackdown on foreigners who enter this country (legally or illegally) as a measure to keep us safe. I’d certainly prefer that to a crackdown on people already here (which includes citizens).
March 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
my poor ignorant friend. The republicans are for minimal government correct? well sir, you cant get much more minimal than an anarchist. Your’re party is turning its back to natural allies… which is why you boys will fail.
The king of kings in this arena is the great god of google. and lets see what google thinks…
htip://www.google.com/trends?q=obama%2C+hilary%2C+mccain
also here is an exciting exercise in censorship:
Yesterday I [huckabee] in the toilet 5 times after getting food poisoning.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
here is a good article for all my (non-violent) anarchist friends in the audience:
htip://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/18s.htm
Also I meant college students more in the “College Student Age” sense.
excelsior!
March 11th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Great, you’re arguing for home-schooling. I’m sure the conservative parents in the audience would applaud that. And even though the article you linked to is just insane ramblings, it does show that we share a distrust for big government.
The part I don’t understand is why anarchists support liberal democrats even though they’re trying to grow government at a faster rate than Republicans. You should unite with us and pressure the government to cut useless programs. Like public funded art.
By the way, the election isn’t over. And if McCain loses, it will be because he alienated his base, not because Obama or Clinton are good candidates.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
ZOMG!!! The Anarchists are coming!!!!!
Easy there crew.
As long as they don’t go causing bodily/property harm anyone can say “shut down business” and protest to their heart’s content. It is your CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
If you really have a problem with them, start your own protest against their protest. It is your right too…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Actually, Tommy, they’re only allowed on public property unless the property owner/manager allows them. The mall has already said they won’t allow it. So if they show up on Mall property they can be asked to leave. If they won’t they can be arrested for trespassing.
On public property in Tacoma, without a permit, it means picketing on sidewalks.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
The Republican Party is the new Whig Party. Even though you may disbelieve evolution/gravity/photosynthesis Taht giant sucking sound you hear is a mass extinction of biblical humungousness. This is not to say democrats are any better, though obama seems less evil
March 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
if you keep [mess]ing with my comments I wont post here anymore.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Feel free to leave anytime. There are plenty of sites that will put up with your garbage. Some will even welcome it. This isn’t one of them.
I block all link spam. I was courteous enough to leave the links as human-readable. But I’m not going to be used to improve the link rankings of sites that promote lawlessness or other insanity.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
if you ban me you ban your most entertaining commenter. now who is the crazy one mr. peacock pants?
March 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
who’s comments would jesus rewrite ?
March 11th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
how is a link to google trends considered spam you inconsistent nincompoop?
March 11th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
you can try and fool people into building walls around amerika to keep out ‘hem illegalz’ but you cant build a wall to keep out ideas…
March 11th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
why I could carve a better blog out of a banana
March 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
You’re not entertaining, you’re annoying. Keep it up and I’ll ban you for that.
Stick to the subject or I’ll ban you for that.
Name-calling in clean language is still name-calling. Keep it up and I’ll ban you for that.
In the meantime, Feel free to go elsewhere.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
You sir bring disgrace to the noble party of Lincoln.
also you’ve used the word ‘ban’ in almost every sentence of your last comment. That’s got to be some sort of record for me.
RR Anderson FTW!
March 13th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
The Republican by Default does not understand what a vigil is. Being vigilant is an ongoing process of safeguarding the political sphere from corruption. A vigil is a time set aside to remember something or to keep it in memory. That is what is happening for thirty minutes: a vigil regarding the fact that we’re five years into a war that never should have commenced.
Also, I’ve had just about enough of the right-wing misrepresentation of the left. I go to UPS, I don’t have scruffy hair, I’m an advocate of Hayekian economics, I oppose the occupation of Iraq, I helped organize this protest, I believe there can be order without law, I oppose the police state’s interference with everyone’s liberty, I think the ICE protest was noble, I think you’re ridiculous for saying “violent” ICE protesters should have been dealt with using more force, I think you’re a security-monger, a war-monger, and an under-educated imbecile who generalizes about everyone who disagrees with you. The fact that most of the right categorizes those who protest the war as either socialist, anarchist, scruffy-haired, hippie, moonbat or anything else is complete nonsense.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
vig·il –noun
1. wakefulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.
2. a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times: The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
3. a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.
4. Ecclesiastical.
a. a devotional watching, or keeping awake, during the customary hours of sleep.
b. Sometimes, vigils. a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, esp. on the eve before a church festival.
c. the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, esp. an eve that is a fast.
Notice the use of words like ‘hours’, ‘eve’, ‘fast’. Thirty minutes doesn’t seem to show up in those definitions. Nor does 3:30 to 4:00 in the afternoon. So, yes, actually, I do know what a vigil is. I’ve participated in many vigils. What these protesters are doing… not a vigil.
I apologize if I said that the ICE protest was violent. The Port protests became violent as did WTO. The ICE protest was lame. I’m still looking for the video of the “march” on Pacific Ave. I didn’t count, were there 20 or 30 people? Amazing how they could shut down downtown Tacoma. What’s that? They didn’t? Oh, my mistake. With all the hoopla I just figured Tacoma would never recover.
Obviously you know nothing about my education. And I’m against war. And as soon as our enemies stop making war with us, I think we should stop, too. Until then, we’re defending ourselves and our allies. And if being a “security-monger” means that I want everyone to live in peace and safety, then I’m guilty as charged.
“I believe there can be order without law” - that is anarchy. Friedrich Hayek was a socialist. Maybe you were just a little worked up and weren’t paying attention to what you were saying, but your comment makes you sound like a moonbat. As for what you look like, I doubt that I’ve ever met you. But many of the protesters I’ve seen look like scruffy-haired hippies. And I say that as someone who used to look like one.
Maybe next time you should calm down a little and think things through before you comment. I’m sure you have some good ideas, you just forgot to put them in that post.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Whoa Whoa Whoa! Sorry RBD, Hayek IS NOT a socialist. Do your homework a little more thoroughly next time. Hayek was a free market capitalist who taught at the London School of Economics alongside John Maynard Keynes, and later with Milton Friedman in Chicago. His most famous book, The Road To Serfdom, is a complete repudiation of socialism and Marx.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:24 am
I don’t want to get into a debate on the history of modern economic theory. But to explain my point, I said that he ‘was’ a socialist.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3492456.html
[in the 1940’s] “At this stage, Hayek was mildly socialist. His views changed as he studied under leading members of the pro–free market Austrian school of economics, especially Ludwig von Mises—who in 1922 published a critical book on socialism. Hayek became von Mises’s research assistant, and his mentor’s teachings—especially those that dealt with the central importance of entrepreneurship in what von Mises termed the capitalist discovery process—remained with him for life.”
Also, even though Hayek argued against the socialism of the last century, he put limitations on free market capitalism, showing (in my opinion) that he never completely abandoned his admiration for socialism.
Again, it’s not worth discussing on this site. The focus is elsewhere and this type of debate is interminable.