Anarchist group seeks to side with organized labor for Republican Convention

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/6324

Anarchist group seeks to side with organized labor for Republican Convention - 07/09/07

A group calling itself the RNC Welcoming Committee has begun reaching out to labor organizations in advance of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The group identifies itself on the website nornc.org as being a group of anarchists and anti-authoritarians. The group is calling on organized labor to stand in solidarity because the convention is being held over the Labor Day weekend. The group writes to the unions, “Unions have historically been at the forefront of struggle against those who inflict poverty and oppression by consolidating their power and wealth on the backs of the workers and the less fortunate of our society.” The Republican Party has been sending out letters requesting commitments from labor unions that they will not walk out, protest, or strike during the convention.

[Cybergata]

1. Repubs in Saint Paul!

I always viewed St. Paul as a very liberal town. Even more so than Minneapolis. I'm surprised the Repubs picked it for their convention. What do I know, I haven't been there in the past twenty years. Twenty years can change a city.

[Selatius]

2. They sound more like Libertarians than Anarchists.

Anarchism as a term is generally meant to describe tendencies of the left libertarian kind. Libertarians hail from the right libertarian quadrant, not the left.

[ixion]

3. Anarchism was founded as an non-violent intellectual movement

by Mikhail Bakunin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Bakunin

Just FYI... :hi:

[Selatius]

4. I'm aware of Bakunin being the "father of modern Anarchism"

When I use "anarchism," I'm not using the bastardized corporate definition of anarchism.

[dsa]

5. This story makes no sense

"...a group of anarchists and anti-authoritarians"? I don't get whether this group is pro- or anti-republican or pro- or anti-labor. Why would such a group want anything to do with a political party or labor unions which are by definition anti-anarchist and pro-authoritarian? :crazy:

[struggle4progress]

7. Here's their mission statement:

~snip~ Every four years, in two very lucky cities, big money gets thrown around while look-alikes from opposite ends of a closed circle step up to their podiums and spout nonsense. RNC. DNC. Whatever. The point is that once the conventions are over, once November is come and gone, once the inauguration is only an unpleasant memory, people across this stolen land find themselves in pretty much the same place as before: a bad one.

And we’d like to offer up a movement--some real, tangible change. Unfortunately, the reality is that we’re rundown at best, hopeless at worst, and though we see liberation shining off in the distance, we don’t know how to get there.

But we want justice, and we want freedom, for life everywhere. And we’re tired of spinning our wheels in this rut. ~snip~ http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=3305

So they're young, idealistic, demoralized, with no real programme and no analytical method, and they say the hell with authoritarians telling them what to do. As an old nitwit, I can only remember myself as a young nitwit, throw up my hands, and hope they find some good political mentors.

[pinto]

6. My understanding is that anarchist movements, while often siding with labor, are a mixed bag.

Seems they are as willing at times to undermine labor as they are to denounce anti-labor trends. As a pro-labor Democrat I'd favor a little distance.