from Instagram 
Spotted on North 2nd Street, near Callowhill
Graffiti: RIP Alton Sterling ACAB
Black Lives Matter & RIP Philando Castile FTP
from Instagram
Seen in North Philly #repost @mrgrtnolan #blacklivesmatter #americawasnevergreat #amerikkkawasnevergreat
from Instagram
Seen in South Philly #rip #philandocastile #ftp #repost @randonzachary
From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation
from facebook
For most of US history, the police have used violence against African Americans with impunity—but after the murder of unarmed teenager Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, mass protests erupted to challenge that impunity. In the process, a new generation of Black activists has come to question the old methods of struggle, puncture the Obama-era illusion of a “postracial” United States, and declare without apology that #BlackLivesMatter.
In this stirring and insightful analysis, activist and scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor surveys the history and current realities of US racism. Taylor examines how institutional racism has created and shaped the structural problems that affect Black people, such as mass incarceration and unemployment, even as more Black people hold political office than ever before. She paints a vivid picture of the context for this new struggle against police violence—and shows the potential of the Black Lives Matter movement to reignite and broaden the struggle for liberation.
[January 28 at 7pm at Friends Center 1501 Cherry St]
Reclaiming Our Future: The Black Radical Tradition In Our Time
from facebook
On January 8th -10th, the Black Radical Organizing Collective (BROC) including grassroots activists, organizers, educators, scholars, and faith leaders will convene a conference on the Black radical tradition. The title of the conference is “Reclaiming our Future: the Black Radical Tradition In Our Time.” The conference will take place in North Central Philadelphia on the main campus of Temple University.
The mission of the conference is twofold. First, we wish to celebrate and illuminate the history of the Black radical tradition. Second, we wish to highlight the vital importance of today’s Black radical movements as we look to the future. The Black radical tradition represents a wealth of theoretical and practical wisdom. It is this rich heritage, combined with a forward-looking perspective that we wish to display at Temple University. Like critical perspectives throughout US academia, the Black radical tradition suffers at Temple. Radical approaches, traditions, and voices at America’s “imperial” universities face an onslaught of neoliberal policies which weaken students, faculty, and surrounding communities. In response to these circumstances, we seek to promote onsite critical analysis and collaborative solidarity among activists of today’s Black radical movements and those of previous generations.
Protesters march through Center City, into stores
from mainstream media
A group of demonstrators marched their way through Center City, entering stores and restaurants, to protest police brutality.
The marchers assembled around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at Dilworth Park then began walking along Walnut Street toward Rittenhouse Square.
During the march, members of the group entered stores and shouted messages associated with their cause.
According to SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel, the group entered such stores and restaurants as the Gap, the Apple store, and Devon Seafood Grill.
The protest made its way to 18th and Walnut before moving on toward City Hall. It came to an end around 7:00 p.m.
Action News reporter Dann Cuellar says the marchers were seeking justice for Brandon Tate-Brown and Freddie Gray.
RALLY: JUSTICE for BRANDON TATE BROWN
from facebook
On Dec 15th 2014 Brandon Tate Brown was murdered by 2 Philadelphia Police officers in the North East section of philly. Tues Dec 15th 2015 Join us as we demand justice for Brandon. 4pm in front of City Hall.
The Age of Extremes- Climate Change, Terrorism, and Capitalism: A Talk and Discussion with Journalist Arun Gupta
from facebook
Award-winning journalist Arun Gupta, in conversation with Sally Eberhardt, will discuss the state of America on the eve of the 2016 election. In recent years Gupta has gone undercover to police conventions, investigated the migrant crisis in Tijuana, stood on the frontlines of “Blockadia,” uncovered an FBI terrorist-entrapment plot, examined profiteering in the prison industry, traveled through the marijuana industry in California, infiltrated the Tea Party, covered Occupy Wall Street, and told the stories of Iraqi refugees, low-wage workers, and Black Lives Matter activists.
With more hot air than action coming out of the U.N. summit on climate change in Paris, Gupta will explain how terrorism, capitalism, and climate change are interconnected, and why there needs to be credible alternatives to capitalism or most Americans will continue to fall for demagogues like Donald Trump or pro-Wall Street, pro-war Democrats like Hillary Clinton.
Arun Gupta contributes to outlets including the Washington Post, The Nation, In These Times, The Guardian, The Progressive, YES! Magazine, Telesur, ZNet, Counterpunch, and Al-Jazeera America.
This event is free. The space is wheelchair accessible though the bathroom is not.
[December 11 at 7pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]
Black Out Black Friday
from Instagram
#Philly Coalition for Real Justice is calling on people to #BlackOutBlackFriday. For #JamarClark #LaquanMcdonald and all the others taken from us by the state and white supremacy. #4thprecinctshutdown #blacklivesmatter #acab #ftp #philadelphia
Solidarity With Minneapolis
from Instagram
Yesterday four white supremacists shot five people at #4thprecinctshutdownin #Minneapolis. Protesters have been at the precinct to mourn and fight for #jamarclark who was killed by police. Philly Coalition for REAL Justice is calling for a demonstration in solidarity tomorrow November 25 at Broad and Erie at 5pm.
#philly #ftp #acab #justice4jamar #blacklivesmatter #philadelphia
[Facebook Event]
Militant Anti-Fascism and the Black Lives Matter Movement: A Panel Discussion and Q&A
from private event page with permission
As part of our 2015 Network Conference, Antifa Philadelphia is proud to present a short panel discussion and Q&A with a group of Anti-Racists from all over the U.S.
We will be discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, specifically the role Neo-Nazis and other White Supremacists have played in trying to destroy it and how Anti-Fascist tactics and individuals can help stop them.
[November 7th at 2pm at The Rotunda 4014 Walnut St]
Public Portion of TORCH Conference Schedule Announced
from Philly Antifa
It is now less than 6 weeks until the TORCH Anti-Fascist Network national conference here in Philly. So finish your travel preparations if you are coming from out of town and send in your registration information. E-mail PhillyAntifascists@gmail.com for registration forms if you haven’t gotten them yet.
The public section of the conference will take place the afternoon and evening of Saturday November 7th at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) in West Philly. We are very excited about all public events.
Protestors interrupt Philadelphia Police Commissioner Ramsey during community relations speech
from mainstream media
Protestors interrupted a speech by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey Tuesday night.
They shouted down the commissioner during an event at Eastern State Penitentiary which was actually on the topic of improving police relations with the community in the wake of Baltimore, Ferguson and Staten Island.
Commissioner Ramsey at first tried joking, then waiting them out, but their chants continued, even as he left.
The demonstrators continued outside, calling for justice for Brandon Tate-Brown and others.
Tate-Brown was shot to death by police officers last December in Mayfair, but the officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.
A Concerted Effort Against Gentrification
received via email
A Concerted Effort Against Gentrification
Gentrification in Philadelphia is an issue that deserves a concerted response from those of us who oppose it. The momentum of recent actions leads us to believe that now is an especially good moment to call for a focused opposition to gentrification. We would like to offer some thoughts for those interested in pushing back against the encroachment of gentrification.
Gentrification affects our survival. Many of us are touched by it: our rents are increasing, the supermarkets and stores near us are becoming more expensive, the neighborhoods where we live are transforming into monotonous havens for students and the rich. Fighting against gentrification is fighting for our own livelihood, in solidarity with others doing the same.
The violence of gentrification gets normalized and often goes unnoticed, veiling itself in the language of “progress,” “improvement,” and “development”. When we fight against gentrification, we reveal the already existing conflict gentrification has brought to our neighborhoods.
In Philadelphia, where the most dire impacts of gentrification most often result in the displacement of black people, we believe that fighting “development” and “improvement” can easily be connected in both thought and action to the Black Lives Matter movement. The preservation of black life is not limited to protesting killings by vigilantes and police; the erosion of black life begins in so many daily abuses, many of which go hand in hand with the process of gentrification.
The anti-gentrification actions that have already taken place in Philadelphia have created a momentum outside of the institutional left (political parties, non-profits, etc). This autonomous momentum is the kind that empowers and emboldens those who take part, because it come from groups and individuals deciding for themselves when and how to take action. Taking direct action allows us to realize our own power without resorting to lobbying and asking permission. The momentum and tone set by previous actions against gentrification is worth furthering.
Gentrification is happening everywhere. It is impossible to ignore the changes taking place in South Philly, West Philly or North Philly. So many neighborhoods are effected, which means to us that there are so many opportunities for people to begin fighting back. If people are openly fighting against gentrification in multiple neighborhoods at once, resistance will be harder to control, forming links across the different geographies of the city. The widespread nature of development means that the possibility of an eruption of revolt is also widespread.
These are some of the reasons we feel a specific focus on fighting gentrification is important. Below we present some ideas of what we think will be useful in the fight against gentrification.
There have already been attacks, many aimed at OCF Realty. These kinds of actions need to continue. We feel creatively scheming ways to make the material processes of development more difficult is one of the most important aspects of a struggle against gentrification. We see value in the attacks that have been highly visible and easy to understand, these kinds of attacks make the struggle visible and can gain support for those fighting. We also see value in attacks that may go unnoticed by passers-by, but sabotage gentrification in material ways. Either way, a movement based in attack is hard to co-opt or pacify, and builds it’s own autonomous power based in skill and ability.
One thing we have noticed lacking among the numerous actions that have already taken place is the spreading of ideas. Conversations about resisting gentrification with both comrades and interested people should be taking place. Marches, posters, banners, zines, assemblies, are only a handful of the channels where ideas can be shared and debated. Without a healthy dialogue surrounding how and why we fight, our actions will grow stale and we will find ourselves a small and isolated minority. Without taking the time to spread our ideas in a person to person way, we also run a greater risk of alienating with our attacks people who might otherwise understand our motives and see themselves as part of the same struggle. Conversation within our fight can be a place to share relevant information with one another, evaluate and learn from our actions, and plan together when it makes sense to do so in concert.
It’s with these thoughts in mind that we are calling for a concerted effort against gentrification.
