from Instagram
#adbusting at 23rd and Winter. Today is #always the perfect day to skip work
“Today Is The Perfect Day To Skip Work”
Why Not Nonviolence?
from facebook
This workshop is the first in a monthly series, *Anarchist Interventions*, that discusses and responds to current tendencies in the anti-authoritarian scene in Philly and beyond.
This workshop will look at anti-authoritarian views of nonviolent tactics and the current climate of social justice organizing and activism, examining the available terrain of tactics and strategies. Presentations and discussion will focus on why a critique of nonviolence is important in a decentralized and horizontal milieu, how official activism and organizations contribute to reproducing the socioeconomic order, and the relation pacifism and non-violence has to race, gender and identity in general. We hope to pose and discuss a few central questions: Can we return to the debate over the diversity of tactics? What styles of informal coordination and action are available, as opposed to activist organizations, and how do these work? How do we lend support to or create solidarity with those at risk of police repression? How do we organize with a heterogeneous composition of crowds? How can we adapt to shifting circumstances, such as the militarization of the police, and respond as anti-authoritarians?
[7:30pm November 19 at A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave]
Reportback from 2nd Annual TORCH Anti-Fascist Conference
from Philly Antifa
Our 2nd annual conference was a huge success. Delegates were sent for the private plenary from Antifa Philadelphia, South Side Chicago Anti-Racist Action, Los Angeles People Against Racist Terror (PART)/A.R.A.-L.A., NYC Antifa (who are not TORCH members but were vouched in as observers), Rocky Mountain Antifa and the Antifa International Collective, based out of Quebec (also non-members). Antifa International traveled down to make connections between TORCH and Canadian Antifa, as well as to discuss their International Anti-Fascist Defense fund, which TORCH has endorsed and many of its members will be participating in.
Once the public section started we also met up with members of Asheville Anti-Racists, New Jersey Antifa, independent Anti-Fascists from all over the region, and even a pair of Dutch Antifa who happened to be in the city for holiday. Attendees were treated to a panel discussion and Q&A about Militant Anti-Fascists role in the Black Lives Matter movement, a video of which should be posted online shortly. Afterwards they saw a Russian documentary just recently translated to English “Ivan, in memory of our friend…” about the life and death of Russian Anti-Fascist Ivan Khutorskoi. They also got a sneak peek of the up-coming documentary about the Anti-Fascist movement in the U.S. entitled “No Fascist USA” by seeing a 10 minute trailer that will be uploaded shortly as well.
The conference show/after party featured some of the best bands playing in Philly right now and one visiting guest. Special thanks to Soul Glo, Fuck S.S., Autocracy East, Christopher Walking, Novatore (who came all the way from Chicago) and Leisure Muffin for playing. In addition to the acts we would like to thank The Rotunda for hosting, our panelists for taking the time, Black Orchid foods for letting use use their stuff, and Scranton IWW for providing security during our plenary so that all network members could participate.
It was a privilege to host the TORCH Conference and we thank everyone who attended, especially those who travelled from far away. We are already siked for next one.
In Solidarity,
Antifa Philadelphia
“Cedar Park Neighbors Welcomes You”
Submitted
“Cedar Park Neighbors Welcomes You”
LOL Cedar Park Neighbors is a bunch of gentrifying snitches who love small businesses and hate life
West Philly, November 2015
Photos
https://www.anony.ws/image/Jk3C
https://www.anony.ws/image/Jk3I
Show of Unity: Mix it Up Against Racism and Fascism
from private event page with permission
Antifa Philadelphia presents:
Christopher Walking (http://christopherwalking.bandcamp.com/)
Leisure Muffin
(https://soundcloud.com/leisuremuffin)
Novotore (Chicago. https://infamouscrew.wordpress.com/)
Erik Petersen of Mischief Brew (https://www.facebook.com/mischiefbrew?fref=ts)
+1 TBA
[$5 November 7th at 6:30pm at The Rotunda 4014 Walnut St]
Anti-Fascist Film Screening – Ivan: In Memory of Our Friend
from private event page with permission
As part of the public portion of the 2015 TORCH Anti-Fascist Conference, Antifa Philadelphia is proud to present a screening of the russian Anti-Fascist documentary Ivan: In Memory of Our Friend, which chronicles the life and death of Russian Antifa Ivan Khurtorskoy. The film was released a few years ago but has not been available with English subtitles until recently, so it has only been screened a handful of times in the U.S.
[November 7th at 3pm at The Rotunda 4014 Walnut St]
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]
Suspect dead after confrontation with SEPTA police officer in Kensington
from mainstream media
SEPTA released video showing a SEPTA police officer clashing with a man in Kensington early Monday morning. Authorities say the man attacked the officer and the officer fought back with a taser. The accused attacker is dead.
SEPTA police tell FOX 29 there is still a lot to cover in the investigation, but wanted to show us the surveillance video they’ve recovered and the information they have so far.
Updates and Reports of Local Prisoners
from It’s Going Down
Mumia Abu Jamal’s support folks held a press conference to further pressure the prison to provide appropriate HEP C treatment to Mumia. Hepatitis C has an incredibly high rate of infection in the U.S. prison system. Recently there have been significant improvements in treatment of the disease with 95% rate of fully eradicating the virus. Prison officials (otherwise known as horrendous pieces of shit) are denying not only Mumia the right to such medical care, but all prisoners. This is beyond bullshit. You can find out more about the call to action for Mumia as well as the full press release over here. You can also watch the stream of the press conference over here.
If you haven’t already checked out NYC ABC’s dope bi-monthly Political Prisoner & Prisoner of War Update newsletter, do it already. These updates are sent out to pp/pow’s across the U.S. and are, for many of them, the only means they have of regular news with comrades. This last update from 10/13/15 has some great writing from Russell Maroon Shoates. Check out the description and then hop on over and read the full essay at NYC ABC’s site:
Maroon recently penned a brief essay reflection on some of the latest literature he’s had an opportunity to read. He explores the current political realities in the Rojava region of Syria, celebrating the civil and political organizations that have led to an anti-state and anti-capitalist experiment valuing feminism, direct democracy, ecological stewardship, and ethnic, linguistic, and religious pluralism in the midst of ongoing military threat, as explored in the book A Small Key Can Open A Large Door, published by the Strangers In A Tangled Wilderness collective. He then touches on the dystopia of Octavia Butler’s Parable Of The Sower, assessing the extent to which the current crises of climate change, late capitalism, and “sci-fi biotech” have made the landscape of Butler’s novel far more factual than fictitious.
You can learn more about Maroon at his site and send him a letter to:
Russell Shoats #AF-3855
SCI-Graterford
P.O. Box 246 Route 29
Graterford, PA 19426 – 0246
DIXIE BE DAMNED Book Tour Reading
from facebook
Since the knowledge contained in DIXIE BE DAMNED is too fiery for the universities to fund, we had to relocate this talk to LAVA space, which has adequate heating and seating capacity. Learn from two southerners about the untold stories of revolt and insurrection in the south, prison riots and slave uprisings, worker sabotage and other hidden narratives of resistance below the Mason-Dixon, and get a chance to reconsider or recalibrate your conception of the yankee/southerner dichotomy.
[October 25 at 3pm at LAVA 4134 Lancaster Ave]
The Dead Anarchist Walking Tour
from Instagram
The early anarchists of Philadelphia (1880-1920) were a remarkable group of doctors, lawyers, teachers, factory workers, poets, musicians and dissenting intellectuals. They came from many countries and spoke several languages. In their effort to wash the Earth of gods and masters, they established a medical dispensary, a school, and several newspapers, as well as member-owned bakery and shoe store co-operatives. They organized hundreds of educational events with some of the leading intellectuals of the age. They held splendid fundraiser balls and evening boat cruises along the rivers. Sometimes anarchist meetings were shut down or spied upon by the police. In 1905, the Russian Tzar planted a spy on Pine Street. There were young lovers, laughing babies, and broken anarchist hearts.
Society Hill, which was the old Jewish Quarter, happens to be a section where many of the homes, meeting places, and offices of the early anarchists are still standing. Now, you can spend a few hours stalking the same pavement where those long-dead anarchists waged their struggle. While they no longer exist, they linger in the psychology of the living.
The Meeting Place: Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South Street
The Starting Time: 12 Noon, Saturday October 24, 2015
The Reason: So that there shall be No Gods & No Masters.
Robert Helms has researched the history of Philadelphia anarchists for 25 years and has led these tours since the late 1990s. He will guide his listeners to the haunts of these dead anarchists for about two hours, he will tell their stories, and he will answer questions about them.
The public is invited. The guide will pass the hat during the tour. The suggested donation, toward continuing research, is $15. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. In case of rain, the tour will continue from his cold, dead lips so long as there is at least one listener.
Check out: http://deadanarchists.org/
A Reportback from Leif Erikson Day 2015
from Philly Antifa
One People’s Project has a longer report back posted on Idavox (a new news service for Anti-Fascists from the people at OPP), but, yea, they didn’t show up.
Despite KSS co-founder Bob Gaus claiming on social media that LED 2015 would be on Saturday at Noon, as it had been almost ever previous year, when Anti-Fascists mobilized to confront them they were met with some very confused joggers and a Viking statue and gazebo that had been tagged with Anti-Fascist graffiti.
We waited around for a few hours, taunting KSS and Traditionalist Youth on twitter to come and “smash the reds” who were so patiently waiting like sitting ducks, but they demurred.
After it was clear they were not coming, we thanked those that had responded to the call and went to lunch with some new recruits/supporters who had come out to oppose the event where we sat around and talked about how improved the situation was in Philly in the past 4 years. So thanks for that, KSS.
Leif Erickson 2015: Boneheads Sneak Around Again…and Viking Statue Gets Defaced By Who?
from Idavox
Let’s face it, antifa scare the hell out of the Keystone State “Skinheads”. So much so, this year’s attempt to hold a “Leif Erickson Day Celebration” without facing them meant having it the night before the time they announced! But something else happened that night that makes us ponder what else might be afoot.
PHILADELPHIA, PA—When antifa went to the Thorafinn Karsefini statue – aka, the “Viking Statue” – on Boathouse Row to oppose an annual rally put on by the neo-Nazi Keystone State “Skinheads” (KSS), they were greeted by the statue tagged with antifascist slogans and symbols – and the neo-Nazis were nowhere to be seen.
That is because for the second year in a row, the group held their “Leif Erickson Day Celebration” in a way to avoid the opposition. For the first time in the nine year history of the event, they held it Friday night, and not during the usual time of noon, the time one KSS member actually announced on his Facebook page.
No Platform for Neo-Nazis Pamphlet
received via email
“Here’s a pamphlet made for the upcoming demonstration. Please share it.”
