Announcing Development Index

  • December 12, 2015 12:26 pm

Submission

Development Index is an anti-gentrification research project in Philly. Charting the progress of development allows us to map a material aspect of how white supremacy and colonial capitalism operate in this city. This project focuses on those responsible for building, funding, designing, planning, and profiting from new developments, and otherwise collaborating in the gentrification process.

This website is a tool for people to identify targets and take action against displacement and gentrification.

developmentindex.noblogs.org
developmentindex@riseup.net

An Incomplete Timeline of Action Against Gentrification

  • December 11, 2015 12:33 pm

from Anarchadelphia

An Incomplete Timeline of Action Against Gentrification

Spanning from March 2015 to last month.

RALLY: JUSTICE for BRANDON TATE BROWN

  • December 9, 2015 5:08 pm

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.

Conversation On Fighting Gentrification

  • December 5, 2015 6:26 pm

from facebook

As part of the ongoing discussions on gentrification in Philly, this conversation aims to moves beyond debating whether gentrification is worth fighting and instead begin a dialogue on how we can struggle against development and displacement.

Please come with ideas and plans to share, the point of this conversation is to figure out how we can better coordinate our projects, and start new ones together. We also want to create a space to share relevant information about those responsible for gentrification.

Anyone opposed to gentrification is invited to take part in this conversation.

December 12 at 3pm at LAVA [4134 Lancaster Ave]

The Age of Extremes- Climate Change, Terrorism, and Capitalism: A Talk and Discussion with Journalist Arun Gupta

  • December 4, 2015 6:37 pm

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]

Me and My Friends Don’t Go to Jail

  • December 3, 2015 12:42 pm

from facebook

How do we keep fighting when our struggles are targets of repression? In other words, what is security culture, and how does it apply to our everyday lives? This workshop, the second in a series called “Anarchist Interventions,” will seek to practically engage with these questions. We’ll feature short presentations and interactive discussions on how to reduce risk of arrest or harassment, communicate more safely, and how this relates to the local context of political action and activism in Philly. This conversation feels especially pressing to us in light of state and autonomous attacks on Black Lives Matters movements by white supremacy.
[December 10 at 7:30pm at A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave]

Off of the Internet and Into the Future?

  • December 2, 2015 4:59 pm

from Anarchadelphia

I started this blog to have a central point to gather local events in hopes of improving coordination/scheduling/promotion as well as a clearing house for other relevant information to local philly anarchists.

This being the 999th post, it seems clear that my ability to consistently meet the first goal, and even the second, is unlikely given the lack of (successful?) submissions and my own inability to spend all of my time on the internet.  Expanding involvement could better meet those needs, but I wonder if it would even be worthwhile?  It’s a goddamn tumblr account that has already been shut down twice.  Buying a url could help prevent its future shut down, but brings up questions regarding money, anonymity and social media-level accessibility.  But is social media, or any internet interaction of the sort, having any impact on the proliferation of real world anarchist practice in this city?  If it is, is it the type of impact I am intending?

Leaving things up to people’s interpretation is largely my intention, but I do occasionally express opinion outright (and certainly don’t share every protest or cry for justice, as I favor a greater level of conflictuality and less adherence to the rather traditional concept of revolution that most care to muster on their best of days), so I guess this is a question of my own projectuality, too.  Still, it would be nice to hear some more feedback about @Anarchadelphia , however temporary the project may be.

So, is this worth it?  What could be done better?  Are there better venues to do it in?  Isn’t the best propaganda spread by deed, anyway?  If a tree falls in the woods, and there isn’t a humyn animal there to hear it, should I blockade industrial infrastructure?  If a cop falls in the street and there’s no one there to laugh, does anyone care?

[Response form on Anarchadelphia]

Black Out Black Friday

  • November 27, 2015 2:41 am

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

[Facebook Event]

Solidarity With Minneapolis

  • November 24, 2015 8:18 pm

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]

Some History of Cedar Park Neighbors and the Barn

  • November 20, 2015 12:03 pm

Submission

Recently the Barn on Baltimore – a newer bar in Cedar Park – and some signs put up by the Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) group were both vandalized. The Barn had “FIRST WORLD LOUNGE” spray painted across the facade. The signs – which stated “Cedar Park Neighbors Welcomes You” – had paint splattered on them. The Barn and CPN have been criticized for furthering gentrification in Cedar Park.
The building that houses the Barn used to be the home of a bar and club called the New Third World Lounge; Cedar Park Neighbors played an active role in having the place shut down, paving the way for the Barn. CPN spread racist rumors online that portrayed the mostly black clientele of the New Third World Lounge as dirty, drug ridden and criminal. They actively encouraged people in the neighborhood to file complaints against the bar for minor ordinance violations. CPN would follow up by publishing the contact information of the Licensing and Inspection officials in charge of handling the complaints to pressure the city to fine the building owners. As the building owners received more and more negative attention they eventually succumbed and kicked out management of Third World Lounge and eventually invited the current occupiers to create the Barn in its place.
The Barn, though well received by CPN, was heavily criticized by many residents for replacing a nexus of black social activity with a venue that mostly catered to young white transplants. Initially the Barn made attempts to cater to the neighborhood in the same way that the New Third World Lounge but these soon fell to the wayside. Indeed, the Barn has entrenched itself as a watering hole for the creative class.
With these kinds of histories it’s no surprise people are opposing the Barn and Cedar Park Neighbors.

Terminated and Restored

  • November 20, 2015 11:56 am

from Anarchadelphia

Someone “terminated” this blog [Anarchadelphia], yet again, this time for the better part of two months. There was no response to my requests when this first began, shortly before the arrival of the pope in philadelphia, but suddenly the tumblr staff began responding apologetically.

I am at a crossroads with this medium and would like to reevaluate my goals, and maybe poll you readers as to the effectiveness of such things, but for now I am just here to say that I’m back.

REST IN POWER #yourlifemattered

  • November 19, 2015 4:08 pm

from Instagram

“Violence against transgender women, particularly transgender women of color, is an epidemic. At least 20 transgender women have been murdered so far in 2015, 18 of these women were women of color. Two of these murders happened in Philadelphia. Trans* women’s ability to live their lives is constantly threatened by brutal violence.

#Blacktranslivesmatter

Stand with them”

“Today Is The Perfect Day To Skip Work”

  • November 12, 2015 11:41 pm

from Instagram


#adbusting at 23rd and Winter. Today is #always the perfect day to skip work

Why Not Nonviolence?

  • November 12, 2015 12:53 pm

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

  • November 11, 2015 4:43 pm

from Philly Antifa

Capture

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