The potential closure of an iconic publication such as ‘Freedom’ is an absolute travesty, and would be in whatever circumstances that it may have arisen. However, the reasons for which it found itself in such a perilous financial state makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.
Freedom was founded in 1886 by a group of volunteers, and despite format changes, is still in publication today, 125 years from when it first appeared. Freedom has been written and edited by some of the most legendary figures in the movement, and has a well-deserved reputation.
I am no expert of the finances at Freedom, but clearly those finances are limited. Any substantial or unexpected cost was bound to put a spanner in the works. What you would not expect is an allegedly ‘left leaning’, anti-fascist, photojournalist, to near bankrupt the newspaper over the accidental use of a photograph in a book.
David Hoffman, a well-established photojournalist, took issue with a photograph used in the 2009 book, “Beating the Fascists”, that didn’t have his permission. Rather than just accepting an apology for a genuine mistake, the rat bastard decided to go after Freedom and threatened them with legal action. Ultimately they have had to hand over £4,000 to the cunt, which has left them in dire straits.
Freedom is launching an appeal for donations and subscriptions. If nothing changes then it will cease to exist in its current printed form in October.
I started writing the international news pages a few months ago, which has given me an insight into the hard work and commitment of all those involved. They really do bust their asses every month to ensure the paper is finished.
Freedom has given so much to the movement for well over a century, I really hope the movement can pull together for a really worthwhile cause.
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How so?
National statement never materialised. He has attended demos since this became public.
thegunshow, let people organise without undermining their efforts. A statement is being circulated and will be released soon, it will be backed up with direct action which is being planned at the moment.
Moronic, your idea is to tell everyone to wait two months for a 'direct action' - against a fucking 66 year old man?
Putting the word out and getting his talk pulled is direct action. Making his peers realise how scummy he has behaved, is direct action. You are the one undermining efforts and attempting to hold a secret vanguard action on behalf of the movement.
Hoffman's current line on this is Nobody whose opinion I care about will do anything but laugh.
- the point is to change this.
Chill out thegunshow, Jim's not telling anyone else to wait to do anything, let alone acting as a vanguard, he's just saying that something is being sorted out after you accused the entire movement of not doing anything.
He did remove posts yesterday that included details of Hoffman's public talk, so that his secret action in 2 months time might save the day.
I saw those posts, and he was right to remove them. Police are on these boards, it's a fucking stupid idea to publicly advertise direct actions here ahead of time and can get people in a lot of trouble if it implies anything like a conspiracy. Again, this doesn't prevent people doing anything or imply he thinks people should wait 2 months (?) - it's a normal security measure.
There was no suggestion of illegality. Just that he should be denied a platform.
Tell that to the police if shit hits the fan. It's not like they blow things out of proportion at all...
A suggestion made ahead of time, with the police reading, effectively guaranteeing their presence.
And if it subsequently kicks off? Oh yes, I'm sure a lawyer would have real trouble leading a jury to conclude that anarchists saying "let's No Platform this guy" doesn't imply a conspiracy to commit violence. You and I may be aware that actually it means making his show a bit uncomfortable with a bit of shouting and such, but the red and black flag is associated in the public mind with violence, direct action is associated with violence.
Use your damn head.
Hoffman has attempted to get other snappers to follow suit and sue freedom, a quick look at this thread would easily convince most that they'll meet little but infighting and big talk of they do.
I know exactly what Hoffman's doing, and the only one attempting to spark infighting and talking big while doing little atm is you.
What kicks off? Libcom isn't even a site based around the vain politics of kicking off. The call was to have the event cancelled now, rather than to march down there.
Then feel free to give the venue a ring with your view and suggest others do so, I doubt that would be taken down. Don't make ambiguous, public calls for direct action which can put other people in the shit.
Good grief. You're intentionally mistaking what I didn't say for what Jim did.
admin: don't reveal users' personal information
It's possible I'm remembering wrong, but I'm not intentionally mistaking anything. I clearly remember thinking "that's a bit dodgy" when I saw the No Platform post and everything else you've put up to date has been criticising pretty much everyone for not being direct enough in taking Hoffman on (or not doing it quickly enough).
Aren't you both meant to be in the pub with the rest of us now? Would be much better if we discussed this off the boards instead of having individuals deciding unilaterally on what the movement should be doing.
I'm working. I've sent a delegate to knock some sense into you. (also not a threat).
More from David Hoffman
http://northernvoicesmag.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/tales-of-hoffman-part-two.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
There will be no vanguards in our movement!
Out of interested, do anarchist circles not have any other way of exchanging information other than posting it in libcom?
http://libcom.org/blog/lengthy-reply-david-hoffman-11082012
Off topic post unpublished - If you want to make tangential links to your own pet subject, go start another thread.