*Dramatic Intro* The crisis of the Left: What’s really going in the ISO BOC debate?!?!
Black Orchid Collective takes on criticisms leveled at them by the International Socialist Organization, a Trotskyist influenced group in the United States.
In the past few months the International Socialist Organization (ISO) has gone out its way to associate Black Orchid Collective with being divisive, ultra leftist, anti-union, and even defenders of CEOs according to one member on the Occupy Purdue Facebook page. All of these accusations can be dispelled by reading our pieces on our blog.
Why M1GS?: lessons from Wisconsin
A piece from a union staffer in Wisconsin who saw the movement go from the potential of a general strike to just a recall, and how we should remember this in Occupy's efforts for a May 1st general strike.
A year ago, the original 21st century “Occupy” occurred in the United States - at the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Scott Walker, Tea Party, Koch-funded governor sought to eliminate collective bargaining of public workers. The unions erupted, thousands stormed the building and did not leave for two weeks.
A Wobbly speech from Occupy Portland
A member of the Portland IWW gives a speech at Occupy Portland.
Hello. My name is Tabatha. I’m a mother, a student and a worker. I’m here as a member of the Industrial Workers of the World. We refer to ourselves as Wobblies. I’ve been thinking a lot about wealth, lately, as I’m sure y’all have been as well. I’ve been thinking about where it has come from in the United States, and how it has accumulated.
Navigating negotiations
Submitted by Nate on Feb 22 2012 23:34
Nate Hawthorne takes a look at how labor-capital structures of negotiation have changed in response to worker militancy and the state changing how it deals with what capitalists do. Along the way he gets into Joe Burns' new book, the ILWU-EGT conflict, the Occupy movement and 'direct unionism'.
Recently Occupy activists helped the ILWU win a new contract.
Occupy Pisa: Via La Pergola evicted, the occupations continue!
Submitted by Italy Calling on Feb 19 2012 18:39
For background info and context on the Occupy Pisa past successes read this old article here.
February 15th: only two days after the launch of the new campaign to promote the occupations in Via la Pergola, local police forces responded with a sudden eviction of the building that started at 7am. Three students who were inside the building preparing to move into their new rooms (part of the building was destined to be a student residence), were given on-the-spot cautions.
On the Black Bloc - Salar Mohandesi
A critique of the black bloc, which the author sees as coming from a specific context, time and struggle. Now, stripped of these things, it has become both a tactic and identity with an implicit strategy of grabbing attention or creating autonomous space through street fighting and property destruction.
The “internecine ultra-left argument of the moment,” says the Wall Street Journal, is the debate over the “black bloc.” And if this debate has led the WSJ to talk about “ultra-leftism,” it’s clearly a debate we have to address.
The surgeons of Occupy
Author Peter Gelderloos responds to Chris Hedges' anti-black bloc article.
In his February 6 article entitled, “The Cancer of Occupy,”Chris Hedges attempts to analyze the political beliefs and practices of the black bloc, a group he characterizes as the scourge of the Occupy movement. Although Mr.
Interview with Chris Hedges about Black Bloc
J.A. Myerson talks to Chris Hedges about his controversial piece “The Cancer in Occupy”.
Chris Hedges' syndicated Truthdig column "Black Bloc: The Cancer in Occupy," printed Tuesday at Truthout and elsewhere, created quite a stir among members of Occupy Wall Street (OWS). Some endorsed the sentiment.
Oakland’s Dirty War
An article on Oakland police tactics in trying to repress and disband Occupy Oakland.
As winter sets in, the Occupy Movement nationwide confronts a new series of challenges. Conspiring with the weather, however, is the threat of a shifting policing model currently being tested out in Oakland.
Coercive Attrition
Concerning the violent peace-police: an open letter to Chris Hedges
David Graeber's response to Chris Hedges' anti-black bloc article.
I am writing this on the premise that you are a well-meaning person who wishes Occupy Wall Street to succeed. I am also writing as someone who was deeply involved in the early stages of planning Occupy in New York.
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