P r a c t i c a l @ n a r c h y O N L I N E ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue 2.1 January 1993 An electronic zine concerning anarchy from a practical point of view, to help you put some anarchy in your everyday life. The anarchy scene is covered through reviews and reports from people in the living anarchy. Editors: Chuck Munson Internet cmunson@macc.wisc.edu Bitnet cmunson@wiscmacc.bitnet Postal address Practical Anarchy PO Box 173 Madison, WI 53701-0173 USA Mikael Cardell Internet cardell@lysator.liu.se Fidonet Mikael Cardell, 2:205/223 Postal address Practical Anarchy c/o Mikael Cardell Gustav Adolfsgatan 3 S-582 20 LINKOPING SWEDEN Subscription of PA Online is free in it's electronic format and each issue is anti-copyright and may be distributed freely as long as the source is credited. Please direct subscription matters to cardell at the above address. We encourage our readers to submit articles and to send in bits of news from everywhere. Local or worldwide doesn't matter -- we publish it. Send mail to the editors. E D I T O R I A L S ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDIB^HTORIAL by mikael cardell Another editorial from the closet? Yes, but this one will be rather short and my only contribution to this issue. I'll be back in coming issues, but this particular one collides with a lot of things in Real Life. Perhaps the birth of our child will be within deadline? If so, you'll be seeing a little announcement shouting out that I'm a proud father! So, besides increasing the population of this crowded planet, what's mikael up to? I hope you'll notice with the publication of the spunk press manifesto in this issue. This is what my friend and co-editor Chuck, myself, Ian Heavens of UK and the holder of anarchy-list, Jack Jansen will be doing; publishing and distributing alternative literature in electronic form. My personal wish is that spunk press will establish a relation with the Free Access Foundation (FAF) so we can give the blessings of the net to even more potential readers by establishing free access sites all over the world. I hope I'll be able to do just this myself as soon as I get my *grumble, grumble* computers working allright. I'm also trying to establish contacts with sysops of public access BBS's to encourage them to carry spunk press material as well as e-literature from Project Gutenberg and the Online Book Initative. I would like to see these BBS's as the new (electronic) libraries that, instead of lending you a book, gives it to you. Get in touch if you're a sysop. Well, get in touch anyway -- we do like feedback, sometimes. I'm out of here. See you around... closet% logout @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Editorial from the U.S. State of Anarchy 1993 by Chuck Another year has passed, a year that saw the international anarchist movement continue to grow. I'm very optimistic about the coming year and the prospects for more anarchy for the rest of this millenium. Last year saw the growth and appearance of many new zine and anarchist projects. It also included many changes and probably the natural demise of several projects. A successful gathering was held in the Fall in Bloomington, Indiana and I heard that another was held in southern California. One anarchist activist was harassed by the Feds when he made anti-Bush remarks on the Internet. Anti-convention demos were held in New York and Houston. Anarchy continued to blossom on the Internet, the worldwide electronic networks of networks. One of the projects that was created on and will be available on the Internet is announced elsewhere in this issue. While some envious critics, who obviously wear blinders, continue to herald the death of the anarchist movement, the facts consistently belie their observations. As the anarchist movement enters 1993, it's probably as strong as it was in the early part of this century. There are thousands of anarchist activists around the world who are organizing, publishing, building and doing all kinds of things. I certainly find it hard to keep up with all the anarchist literature that I get in the mail. Interest in anarchy is higher than it's been in a long time. I talk to folks in other cities and they tell me about all the people who show up at their local meetings. They're having to beat them off with a stick! Locally in Madison, attempts at building a local group and scene have been moderately successful. The number of consistent attendees at our local meetings haven't been high, but there obviously are many self-identified anarchists and anti-authoritarians around. The problem is, of course, getting them motivated and organized. So, what is on this anarchist's mind as we enter 1993? Unity. I'd like to see the North American anarchist movement cooperate more. I'm not asking for or looking for one big continental anarchist network or organization. Calls for such things are foolish. A big network already exists, only it doesn't have a name and doesn't need one. I'd like to see more tolerance and cooperation among the diverse anarchist groups, networks, and projects. I'd like too see fewer nasty put downs of other anarchists for not being "anarchist" enough. Sure, criticism is still needed and useful, but the rumors and name-calling need to stop. All anarchists should not be alike--that is the strength of diversity and diversity is part of the anarchist vision. We need to tolerate our differences better. Some of us are going to do more "violent" direct action than others. Some of us choose to be nonviolent. And we don't have to choose one way or another. Tactics and lifestyles and approaches and tendencies can be part of a spectrum and they can be complementary. We need to get beyond thinking in terms of "correct" anarchist options. If we expect an anarchist society to be open-minded, let's be open-minded ourselves. Who do I support? I support Anarchy magazine in Columbia and its wonderful obtuseness at times. I support the Wind Chill project in Chicago and their militant attitude. I support the folks at Social Anarchism and their scholarly approach. I support the Love & Rage network and its growing pains (looks like they are starting to decentralize more). I support Dreamtime Village. I support the Anarchist Youth Federation. I support Bob Black and his wonderful rants. I support John Zerzan and his writings, even if they give me artist's block. I support the punk attitude of the folks at Second Guess zine in Nevaduh. Hooray for the Emma Center and the great attitude of Profane Existence. Life without the folks in Bloomington would be like life without pizza. I support Large Larry in San Francisco. Three cheers for the folks at Autonomedia and their great books. I support the Meander Whatever-Its-Name-Is-Now and those who espouse nonviolent anarchy. Go Fifth Estate Go--Beat State! I support...many others which space limits who I can include. Let's keep those activists on their toes who might become complacent now "that Clinton is in office." One activist friend has talked to me about the drop-off in participation in her progressive group since November. Hey folks, Clinton isn't going to change the things that need to be changed, but hey, maybe I'm preaching to the converted. Anarchists need to be vocal in their criticisms of Clinton and his new cronies. We also should point out to those fascists who'd want to join us in this that their system is no better. It's business as usual for the American empire and this will become all too clear for more and more people over the next couple of years. In 1993, let's fight those who would keep us marginalized, whether they be the state, the CEOs, the Left, or those within our own movement. Hey kids, I want to see anarchy everywhere. It's more than just some alternative hobby or clothing option. I want to see it gain mainstream acceptance. I don't want to have to explain what it is anymore. I want to see a time when there is no need anymore for anarchist activists. I want anarchy and I want it--now! Let's see more anarchist cooperation in 1993. We are, after all, supposed to be cooperative! N E W S & S C E N E R E P O R T S ------------------------------------------------------------------------- subject: Black Panther's parole date set posted by: autonome forum -- Sundiata Acoli's Coming Up For Parole After 20 long, hard years, Sundiata Acoli, ex-Black Panther, is coming up for parole in early 1993. Because of his outstanding achievements, New Jersey Department of Corrections recently restored all of the "good time" they had taken from him during the early 70's; which made him immediately eligble for parole. Yet the parole board plans to give him a 10 year "hit", meaning, "Do 10 more years!" We are asking all people concerned about justice to write the parole board today, demanding that Sundiata be released when he comes up for parole. Send personal and form letters and signature petitions to: The New Jersey State Parole Board CN-862 Trenton, NJ 08625 USA (609) 292 4257 Also send a copy of your letter or petition to: Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign P.O. Box 5538, Manhattanville Station Harlem, NY 10027 USA (203) 966 9048 This will help his attorney, Jill Soffiyah Elijah, (718) 575 4460 (Work); (718) 575 4478 (FAX); (718) 282 3576 (Home), verify to the parole board that the letters and petitions were sent. A Bit Of History About Sundiata In 1973, Sundiata and Assata Shakur were captured after a shoot-out on the New Jersey Turnpike during which their companion Zayd Shakur and a state trooper, Werner Foerster, were killed. Following a highly publicized trial, Sundiata was convicted and sentenced to life at Trenton State Prison. There he was confined for 5 years in a MCU isolation cell which was smaller then the SPCA's space requirement for a 90 lb. German Shepherd dog. He was then secretly transferred over 1,000 miles to the infamous Federal Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, although he had no federal charges or convictions. An entrance physical exam showed that Sundiata had been heavily exposed to tuberculosis while he was at Trenton Prison. Even so, for the next 8 years at Marion, he was confined 23 hours per day in an isolation cell containing only a stone bed, toilet bowl and sink. Finally in 1987, Sundiata was transferred to general population at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, Kansas. Sundiata has had only one minor disciplinary infraction in the last 10 years. At Leavenworth he has maintained a straight "A" average in all his college courses while earning diplomas in both Desktop Computers and Paralegal Real Estate Law. He has also received "above average" job-performance ratings and he has worked 7 days per week for the last 5 years as a cellblock janitor. Because of his outstanding record, the New Jersey Department of Corrections recently restored the 2.5 years of "good time" he had lost while confined in Trenton's MCU Unit; which made him immediately eligible for parole. Yet the New Jersey Parole Board plans to "hit" him with 10 more years when he comes up for parole. For Sundiata, already 56 years old and infected with tuberculosis, that will amount to a death sentence. Write the parole board today, and demand that Sundiata be released at his parole hearing. Books/Pamphlets By Sundiata Sunviews (Book) $5.00 Bits 'N' Pieces (Pamphlet) $2.50 The Liveright Interview (Pamphlet) $2.50 Brief History Of The New Afrikan Prison Struggle (Pamphlet) $3.00 Prisoner Prices (Payable by cheque, cash or stamps): Sunviews - $1.00, Any pamphlet - $.60 Add $1.00 to the total amount for postage and handling. Order from the National Office or the nearest Regional Coordinator. Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign (SAFC) Co-counsels: Jill Soffiyah Elijah and Nkecki Taifa National Coordinators: Susan Burnett and Ali Bey Hassan Operations: Sunni Acoli Spokesperson: Shiriki Unganisha National Office SAFC P.O. Box 5538, Manhattanville Station Harlem, NY 10027 USA (203) 966 9048 Regional Coordinators New Jersey Bonnie Kerness (201) 643 3192 SAFC 972 Broad St., 6th Floor Newark, NJ 07102 USA Midwest Hondo T'chikwa (312) 737 8679 SAFC P.O. Box 579154 Chicago, IL 60657-9154 USA Central Shiriki Unganisha (816) 333 9814 SAFC P.O. Box 5161 Kansas City, MO 64132 USA West Coast SAFC c/o Malcolm X Grassroots Movement 5356 S. Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA Write to Sundiata! Sundiata Acoli #39794-066 P.O. Box 1000 Leavenworth, KS 66048 USA