Posts Tagged ‘terrorism’

Turban Doesn’t Mean Terrorist by Baldeep Singh Pooni

Posted: January 13, 2013 in Uncategorized
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This essay was written by our friend Baldeep who is also an organizer with Richmond Food Not Bombs and recently facilitated an event at the Wingnut on Monsanto at the Wingnut.

 

Turban Doesn’t Mean Terrorist By Baldeep Singh Pooni

A narrative of the conscious awakening I experienced very recently. Sikhs are people who follow Sikhism, a religion that originated in India. Sikhs have no connection to 9/11 or terrorism yet we have been accused, harassed, attacked,targeted and killed in America and though out the world.Are we not human beings?Don’t we Sikhs also deserve the equality, respect,dignity and justice like every other human being?
A perma-link to this essay is below. We will have print copies available at the Wingnut by the end of January.

Terror Incognita Class – Text Now Available at the Wingnut!

Posted: July 7, 2012 in Uncategorized
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We have 20 copies of the Terror Incognita text now available at the Wingnut for people who are planning on participating in the Terror Incognita reading and discussion group. Please come by sometime to pick up your copy if you want to read it before the class starts. If you are able to share one copy between friends or roommates that would be helpful too.

We are doing out best to get a .pdf of the text available online this week as well.

The Terror Incognita Reading and Disussion Group starts on Wednesday July 18th at 8pm. The other class dates are Wed. July 25th at 8pm,  Wed. August 1st at 8pm, and Wed. August 15th at 8pm. (We are skipping that 2nd Wednesday in August so as to not conflict with the monthly IWW meeting, so it’s a great time to join the Richmond Industrial Workers of the World! http://www.richmondiww.org)

The topics in this reading include: current anarchist theory, queer theory, terrorism, consent, gender, identity, and more!

New Security Culture Pamphlet from Crimethinc

Posted: June 3, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Bounty Hunters and Child Predators- Inside the FBI Entrapment Strategy is a new pamphlet from the Crimethinc Collective to help folks in the anarchist scene learn more about how the FBI targets and how we can keep ourselves, and each other safe.

This new publication is partially in response to the recent arrest of 5 anarchists in Ohio for allegedly plotting to blow up a bridge. The new FBI tactics are an extension of the Green Scare, and this pamphlet starts to talk about how we can resist being scared.

You can download a copy from the Crimethinc website  ( http://www.crimethinc.com/blog/2012/05/29/inside-the-fbi-entrapment-strategy/ ), or come by the Wingnut Anarchist Collective during Open Hours on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4-9pm to pick up a copy of your own. 2005 Barton Avenue.

Terror Incognita- A group reading of an anarchist and queer text and People’s School of Richmond course!

Posted: May 25, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Terror Incognita- a group reading and discussion of current anarchist and queer theory. This course is being made available through the People’s School of Richmond, and is a free school course.

Terror Incognita is a recently published zine (homemade magazine) featuring discussion, analysis and questioning of current trends in the North American anarchist  scenes. The text also heavily features current queer practice and theory as well as discussion of terrorism.

You don’t have to be an anarchist or agree with anarchism to participate in this class.

The basic format of the class will be group discussions of the text. Ideally people will read the texts before coming to each meeting, but we might also read the texts outloud to each other at the meetings, as this is a method that has worked well for us during previous courses.

Classes will meet at 8pm on Wednesday nights starting the 2nd half of July at the Wingnut Anarchist Collective. (2005 Barton Avenue)

We will make pdf versions of texts available online, and have some photocopies available as well. Folks will need to bring the printed texts to the class.

July 18, July 25, August 1st, August 15th


Reporter’s Response to Norment’s Terrorist Labeling

Posted: March 9, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Local Richmond journalist Michael Paul Williams wrote a piece in today’s Richmond Times Dispatch discussing Senator Norment’s labeling of the Wingnut as armed terrorists. Williams draws some excellent connections between the communist Red Scare era of the 1950′s and current use of the term terrorist. It is great to have local critical journalism.

The only difference to note is that some of the statements he attributes to Mo were actual from the press release written by the entire Wingnut Anarchist Collective- which you can read in full on this website.

Read his column, “Lawmaker’s ‘Terrorist’ Claim Reckless” here: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/columnists-blogs/2012/mar/09/tdmet01-michael-paul-williams-lawmakers-terrorist–ar-1751932/

Norment Tries to Blame Anarchists for Government Bad Behavior

Posted: March 8, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Sometimes the hardest part about being called a terrorist is trying to explain how it happened. None of the current members of the Wingnut Anarchist Collective were at last Saturday’s protest, and none of us were involved in its planning. Some friends of ours, and former members of our collective were involved, and some folks we really like were among those arrested, but that doesn’t really explain why State Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment is calling us terrorists on the senate floor and in the newspaper.
It’s easy to feel upset about being called a terrorist. It’s pretty widely known how the government treats people after it starts calling them terrorists, so having a fairly important politician call you a terrorist is a lot like a threat. Rather than getting all bent out of shape about it, we’re probably going to go ahead and make terrorist glitter paint t-shirts or something.
We’re not going to let this stuff get to us because getting all outraged about Senator Tommy’s (ignorant, irresponsible) name calling is giving him what he wants, which is to distract from the bad behavior of his side. It isn’t the Wingnut that wants to legislate away women’s rights in order to score cheap political points. It wasn’t the Wingnut that sent armed, masked men to face down peaceful protestors. It wasn’t the Wingnut that forced these same protestors onto a bus and held them for hours on end with a bucket for a toilet and no water. It wasn’t the Wingnut that tried to defend thuggish behavior by its own side by making wild, ignorant allegations about a barely involved 3rd party. That’s on him, and the focus right now should remain on his bad behavior, and the bad behavior of the folks on his side.
As for us, we’re going to keep doing our best and fighting for a better world. Best of luck to our friends and allies. To the folks that were more directly involved in last Saturday’s protest, good on y’all. If nothing else you seem to have put a scare into a lot of shitty people. We here at the Wingnut believe that in order for the right to choose to truly be respected, much more fundamental changes will need to be made to our society than what’s on the table right now. If any of y’all want to talk about it, we’re not going anywhere.

If A Tree Falls Movie Screening: Sunday October 16th

Posted: September 11, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Join the Wingnut Anarchist Collective to watch the new movie, If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, on Sunday, October 16th at 7pm.

This is a sober, all ages event. The Wingnut is located at 2005 Barton Avenue. Call 804 303 5449 or email wingnut_collective@yahoo.com if you have any questions

More about the film:

On December 7th, 2005, federal agents conducted a nationwide sweep of radical environmentalists involved with the Earth Liberation Front — an organization the FBI has called America’s “number one domestic terrorism threat.”

IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT is the remarkable story of the group’s rise and fall, told through the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, Daniel McGowan. Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thriller, the film interweaves a chronicle of McGowan facing life in prison with a dramatic investigation of the events that led to his involvement with the ELF. Using never-before-seen archival footage and intimate interviews — with cell members and with the prosecutor and detective who were chasing them — IF A TREE FALLS asks hard questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism.

Conspiracy Tour Reportback

Posted: August 5, 2010 in Uncategorized
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On Wednesday, August 4th, the Conspiracy Tour made a stop in Washington DC.  They aren’t stopping in Richmond, so the only opportunities for folks from around here to see them without traveling TOO Far were last night in DC, or tomorrow night in Carrboro.  I’d say it’s worth the drive, especially if you’re involved in any way with anarchist/anti-authoritarian projects and are unfamiliar with the scope of state repression that has been coming down on our heads in the last ten years or so.

The presentation began with a brief puppet skit about what conspiracy charges actually are.  Basically, someone can be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime if there is planning to commit a crime, and any action is taken in furtherance of that plan, EVEN if the crime is NEVER COMMITTED.  Normally for a conspiracy to exist, more than one person has to be involved, although there are some cases (such as Scott DeMuth’s) where the state will simply INVENT co-conspirators as “unknown persons” in order to charge an individual with conspiracy.
After the initial puppet skit, there was a brief history of state repression in America, discussing such topics as the FBI’s COINTELPRO program and the recent “Operation Backfire” and including information about how these programs gather their information.
(more…)

AETA 4 Case Dismissed, Re-Indictment Possible

Posted: July 13, 2010 in Anarchist Black Cross
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Yesterday, the Animal Rights community received some potentially positive news. The charges against the AETA 4 were dismissed. The 4 can still be re-indicted, so this is likely only a temporary reprieve. Those not familiar with the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act should take the time to read up on this bogus law. The case of the AETA 4 is the first time this law is being used to prosecute anyone, and so this case will likely set a precedent. The outcome of this case is extremely important, as what the 4 are being accused of are things like fliering and chalking, which are supposed to be protected speech.

This case is happening across the country, but it has the potential to affect activists in Richmond and activists everywhere. Not being able to catch people working underground has pushed the government and corporations to try to prosecute folks doing above ground work. This law and the rampant use of the word terrorist as a label are part of a movement to protect capitalist interests at any cost.

Will Potter writes the blog Green is the New Red http://www.greenisthenewred.com and that site is a really good source for up to date news on the persecution of animal and environmental activists by the government and corporations.

Here is his post on the Dismissal of the AETA 4. (more…)