Self-proclaimed anarchist "revolutionaires" undermine mass British workers anti-austerity march.

[Better Believe It]

Black bloc 'anarchists' undermined the march
500,000 peaceful protesters had their headlines stolen yesterday by a group of so-called revolutionaries
By Christopher Phelps
March 27, 2011

Here is what the story became: a few hundred anarchists, many dressed in black, trashed businesses and clashed with police on Oxford Street and in Trafalgar Square.

The anarchists, calling themselves the black bloc, stole the headlines from the 500,000 other protesters who'd travelled from all over the UK to express the refusal of millions to accept austerity as the consequence of a crisis they did not create.

These self-styled "revolutionary anarchists" are young and not, by and large, workers. They have at least enough money and privilege to risk a night or two in jail and to pay the fines.

They fail to value the far more important outpouring of humanity seen on the streets yesterday. Railroad unions and fire brigades, office cleaners and university staff, children, families, and students, all made their voices heard. They called for higher taxes on the super-rich and corporations rather than gutting social services and education. Some even chanted for what the Industrial Workers of the World always wanted: a general strike.

Meanwhile the black bloc protester is far too busy with his wonderful self to notice the working classes. He feels brave. He sprays an A on the wall. He hurls paint balloons.

Read the full article at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/27/anticuts-march-black-bloc

Yes indeed, they are super-duper revolutionaries who act like fools and are used by the corporate media and politicians to discredite the left and labor.
BBI

[Cerridwen]

1. Are they wearing police standard issued boots? n/t

[Better Believe It]

3. No but I bet the cops send in agents to help stir up crap and provoke violence

[Cerridwen]

10. Not a doubt in my mind. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Used by the corporate media?

Survey says: They're one and the same (or near enough to serve "both's" purposes).

[11 Bravo]

4. Damn, would they fit in here!

[toddaa]

5. "Black Bloc" protesters are typically paid government agents

At least, that's how it works in the US. The UK may be different.

[joshcryer]

7. Black bloc has been marginalized in the US since Seattle 1999 when "liberals" were...

..discrediting them all the while spouting government propaganda. The marginalization has continued to this day and its presence is increasingly dwindling.

You'll note that the United States isn't particularly listening to the democratic protesters these days.

[toddaa]

11. Black Bloc is a tactic, not a group

In fact, it's been adopted by right wing nationalist groups, so to claim that all "black bloc" protesters are anarchists just furthers the stereotype. Civil disobedience doesn't require molotov cocktails.

[joshcryer]

16. More to the point, black bloc was originally an anarchist tactic, it's since been appropriated...

[joshcryer]

6. The bloc serves to reveal police brutality, and generally reacts to it rather than instigate.

However, I do find the bloc's tactics to be archaic and merely a plea to authority, therefore I disavowed it for myself a long long time ago.

[Better Believe It]

8. So they reveal cop brutality by smashing store windows?

It seems to me they are "role playing" revolutionary and feeling they are somehow threatening the "state" with their small, isolated antics.

[joshcryer]

9. Nah, they distract the cops from peaceful protesters by damaging property.

Since cops are more worried about property than they are protesters.

I know damn well I wouldn't want to attend a G20 protest event without the black bloc being there. The wealthy and powerful always bring in way fucking more cops than you'd ever need.

[Better Believe It]

18. Well, that didn't stop the cops from going after peaceful protesters in Seattle!

Tear gas was all over the place and the cops used the ultra-left and amateurish actions of a minority as a pretext for their crackdown.

Violent unproductive actions are simply a well thought out and clever diversion by a few infantile wannabe revolutionaries?

I don't think so.

[toddaa]

19. The didn't need "ultra-left" amateurs during the Miami FTAA protests

Blaming anarchists for police brutality is equally unproductive. Not all anarchists smash windows.

[Better Believe It]

20. Those so-called anarchists who do engage in ultra-left "revolutionary" actions

open the door to police agent provocateurs, cop brutality and government repression.

They were a tiny minority in the British protests numbering only a few hundred people, half of whom might have been cops!

[toddaa]

21. Well, at least you're now calling them "so called"

Black bloc tactics originally were used as a reaction to excessive police violence. Anarchists did not start the violence, they simply got tired of getting their skulls cracked in. The problem with the tactic is that it is too easily used by the police as an excuse to beat the shit out of more people. Of course, as Miami proves, cops don't need any reason to beat the shit out of people, but it looks good on TV.

[Better Believe It]

22. So "black bloc" activists describe themselves as anarchists while other

more sane anarchist groups disavow their tactics.

Is that accurate?

In any case, the "black bloc" grouplet with their super duper "revolutionary" theatrics is harming the resistance movement and opening the door to repression under the guise of stopping violence and terrorism.

[Wilms]

12. The anarchist are sooo non-conformist that they dress the same.

They're self describing joke.

[enlightenment]

13. Better known as yobs.

Idiotic gits. Major pains in the arse.

Ridiculous morons who deserve a firm slap upside the head and about six months of cleaning ditches and painting over graffiti.

[Rage for Order]

14. I'm sorry, but "Anarchists" are feaking stupid

To paraphrase the Big Lebowski, say what you want about socialists, communists, or capitalists; at least they believe in something

[Canuckistanian]

15. Oh, they're "workers" all right

They're paid well for their few hours of "work"

[joshcryer]

17. I wish I got paid to harass police.

:rofl:

(Note: haven't done that in a really long time, 12-13 years.)

[Fool Count]

23. So what exactly did they "undermine"?

The complete uselessness of massive "peaceful" marches, I suppose? Or their main feature of not disturbing the capitalist class and the government it finances even one bit?
Oh, I know, they undermined the ability of the ruling elite to shrug it off with a smirk: "Let the poor bastards march peacefully, no harm done, now watch that drive".

[Better Believe It]

24. Tiny violent window smashing sprees are far more effective in building a mass resistance movement!

Feel the mass power of a broken window or paint spray!

Revolutionary wannabes.