1 00:00:14,381 --> 00:00:15,682 my names Harsha, 2 00:00:15,682 --> 00:00:17,508 um, id like to start by acknowledging we're gathered here 3 00:00:17,508 --> 00:00:19,620 on unceded occupied Coast Salish Territory, 4 00:00:19,620 --> 00:00:22,589 Burrard, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Sḵwxwú7mesh land. 5 00:00:22,589 --> 00:00:26,193 And thank you to the organizers for hosting this discussion. 6 00:00:26,193 --> 00:00:28,996 Um, i have to admit, in terms of this debate, 7 00:00:28,996 --> 00:00:30,264 i know its been going on for a week, 8 00:00:30,264 --> 00:00:32,733 but ive only just read all the facebook mesages, 9 00:00:32,733 --> 00:00:35,991 and all the emails that are floating around this morning, 10 00:00:35,991 --> 00:00:37,604 as i was trying to prepare my thoughts, 11 00:00:37,604 --> 00:00:41,808 so im really frustrated and really angry to be quite honest. 12 00:00:41,808 --> 00:00:48,182 Um, and im not gonna be kind of engaging in esoteric generalizations about diversity of tactics, 13 00:00:48,182 --> 00:00:51,652 because i think just that very starting point is problematic, 14 00:00:51,652 --> 00:00:53,187 and ill explain why. 15 00:00:53,187 --> 00:00:55,322 So ill try to be as specific as possible, 16 00:00:55,322 --> 00:00:57,925 um, about what happened on saturday, 17 00:00:57,925 --> 00:01:00,961 um, and what the organizing of that looked like, 18 00:01:00,961 --> 00:01:02,663 so that we can be as specific as possible 19 00:01:02,663 --> 00:01:04,665 rather than generally making you know 20 00:01:04,665 --> 00:01:07,734 huge generalizations about diversity of tactics. 21 00:01:07,734 --> 00:01:10,914 Um, i want to locate myself within this dialogue first. 22 00:01:10,914 --> 00:01:12,506 i dont personally engage in black bloc tactics, 23 00:01:12,506 --> 00:01:14,208 but as a long time community organizer 24 00:01:14,208 --> 00:01:15,642 and as a woman of colour 25 00:01:15,642 --> 00:01:19,580 i want to stand in full and firm support of diversity of tactics, 26 00:01:19,580 --> 00:01:21,381 and in solidarity with those who do, 27 00:01:21,381 --> 00:01:25,085 and particularly those who are facing police repression, 28 00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:27,321 um, during this time. 29 00:01:27,321 --> 00:01:30,836 i did march on february 13th, um, in the Heart Attack demonstration, 30 00:01:30,836 --> 00:01:32,326 with other members of No One Is Illegal, 31 00:01:32,326 --> 00:01:35,495 which as people know is a collective of predominantly people of colour, 32 00:01:35,495 --> 00:01:37,898 and non biologically male identified members, 33 00:01:37,898 --> 00:01:40,601 and in communication with other affinity groups, 34 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:42,603 which included the Indigenous Environmental Network, 35 00:01:42,603 --> 00:01:44,705 some Downtown Eastside elders, 36 00:01:44,705 --> 00:01:46,069 the Pink Clowns, 37 00:01:46,069 --> 00:01:47,107 two members of whom were arrested, 38 00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:49,443 and StopWar.ca 39 00:01:49,443 --> 00:01:51,879 While i cannot speak for the personal motivations and intentions 40 00:01:51,879 --> 00:01:53,347 of those who engage in black bloc tactics, 41 00:01:53,347 --> 00:01:56,483 i think the distance that i do have from those tactics 42 00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:59,052 is somewhat useful in this debate. 43 00:01:59,052 --> 00:02:00,053 Firstly because theres this idea 44 00:02:00,053 --> 00:02:03,669 that only those who engage in black bloc actions support black bloc tactics. 45 00:02:03,669 --> 00:02:06,260 And this is an attempt to marginalize and isolate our comrades, 46 00:02:06,260 --> 00:02:10,430 which i hope my presence and the presence of others here will counter. 47 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:12,533 Secondly, theres a dichotomy that is being created between 48 00:02:12,533 --> 00:02:16,803 so-called community day-to-day organizing, and insurrectionary actions. 49 00:02:16,803 --> 00:02:20,307 Critics of this past saturday have made false digs about the lack of organizing 50 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:23,010 and commitment to movement-building by anarchists. 51 00:02:23,010 --> 00:02:24,878 i am a self-identified anarchist. 52 00:02:24,878 --> 00:02:26,146 There are countless examples, 53 00:02:26,146 --> 00:02:29,116 but one that i will provide that is current is the Olympic Tent Village 54 00:02:29,116 --> 00:02:32,886 because its being thrown around a whole lot in the context of this debate. 55 00:02:32,886 --> 00:02:36,690 Um, as people know, the Olympic Tent Village is happening right now at 58 West Hastings, 56 00:02:36,690 --> 00:02:40,360 on a Concord Pacific lot thats currently being leased out by VANOC. 57 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,398 And a anarchist, self-identified anarchist, members who engage in black bloc actions 58 00:02:44,398 --> 00:02:45,883 have put in countless hours. 59 00:02:45,883 --> 00:02:48,669 And by countless hours, i mean 16 hour days, 60 00:02:48,669 --> 00:02:51,405 to contribute to the tent village. 61 00:02:51,405 --> 00:02:53,640 That includes graveyard shifts to do security, 62 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:55,976 and this might, um, be a surprise to someone, 63 00:02:55,976 --> 00:02:58,245 but that includes de-escalation with law enforcement, 64 00:02:58,245 --> 00:03:01,394 which the black bloc is completely capable of doing; 65 00:03:01,394 --> 00:03:04,218 construction, cooking, and cleanup of the site, 66 00:03:04,218 --> 00:03:07,287 under the leadership of DTES residents and elders. 67 00:03:07,287 --> 00:03:09,423 So i want to take a moment here to thank everyone, 68 00:03:09,423 --> 00:03:13,427 particularly black bloc, and black bloc identified anarchists 69 00:03:13,427 --> 00:03:16,869 who are supporting the DTES tent village. 70 00:03:20,601 --> 00:03:23,732 As someone who is on the site over 20 hours a day, 71 00:03:23,732 --> 00:03:26,425 i can say that sadly the same cannot be said to be true 72 00:03:26,425 --> 00:03:28,809 of those who appear to be strategically utilizing actions like the tent city 73 00:03:28,809 --> 00:03:31,430 and debates about movement-building. 74 00:03:35,899 --> 00:03:37,050 Finally, one of the -- 75 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:38,585 im talking generally here-- 76 00:03:38,585 --> 00:03:41,121 finally, one of the criticisms of the black bloc tactic 77 00:03:41,121 --> 00:03:43,490 is that it is undertaken by predominantly white males 78 00:03:43,490 --> 00:03:45,025 and therefore inherently oppressive, 79 00:03:45,025 --> 00:03:46,827 is inherently opporessive to women of colour, 80 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:48,762 and indigenous women in particular. 81 00:03:48,762 --> 00:03:51,565 As a woman of colour with a myriad of precarious systemic barriers 82 00:03:51,565 --> 00:03:53,400 including legal status and health, 83 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:54,535 and i can only speak for myself, 84 00:03:54,535 --> 00:03:58,005 but i can say that the black bloc tactic does not in itself oppress me, 85 00:03:58,005 --> 00:04:00,741 or render me more vulnerable in protests. 86 00:04:00,741 --> 00:04:04,144 So id appreciate it if other white men did not make such pronouncements on my behalf, 87 00:04:04,144 --> 00:04:08,248 or decide what would keep me safe. 88 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:09,383 And perhaps instead they can focus 89 00:04:09,383 --> 00:04:13,854 on their own organizational and personal patterns of dominance and privilege. 90 00:04:13,854 --> 00:04:15,489 So that being said, i want to make 10 quick points 91 00:04:15,489 --> 00:04:18,225 on the black bloc. 92 00:04:18,225 --> 00:04:20,714 First of all, the black bloc is a tactic. 93 00:04:20,714 --> 00:04:23,639 Like any other tactic, it cannot be judged in itself, 94 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:26,900 but can only be judged as part of a spectrum of a much broader movement, 95 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:30,637 and as part of a spectrum of tactics that we all engage in. 96 00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:33,307 Um, the black bloc has various utilities, 97 00:04:33,307 --> 00:04:35,509 both defensive and offensive. 98 00:04:35,509 --> 00:04:37,044 I think one point thats often missed, 99 00:04:37,044 --> 00:04:41,381 is the defensive strategies around the black bloc. 100 00:04:41,381 --> 00:04:45,385 As people know, a lot of black bloc activity which predates the Heart Attack action, 101 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:48,222 going back to the '70's and '80's in Europe, 102 00:04:48,222 --> 00:04:52,664 includes really important actions including de-arresting comrades, 103 00:04:52,664 --> 00:04:56,396 and the very basic principle of "no comrade left behind", 104 00:04:56,396 --> 00:05:00,652 that we do not leave people in the police lines 105 00:05:00,652 --> 00:05:01,468 and decide to flee, 106 00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:03,971 and for that the black bloc is deeply courageous, 107 00:05:03,971 --> 00:05:07,140 and i think the idea that they are simply testosterone driven, 108 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:10,711 um, is a smear tactic that i dont think we can buy into, 109 00:05:10,711 --> 00:05:12,346 because from my perspective, 110 00:05:12,346 --> 00:05:16,395 whether or not i choose to engage in black bloc actions and black bloc activities, 111 00:05:16,395 --> 00:05:19,089 the fact that there are comrades who are willing to stand in the front lines, 112 00:05:19,089 --> 00:05:25,669 and defend other comrades is deeply courageous and absolutely demands our support. 113 00:05:28,562 --> 00:05:31,131 In terms of issues, just realted to that, 114 00:05:31,131 --> 00:05:34,735 i want to quote Barbara Eherenheich, 115 00:05:34,735 --> 00:05:37,771 who suggests that one of the biggest utilities of the black bloc 116 00:05:37,771 --> 00:05:42,409 is it really "breaks the heavily ritualized nature of modern civil disobedience". 117 00:05:42,409 --> 00:05:45,913 And when we talk about tactics, 118 00:05:45,913 --> 00:05:50,317 we have to be able to gauge black bloc tactic amongst many other tactics. 119 00:05:50,317 --> 00:05:53,320 So the fact that other tactics may or may not be more effective 120 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,758 does not in itself render the black bloc tactic any less effective. 121 00:05:57,758 --> 00:05:59,493 I think thats important to state. 122 00:05:59,493 --> 00:06:03,163 Um, because its all been reduced to whether window smashing is effective or not, 123 00:06:03,163 --> 00:06:06,200 and i think that as a starting point is fundamentally problematic 124 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,869 because this movement is about more than window breaking, 125 00:06:08,869 --> 00:06:11,859 and is also about window breaking. 126 00:06:14,775 --> 00:06:18,879 In terms of the protest tactic of the black bloc, 127 00:06:18,879 --> 00:06:21,148 um, i want to touch on a second point, 128 00:06:21,148 --> 00:06:24,551 or sorry, i want to finish on that point in terms of the black bloc tactic and the mask, 129 00:06:24,551 --> 00:06:26,320 because Derrick brought up specifically 130 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,555 a point of anonymity. 131 00:06:28,555 --> 00:06:30,324 And i think that the fact that people are anonymous 132 00:06:30,324 --> 00:06:34,494 in not simply,um, unique to the black bloc, 133 00:06:34,494 --> 00:06:36,597 as we know, people don masks around the world, 134 00:06:36,597 --> 00:06:39,900 probably the most romanticized of which is the Zapatistas, 135 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:44,204 um, yknow, and if we're going to be able to have solidarity with global struggles, 136 00:06:44,204 --> 00:06:48,976 we have to understand that the reasons for wearing a mask are the same, 137 00:06:48,976 --> 00:06:51,178 whether its in Chiapas, in Palestine, 138 00:06:51,178 --> 00:06:52,813 or its the black bloc on our streets. 139 00:06:52,813 --> 00:06:55,449 State surveillance, and state policing 140 00:06:55,449 --> 00:06:57,317 particularly in the context of the olympics, 141 00:06:57,317 --> 00:07:01,628 where people have had visits by the vancouver integrated security unit, 142 00:07:01,628 --> 00:07:03,957 means that people need to protect themselves. 143 00:07:03,957 --> 00:07:06,126 To me, the black bloc is not anonymous, 144 00:07:06,126 --> 00:07:07,327 it's a tactic, 145 00:07:07,327 --> 00:07:09,530 and the members of the black bloc are people that are known to me, 146 00:07:09,530 --> 00:07:11,098 if people want to come down to tent village, 147 00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:13,382 youll prbably meet many of them. 148 00:07:14,334 --> 00:07:18,505 Um, my 2nd point that i want to make in terms of the black bloc, 149 00:07:18,505 --> 00:07:21,175 and i wont spend much time on it, cuz i dont think theres much debate here, 150 00:07:21,175 --> 00:07:24,945 and that is if the black bloc engages in violent tactics. 151 00:07:24,945 --> 00:07:27,948 and you know, the only response ir eally care to make to that, 152 00:07:27,948 --> 00:07:31,151 is that we're asking the wrong side the question about violence. 153 00:07:31,151 --> 00:07:33,287 If we're going to talk about violence, 154 00:07:33,287 --> 00:07:35,622 we need to be talking about corporate sponsors, 155 00:07:35,622 --> 00:07:37,024 we need to be talking about the state, 156 00:07:37,024 --> 00:07:38,458 we need to be talking about the military, 157 00:07:38,458 --> 00:07:40,160 we need to be talking about the police 158 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,630 who daily commit violence on people. 159 00:07:43,630 --> 00:07:46,433 As far as we know, not a single individual, and not a single animal 160 00:07:46,433 --> 00:07:49,925 has been harmed in black bloc tactics. 161 00:07:49,925 --> 00:07:52,739 What has been harmed is lifeless windows. 162 00:07:52,739 --> 00:07:53,740 Ok? 163 00:07:53,740 --> 00:07:56,310 So lets be very clear about what we talk about violence 164 00:07:56,310 --> 00:08:00,247 before we start to perpetuate mainstream media rhetoric about violence, 165 00:08:00,247 --> 00:08:04,906 and play into and feed into our enemys rhetoric. 166 00:08:05,808 --> 00:08:08,255 The 3rd point, and ive already talked about this, 167 00:08:08,255 --> 00:08:11,925 and that is that all tactics should be judged from the same starting point. 168 00:08:11,925 --> 00:08:14,561 And i think this is for me the crux of the argument. 169 00:08:14,561 --> 00:08:20,234 For me, its not that black bloc tactics in specific contexts are immune from criticism. 170 00:08:20,234 --> 00:08:23,504 If people have criticisms about the 13th that are involved in organizing-- 171 00:08:23,504 --> 00:08:26,604 i need water, im really worked up-- 172 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:32,379 If people have criticisms about the 13th, 173 00:08:32,379 --> 00:08:34,548 then lets talk about specific criticisms, 174 00:08:34,548 --> 00:08:35,967 but all that we have seen 175 00:08:35,967 --> 00:08:40,153 is a general denunciation of property destruction. 176 00:08:40,153 --> 00:08:43,935 And as far as im concerned every tactic is immune to criticism, 177 00:08:43,935 --> 00:08:45,559 that includes if we're gonna have mass rallies, 178 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:47,494 where politicians are given a free stage to speak, 179 00:08:47,494 --> 00:08:52,966 despite their daily obscenities and the daily violence that politicians in this government 180 00:08:52,966 --> 00:08:54,701 are responsible for. 181 00:08:54,701 --> 00:08:59,973 We can talk about the fact that, you know, symbolic rallies once a year are equally ineffective. 182 00:08:59,973 --> 00:09:01,441 So if we're going to talk about ineffectiveness, 183 00:09:01,441 --> 00:09:08,023 we need to be able to have the same starting point for every single tactic. 184 00:09:09,316 --> 00:09:10,717 And from everything that ive seen, 185 00:09:11,517 --> 00:09:13,564 we dont have these debates. 186 00:09:13,564 --> 00:09:14,388 im thankful for this debate, 187 00:09:14,388 --> 00:09:16,890 but the next time that theres a rally at the vancovuer art gallery 188 00:09:16,890 --> 00:09:18,859 appealing for a national housing strategy, 189 00:09:18,859 --> 00:09:21,128 lets talk about its effectiveness, right? 190 00:09:21,128 --> 00:09:24,029 Lets not condemn it, let's talk about its effectiveness. 191 00:09:25,499 --> 00:09:27,067 And i think thats important to state, 192 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:30,537 because everything that is happening in terms of denouncing black bloc tactics 193 00:09:30,537 --> 00:09:34,608 relies on simplistic characatures about what it means. 194 00:09:34,608 --> 00:09:38,645 All it relies on is these characatures of white, young, males who are hooded in black 195 00:09:38,645 --> 00:09:40,647 and go around and smash shit. 196 00:09:40,647 --> 00:09:42,749 And black bloc tactics is so much more than that, 197 00:09:42,749 --> 00:09:46,153 this is a strategy that is part of a movement. 198 00:09:46,153 --> 00:09:49,389 Um, and we cant romanticize or generalize either way, right? 199 00:09:49,389 --> 00:09:50,290 So tactics can be effective, 200 00:09:50,290 --> 00:09:51,291 they can be ineffective, 201 00:09:51,291 --> 00:09:53,245 but inherently they are neither.