announcement – DISACCORDS

Drop The Charges Against Jamie Williams!

7 August – The Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group calls on the Australian Government to drop the charges against Jamie Williams and release him unconditionally. He was arrested on 27 July and charged with “preparing for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities”. The substance of the charge is that he attempted to leave Australia to join the YPG forces in Syria fighting Daesh, which styles itself as the “Islamic State”.

We do not know whether Jamie Williams was actually trying to join the YPG, but we would have only admiration for him if he was. The YPG-YPJ (People’s Protection Units – Women’s Protection Units) of the PYD (Democratic Union Party) are defending the Kurdish communities of Rojova in Syria against the barbarous forces of Daesh and are doing so very effectively. Further, in the areas of Rojova the YPG-YPJ are protecting, there is a social transformation being conducted which has the potential to be greatly liberatory and to inspire revolutionary workers’ movements across the region.

We say only “potential” because the PYD are allying themselves with US imperialism in its military assault on West Asia, something that undermines the libertarian socialist goals for which the PYD claims to be struggling. While this alliance brings certain tactical benefits (having F-22s take out Daesh vehicles and field HQs definitely made defending Kobanê easier), they are greatly outweighed by the strategic disadvantage of the barriers it puts up between the Kurdish and Arab peoples of the region. The MACG therefore calls on the PYD to break with the United States and throw its lot in with the workers and oppressed masses of West Asia instead. US intervention in West Asia will kill far fewer jihadis than it will recruit for Daesh, something not unconnected to the fact that the US has killed far more people in the region than Daesh ever will.

Regardless of the PYD’s short-sighted choice of friends, however, its struggle against Daesh is greatly progressive and should be supported by workers in Australia and around the world. And if workers in Australia like Jamie Williams decide to join the YPG-YPJ or radical bands allied to them, the Australian Government shouldn’t stand in their way.

FREEDOM FOR JAMIE WILLIAMS!

LONG LIVE THE ROJAVA REVOLUTION!

(via Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group)

First Sydney anarchist bookfair to take place March 2014

Indymedia: March 2014 will see the first ever Anarchist Bookfair to be held in Sydney.

In association with Jura Books and Black Rose, the Sydney Anarchist Bookfair collective is organising this non-profit event at the Addison Road Community Centre and we would like to invite you to have an information or merchandise stall in the main hall.

Anarchist Bookfairs began in London over 30 years ago and have since spread across the globe, including Australia’s shores with our comrades in Melbourne now planning their forth annual event.

Anarchist Bookfairs are a chance to find out about and discuss libertarian ideas, attend workshops and hear speeches on anarchist history and politics, discover new, local campaigns on wide range of issues, and of course, buy books. Continue reading “First Sydney anarchist bookfair to take place March 2014”

Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair: August 10

The Anarchist Melbourne Bookfair will be a free event held at Abbotsford Convent (St Heliers Street, Abbotsford) from 10am-6pm on Saturday 10th of August in 2013. The bookfair consists of up to 40 stalls of independent book-sellers and activist groups. Alongside the stalls there will be about 21 one-hour workshops running all day on all kinds of anarchist and direct action topics. There is also a small kids’ space with volunteers to help carers, or for carers to self-organise child minding, or if the kids just want to play indoors.

For more information see their website.

Melbourne: Solidarity Rally for US Grand Jury Resisters, this Friday

from slackbastard: The week of November–12 November 19 will see solidarity actions with the Grand Jury Resisters in the US and elsewhere. In Melbourne, a rally [Facebook] has been organised to take place on Friday November 16 outside the US Consulate (Level 6, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne) at 3pm. Supporters are asked to wear black and to bring their favourite ‘anti-government or anarchist literature’.

See : Support Grand Jury Resisters & Committee Against Political Repression.

FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force agents raided multiple activist homes in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Their warrents authorised them to seize “anti-government or anarchist literature, ” along with flags, flag-making material, cell phones, hard drives, address books, and black clothing.

At least four anarchists have since been brought before the Grand Jury. Katherine ‘KteeO’ Olejnik and Matt Duran have refused to testify and been imprisoned as a result, Matt from September 13 and Kteeo from September 27 Their incarceration will likely continue until the Grand Jury dissolves (perhaps another 18 months). Maddy Pfeiffer, who was subpoenaed on October 25, refused to cooperate and was released on a continuance, to appear in front of the grand jury again on December 14th. Leah Plante was imprisoned on October 10 and released about a week later.

Mutiny zine issue #66

Mutiny zine for July/August (#66) is now available.

There are articles on:

Sydney: Tuesday April 24: protest over police shootings

Koori Mail: A RALLY is being planned for Sydney tomorrow, to protest the circumstances of a dramatic car chase in Kings Cross early on Saturday morning that saw two pedestrians struck and ended in police shooting two Redfern teenagers. The 14-year-old driver of the stolen car and an 18-year-old passenger remain in hospital. Video footage has emerged of an officer repeatedly punching the heavily bleeding passenger after he was dragged from the car. A police investigation into the incident is underway, amid calls for a separate one into the level of force involved in the arrests. Tomorrow’s rally outside NSW Parliament House will start at 1.30pm.

1.30pm Tuesday April 24

NSW Parliament House

"Police violence is business as usual" banner from Portland, OR, USA, February 2012

Melbourne: Forum on the austerity measures and debt crisis in Greece

Forum on the austerity measures and debt crisis in Greece: Friday March 29th, 7pm – 11pm at 251 High Street Northcote, Melbourne

A few comrades in Melbourne have organised a forum on the austerity measures & debt ‘crisis’ in greece set for Thursday, March 29th, in Northcote. Melbourne. On the night comrades in the antagonist movement in greece will be talking to us live via skype. We have a hospital worker from the workers collective occupation / self management of Kilkis general hospital speaking to us and two other speakers confirmed, including a member of ESE (greek anarchist sydicalist organisation) who will provide us with updates on the struggle, especially regarding base unions and workers occupations. There will be a rembetiko band (greek ‘outlaw’ folk) playing afterwards, as well as a short film from the antagonist movement and some anarchist poetry during the night.

All funds raised are going to prison solidarity initiatives for imprisoned anarchist comrades in greece. Continue reading “Melbourne: Forum on the austerity measures and debt crisis in Greece”