The Non-Existent Bolshevik Revolution
This Sunday, November 19 at 5pm:
Did the events of October 1917 in Russia realise the dream of communism or was it simply a transfer of power from one government to another by other means?
Come to a presentation given by Owen Gager, one-time founding member of the Spartacist League in Australia about the events in Russia in 1917 with a particular emphasis from February to October.
Hear Owen Gager explain the betrayal of the Russian workers by the Bolshevik Party as the revelation of their real aim; the capture of State power. If you've ever wondered how the Dictatorship of the Proletariat became the Dictatorship of the Party became the Dictatorship of the Dictator? You'll wonder no more after listening to this informative and insightful presentation.
Light refreshments will be available.
Weirding Cinema @ MAC
In July Weirding Cinema began screening films at MAC.
The next session is this Thursday, November 16: Why did the K Foundation burn a million quid?
Doors at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.
Admission is free. Sheep are welcome. Ice cream van parking available. Mu be with you.
Saturday, October 29 GIG
We're having a gig on Saturday, October 29.
Doors open at 6pm.
Entry by donation. All proceeds to bands.
Kat-O - https://www.facebook.com/katoandthecollectables/
Liquor Snatch - https://www.facebook.com/Liquor-Snatch-129687387051302/
New Grave Hookers
Tactical Attack - http://tacticalattack.bandcamp.com/
Wild Spears
June 2016: ASF Congress & Modern Times
This Sunday, June 12, MAC will be closed. The Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation is holding its XII Congress on Sunday. Registration of delegates and observers is at 10am.
On Saturday, June 25 MAC will be showing Charlie Chaplin's classic 1936 film, Modern Times.
The MAC will be hosting a B&W; movie classic on the last Saturday of the month through Winter. Light snacks & refreshments, 7pm screening.
Upcoming months:
The Great Dictator (1940) - July
Citizen Kane (1941) - August
A King in New York (1957) - September
Public statement on fascist presence @ MAC
Dear friends and comrades,
On Sunday, November 1, at 12:25pm, five members of the fascist group the 'United Patriots Front' (UPF) attended the Melbourne Anarchist Club (MAC) in Northcote.
The five confronted a member of the Club who happened to be present: the confrontation was filmed and uploaded to the UPF Facebook page.
Obviously, the UPF intended their visit to intimidate the MAC, local anarchists, and all those in Melbourne who reject fascism.
In this context, we deeply appreciate the solidarity displayed by local anti-fascists who attended the space later that day in support.
The MAC is issuing this statement in order to re-affirm our commitment to anarchist politics and to appeal to the broader community to join us in a public refusal of fascist attempts at intimidation.
We appeal to our fellow anarchists, anti-fascists, and all those involved in public campaigns to oppose racism and fascism in Melbourne to attend the Club on our next opening day on Sunday, November 8 from midday onward.
We intend to carry on our work of promoting anarchism, regardless of the UPF's actions.
~ MAC.
CANCELLED! Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Benefit gig, Sat/Sun, June 18/19
Please note : the gig has been CANCELLED and rescheduled to take place in August. Please refer to the Facebook event page for more details.
On the weekend of June 18/19, MAC is hosting a gig: Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
$5 pp per day.
A $3 donation will get you a beer.
NO BYO.
No dickheads.
Please see the Facebook event page for more details.
Protest at Spanish consulate, Tuesday 23 December #YoTambienSoyAnarquista
On Tuesday 23 December members of the MAC and others paid a visit to the Spanish consulate in Melbourne.
We delivered an open letter to a consular official and held an hour-long protest outside the consulate.
The action was held in solidarity with anarchists in Spain who have been arrested by police and accused of belonging to an 'anarchist terrorist' association. We also wanted to register our opposition to the new gag laws that criminalise political dissent in Spain.
Thank you to all who joined us.
We will continue to monitor events in Spain and to act in solidarity with our Spanish comrades.
Note: the MAC will be closed over the holiday period and re-open on January 4. Our first gig for the year is on Friday, February 6 with Kollaps, Headlopper, A Commoner's Revolt and Spacecho.
Protest in solidarity with Spanish anarchists. Against the gag laws, against state repression!
On December 16, 2014, Spanish police launched 'Operation Pandora'. Round-ups, searches, and arrests were carried out at squats in the 'Casa de la Montaña' district of Barcelona, at the libertarian San-Andres reading room, the anarchist Poble-Sec reading room, as well as 15 private homes.
Presently, 11 anarchists have been detained incommunicado by the state and accused of belonging to an 'anarchist terrorist' organisation.
At the same time as these attacks upon the anarchist movement, the Spanish government has introduced new laws which criminalise a wide range of political activity. Among other things, the new laws "allow fines of up to €30,000 for disseminating photographs of police officers that are deemed to endanger them or their operations. Further, individuals participating in demonstrations outside parliament buildings or key installations could be fined up to €600,000 if they are considered to breach the peace. Those insulting police officers could be fined up to €600. Burning a national flag could cost the perpetrator a maximum fine of €30,000".
The police action and the enactment of new, harshly repressive laws come at the same time as the Spanish state is implementing deeply unpopular austerity measures, part of a European-wide attack on working conditions. In response, mass popular movements have arisen to contest these measures and it is surely no coincidence that the state now aims to criminalise these movements and their activities.
On Tuesday, we will be joining the tens of thousands of workers in Spain who have already mobilised in response to state terror and repression to demand: the immediate release of the anarchists; the repeal of the new gag laws and; an end to the attack upon working conditions and workers' movements in Spain.
Please join us outside the Spanish consulate in Melbourne at midday on Tuesday, December 23 and let workers in Spain know that they do not struggle alone.
“The Anarchist Age”
Fairfax has a small article about the developments on either side of MAC.
Melbourne's anarchists overshadowed by capitalist developers
Simon Johanson
The Age
November 2, 2014
New Opening Hours (October–December)
MAC is extending its opening hours. As of Friday, October 24, we will be open:
FRIDAY : 2pm -- 8pm
SUNDAY : 12pm -- 5pm
MONDAY : 12pm -- 6pm
MAC will be closed from Sunday, December 21 to Sunday January 4 (inclusive).