,REFLECTIONS = ! ,U,S ,OCCUPY ,MOVEM5T FROM ! ,B>CELONA ,NEICELONA NEIAB ,SPR+1 ! NEXT PH5OM5ON ( POPUL> RESI/ANCE TO CAPTURE ! WORLD M$IA'S ATT5TION WAS ! PLAZA OCCUPATION MOVEM5T ?AT SPREAD ACROSS ,SPA9 />T+ ON ! #a#e? ( ,MAY 7#a#e,M74 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 ATT5TION TURN$ BACK TO ,GREECE1 & N[ TO ! PUBLIC OCCUPATIONS SPREAD+ ACROSS ! ,U,S1 9SPIR$ BY ! ,WALL ,/REET PROTE/S4 ,! FUNCTION ( ! M$IA IS TO EXPLA9 9T]RUPTIONS 9 ! DOM9ANT N>RATIVE1 NOT TO SPREAD LESSONS USEFUL TO ! SOCIAL /RUGGLES ?AT G5]ATE ?OSE RUPTURES4 ,AS SU*1 IT IS NO SURPRISE ?AT !Y RESPOND TO ! /RATEGICALLY IMPORTANT MOM5TS BE=E & AFT] !SE MASS GA!R+S ) A NEWS BLACK\T4 ,:ILE ! C5TRAL PLAZAS ( ! CITIES ( ,SPA9 >E NO LONG] OCCUPI$1 9 SOME PLACES ! MOM5TUM ( ,MAY CONT9UES ) =CE4 ,P>TICUL>LY 9 ,B>CELONA1 A DYNAMIC /RUGGLE CONT9UES TO EVOLVE1 9CLUD+ A HET]OG5E\S & BROAD GR\P ( PEOPLE 9 WEEKLY NEIITY DEMON/RATIONS AGA9/ ! 9EVITABLE REPRESSION4 ,! NEITICUL> =M A /RONG BACKBONE ?AT HOLDS UP ALL ! ONGO+ /RUGGLES4 ,9 AB\T TW5TY NEICELONA1 ONCE A WEEK1 TW5TY TO A HUNDR$ NEIE NEWS4 ,EA* ASSEMBLY HAS A DIFF]5T /RUCTURE1 & MEMB]S ( EA* ASSEMBLY GA!R P]IODICALLY TO %>E & COORD9ATE BETWE5 NEITICIPATION 9 !SE ASSEMBLIES EXPLOD$ AFT] ! BEG9N+ ( ! PLAZA OCCUPATIONS1 & OV] A DOZ5 NEW NEIE *ANG+ ! FACE ( ! /RUGGLE 9 ,B>CELONA1 OV]COM+ ! ISOLATION & SEP>ATION ( ! V>I\S1 PREEXI/+ POLITICAL E DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE = AT LEA/ P>T ( ! UNPREC$5T$ TURN\T ( NE>LY A ?\S& PEOPLE TAK+ ! /REETS 9 A SOLID>ITY DEMON/RATION ! SAME DAY ?AT ,CATALAN POLICE BEGAN >RE/+ PROTE/]S ID5TIFI$ FROM ! ,JUNE ,P>LIAM5T BLOCKADE 7SEE 0,WAVE ( ,>RE/S ,SWEEP ,B>CELONA HTTP3_/_/WWW4C\NT]PUN*4ORG_/#b#a#a_/#a_/#a_/CRACKD[N-9-SPA9_/74 ,S9CE WE'VE MET \R NEI US D[N1 BUT !Y CANNOT ISOLATE US4 ,:AT'S MORE1 ! NEIK1 OR /REET CORN] )\T P]MISSION1 ]OD+ LEGALITY & DEMON/RAT+ ?AT ! CITY IS \RS4 ,ON C\NTLESS OCCASIONS1 NEIGE 9T]SECTION & SIMPLY %UT D[N TRAFFIC4 ,9 ! FE$] M>*ES TO MAJOR PROTE/S ! PEOPLE ( A NEI* ALL ! WAY TO ! C5T]1 BLOCK+ EV]Y /REET ALONG ! WAY1 EV5 ?\< !Y MAY ONLY CONSI/ ( =TY PEOPLE4 ,& BECAUSE ( ! GREAT] SOCIAL LEGITIMACY 5JOY$ BY ! NEIILY1 ! NEI*]S HAVE A P]MIT1 !Y JU/ GET LAU<$ AT4 ,9T]E/+LY1 ! PLAZA OCCUPATIONS ?AT BEGAN ON ! #a#e? ( ,MAY PROVID$ A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY = PEOPLE TRY+ TO *ANGE ! WORLD TO MEET EA* O!R & 9CREASE \R =CES & UND]/&+1 BUT IT SEEMS ?AT AT EA* /EP1 WE HAD TO PASS AN OB/ACLE CON/ITUT$ BY ! ORIG9AL =MS ( ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T4 ,SIMIL>LY 9 ! ,U,S1 ! />T+ PO9TS IMPOS$ BY ! ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET ACTION S]VE AS A SORT ( COCOON ?AT MU/ BE BROK5 9 ORD] TO GO FUR!R4 ,A NUMB] ( FEATURES ?AT HAVE AID$ ! GR[? ( \R /RUGGLE 9 ,B>CELONA MAY BE USEFUL = PEOPLE 9 ! ,U,S TO REFLECT ON 9 COMP>ISON ) ! OCCUPATIONS N[ HAPP5+ 9 ,NEW ,YORK & O!R CITIES4 ,HI/ORY IS ,WISDOM ,! DEEP] A /RUGGLE'S HI/ORICAL ROOTS1 ! GREAT] ITS COLLECTIVE KN[L$GE4 ,9 ! BEG9N+1 BO? ! M$IA & SOME LEAD+ ACTIVI/S TRI$ TO PRES5T ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T AS SOME?+ NEW4 ,BUT 9 REALITY1 ! VA/ MAJORITY ( US :O OCCUPI$ ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA & CREAT$ ! MOVEM5T ) \R [N P>TICIPATION W]E 9=M$ BY A LIFETIME ( FRU/RATIONS & A LONG HI/ORY ( /RUGGLES4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ?AT HI/ORY 9CLUDES ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ ! AU/]ITY MEASURES 79CLUD+ TWO G5]AL /RIKES & A ,MAYDAY RIOT1 AMONG 9NUM]ABLE SMALL] ACTIONS71 ! /UD5T MOVEM5T AGA9/ ! PRIVATIZATION ( $UCATION1 ! SQUATT]S' MOVEM5T1 ANTI-BORD] & IMMIGRANT SOLID>ITY /RUGGLES1 ! ANTI-W> & ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5TS AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! LA/ DECADE1 ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ G5TRIFICATION & ! ,OLYMPICS 9 ! '#iS1 ! /RUGGLE 9 ! PRISONS OR ! MOVEM5T ( MILIT>Y OBJECTORS 9 ! '#hS1 ! WORK]S' AUTONOMY & NEI1 & GO+ BACK TO ! BEG9N+ ( ! C5TURY1 ! AN>*I/ /RUGGLE AGA9/ CAPITALISM4 ,ALL ( !SE MOVEM5TS CON/ITUTE LESSONS LE>N$ ?AT CAN BE PASS$ D[N TO AID FUTURE /RUGGLES4 ,SO (T51 ! MI/AKES ?AT DEFEAT A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T >E REPEAT$4 ,! NEICELONA S]VE AS SPACES :]E PEOPLE FROM DIFF]5T G5]ATIONS CAN %>E !IR P]SPECTIVES1 :]E ?OSE ) EXP]I5CE 9 PA/ /RUGGLES CAN COLLECTIVIZE ?AT EXP]I5CE & TURN IT 9TO COMMUNAL PROP]TY4 ,9 ! BEG9N+1 ! ORGANIZ]S ( ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T PRES5T$ !IR PROTE/ MODEL AS SOME?+ ULTRA-MOD]N1 ) MORE REF]5CES TO ,TWITT] ?AN TO ! C\NTRY'S RI* HI/ORY ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,?IS MODEL WAS REJECT$ BY MANY 9 ,B>CELONA1 ESPECIALLY OLD] PEOPLE OR ?OSE :O HAD ALREADY P>TICIPAT$ 9 A PREVI\S MOVEM5T4 ,PEOPLE PREF]R$ TO BUILD (F !IR [N TRADITION ( /RUGGLE1 :ILE TAK+ ADVANTAGE ( ! NEW SITUATION & ADAPT+ C]TA9 FEATURES ( ! #a#e,M MODEL TO !IR USE4 ,! HI/ORICAL MEMORY ( PA/ 9/ANCES ( BUREAUCRATIZATION1 CO-OPTATION BY GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS1 & PACIFICATION HAVE ALREADY S]V$ TO HELP ! ONGO+ MOVEM5T AVOID A NUMB] ( PITFALLS4 ,DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO C5TRALIZE !M1 ! NEITICIPATION1 & MEAN+ ?AT POLITICIANS :O ATTEMPT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE ( !SE SPACES >E AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE !Y CANNOT OP]ATE OP5LY )\T BE+ KICK$ \T ( ! ASSEMBLIES4 ,! MEMORY ( /RUGGLES FROM BE=E ! GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRA% HAS ALL[$ PEOPLE TO MOVE BEYOND A SIMPLE KNEEJ]K RESPONSE TO ! PRES5T CRISIS & 9/EAD =MULATE A DEEP] CRITIQUE ( ! SY/EM RESPONSIBLE = !IR WOES4 ,9 PRACTICE1 ?IS HAS MEANT A POPUL> %IFT FROM COMPLA9TS AB\T SPECIFIC LAWS OR SPECIFIC FEATURES ( ! BANK+ SY/EM ?AT MILY DEF9$ ITSELF AS ANTICAPITALI/1 ?US DRAW+ ON A /RONG TRADITION ( /RUGGLE ?AT GOES BACK MORE ?AN A C5TURY ?R\<\T ,EUROPE4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES IS ALSO A C\NTRY ) 9SPIR+ HI/ORIES ( POPUL> /RUGGLE4 ,BUT IT IS A C\NTRY ) A CASE ( SOCIAL AMNESIA LIKE NO O!R4 ,IT SEEMS ?AT TO A C]TA9 EXT5T1 ! ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET ACTIONS EXI/ MORE AS A TR5D ?AN ANY?+ ELSE4 ,! SLILI] /RUGGLES1 EV5 /RUGGLES FROM ! PA/ TW5TY YE>S1 IS WORRY+4 ,! FACT ?AT A PRES5T AW>5ESS ( ,U,S HI/ORY W\LD %ATT] C]TA9 CORN]/ONES ( ! NEW MOVEM5T'S ID5TITY1 = EXAMPLE ?IS IDEA ( ! #i#i.0 ?AT 9CLUDES EV]YONE BUT ! BANK]S 9 ONE BIG1 HAPPY FAMILY1 IS NOT A SUFFICI5T EXCUSE TO AVOID ?IS TASK4 ,! HI/ORICAL AMNESIA ( ,AM]ICAN SOCIETY MU/ BE OV]COME = A /RUGGLE TO GA9 ! P]SPECTIVE IT NE$S4 ,9T]NATIONAL ,CONNECTIONS ,FE$ ,LOCAL ,ROOTS ,! LOCAL ROOTS ( ! NEITICIPANTS RECOGNIZE !M = :AT !Y >E4 ,ESPECIALLY ?OSE ASSEMBLIES ?AT HAVE REMA9$ 9=MAL PLACES ( MEET+1 DESPITE ! FREQU5T ATTEMPTS BY GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS TO H]D !M 9TO SOME =MAL /RUCTURE OR ANO!R1 S]VE A PRIM>Y FUNCTION ( ALL[+ NEIE !IR /ORIES1 ?US FULFILL+ A FUNDAM5TAL EMOTIONAL NE$ = HUMAN CONTACT ?AT CONTRA/S ) EV]YDAY ALI5ATION4 ,IT IS ! FULFILLM5T ( ?IS NE$ ?AT KEEPS MANY PEOPLE COM+ BACK2 NOT JU/ ! ACTIVI/S :O W]E ALREADY MEET+ JUNKIES BE=E ,MAY #a#e1 BUT ! OLD FOLKS :O HAD LONG S9CE GIV5 UP ON MEET+S1 AS WELL AS ! HOSPITAL & $UCATION WORK]S OR ! Y\NG /UD5TS :O HAD NEV] P>TICIPAT$ 9 MEET+S BE=E ALL ?IS4 ,! ASSEMBLIES ( SOME NEITICUL>LY ! MORE YUPPY ONES ?AT >E FULL ( LIB]ALS & AU?ORIT>IAN SOCIALI/S1 HAVE *AS$ AWAY A GREAT DEAL ( P>TICIPATION BY SP5D+ MON?S DECID+ ON A UNIT>Y DEF9ITION ( !MSELVES1 OR O!RWISE US+ CONS5SUS OR VOT+ PROCESSES TO A*IEVE A =C$ & >TIFICIAL UNITY4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! MORE FLUID1 EFFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES HAVE RECOGNIZ$ ?AT1 AS IT WAS >TICULAT$ ON ONE OCCASION1 0WE'RE NOT AN ORGANIZATION1 WE'RE A NEIES US FROM ! AB/RACTIONS & M$IATIONS ( POLITICS1 ALL[S US TO MEASURE \R SUCCESS NOT 9 MEAN+LESS FIGURES LIKE ! NUMB] ( PEOPLE :O COME \T TO A PROTE/ BUT 9 V]Y REAL1 9CREAS+LY VISIBLE QUANTITIES1 SU* AS ! EXT5T TO :I* WE KN[ EA* O!R1 TO :I* WE >E NO LONG] /RANG]S 9 \R [N NEIE TRANS=M+ 9TO RELATIONS ( MAT]IAL & EMOTIONAL SOLID>ITY4 ,! CITY1 9 FACT1 IS AN AB/RACTION4 ,9 ! P>TICUL> CASE ( ,B>CELONA1 MO/ ( ! NEICELONA4 ,VILLAGE_/NEILY ALL COORD9ATION & DECISION-MAK+ TAKES PLACE AT ! LEVEL ON :I* \R [N DIRECT P>TICIPATION IS POSSIBLE3 LOCALLY4 ,?IS LOCAL EMPHASIS HAS MEANT ?AT 9 ! ATTEMPTS TO CREATE A COORD9AT+ BODY AMONG ! DIFF]5T NEITICIPATION ( IMMIGRANTS 9 !SE ASSEMBLIES1 WE HAVE ACCESS TO ! EXP]I5CE ( NEIG5T9A 9 #b#a1 ! LESSONS ( ! ,*ILEAN /UD5T MOVEM5T OR ! ,MAPU*E /RUGGLE1 OR ! MODEL DEVELOP$ OV] ! LA/ SEV]AL YE>S BY ! ,SEATTLE ,SOLID>ITY ,NETWORK1 TO NAME JU/ A FEW EXAMPLES4 ,& BECAUSE ( DIRECT RELATION%IPS ( SOLID>ITY ) 9T]NATIONAL /RUGGLES1 :5 ! PACIFI/S TRY TO HIJACK ! /ORY ( ! ,>AB ,SPR+ OR ! UPRIS+ 9 ,ICEL& TO TRY & /E] ! MOVEM5T 9 ,B>CELONA T[>DS LEGALISM & CIVILITY1 PEOPLE ) FRI5DS & COMRADES 9 ,CAIRO OR ,REYKJAVIK CAN REM9D EV]YONE ?AT ?OSE REVOLTS W]E F\LY TO DECL>E VICTORY4 ,IT SEEMS ?AT 9 MANY CITIES 9 ! ,U,S1 ! OCCUPY MOVEM5T IS M>K$ BY A C]TA9 *AUV9ISM ?AT AT MO/ TAKES SOME 9SPIRATION FROM /RUGGLES 9 O!R P>TS ( ! WORLD1 )\T TAK+ ANY CRITICAL LESSONS4 ,! IDEA ( 0TAK+ BACK ,AM]ICA0 IS A TRI$ & TRUE /RATEGY = SELF-DEFEAT3 CREAT+ A FICTIVE COMMUNITY ?AT 9 REALITY 9CLUDES CONFLICT+ 9T]E/S & CONFLICT+ DESIRES & WILL 9EVITABLY BE DIRECT$ BY ITS MO/ P[]FUL ELEM5TS4 ,ACTUALLY1 ONE NE$ NOT EV5 LOOK TO O!R C\NTRIES TO F9D ! PROBLEM ) ?IS SORT ( POPULISM4 ,GEORGE ,WA%+TON & ,JAMES ,MADISON W]E AMONG ! RI*E/ 9HABITANTS ( ! ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN COLONIES4 ,!Y US$ A UNIFY+ PATRIOTISM TO :IP ! F>M]S & LABOR]S 9TO A FR5ZY1 DO ! FIM]S' REBELLIONS ?AT ROSE UP TO CONTE/ ?IS QUIET C\NT]REVOLUTION4 ,NEI!R DID !Y BL9K1 SO SOON AFT] !IR PRETTY TALK AB\T 0LIB]TY10 :ILE CONT9U+ !IR POLICY ( G5OCIDE AGA9/ ,NATIVE ,AM]ICANS & 5SLAVEM5T ( KIDNAPP$ ,AFRICANS4 ,! ,AM]ICAN ID5TITY NE$S TO BE *ALL5G$ AS ONE ( ! OLDE/ TOOLS = GETT+ ! MIDDLE & L[] SECTORS ( ,U,S SOCIETY TO BETRAY !MSELVES & HELP PU% D[N ?OSE :O >E EV5 L[] 9 ! HI]>*Y4 ,! ,U,S C\LD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE CREAT$ ! L>GE/ WEAL? GAP 9 ! SO-CALL$ DEVELOP$ WORLD )\T ! COMPLICITY ( L>GE P>TS ( ! POPULATION4 ,JU/ BEL[ ! #a.01 !RE >E PL5TY ( PEOPLE LOOK+ = A LEG UP1 & !Y'RE MORE ?AN HAPPY TO PRET5D !Y'RE JU/ LIKE EV]YONE ELSE IF IT LETS !M %AKE A FEW MORE APPLES FROM ! TREE4 ,ANO!R DISADVANTAGE ?AT NE$S TO BE OV]COME 9 ! ,U,S IS ! NE> TOTAL ABS5CE ( PLACE4 ,H>DLY ANYONE IS FROM ANY:]E1 & MO/ PLACES >E BUILT ACCORD+ TO ! NE$S ( PLANN$ OBSOLESC5CE1 SO ?AT LOCAL ID5TITIES B>ELY HAVE ANY COMMON F\NDATION FROM ONE DECADE TO ! NEXT4 ,! L&SCAPE ITSELF IS CON/ANTLY DISSOLV+4 ,9 ! ,U,S1 PEOPLE >E BORN 9TO PREC>ITY & =C$ MOBILITY4 ,9 ! PA/1 ! MO/ EXTREME CASES1 ! TRAMPS1 DEVELOP$ !IR [N NOMAD CULTURE1 & !SE TRAMPS W]E A MAJOR =CE 9 ,U,S LABOR /RUGGLES AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! #b? C5TURY1 MAK+ UP A L>GE P>T ( ! ,9DU/RIAL ,WORK]S ( ! ,WORLD1 TO NAME AN EXAMPLE4 ,BUT EV5 ?IS HAS BE5 M>G9ALIZ$ OR MADE TO DISAPPE>4 ,?IS ALI5ATION ( PLACE CANNOT BE ACCEPT$ ) RESIGNATION AS A SIMPLE FEATURE ( ,AM]ICAN SOCIETY4 ,IT IS ! DIRECT RESULT ( CAPITALI/ /RATEGIES ( ACCUMULATION & ,/ATE /RATEGIES ( REPRESSION4 ,H[ MANY TIMES HAS ! ,U,S GOV]NM5T US$ ! =C$ 9T]NAL RELOCATION ( OPPRESS$ GR\PS AS AN EXPLICIT /RATEGY = SOCIAL CONTROL8 ,! ONLY C\NTRY ,I CAN ?9K ( ?AT HAS DONE ?IS MORE IS ,*9A 7GO+ BACK1 9T]E/+LY 5\<1 ?R\< ! ,COMMUNI/ P]IOD ALL ! WAY TO ! E>LY DYNA/IES74 ,9 ORD] TO OV]COME ! SEV]E DISADVANTAGES CREAT$ BY ! D5IAL ( PLACE1 ,AM]ICAN REBELS & REVOLUTION>IES NE$ TO HOLD ON TO !IR LOCALE = DE> LIFE1 PREV5T ITS P]IODIC RECON/RUCTION OR G5TRIFICATION1 & PUT D[N ROOTS4 ,! IDEA ( 0,AM]ICAN0 AS A HOMOG5\S1 UNIT+ IDEAL & X5OPHOBIC S5SE ( SPECIALNESS NE$S TO BE ]OD$ 9 FAVOR ( LOCAL CULTURES & GLOBAL AW>5ESS4 ,! PROGRESSIVE BUMP] /ICK] CLI*E AB\T 0?9K+ GLOBALLY0 IS NOT 5\<4 ,PEOPLE ALSO NE$ TO UND]/& !MSELVES AS P>T ( ?OSE GLOBAL /RUGGLES1 ABLE TO 9FLU5CE & BE 9FLU5C$ BY !M4 ,TAKE ,PUBLIC ,SPACE ,B>CELONA IS A CITY ) A LONG HI/ORY ( POPUL> LIFE 9 PUBLIC SPACE4 ,*RIS ,EALHAM1 9 ,AN>*ISM 9 ! ,CITY1 DESCRIBES H[ WORK]S PU%$ 9TO OV]CR[D$ SLUM H\S+ AT ! 5D ( ! #a#i? C5TURY CONV]T$ ! /REETS 9TO !IR LIV+ ROOMS1 CREAT+ AN 9DISP5SABLE F\NDATION = ! 9=MAL NEIPLY & EFFECTIVELY UND]M9$ BY ! DEMOCRATIC REGIME />T+ AT ! 5D ( ! '#gS4 ,! ,OLYMPIC ,GAMES ( '#i#b PROVID$ A MAJOR BOO/ TO COMM]CIAL URBANIZATION1 & ! CIVIC BEHAVIOR ORD9ANCES1 PASS$ 9 ,CATALUNYA AFT] CONSULTATION ) EX-,N,Y,C MAYOR ,RUDI ,GIULIANI1 MICELONA WAS FA/ CLOS+ 9 ON ! ,AM]ICAN MODEL ( ! TOTAL PRIVATIZATION ( PUBLIC SPACE ?AT NOT ONLY PROHIBITS--BUT ALSO 9/ALLS NEW URBAN >*ITECTURE TO 5G9E] \T ( EXI/5CE--ANYONE :O IS NOT A CONSUM] 9 MOTION4 ,! NEIE />T+ TO REV]SE ?IS PROCESS1 DRAW+ ON POPUL> MEMORY ( ! WAY ?+S US$ TO BE1 & >*ITECTURAL REMNANTS SU* AS C5TRAL PLAZAS 9 EA* NEI GREAT] SIMIL>ITY ) ,U,S URBAN SPACES & HAVE NO PLAZAS TAKE ADVANTAGE ( WELL POSITION$ P>KS4 ,BY HOLD+ !IR MEET+S \TSIDE1 )\T P]MISSION1 ! NEIE ]OD+ GOV]NM5T & COMM]CIAL SOV]EIGNTY OV] PUBLIC SPACE & CREAT+ A VISIBLE REF]5T = SELF-ORGANIZATION4 ,EV5 ?\< ONLY FIFTY PEOPLE MITICIPATE 9 A P>TICUL> ASSEMBLY1 ?\S&S SEE ?AT IT EXI/S1 & ?IS *ANGES !IR P]CEPTION ( :AT IS NORMAL & :AT IS POSSIBLE4 ,?IS IS NO SMALL ACCOMPLI%M5T4 ,IF SOMEONE W]E TO WRITE ! DEF9ITIVE HI/ORY ( CAPITALISM1 ! #b? C5TURY'S 5CLOSURE ( PUBLIC SPACE W\LD M]IT AS MU* ATT5TION AS ! 5CLOSURE ( COMMUNAL L&S HUNDR$S ( YE>S AGO1 ?AT ALL[$ CAPITALISM TO DEVELOP 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,! ,U,S1 ONCE AGA91 IS AT A DISADVANTAGE 9 ?IS RESPECT4 ,:]EAS ALL ,EUROPEAN CITIES W]E ORIG9ALLY DESIGN$ = DEF5SE & AT A C]TA9 PO9T !Y HAD TO BE R$ESIGN$ TO PUT ! W\LD-BE 9VAD] AT AN ADVANTAGE1 ?US ALL[+ >MIES TO EASILY REOCCUPY CITIES--IT WASN'T ONLY ,P>IS1 AFT] ALL1 ?AT HAD ITS COMMUNE--,U,S CITIES W]E DESIGN$ FROM ! />T ACCORD+ TO ! NE$S ( ,CAPITAL4 ,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT ,CAPITAL & ! POLICE =CES ( SOCIAL CONTROL EXP]I5CE CONV]G+ NE$S4 ,NONE!LESS1 PUBLIC SPACE DOES EXI/ 9 ! ,U,S1 H[EV] 9CONV5I5T ITS %APE1 & IT MU/ BE TAK5 = POPUL> /RUGGLES TO ADVANCE4 ,! OCCUPY MOVEM5T IS CLE>LY BREAK+ GR\ND 9 ?IS RESPECT1 AL?\< ! EMB>RASS+ HABIT 9 SEV]AL CITIES ( ASK+ = P]MISSION = :AT IS SUPPOS$ TO BE AN OCCUPATION 5DANG]S ANY GA9S ?AT HAVE BE5 WON4 ,BREAK ,\T ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,IDEOLOGY ,9 MANY O!R CITIES1 LEAD+ ACTIVI/S 9 ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T SUCCE$$ 9 IMPOS+ PACIFI/1 POPULI/1 & DEMOCRATIC LIMITS TO ! PLAZA OCCUPATIONS1 MEAN+ ?AT AN>*I/S & O!R RADICALS W]E EXPELL$1 :ILE FASCI/S1 AMONG O!RS1 W]E 9CLUD$4 ,BUT 9 ,B>CELONA1 ?ANKS P]HAPS TO ! ,CATALAN SPIRIT ( 9DEP5D5CE1 ! OCCUPATION MA9TA9$ AN AUTONOM\S *>ACT] FROM ! BEG9N+1 DEFEAT+ AN EXPLICIT ATTEMPT BY W\LD-BE LEAD]S TO IMPOSE A N>R[ PROGRAM4 ,NOT CO9CID5TALLY1 ! ,B>CELONA OCCUPATION MA9TA9$ A GREAT] HET]OG5EITY & A GREAT] =CE ?AN MO/ O!R CITIES' OCCUPATIONS4 ,& S9CE !N1 ! NEW MOVEM5T HAS BE5 L>GELY REABSORB$ 9TO A BROAD]1 OLD]1 & MORE 9TELLIG5T MOVEM5T ) MU* DEEP] ROOTS3 NAMELY1 ! ANTICAPITALI/ MOVEM5T4 ,)9 ! NEIE 9T]WOV5 ) WORKPLACE /RUGGLES & ! FIY VISIONS4 ,JU/ A BRIEF SC5E FROM \R MEET+ ON ,W$NESDAY NIE4 ,?IS TIME1 9/EAD ( ! USUAL PLAZA1 WE W]E MEET+ 9 FRONT ( ! NE>BY HOSPITAL ?AT IS BE+ =C$ TO CLOSE D[N OR PRIVATIZE4 ,CAPRICI\SLY1 WE HAD DECID$ TO HOLD ! ASSEMBLY 9 ! 9T]SECTION ( TWO /REETS1 %UTT+ D[N TRAFFIC TO CUT D[N ON ! NOISE1 W9 SPACE = \R MEET+1 & MO/ ( ALL1 JU/ BECAUSE WE WANT$ TO1 TO DEMON/RATE ?AT ! CITY WAS \RS4 ,AT ONE PO9T1 A Y\NG] P]SON SPOKE ( ! NE$ TO REMEMB] \R PRISON]S & ! PEOPLE FAC+ TRIAL = FIRASS+ POLITICIANS DUR+ ! ,P>LIAM5T BLOCKADE1 & NOT JU/ TO REMEMB] !M TODAY BUT TO REMEMB] & SUPPORT !M A YE> FROM N[1 & AS LONG AS !RE >E PRISON]S4 ,EV]YBODY APPLAUD$4 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 A WOMAN 9 H] #fS SPOKE ( ! NE$ TO 9CREASE \R =CES1 TO FID]1 TO GET \T ( CONTROL1 TO DO :ATEV] IT TAKES TO %UT ?IS SY/EM D[N4 ,PEOPLE *E]$ L\DLY4 ,ANO!R SPEAK] REM>K$ ON ! NE$ TO SUPPORT ! /RUGGLE BEYOND ANY S+LE ISSUE1 AS IMPORTANT AS ! PROBLEM ( HEAL?C>E IS1 BECAUSE 9 TRU? WE W]E /RUGGL+ AGA9/ CAPITALISM4 ,ANO!R URG$ EV]YONE TO BOYCOTT ! UPCOM+ ELECTIONS4 ,ONLY ONE ( !SE PEOPLE1 AS F> AS ,I KN[1 WAS AN AN>*I/1 BUT NO POLITICAL DIVISION WAS VISIBLE4 ,ALL ( US W]E JU/ NEITY1 !Y MIE NOT OP5 TO EV]YONE4 ,!Y >E NOT SPACES = FASCI/S1 = POLITICIANS1 = J\RNALI/S 7AT LEA/ 9 ! CASE ( SOME NEIE PLACES = BUILD+ A /RUGGLE AGA9/ CAPITALISM1 AMONG ?OSE ( US :O >E ANGRY & :O RESPECT ! PR9CIPLE ( SOLID>ITY4 ,AS SU*1 !Y FLY 9 ! FACE ( DEMOCRATIC FUNDAM5TALS SU* AS EQUAL RITICIPATION4 ,AS MU* AS ! IDEOLOGUES ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY TRY TO HIDE ! CONFLICT BETWE5 ! NOTION ( RI\ND ?IS FACT4 ,! PR9CIPLES ( DEMOCRACY W]E DRAFT$ BY ELITES 9T]E/$ 9 M$IAT+ CLASS CONFLICT & ALL[+ ! PRES]VATION ( A CLASS SOCIETY4 ,A /RUGGLE1 TO *ALL5GE ! F\NDATIONS ( ?IS SY/EM1 MU/ BE ANTIDEMOCRATIC4 ,:ILE ! ALT]NATIVE M$IA HAVE G5]ALLY TAK5 A CUE FROM ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T'S SELF-APPO9T$ LEAD]S & DESCRIB$ IT1 9 ! WORDS ( !SE LEAD]S1 AS A MOVEM5T = 0REAL DEMOCRACY N[10 ! *ANTS 9 ! PROTE/S & ! COMM5TS 9 ! ASSEMBLIES LEAVE NO D\BT--AT LEA/ 9 ,B>CELONA1 :]E ?IS MOVEM5T IS /RONGE/--PEOPLE >E 9CREAS+LY AB&ON+ ! CONCEPT ( DEMOCRACY & MOV+ T[>DS A GR[+ ANTICAPITALI/ CONS5SUS4 ,!RE IS /ILL PL5TY ( DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC 9 ! MOVEM5T1 BUT EV]Y MON? IT SEEMS TO WANE1 & 9 ! MO/ ACTIVE1 DYNAMIC NEI$ OPPOSITION TO CAPITALISM4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! CITIES ?AT HELD ON TO A DEMOCRATIC IDEOLOGY QUICKLY WA/$ !IR 5]GIES4 ,?IS %\LD NOT BE A SURPRISE4 ,MOVEM5TS ?AT HOPE TO BR+ TOGE!R FASCI/S & IMMIGRANTS1 ?AT HOPE TO 9SPIRE PEOPLE BY DRAFT+ PETITIONS TO !IR LEAD]S1 ?AT ASK US TO RESPECT ! LAWS CREAT$ BY ?OSE :O RULE US1 ?AT UND]WRITE ! POLICE'S MONOPOLY ON =CE1 ?AT 9SI/ ON AN >TIFICIAL UNITY MA9TA9$ BY 9T]M9ABLE1 PROCESS-HEAVY & EASILY MANIPULAT$ MEET+S RA!R ?AN TRU/+ ! 9TELLIG5CE ( DEC5TRALIZATION & PEOPLE'S [N ABILITY = SELF-ORGANIZATION1 >E DE/9$ TO FAIL4 ,:ILE WE MU/ BE 9CREAS+LY COMMUNICATIVE TO OV]COME SOCIAL ISOLATION1 POPULISM %\LD BE %UNN$ LIKE ! PLAGUE4 ,WE DO \RSELVES NO FAVOR BY DUMB+ D[N \R ANALYSIS1 :ILE WE DO MAKE /RATEGIC ]RORS MORE LIKELY4 ,NOT ONLY IS POPULISM C\NT]PRODUCTIVE1 IT CAN BE DANG]\S AS WELL4 ,AT A PEAK ( ! GLOBAL ANTICAPITALI/ /RUGGLE 9 ! #a#i#bS1 FASCISM APPE>$ )9 ! BELLY ( ! MOVEM5T4 ,AL?\< FASCISM IS ID5TIFI$ AS A RIY /RUGGLES4 ,! PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEM5T PREV5TS ! WOR/ ( FASCISM BY PROMOT+ TOL]ANCE1 BUT 9 MANY PLACES IT HAS ALREADY WON ! F9ANC+ ( =W>D-LOOK+ ELITES1 HIJACK$ GR[+ /RUGGLES & /E]$ !M 9 POPULI/1 SELF-DEFEAT+ DIRECTIONS1 & M>G9ALIZ$ MORE RADICAL ELEM5TS1 DIRECTLY ASSI/+ 9 !IR REPRESSION4 ,FROM ! V]Y ORIG9S ( ! DEMOCRATIC CONCEPT1 0RULE BY ! PEOPLE0 HAS ALWAYS BE5 A WAY TO 9CREASE P>TICIPATION 9 ! PROJECT ( GOV]NM5T1 & 0! PEOPLE0 HAVE ALWAYS EXCLUD$ CLASSES ( SLAVES & =EIGN]S1 :E!R 9SIDE OR \TSIDE ( NATIONAL B\ND>IES4 ,! QUE/ION ( FRE$OM LIES NOT 9 :O RULES1 BUT :E!R ANYONE IS RUL$1 OR :E!R ALL >E SELF-ORGANIZ+4 ,9 ?IS RESPECT1 PEOPLE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES HAVE A GREAT ADVANTAGE OV] ?OSE 9 ,B>CELONA4 ,! ,SPANI% /ATE HAS EXP]I5C$ DEMOCRACY = LESS ?AN =TY YE>S1 & ! TRANSITION FROM DICTATOR%IP WAS A CLE> CASE ( %UFFL+ ! C>DS1 ) FASCI/S BECOM+ CONS]VATIVES & ! ,SOCIALI/S BE+ ALL[$ 9TO GOV]NM5T AS LONG AS !Y DIDN'T TRY TO *ANGE ! GR\ND RULES 9H]IT$ FROM ! E>LI] SY/EM4 ,HI/ORICALLY SPEAK+1 IT'S AN EASY MI/AKE = PEOPLE H]E TO MAKE1 CALL+ = A 0REAL0 DEMOCRACY AS ?\< !IR [N W]E SOMEH[ FALSE1 OR ANY DIFF]5T FROM ANY O!R DEMOCRACY ANY:]E ELSE ON ! PLANET4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES IS ! OLDE/ CONT9U\S DEMOCRACY ON ! PLANET4 ,PEOPLE !RE HAVE NO EXCUSE = MISUND]/&+ ! NATURE ( DEMOCRACY4 ,9 FACT1 AMONG ! APOLITICAL MAJORITY1 !RE MAY WELL BE A GREAT] CONTEMPT = POLITICIANS & = GOV]NM5T 9 G5]AL ?AN 9 MO/ O!R C\NTRIES4 ,! WELF>E /ATES ( NOR!RN ,EUROPE1 = EXAMPLE1 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY UND]M9$ POPUL> AUTONOMY & CREAT$ A POPULATION ( DEP5D5TS & SYCOPHANTS ?AT1 EV5 TODAY1 9 ! FACE ( GR[+ ABUSE & GOV]NM5TAL FASCISM1 SEEM UNABLE TO CON/ITUTE POPUL> /RUGGLES4 ,?IS 9NATE ,AM]ICAN ANTIAU?ORIT>IANISM1 ?\< IT T5DS TO REMA9 9 SELF-DE/RUCTIVE OR 9]T =MS1 C\LD TRANS=M 9TO AN IMPORTANT +R$I5T = POPUL> /RUGGLES4 ,9 G5]AL1 PEOPLE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES FACE SEV]E DISADVANTAGES 9 FI /RUGGLES ( PA/ G5]ATIONS W]E BRUTALLY CRU%$ & CRITICAL LESSONS W]E NOT PASS$ ON4 ,PEOPLE HAVE TO />T FROM SCRAT* 9 A SOCIETY CON/RUCT$ TO MEET ! NE$S ( MONEY4 ,9 P>T BECAUSE ( ?IS1 PEOPLE 9 ! ,U,S HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO 9FLU5CE /RUGGLES WORLDWIDE1 %\LD !Y OV]COME ! OB/ACLES & TURN !SE PROTE/S 9TO SOME?+ P[]FUL4 ,ONE ?+ IS = SURE3 9 ! NEICELONA1 PEOPLE HAVE BE5 :ISP]+ TO EA* O!R1 0,N[1 !RE'S EV5 OCCUPATIONS />T+ 9 ! ,U,S4 ,SOME?+ REALLY BIG MU/ BE HAPP5+60 ,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,JANU>Y #b1 #bba 3 ,REFLECTIONS = ! ,U,S ,OCCUPY ,MOVEM5T -- ,ADD$4 ,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,REFLECTIONS = ! ,U,S ,OCCUPY ,MOVEM5T -- ,UPDAT$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/