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Blog entries by Niki Thorne

Demystifying Anarchism: A response to the ongoing villianization of anarchists
posted by Niki Thorne

Demystifying Anarchism: A response to the ongoing villainization of anarchists

By Niki Thorne

Over the past month, we have been shown the same several moments of news clips over and over again: black clad anarchists and burning cop cars: anarchism portrayed as destruction, chaos, and mayhem. A number of anarchists have been preemptively arrested, targeted, and held in maximum security prison, some for more than a month as they await drawn out bail hearings.  Several of these people were taken from their homes and the homes of friends in pre-dawn raids, before any of the vandalism on Saturday occurred.  Crown attorneys are contesting bail, calling for the continuing imprisonment of these activists.  While I cannot comment directly on the nature of the evidence due to a publication ban, I do feel confident in asserting that this trial is not about the mere smashing of windows, but has heavy political implications. 

In this article, I aim to discuss anarchism within the context of the multiple meanings that it holds for anarchist communities, in an attempt to dispel some of the current and pervasive myths and (mis)representations that surround anarchism. I do so as an anarchist and a researcher, drawing from conversations with friends from southern Ontario, including some of those who are currently being targeted.  As of writing, some of those who’s words and ideas went into this document are sitting in maximum security prison on charges of conspiracy, having been denied bail.  Others are subject to stringent bail conditions, unable to leave their homes, associate with their friends, or so much as use the internet without the supervision of a surety.   

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To begin: What is anarchism?  As historian George Woodcock notes:

“Anarchism, indeed, is both various and mutable, and in the historical perspective it presents the appearance, not of a swelling stream flowing on to its sea of destiny…but rather water percolating through porous grounds—here forming for a time a strong underground current, there gathering into a swirling pool, trickling through crevices, disappearing from sight, and then re-emerging where the cracks in the social structure may offer it a course to run.  As a doctrine it changes...

The G20 in Toronto: An open letter to family and friends who weren't there.
posted by Niki Thorne

Introduction

What went on in Toronto during the G20 was incredibly traumatic for many of us.  We lived under fear of being beaten at peaceful protests, of being thrown into jail for nothing more than walking around in the city.  We were scared when our friends didn’t come home or return phone calls because in some cases they had been grabbed from the streets and thrown into unmarked vans by plainclothed police officers who didn’t identify themselves.  We had tasers pointed at us, we were shot at with ‘less lethal munitions’ at point blank range.  Some of us were sexually harassed or assaulted by groups of armed police officers while locked up, with no recourse. We were pulled out of bed by police who had broken into our homes without showing us warrants.  Some at gunpoint. The city was unsafe.  We are still traumatized.  Those of you who were not here: We need you to read this.  We need you to realize what happened, and we need you to take it seriously.

First, why did we even protest the G20?

The G20 is the meeting of 20 leaders from the 20 richest countries in the world.  They meet to discuss and implement economic policies.  There is no administrative body, and the G20 is accountable to no one. The one thing that came out of this G20 meeting in Toronto was an agreement on ‘austerity measures’. 

In a nutshell, austerity measures is another way of saying cuts to public spending in order to bail out banks and corporations, which are the reasons for economic crisis in the first place. 

A lot of people have been talking about neoliberalism.  Neoliberalism is a cluster of policies or an ideology based on belief in the free market: that the market can best regulate itself, and should not be subject to interference.  This includes taking for granted the assumption that capitalism is a good thing and that it’s necessary.  Capitalist enterprises such as corporations involve increasing profit by whatever means necessary: the responsibility of corporations is to their stockholders, not to those who are affected by corporate policies. 

For example, a U.S. based oil company with operations in Ecuador is responsible by law to its stockholders, and...

On Police Intimidation in Toronto
posted by Niki Thorne

In the past two weeks, I have experienced much that I feel has designed to break me, to silence me, and to scare me into submission.

I have had police break into my home, terrorize my friends, pull a gun on my neighbour, and tear a dear friend from our lives. I have been stopped, detained, and searched multiple times without cause or consent: our car swarmed in the middle of a busy Toronto intersection, told to get out, put our hands on the car and to spread our legs while being patted down and called "sweetie". I have had perfectly legal items, like ear plugs, confiscated while being illegally searched, and other belongings broken by the police, who have repeatedly affirmed that I have no rights and that they do not care that they are breaking their own laws.

I have had batons swung in my direction and tasers pointed me during peaceful demonstrations, striking those next to me, while we chanted "We are peaceful, how 'bout you?" We have been boxed in and threatened by heavily armed riot cops in situations where police have already demonstrated their overwhelming unaccountability. My friends have been beaten, arrested and detained, most without being given any cause. Some have disappeared into unmarked vans, and have not been heard from for days, as they are delayed legal counsel and even medical attention. Some have been targeted as scapegoats, political prisoners, and are still being held as terrorists in maximum security prison complexes. Some have been denied bail for thought crimes, words, seemingly without consideration of the merits of the evidence for their 'conspiracy' charges. I have heard them demeaned and insulted by allegations that the crown repeatedly asserts are not political in nature.

Despite all this, I will not be intimidated. I will not stop calling for equality and anti-oppression. I will not stop standing in solidarity with those who's rights are trampled for profit. Condemnations of profit over people is not a vague, insubstantial allegation. In the case of the G20 meetings in Toronto, tax money has been used to repress those who resist and to bail out banking institutions while billions worldwide suffer. A smaller, more concrete example from my own research and friendships: land is stolen from Six Nations for the benefit of the developers and the Crown while Haudenosaunee people are denied their rights under the Haldimand proclamation, and their forms of governance are...

Other posts by Niki Thorne

"Truth and Reconciliation" Rally, Caledonia/Six Nations, Feb 27, 2011
2 pm court support: The targeting continues. G20 related arrest in Waterloo

Comments posted by Niki Thorne

love and solidarity. in response to AW@L Radio - July 16th - More G20 Follow-Up...

Users Niki Thorne trusts

SandraCuffe
Dan Kellar
Tyler Shipley
alex hundert
Megan Kinch

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