They Can’t Kill Our Spirits: Post-G20 State Repression in Southern Ontario -By Millefolium

BLOG POST posted on May 21, 2011 by Insurgent G

They Can't Kill our Spirit

Taken from FTTP #11

Also posted on antiprisonvancouver.wordpress.com

Repression Is Inevitable

The recent wave of repression against anarchists in Southern Ontario comes as no surprise considering recent anarchist organizing in the region. Anarchists have been strengthening bonds with each other and with indigenous communities in struggle; blocking roads, rails and construction projects; expanding anti-prison solidarity; attacking collaborators of capitalism; solidifying a relationship of conflict with the police; and mobilizing large numbers quickly for diverse actions and events.

Repression is the State’s defense and anarchists are in open conflict with the State. We exist in a system that has seemingly endless resources to maintain domination. With the growing strength of anarchists, state repression will intensify no matter how “safe” the practices are of those involved. That being said, it’s important to be taking intelligent steps towards keeping ourselves safe while understanding that repression is inevitable. Tactics of state repression, support and solidarity, police infiltration and the consequences: these are some discussions it is important to share with anarchists worldwide to inspire and learn from each other. In the years to come, more of our friends and loved ones will be imprisoned. Rather than submit to the State’s attempts at isolating and disempowering us, this can increase our willingness to fight.

Recent Blows

The G20 (Group of 20 world leaders) met in Toronto in June 2010. The Canadian State spent over $1 billion on security, transforming the terrain downtown to a militarized zone of police control. Protests throughout the week reached a climax on Saturday, June 26, at the biggest demonstration. There was a break-away confrontational bloc that successfully thwarted police control efforts, attacking banks, burning and smashing police vehicles and destroying property of rich corporations. Over 1,000 people were arrested through mass-arrests, house raids and snatch squads. Perhaps most notable are those facing conspiracy charges for allegedly organizing protests, and those facing serious criminal charges for alleged actions in the black bloc and other confrontations.

There are currently 18 people, mostly anarchists, facing conspiracy charges including: conspiracy to commit mischief over $5,000, conspiracy to assault police, and conspiracy to obstruct police. They are alleged to have organized protests, most are accused of being members of “Southern Ontario Anarchist Resistance.” The entire case is based on allegations from two undercover police (see a later section of this article). None of the defendants are currently in jail, although a few spent months behind bars awaiting bail. Their conditions include house arrest, however this is in the process of being loosened for most of them. The Crown Attorney (prosecution) is looking for prison sentences of up to 6 years for each defendant. The trial will probably be sometime in 2012, until then the defendants remain under strict bail conditions. Others with serious criminal charges for alleged actions in the protests have also spent significant periods of time in jail and are mostly out on house arrest.

These criminal charges are part of a State strategy to criminalize anarchist ideas and weaken us. With conspiracy charges, it never has to be proven that anything actually happened – convictions would result if the court decides that there was a common agreement among these individuals. Similar charges have been used throughout the United States, such as with the RNC8. The problem is not with these particular charges being used, nor the hundreds of unlawful arrests, nor with the especially harsh bail conditions; these are all awful actions by the State and make our lives more difficult, but the problem is with the entire system and how it rules over our lives. If the fight against repression is contained in the courts – then the State would have this victory. We definitely need to support people who are forced through this court process, and we are, but we also need to remember that the court is their game, not ours.

Support and Solidarity

Examining again the idea that repression is inevitable, we come to a discussion about how to overcome it – how to actually gain strength and momentum from it’s brutal blows. How does repression determine where we put our energy? How do we avoid being recuperated by courts? How do we denounce repression in its totality, not to come off as victims of isolated power abuses? How do we balance support for our friends, taking care of ourselves, and our desire for revolutionary solidarity? How do we keep our hearts from going numb and our minds from giving up? How do we embrace and overcome the fear that keeps us from acting? How do we sustain a continuous anarchist struggle throughout decades and generations? Each of these questions have infinite answers to perpetually discuss, across borders and ideologies, to continuously gain clarity through our learning experiences.

Supporting people who are targeted by State repression is crucial. We support people because we love them and respect their struggle. We support people because it could be us tomorrow. Revolutionary solidarity is the continuation and intensification of a struggle; it is both for oneself and for inspiring others; it is a strategy to overcome repression. If repression can act as a catalyst for effective action against capitalism, then the State has failed its attempts at killing our struggle and our fighting spirits.

Sustaining struggle is not possible without both support and solidarity. Without support, our friends are left isolated and uninspired. Without solidarity, the struggle has been successfully recuperated by the State. Support and solidarity together have the capacity to create an uncontrollable situation in which the State’s tactics of repression are ineffective. Our love and rage at this world are strengthened and clarified. People who ‘go down’ know that they will not be isolated or forgotten. Our loving relationships are strengthened and more able to overcome hard-ship, and people are much more likely to continue fighting. If we create cross-generational communities where struggle is as crucial to well-being as land and water, then repression would be much less paralyzing because struggle and community is what one lives for.

Anarchist Responses and Opportunities

The struggles in Ontario are continuing. Many people have been spending time reflecting on and healing from the experience of being infiltrated for a year and a half and the ensuing State punishment. Many people had not experienced repression felt on such a personal and collective level before. Within this healing process, solidarity amongst anarchists across the continent has taken the face of attack, wherein several banks have been happily served rocks through their windows and paint on their walls. Continuing with the practice of making our presence as anarchists physically known to prisoners within our region, a noise demo was held outside of the Maplehurst/Vanier Complex in July while our known comrades were inside. Noise demos also were held across Canada on August 10th (Prisoner Justice Day) and on New Year’s Eve – although not directly linked with the G20, they are a continuation of a growing anti-prison struggle that is inherently linked with the ongoing struggle against state repression.

The above actions, along with many other social anarchist actions, have prevented us from being completely isolated and paralyzed. A shortfall of anarchists post-G20 is the lack of a visible denunciation of police and the entire system, the prison-world, in its entirety. The G20 repression was widely felt – from the dozens of new cameras in downtown to the mass arrests, random beatings and huge police presence. It pissed a lot of people off. More visible propaganda– posters, pamphlets, graffiti, etcetera, anarchist blocs at demos, and other visible action could potentially mobilize more people. Not surprisingly, liberals have so far been able to dominate the post-G20 dissent, spouting police accountability rhetoric and denouncing the anarchists. We need to find ways to empower ourselves by expressing our ideas and clarifying where we stand.

Organizing and Undercover Police

Anarchists in Ontario certainly aren’t facing a new phenomenon. For as long as there has been resistance, the State has gathered intelligence, using its power to put out the flames of revolt. For as long as the State has punished those who resist, people have continued to struggle. Police infiltration is a very common tactic of State around the world. For a year and a half before the G20 there were two undercover police officers who infiltrated anarchist networks in Southern Ontario (Guelph, Kitchener, Toronto, etcetera), including those organizing protests against the G20.

The Ontario Provincial Police are currently investigating the outing of these two pigs, hoping to press criminal charges of ‘obstructing justice.’ This article will not go into more detail about them specifically and instead will briefly outline lessons learned the hard way in Ontario, lessons that are relevant for anyone in conflict with the State. This only expresses a small fraction of the discussions about undercover police and is in no way a complete analysis.

If a group or meeting is public or widely known, or if people in a group aren’t very close, an important practice is to assume that someone is a cop. This doesn’t mean just looking around the room and trying to figure out who they are. Holding your tongue and not talking about anything you wouldn’t want read back to you in court is a place to start. Look out for your friends and warn them if they’re talking sketchy. Before a meeting, one could announce that there could be a cop or the room could be bugged to remind less experienced folks or those who tend to run their mouths that we are a target of surveillance and infiltration.

Be clear about whether a group is “above ground” or “underground” and use practices based on longterm trust and affinity if it’s decided to keep your organizing secret. It is very risky for a relatively open group to switch to organizing more sketchy/illegal activities. Be clear with everyone about intentions and agree on appropriate security practices. If a group of people can’t agree, then they probably shouldn’t organize together.

If someone is acting particularly sketchy – talk about it with people you trust and maybe decide to get them the fuck out of there. Many anarchists will argue that it’s damaging to exclude people if it isn’t 100% confirmed that they’re a pig. This idea can be equally damaging because it alienates and disempowers people with suspicions or gut feelings. Take your friends seriously if they have suspicions of infiltration. Instead of outing or banning someone, it could be explained to them that people need to get to know them better before organizing with them. Have discussions with trusted friends about people you don’t know and do your research to see how their story lines up. Discuss tactics of police infiltration with your friends and ways that you could respond to it.

G20 Support

There are many ways to support G20 defendants. Take these discussions back to your friends and community if you find them relevant, and continue to resist capitalism and the State. If you are inclined to donate funds, it is important to distinguish between the two different G20 fundraising efforts. One is organized by activists in Toronto, the “G20 Legal Defense Fund”. It has the most money and defendants apply for access to it through a lengthy application. Defendants have not seen the money so far because the decision-making process for the group took months to figure out. The process is rolling now and defendants should see money sometime in spring 2011. Anybody who has criminal charges from the G20 protests can apply to get money from this fund. The Guelph ABC has more recently established an “ABC G20 Support Fund” which has recognized the need defendants have for immediate financial support. It is organized less formally with a less bureaucratic process. Legal costs, transportation costs, forwarding mail, reading materials, and everyday costs are some of the things this fund is covering. Defendants have much faster access to the money. This fund is prioritized for people facing the most serious charges. The Guelph ABC also has a post office box through which mail is being forwarded to defendants.

For a pamphlet and info on ABC G20 Support, visit: guelphprisonersolidarity.wordpress.com
For ongoing updates about repression in Ontario: torontoabc.wordpress.com
For information on the Toronto G20 Legal Defense Fund: g20.torontomobilize.org