I believe strongly in the need for activism and protest. Such actions should be well thought out and have a purpose. I believe that our government, as well as governments around the world, don’t always act on behalf of the people. That brings about the need for protest, so we take to the streets to voice our opinions.
I [want] to address the so-called and self-described “Asheville 11.” The actions on May 1 did not target the state or federal government, but instead targeted private property, storefronts, an ATM, some newspaper boxes and parked cars — all totally random and absurd acts in the shadow of the “evil” Grove Arcade. No letter of intent [was issued] prior to the action — an action that, in my view, mocked and belittled the very need for real action and protest, regardless of who actually [perpetrated] the actions.
If the Asheville 11 are all totally innocent, why isn’t there a push within the community for those responsible to step up? If the Asheville 11 are your “comrades” and you seek “solidarity,” then why don’t the brothers and sisters who really did [the damage] step up? If you are innocent, why make a statement after the fact for solidarity? Why lash out at the corrupt system when you are at its mercy?
The fact is, something really stupid happened on May 1 — a temper tantrum of an extreme nature. Whoever is responsible is uneducated and works against the efforts of true revolutionaries, [and attracts] unnecessary attention to the real cause. The real tragedy here isn’t that these totally “innocent” kids are being railroaded by a corrupt government. It’s that no one is willing to accept responsibility, to stand and accept the blame.
Senseless acts of vandalism … just bring on the heat [and] aren’t revolutionary. The real revolution is to know when, where and how to carry out real actions, with respect and, when it’s necessary, force.
If the Asheville 11 are totally innocent, I hope [they] can prove it. I hope for [their] sake that the true people responsible will step up and accept responsibility.
The Asheville 11 are not a legitimate group of activists, based solely on their claim of innocence.
— M. “Granpappy” Pyle
Asheville
You are seriously suggesting that for anyone to be found not guilty in a court of law the authorities should have to find someone else who they can find guilty? That makes absolutely no sense.
For someone who feels so strongly about “activism”, you sure have a lot of blind faith in law enforcement and the justice system. Every man or woman arrested is innocent until proven guilty, duh! the burden of proof is on the accuser, NOT the accused.
dear james,
i think he was saying that real revolutionaries would take credit for their work. i don’t think he was commenting on the justice system.
TO CLARIFY AND EXPOUND UPON MY LETTER
WHICH WAS MASSACRED BY THE EDITORS…IN MY ORIGINAL LETTER I MADE A CLEAR AND POIGNANT STATEMENT.. I WAS TRYING TO COMPARE THE ELEVEN TO…THE CHICAGO TEN.
THE CHICAGO TEN STOOD UP AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. INNOCENT ,GUILTY….I DO NOT HAVE A STRONG FAITH IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY. NO BLIND FAITH AT ALL.
ALSO IN MY LETTER I STATED THAT I WAS VERBALLY ACCOSTED BY A MEMBER OF THE ELEVEN AND CALLED A PIG AND ALL THIS…
YES MICHAEL THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SAYING.I AM NOT ON TRIAL…SO I CAN VOICE WHATEVER OPINION I WANT.FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
BUT MY COMPARRISON OF THE CHICAGO TEN WAS TO SHOW HOW WHEN REAL ACTIVISTS ORGANIZE AND DO AN ACTION..THEY PUT LAWYERS IN PLACE AND THEY MAKE STATEMENTS…AND THEY STAND UP AND SAY THEY DID THIS…HELL YEAH I DID THIS AND **** THE MAN AND ALL THAT.
real revolutionaries take responsibility…which is why they dressed up like indians to dump tea in boston harbour a couple hundred years ago….try more history, and less mystery…and, GP, it’s a VOICEBOX, not a government document, that gives us freedom of speech!
…and i’m pretty sure this vandalism nonsense doesn’t qualify as revolutionary activity, so we agree on that.
Marshal,
It took me awhile to spend the few minutes to actually register to have an account to comment here…
But I’m glad that I had time to read your response Marshal, it made me certain that you in fact have no idea what you are talking about, despite your over use of capitalization.
By the Chicago 10 I’m guessing you are referring to the Chicago 8, the people arrested for conspiracy charges during the 1968 DNC… the Chicago 10 is an animated fictionalized version of these events. I assume youre probably too perpetually hung over to have actually read anything by Jerry Rubin or Abbie Hoffman and have only watched a fucking cartoon and are now trying to lecture real humans on how to act.
I hope your next suggestion involves telling the eleven to all where those tacky Che t shirts or some other dime store version of radicalism you and all the other dumb played out dumb asses in this town prescribe to. Oh or maybe they should go to court and instead of pleading not guilty they should just stand and tell the judge he needs to “subvert the dominant paradigm.”
GP, in case you havent noticed this isnt the 60s, we dont live in Chicago… save that shit for drum circles….
So “au contraire” considers the mindless property destruction committed on May first ‘revolutionary’??
It’s funny how you guys say the “11” didn’t do it, but then claim they are ‘revolutionaries’.
And if ‘they’ didn’t do it, then who did? I would think ‘revolutionaries’ wouldn’t want innocent people taking the rap for their ‘revolutionary’ acts.
LOL.
bill,
thanks you for restating what was clarified in the original editorial, and several times since.
Thanks, michael. I think they are good points, and was hoping ‘au contraire’ would be able to clarify his or her point regarding these ‘revolutionary’ acts, since s/he appears to be defending them.
if they had destroyed a wal mart i would have defended them financially, but i don’t support hitting small business. i see the point they were trying to make, and if they took credit for what they did i would support their legal fund.
should i defend that? not to you or anyone else.
“i see the point they were trying to make, and if they took credit for what they did i would support their legal fund. ”
Who is ‘they’? I thought ‘they’ didn’t do it?
You would support people who smashed up small businesses and people’s cars and stuff?
Why? What ‘point’ do you see them making that you agree with? That windows and newspaper boxes are the enemy?
The December issue of Anarchist News Digest states: Last month, an appeal went out for solidarity actions to take place on the first day of every month, in support of the Asheville 11.
It will be interesting to see if supporters of the Asheville 11, whoever they are, will brave the cold weather this weekend.