BK/NY – Friday, June 17th – Democracy or Freedom?

WHAT:  Anarchist Discussion with CrimethInc. ex-Workers’ Collective
WHEN: 8pm, Friday, June 17th, 2016
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free

We are starting a very full weekend with a discussion of the distinction between anarchy and democracy, freedom and oppression. Central to this weekend is the party/fundraiser organized by our buddy Daniel McGowan. He is fresh off paper, no longer under supervised release, and as free as any of us can be. Of course Daniel couldn’t simply celebrate, so he’s  organized the party into a benefit for his imprisoned co-defendants. Get all the details by clicking here. To end the weekend, we will be tabling at the 2016 Punk Island— a free, DIY, all day punk festival on Governor’s Island. Now back to how we are kicking it off…

What’s the difference between democracy and anarchy? In an election year, the failings of the political system are obvious enough. But is the problem too little democracy, or too much?

From the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to David Graeber and Noam Chomsky, nearly everyone claims to be democratic. In this provocative presentation, we will discuss what ties all these different understandings of democracy together and what sets anarchism apart. Reviewing how the movement of the squares, Occupy, Nuit Debout, and other recent upheavals have been shaped by democratic rhetoric and practices, we’ll discuss other ways to understand what we are doing together when we make decisions.

This discussion builds on a series exploring the anarchist critique of democracy, recently published by CrimethInc. To make this a more developed discussion, consider reading the following:
http://www.crimethinc.com/blog/2016/03/16/series-the-anarchist-critique-of-democracy
http://crimethinc.com/texts/r/democracy

BK/NY – September 16th – The Promise Of Anarchism: An International Panel Discussion

WHAT: To Change Everything
WHEN: 7:00pm, Wednesday, September 16th
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
Climate change, economic crisis, unrest from Baltimore to Brazil: the prevailing order is unsustainable in every way. Today even the most entrenched authorities admit that it is necessary to change everything. But all the solutions they offer rely on the same structures that produced this mess in the first place. How do we change everything?

This panel brings together organizers from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the US to discuss what anarchist ideas and strategies have to offer in the 21st century. Comparing experiences in the social movements and uprisings of the past decade, they will explore questions about reform, democracy, and self-determination.

BK/NY – Tuesday, April 28 – May Day Card-signing for Anarchist Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, April 28th, 2015
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
NYC ABC has been busier than usual. For some, that might seem hard to imagine. However, between hosting a packed-house event with CrimethInc at The Base and the NYC Anarchist Book Fair the following day, it’s been an assiduous couple of weeks. And as we look forward, May Day is just around the corner. So, in honor of the Haymarket Martyrs, and anarchists imprisoned for their beliefs and actions, we focus this week’s letter-writing dinner on them. Instead of writing letters, this week we will be asking folks to come sign cards for the thirteen anarchist political prisoners we currently support. There will be plenty of time for eating food, socializing, and scheming to bring about a world in which we want to live.

If there’s absolutely no way you can come eat a ton of food and sign a lot of May Day cards, but still want to support political prisoners, please consider sending some books from their wish lists.

BK/NY – Friday, April 17 – To Change Everything: An Anarchist Appeal

WHAT: Discussion On Anarchy, International and Local WHEN: 8pm sharp, Friday, April 17th, 2015 WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below) NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet. COST: FREE Just one night before the 2015 NYC Anarchist Book Fair, NYC ABC is hosting an event to encourage anarchy in our city. It’s happening at Brooklyn’s only anarchist social center– The Base. Today, even the entrenched representatives of the status quo admit that it is necessary to change everything. But the best they can come up with is to appeal to the same authorities and values that caused these problems in the first place. What will it take to make a clean break? In this discussion, a participant in the CrimethInc. Collective will explore the most provocative themes in their international multimedia outreach project To Change Everything, tying them into struggles taking place around the world and in New York City today. Please join us for a lively conversation!

BK/NY – Tuesday, December 9th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, December 9th, 2014
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
COST: Free
With the public eye turned to Ferguson, police brutality, and murder;  and in response rebels shutting down transportation infrastructure across the country– cops are shook.  So it’s only right that NYC ABC heads back to The Base for our every-other-week Political Prisoner Letter Writing Dinner— with a focus on two comrades targeted by the state and its racist pigs for struggling for collective liberation.

This week we will be watching videos of a couple of short interviews with, and writing to, Herman Bell & Jalil Muntaqim.

Herman Bell is a former Black Panther imprisoned for the murder of a police officer in New York and is serving 25 years to life in prison.

In 1971, Herman went underground because of relentless FBI attacks on the Black Panther Party. While underground, Herman was captured and extradited to New York on charges of having killed two New York City police officers. No witnesses were able to put Herman at the scene of the crime. The first trial ended in a hung jury and he was convicted at his second trial and given 25 years to life. For more information, make sure to visit freehermanbell.org.

Jalil Muntaqim is a former Black Panther who, in 1971, was arrested in California with Albert “Nuh” Washington and Herman Bell and ultimately convicted for the killing of two New York City cops. In 1974, Muntaqim was convicted and received a prison term of twenty-five years to life.

Now, 30 years after the conviction, Jalil is preparing an Article 78 petition to the Court. He is also still requesting folks call Tina Stanford, Commissioner of the Board of Parole, and urge her to reverse Jalil’s most recent parole denial due to erroneous information in the parole folder: the COMPAS Report and their receipt and review of racist letters opposing his release. Jalil anticipates that, if several people make these calls, perhaps the parole board will reverse the denial and order a new hearing. We ask that you all make phone calls to Tina Stanford’s office (518.473.9400) and urge a decision in Jalil’s administrative appeal. More information at freejalil.com

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Herman and Jalil:
Herman Bell #79-C-0262
Great Meadow Correctional Facility
11739 State Route 22
Post Office Box 51
Comstock, New York 12821-0051

Anthony J. Bottom* #77A4283
Attica Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 149
Attica, New York 14011-0149
*Address envelope to Anthony Bottom, address letter to Jalil Muntaqim.

NYC – Tuesday, March 4th – Letter-Writing Dinner For NATO 3

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, March 4th, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
Obligatory reference to the horrendous Northeast weather. Also, there is no such thing as global warming…It seems in the last couple of years, the feds have decided to stop going after seasoned activists and started to implement a strategy of entrapping young activists.  From many of the Muslim entrapment cases to Eric McDavid‘s case to the Cleveland 4, the federal (and some state) governments have thrown informants and undercover cops at activists all over the country–a point made cogently in this article by CrimethInc. We feel the need to call bullshit on these made-up, fake terrorism cases that exist to justify the expenditures made by the state before major meetings of warmongers like NATO.

In that vein, three young Occupy activists were hounded, cajoled, and entrapped by two undercover cops (named “Mo” & “Gloves.” How clever!)  during the months leading up to the anti-NATO summit in Chicago back in 2012. The three men, dubbed the NATO 3— Brent Betterly, Jared Chase and Brian Jacob Church, were indicted on all sorts of state terrorism charges that had never been tested, we think, to justify the mass expenditures and repression of dissent that took place at this mass mobilization.

While a jury acquitted the men of the serious terrorism charges, they were found guilty of charges related to arson and mob action and are facing up to 30 years in prison at sentencing. In short, they continue to need our support and solidarity through the end of their sentences and beyond.

This Tuesday, come join NYC ABC for a night of letter writing to lend solidarity and support to these three activists and find out more about this case and others. We will be serving a free, tasty, vegan dinner and as usual, supplying the pens, envelopes, postage, paper and anything else you need to scribe your missive. We will also be giving updates and announcements on other political prisoners, local events and issues.

In the unlikely event that there is a better use of your Tuesday night, but you still want to support the prisoners (or want to send these three a book) you can write to them at:

Brent Betterly #2012-0519001
Cook County Department of Corrections
Post Office Box 089002
Chicago, Illinois 60608

Jared Chase #2012-0519003
Cook County Department of Corrections
Post Office Box 089002
Chicago, Illinois 60608

Brian Church #2012-0519002
Cook County Department of Corrections
Post Office Box 089002
Chicago, Illinois 60608

For more information and updates, go to:
freethenato3.wordpress.com

BK/NY – Tuesday, November 15th – NYC ABC + Book Thug Nation Host “Crimethinc. Presents: Capitalism & Resistance”

WHAT: CrimethInc. Presents: Capitalism & Resistance in the 21st Century
WHEN: 7:00pm, Tuesday, November 15th
WHERE: Book Thug Nation – 100 North Third Street (Between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue), Brooklyn
COST: Free. There will be copies of the Work book for sale at the event.
NOTE: If you can’t make it to this event, the same folks will be at ABC No Rio the next night.

After so much technological progress, why do we have to work more than ever before? Why is the old labor movement powerless to stop the new assault on workers? Can capitalism survive another century of crises? And how do we get out of this mess?

Please join us at Book Thug Nation for a high-energy discussion of these questions and more. We’ll focus on the ways capitalism has changed over the past few decades, and scrutinize recent examples of resistance in the US and overseas to propose anti-capitalist strategies for the 21st century.