,TW5TY ,YE>S ,BEYOND ,SEATTLE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

0,!Y'RE EV5 GASS+ *ILDR560 

,A SMALL AFF9ITY GR\P ( TE5AG]S RAC$ PA/ ME1 ALL 9 BLACK BLOC1 ONE MEMB] SL[+ D[N ONLY TO LOOK AT ME4 ,I HAD PUT MY R$ B&ANNA AWAY1 SOAK$ AS IT WAS 9 TE> GAS & PEPP] SPRAY4 ,:AT REMA9$ WAS A SK9NY ?IRTE5 YE> OLD KID 9 A BRI<T YELL[ RA9JACKET MY MOM HAD =C$ ME TO BR+4 

,I GR9N$ TO MYSELF BECAUSE ,I WAS NO 9NOC5T4 ,I HAD SP5T ! :OLE DAY DISDA9FUL ( ! O!R PROTE/]S1 SNE]+ AT ! LIB]AL SPEE*ES & 9ANE PLAC>DS1 ROLL+ MY EYES AT ! NAIVETY ( ! BLOC DUR+ ! FI<T+4 ,N#c WAS MY FIR/ MAJOR PROTE/ & ,I WANT$ MORE ?AN ANY?+ TO BE ABOVE IT4 ,I ORIG9ALLY W5T TO ,SEATTLE MORE TO OBS]VE ! 5D ( ! WORLD1 ?AN TO P>TICIPATE4 ,I DID NOT EXPECT US TO W9 ?IS CLIMACTIC F9AL BATTLE AGA9/ A HORDE ( NEOLIB]AL 9/ITUTIONS1 9T]ME%$ 9 IMP]IALISM & 9CREAS+LY DETA*$ FROM ANY?+ LIKE DEMOCRATIC *ECKS & BALANCES4 ,I EXPECT$ US TO LOSE ?AT FI<T4 

,I ?9K WE DID LOSE ?AT FI<T1 ACTUALLY4 ,9 ANY FRANK ACC\NT+1 IT WASN'T /REET PROTE/S ?AT BROKE ! ,W,T,O4 ,! ,DOHA R\ND ( TALKS /ALL$ \T YE>S LAT] ?ANKS TO A COMB9ATION ( RESURG5T NATIONALISM 9 ! ,U,S AS ,GEORGE ,W ,BU% %IFT$ IMP]IALI/ /RATEGIES AFT] ,SEPTEMB] #a#a? & COALITION WORK DONE BETWE5 NATIONAL GOV]NM5TS 9 ! GLOBAL S\? ?AT GAVE !M LEV]AGE4 ,!RE IS SIMPLY NO SUB/ANTIVE CAUSAL L9K BETWE5 !SE DEVELOPM5TS & ! /REET PROTE/S WE ORGANIZ$4 ,9DE$ :AT HAS BE5 COMPLETELY LO/ 9 RETELL+S ( ,! ,BATTLE ,9 ,SEATTLE1 IS ?AT WEEK5D !RE WAS A S5SE ( FAILURE ON ! GR\ND4 0,!Y'RE /ILL MEET+6 ,!Y BU/$ ?R\< ! BLOCKADES6 ,A POLITICIAN PULL$ A GUN ON MY FRI5D6 ,PULL$ A GUN60 

,! *IEF SUCCESS ( ,SEATTLE WAS A M$IA VICTORY4 ,AN>*I/S BECAME SUDD5LY VISIBLE TO ! WORLD1 POLITICAL POSITIONS ?AT HAD BE5 5TIRELY SUPPRESS$ FROM ! PUBLIC >5A W]E SUDD5LY VISIBLE & ACCESSIBLE4 ,C\NTLESS AN>*I/S ,I'VE KN[N DESCRIBE LOOK+ AT ! NEWS REPORTS ( ,N#c & WAT*+ ! WORLD OP5 UP1 !IR FIR/ GLIMPSE ?AT AN>*I/S EXI/$1 ?AT SOME?+ LIKE AN>*ISM WAS A POSITION EV5 SPEAKABLE1 ?AT RESI/ANCE WAS POSSIBLE4 ,! BEFUDDL$ & HORRIFI$ E/ABLI%M5T ONLY ADD$ FUEL TO ! FLAMES1 AS 9 ?IS ON AIR EX*ANGE ,RI*>D ,DAY TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,GRAMSCI ,IS ,DEAD3 

,REPORT]3 ',!RE >E SOME PEOPLE H]E1 ROAM+ AB\T 444 WELL NOT EXACTLY ROAM+1 !Y SEEM ORGANIZ$4 ,I DON'T KN[ :O !Y >E1 !Y'RE ALL DRESS$ 9 BLACK1 !Y HAVE BLACK HOODS ON1 & BLACK FLAGS 444 A FLAG ) NO?+ ON IT4' 

,AN*OR3 ',A FLAG ) NO?+ ON IT8' 

,REPORT]3 ',?AT'S RI<T1 IT'S TOTALLY BLACK4' 

,IT IS (T5 SAID ?AT ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T IS BAD AT CAPITALIZ+ ON SUCCESS4 ,WE >E SO US$ TO DEFEAT ?AT WE BECOME ADRIFT & CONFUS$ :5 SOME?+ />TS TO GO \R WAY4 ,BUT 9 ! AFT]MA? ( ,SEATTLE WE REALIZ$ ! GLOBAL M$IA \TRAGE AT BROK5 ,/>BUCKS W9D[S WAS A MASSIVE BOON & EXPLOIT$ IT TO ! FULLE/4 ,T5S ( ?\S&S IF NOT HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( AN>*I/S W]E CREAT$ BY ?OSE IMAGES1 ! MY?S & N>RATIVES ?AT W]E SPUN & REPRODUC$ ACROSS ! WORLD4 ,! BLACK BLOC F9ALLY 5T]$ ! PUBLIC V]NACUL> & A MASSIVE ACTIVI/ 9FRA/RUCTURE UNFURL$ ITSELF GLOBALLY4 ,SEEM+LY EV]Y T[N HAD AN 9FO%OP & AN 9DYM$IA1 CREAT+ A S5SE ( UNITY & IMM$IATE VISC]AL 9T]CONNECTION BETWE5 ANYONE VAGUELY ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN & LEFTW+4 

,?IS COMMONALITY WAS RE9=C$ BY ! %E] UNASSAILABILITY ( ! EXI/+ 9/ITUTIONS4 ,:ILE AN>*ISM WAS ! LEAD+ LI<T & C5T] ( MASS1 ! CONFLICT WAS SIMPLE4 ,!RE W]E ! PEOPLE 9 P[] & !RE WAS EV]YONE ELSE4 ,!RE'S BE5 A GRASSROOTS PROJECT ( HI/ORICAL REVISIONISM TO REF] TO ?IS MOVEM5T1 ?IS MOM5T1 AS 0C\NT]-GLOBALIZATION40 ,BUT ! NAME MO/ OV]:ELM+LY US$ AT ! TIME WAS 0ANTI-GLOBALIZATION40 ,& ?IS SORT ( ,TURTLES @& ,TEAM/]S COALITION BUILD+ 5C\RAG$ A LOT ( G>BAGE4 ,W+NUTS1 NATIONALI/S1 & OPPORTUNI/S AB\ND$4 ,:ILE SPECIFICALLY AN>*I/ SPACES OR ?OSE ?AT UTILIZ$ CLE> & /RONG PO9TS ( UNITY AVOID$ SOME ( ! WOR/1 ! NEXT TWO DECADES 9VOLV$ A LOT ( SC5ES SL[LY & PA9FULLY DIGG+ \T ! TRA% ?AT HAD BE5 LET 94 ,ANTI-SEMITE CONSPIRACY HEADS1 BROI% MISOGYNI/S1 NATIONALI/S1 & O!R CREEP+ FA%4 ,FOLKS ( Y\NG] G5]ATIONS FREQU5TLY DEM& TO KN[ :Y WE LET SOME BEHAVIOR SLIDE OR CONSID]$ SOME POSITIONS TOL]ABLE4 ,! ANSW] IS ?AT MANY ( US NEV] LIK$ ?AT %IT1 BUT ! N>RATIVE WAS ONE ( UNITY & MASS4 ,WE W]E IMPRESS$ ) \R NUMB]S 9 SPECTACLES LIKE ,SEATTLE1 WE W]E 5RAPTUR$ BY DEMOCRATIC NOTIONS ( ,! ,PEOPLE RIS+ UP4 ,EV]YONE ON ! BOTTOM V]SUS ! FEW ON ! TOP4 

,A DECADE LAT] ?IS POT5T ELIXIR W\LD BE DI/RIBUT$ AGA9 BY ,OCCUPY4 ,A SLI<TLY DIFF]5T COALITION4 ,A NEW CROP ( 5TRYI/S & MON/]S TO BE SL[LY & PA9FULLY WE$$ \T = YE>S TO COME4 ,A BUR/ ( RECRUITM5T1 ?IS TIME L>GELY )\T AS WIDE ( A MOVEM5T BASE1 BECAUSE 9 MO/ CITIES ,OCCUPY >OSE 9 A P>TIALLY ANTAGONI/IC RELATION%IP ) ! REMA9+ ACTIVI/_/AN>*I/ 9FRA/RUCTURE FROM ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION ]A4 ,NEW M9IATURE SC5ES DEVELOP$ ) !IR [N S5SE ( EXPLOD+ GR[?4 ,)9 A YE> ,I WAS OV]HE>+ NEW PEOPLE BRAGG+ ?AT !Y 0DATE BACK TO ,OCCUPY40 

,MASS IS 9TOXICAT+4 ,!RE'S NO WAY >\ND ?IS4 ,\R POOR MONKEY BRA9S >E NOT %AP$ BY EVOLUTION TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE EI!R ! SOCIAL DANG] POS$ BY SOMEONE BE+ MEAN 9 A COMM5TS SECTION OR ! /R5G? REPRES5T$ BY SIXTY ?\S& PEOPLE M>*+ 9 A SEA AS F> >\ND Y\ AS Y\R EYES CAN SEE4 ,WE >E MANY1 !Y >E FEW4 ,SEE+ T5S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE M>* BESIDE Y\ AGA9/ A FEW HUNDR$ COPS PROTECT+ A FEW HUNDR$ POLITICIANS & BUS9ESSM5 GIVES MO/ AN EXTRAORD9>Y HI<4 ,I CALL ?IS 09EVITABILITY POISON+0 -- ! COCKSUR5ESS ?AT Y\'VE JO9$ ! W9N+ SIDE4 

,BUT ! TRU? IS WE >E FEW4 ,AN>*I/ VALUES >E NOT POPUL>4 ,WE >E A RADICAL BUN*1 TAK+ ?+S TO ! ROOT1 BE+ CONSI/5T4 ,IT'S EASY TO BRIEFLY SELL A FUZZY AFT]IMAGE ( AN>*ISM :5 Y\ SPEAK 9 LOOSE APPLAUSE L9ES1 BUT :5 Y\ GET TO ! HE>T MO/ FOLKS PEEL AWAY4 ',EV]YONE'S ALREADY AN AN>*I/ BECAUSE !Y DON'T NE$ COPS TO TELL !M H[ TO ORD] PIZZA 9 A GR\P6' ,OKAY1 N[ ?AT Y\'RE H]E1 AN>*ISM IS ACTUALLY A PHILOSOPHY ( 9F9ITE P]SONAL RESPONSIBILITY1 BECAUSE EMBRAC+ AG5CY IS H>D1 IT MEANS ?9K+ \T SOLUTIONS RA!R ?AN PASSIVELY 9H]IT+ DEFAULTS4 ,& OH YEAH8 ,WE USUALLY LOSE4 ,WE ?R[ \RSELVES 9TO ! GE>S BECAUSE IT'S ! RI<T ?+ TO DO1 NOT BECAUSE WE'RE GU>ANTE$ A VICTORY4 ,WE'RE NOT ! /RONGE/ TEAM4 ,WE'RE ! SMALLE/ TEAM4 ,WE'RE ! TEAM ?AT ASKS ! MO/4 

,\R SUCCESSES1 :5 !Y COME1 DON'T T5D TO LOOK /RONG4 ,(T5 \R GREATE/ SUCCESSES1 \R BIGGE/ IMPACTS COME FROM OP]AT+ AT ! M>G9S1 /RIK+ 9 ANONYM\S UNSE5 ISOLATION1 BUILD+ UNSEXY ?+S ?AT BECOME SO UNNOTICEABLY NORMALIZ$ NO ONE WILL EV] CREATE A DOCUM5T>Y AB\T !M4 

,AS A CONTE/ATION ( RAW /R5G?1 ,SEATTLE WAS A FAILURE4 ,WE DIDN'T /ORM ! M9I/]IAL & PUT ,BILL ,CL9TON'S HEAD ON A SPIKE1 WE DIDN'T EV5 /OP !M FROM MEET+4 ,AS A M$IA VICTORY -- AS A RESONANT SPECTACLE -- IT WAS ! BIGGE/ SUCCESS AN>*I/S HAVE HAD S9CE ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION4 ,IT PI]C$ ?R\< ! OLD M$IA L&SCAPE & TOLD C\NTLESS FOLKS >\ND ! WORLD ?AT !Y W]5'T ALONE 9 WANT+ TO FI<T BACK4 ,?IS WAS 9 P>T A SUCCESS ?R\< ! APPE>ANCE ( /R5G?1 & ! PRICE = SU* CAN BE QUITE /EEP4 

,BUT ! /R5G? DEMON/RAT$ ?AT OV]CA/ ,NOVEMB] DAY 9 #aiii WASN'T JU/ NUMB]S1 NOT JU/ A HI< ( P]CEIV$ MASS & 9EVITABILITY4 

,I CAME TO ,SEATTLE ALREADY QUITE COLD1 BITT]1 & TRAUMATIZ$4 ,! SEA ( PEOPLE M>*+ NEV] W>M$ ME4 ,! SPEE*ES & DOOM$ BLOCKADES NEV] 9VIGORAT$ ME4 ,I WASN'T SURPRIS$ BY ! REPRESSION4 ,IT WAS ?AT NI<T1 AFT] ! BLOC HAD BE5 DISP]S$1 ! D>K5$ CITY CORE WAS LOCK$ D[N & COPS W]E ATTACK+ :ATEV] CLU/]S ( PEOPLE !Y C\LD F9D1 ?AT ,I F\ND A SP>K ( HOPE4 

0,Y\ CAN'T GET \T ?IS WAY4 ,!Y'VE CLOS$ ! BRIDGE40 0,?AT'S CRAZY1 EV]YONE WAS SAY+ ?IS WAS ONE ( ! LA/ WAYS \T444 ,!Y KEEP SAY+ DISP]SE BUT !Y'VE WALL$ US 91 !RE'S NO WAY \T ( D[NT[N40 0,DOES %E NE$ HELP80 0,!Y GOT PEPP]SPRAY DIRECTLY 9 H] LUNGS1 %E'S OKAY1 %E'S UP & WALK+ N[1 WE JU/ NE$-0 0,%IT1 9COM+660 

,! CITY WAS A W>ZONE4 ,WE HAD LO/1 ! BLOCKADES HAD FAIL$1 POLITICIANS HAD /ILL MET4 ,\R LA/ DESP]ATE RALLY AGA9/ UNTRAMMEL$ CORPORATE P[] BATT$ ASIDE4 ,! FUTURE SEEM$ ALMO/ C]TA9LY A GRIM AFFAIR4 ,PUPPET POLICE /ATE GOV]NM5TS RUL$ BY GIGANTIC MULT9ATIONAL CORPORATIONS1 SPREAD+ DRACONIAN NOTIONS ( 9TELLECTUAL PROP]TY1 BORD]S US$ TO CREATE SLAVE P5S & EXTRACTIVI/ M9E SLURRIES 9 ! GLOBAL S\? :ILE ! CAPITAL ( ! SUP] RI* FL[$ :]EV] !Y WANT$4 ,! D>KE/ CYB]PUNK FILMS W]E GO+ TO LOOK COMPLETELY DOE-EY$ COMP>$ TO ! HELLS BE=E US4 

,I HAD BE5 AN 0AN>*I/0 = YE>S BE=E ,SEATTLE4 ,BUT ?AT 0AN>*ISM0 WAS A SELFI% SORT1 9 TRU? B>ELY WOR?Y ( ! NAME4 ,A K9D ( SNE]+ DISMISSAL ( ! P[] /RUCTURES >\ND ME4 ,A 0?IS TOO %ALL PASS0 CONFID5CE4 ,:ATEV] $IFICES ( TYRANNY Y\ BUILD1 !Y WILL 9EVITABLY FALL4 ,I SAW A CIVILIZATION UNAW>E IT W\LD BE RU9S SOON 5\<4 ,FI<T+ = P[] WAS A SUCK]'S GAME BECAUSE P[] ALWAYS FALLS4 ,CONTROL IS UNSU/A9ABLE 9 A COMPLEX TEEM+ WORLD4 

,HURRY+ D[N ?OSE COLD D>K ,SEATTLE /REETS ) TE> GAS L+]+ 9 FOGGY AIR1 ,I WAS CONFRONT$ ) A NEW POSSIBILITY3 ,?AT P[] C\LD W94 ,MAYBE W9 IT ALL4 ,MAYBE EV5 LA/ =EV]1 OR LA/ LONG 5\< TO *OKE \T ! REMA9S ( ANY?+ BREA?+ FREE4 

,I HAD COME TO ,SEATTLE EXPECT+ US TO LOSE4 ,CYNICAL AB\T ! :OLE AFFAIR4 ,BUT MY CYNICISM WAS PRIVILEG$1 NAIVE1 COM=TABLE4 ,A SLAPDA% DISMISSAL1 NOT A RIGOR\S EVALUATION4 ,:AT IF ?+S W]E EV5 WORSE8 ,:AT IF !RE WAS NO 9EVITABLE RE/ORATION ( AN ORD] )\T P[]8 ,:AT IF P[] C\LD TRULY W9 IT ALL1 P]MAN5TLY1 =EV]8 

,IF DEA?1 FASCISM1 UN-FRE$OM1 C\LD W9 EV]Y?+ !N ! /AKES W]E SO MU* HI<] ?AN ,I HAD EV] ALL[$ MYSELF TO REALIZE4 

,! /RAY BLACK BLOC AFF9ITY GR\P PASS$ BY1 SEE+ ME AS AN 9NOC5T1 ANO!R 9JU/ICE P]PETRAT$ BY ! COPS4 ,ONE MORE \TRAGE !Y'D NO D\BT BREA?LESSLY RELAY DAYS LAT]4 ,TE5AG]S >E SO 9ANE4 ,I HOP$ ,I W\LD NEV] GR[ ?AT OLD & NAIVE4 ,SO FUCK+ EMB>RASS+LY E>NE/4 

,! 9KY FOG P\R$ ?R\< ! CITY4 ,LONE /REETLI<TS CREAT$ SMALL ISL&S ( CL>ITY4 ,I ?\<T BACK TO ! PEOPLE CLU/]+ UP TOGE!R ?R\<\T ! AB&ON$ /REETS1 ASK+ & RELAY+ NEWS ( :AT /REETS W]E CLOS$1 RUMORS ( H[ TO GET \T1 :]E ! COPS W]E /AG+4 

,!Y HADN'T GOTT5 US ALL4 ,NOT EV5 CLOSE4 

,& 9 ?OSE MOM5TS :5 !Y W]5'T CAPTUR$ LIKE M>IONETTES BY NORMS ( ,H[ ,TO ,PROTE/1 OR EV5 ! FL$GL+ NORMS ( ,H[ ,TO ,BLOC1 PEOPLE W]E444 PEOPLE4 ,ALIVE BEH9D !IR EYES1 5GAG$1 COMPLEX1 9 MOTION4 ,!Y C\LD SURPRISE Y\4 ,A :ITE COLL> WORK] /R&$ AT A BUS /OP1 RAC+ \T 9TO ! /REETS TO KICK BACK A TE> GAS CANI/] AT ! COPS4 ,A FUDSY LIB]AL PROTE/] ) %>P 9SI<T 9TO POLICE DEPLOYM5T /RATEGY4 ,A SK9NY *ILD 9 A YELL[ RA9JACKET :O WAS ACTUALLY A WELL-READ AN>*I/ ) NOT SO 9NOC5T H&S4 

,IT TAKES A W>ZONE1 EV5 A DAYLONG TEMPOR>Y SPECTACLE ( ONE1 TO REMEMB] ?AT DEA? HAS NOT WON4 ,?AT !RE'S AN 9CR$IBLE 9F9ITY BETWE5 ALMO/ C]TA9 TO W9 & WON4 

,FATALISM IS IRRATIONAL4 ,BECAUSE :5 ! /AKES >E HI< EV5 ! T9IE/ RESIDUAL *ANCE CAN BE WOR? A BET4 ,HOPE 9 A C]TA9 S5SE1 IS ! MO/ RATIONAL1 MO/ SANE & UNTIMID P]SPECTIVE ONE CAN HAVE4 ,TO LOOK AT ! WORLD & NOT %R9K AWAY FROM ! TASKS BE=E US4 

,I LOOK$ \T OV] ! D[NT[N1 BRIEFLY PAUS+ ON A HILLY CRE/ ABOVE ! FOG4 ,I REMEMB]$ ?OSE :O HAD %>$ ! /REETS ) US4 ,EMPA?Y MEANS Y\ CAN'T JU/ FI<T = Y\RSELF1 !RE'S NO BE+ NEUTRAL1 !RE'S NO HID+1 Y\'RE 9 A FI<T ) ! :OLE WORLD1 OV] ! :OLE WORLD4 ,! /AKES >E EV]Y?+4 ,LIB]ATION OR DEA?4 ,EMBRAC+ AG5CY OV] Y\R ACTIONS MEANS NEV] RUNN+ AWAY FROM ! CONSEQU5CES1 IT MEANS TRY+ TO CONSID] !M ALL4 

,WE LO/ 9 ,SEATTLE4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,PRAGUE4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,D,C4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,G5OA4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,MIAMI4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,CANCUN4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,TORONTO4 ,WE LO/ 9 ,HAMBURG4 ,WE KEPT ON LOS+4 ,LOS+ 9 9T]E/+ & NEW WAYS4 ,LOS+ SOMETIMES A LITTLE LESS & SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE4 

,BUT WE HAV5'T LO/4 ,WE >E /ILL H]E4 ,FAC+ NEW & AWKW>D *ALL5GES4 ,) UN=ESE5 W\NDS & IGNOR$ BOONS4 

,N#c CA/S A LONG %AD[4 ,SO MANY ( US & SO MANY ( \R PRES5T FI<TS >E A DIRECT RESULT ( ?AT DAY 9 ,SEATTLE4 ,ITS MY?OS -- 9 ! 9T]NATIONAL DEBUT ( ! BLACK BLOC AFT] YE>S ( RELATIVELY IGNOR$ ACTIONS -- HAS MUTAT$ & MULTIPLI$4 ,BUT \R MY?S & N>RATIVES >E NOT ! SAME ?+ AS \R /R5G?S4 ,\R %>PE/ /R5G?S LIE B5EA? ! GR&IOSE IMAGES4 ,! 9DIVIDUAL ACTS ( RESI/ANCE1 ! MOM5TS ( SOLID>ITY1 ! FLA%ES ( G5IUS4 ,!SE HAVE NOT BE5 DISSOLV$ AWAY 9 ! BELLY ( ANY BEA/1 NEOLIB]AL OR NATIONALI/4 ,EV]Y TIME WE EMBRACE AG5CY -- RECOGNIZE ?AT H[EV] SMALL ! ODDS1 WE CAN & %\LD TAKE ON ! RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT -- WE MAKE \RSELVES JU/ A LITTLE LESS DIGE/IBLE4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,TW5TY ,YE>S ,BEYOND ,SEATTLE -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,TW5TY ,YE>S ,BEYOND ,SEATTLE -- ,UPDAT$4 

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