,FIRE ,EXT+UI%]S & ,FIRE ,/>T]S 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,9 ,MAY1 A NEW MOVEM5T SPREAD ACROSS ,SPA9 & ELSE:]E >\ND ! WORLD1 ) CR[DS OCCUPY+ PUBLIC SPACES 9 AN ATTEMPT TO =MULATE A NEW RESI/ANCE TO ! EFFECTS ( CAPITALI/ CRISIS & AU/]ITY MEASURES4 ,WE >E EXCIT$ TO PRES5T ,FIRE ,EXT+UI%]S & ,FIRE ,/>T]S3 ,AN>*I/ ,9T]V5TIONS 9 ! _?,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION1 A FULL REPORT FROM A COMRADE ON ! GR\ND 9 ,B>CELONA4 ,?IS REPORT *RONICLES ! TRAJECTORY ( ! MOVEM5T & (F]S A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ( ! POT5TIAL & LIMITATIONS ( ! =MS IT ASSUM$4 

,B>CELONA1 ,SPR+ #b#a#a3 ,*RONOLOGY ( ,AN ,UNEXPECT$ ,EV5T 

,BUILDUP3 

,SEPTEMB] #b#i1 #b#a3 ,! MAJOR LABOR UNIONS1 ,C,C,O,O & ,U,G,T1 ALONG ) ! ANTICAPITALI/ ,C,G,T1 ! AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ ,C,N,T 7:I* HAS MULTIPLE SPLITS71 & O!R SMALL UNIONS1 HOLD A G5]AL /RIKE TO PROTE/ ! BANK BAIL\TS & PROPOS$ AU/]ITY MEASURES 9CLUD$ 9 ! ,LABOR ,RE=M4 ,9 MANY CITY C5T]S & 9DU/RIAL ZONES1 P>TICIPATION 9 ! /RIKE IS MASSIVE4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ! /REETS ]UPT 9 HEAVY1 DAY-LONG RIOT+4 ,C,C,O,O & ,U,G,T PICKETS1 ON ! CONTR>Y1 T5D TO BE SYMBOLIC & SPECTACUL>4 ,BO? ORGANIZATIONS SUBSEQU5TLY SIGN ON TO ! ,LABOR ,RE=M4 ,BE=E OR %ORTLY AFT] ! /RIKE1 HALF A DOZ5 NEI<BORHOODS 9 ,B>CELONA =M NEI<BORHOOD 0SOCIAL ASSEMBLIES40 

,NOVEMB] #b#h1 #b#a3 ,ELECTIONS 9 ,CATALUNYA REPLACE ! GOV]N+ ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY ) ! RI<TW+ ,CONV]G5CIA I ,UNIO1 :I* ADOPTS A H>DL9E1 PRO-POLICE RHETORIC4 

,JANU>Y #b#g1 #b#a#a3 ,ACT+ AP>T FROM ! MAJOR UNIONS1 ! ,C,G,T1 ,C,N,TS1 & ,C,O,S 7A LEFT ,CATALAN COORD9ATION ( SYNDICATES7 HOLD A G5]AL /RIKE 9 ,CATALUNYA1 :I* IS ALSO CALL$ = 9 ,EUSKADI & O!R P>TS ( ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 ,! /RIKE CO9CIDES ) ! APPROVAL ( ! ,LABOR ,RE=M1 SUPPORT$ BY ! MAJOR UNIONS & ! ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY 7:I* HAS L$ ! GOV]NM5T 9 ,MADRID S9CE #b#d74 ,9 C]TA9 CITIES1 ! /RIKE RECEIVES SUB/ANTIAL SUPPORT 9 ! TRANSPORT & MANUFACTUR+ SECTORS1 BUT G5]ALLY A*IEVES LITTLE P>TICIPATION4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 BURN+ B>RICADES1 SABOTAGES1 PICKETS1 & CONT5TI\S PROTE/S W9 A COMBATIVE VISIBILITY = ! /RIKE4 

,MAY #a1 #b#a#a3 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ! ANTICAPITALI/ ,MAYDAY PROTE/1 SUPPORT$ BY ! ,C,N,TS1 ,C,G,T1 ,C,O,S1 SOCIALI/ 9DEPES 7,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE ACTIVI/S71 & 9=MAL OR 0BLACK BLOC0 AN>*I/S1 LEADS ?\S&S ( PEOPLE 9TO ! EMBLEMATIC RI* NEI<BORHOOD1 ,S>RIA1 :]E PROTE/]S BURN DUMP/]S & LUXURY C>S1 SMA% UP APPROXIMATELY A HUNDR$ BANKS1 FA%ION /ORES1 & C> DEAL]%IPS1 COV] ! WALLS 9 SPRAY-PA9T$ SLOGANS1 & ?R[ BOTTLES & PA9T BOMBS AT POLICE BE=E BE+ DISP]S$ 9 A HEAVY *>GE4 ,! MOOD IS EXULTANT4 ,! WEEKS BE=E & AFT] >E M>K$ BY ESPECIALLY HI< QUANTITIES ( SABOTAGE & ATTACKS4 

_?,REVOLUTION ,BREAKS ,\T3 

,SUNDAY1 ,MAY #a#e3 ,A REC5TLY =M$ PLAT=M C5T]$ 9 ,MADRID1 ,DEMOCRACIA ,REAL ,YA OR 0,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[0 7,D,R,Y71 HOLDS SIMULTANE\S PROTE/S 9 DOZ5S ( CITIES ?R\<\T ! ,SPANI% /ATE1 CONV5$ VIA ,FACEBOOK1 ,TWITT]1 ,9DYM$IA & V>I\S ACTIVI/ LI/S]VS4 ,?AT NI<T1 ! IDEA IS SPREAD VIA ,TWITT] TO CAMP \T 9 ,PU]TA DEL ,SOL1 A C5TRAL ,MADRID PLAZA1 MODEL+ ON ! ,TAHRIR ,SQU>E OCCUPATION 9 ,EGYPT4 ,9 O!R CITIES1 OCCUPATIONS ALSO BEG9 9 C5TRAL PLAZAS ?AT NI<T OR ! NEXT NI<T4 

,MONDAY1 ,MAY #a#f3 ,9 ! EV5+1 EI<TY TO A HUNDR$ PEOPLE BEG9 AN 5CAMPM5T 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 ! SYMBOLIC C5T] ( ,B>CELONA1 :I* 9 ! LA/ DECADE HAS BECOME ALMO/ EXCLUSIVELY A T\RI/ ZONE4 ,AS 9 O!R CITIES1 ! OCCUPATION ORGANIZES ITSELF ) A G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 ,A SMALL NUMB] ( AN>*I/S >E P>TICIPAT+4 ,9 ! MEET+1 !Y >GUE D[N ! PROPOSAL TO SIGN ON TO ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ MANIFE/O FROM ,MADRID4 ,MANY O!R PEOPLE ALSO EXPRESS ! NE$ = ! ,B>CELONA 5CAMPM5T TO DEVELOP 9DEP5D5TLY4 ,IT IS DECID$ ! 5CAMPM5T WILL RELEASE NO UNIT>Y MANIFE/OS ?AT ATTEMPT TO SPEAK = ALL P>TICIPANTS4 ,NOT)/&+1 PR9CIPLES ( UNITY ALREADY AU?OR$ BY ! ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S--NONP>TY ASSEMBLY DECISION-MAK+1 NONVIOL5CE1 & UNITY AMONG LOS 9DIGNADOS1 0! 9DIGNANT0-->E SUCCESSFULLY IMPOS$4 

,TUESDAY1 ,MAY #a#g3 ,E>LY 9 ! MORN+1 ! POLICE ATTACK ! OCCUPATION 9 ,MADRID1 BEAT+ & H>ASS+ ! #be PEOPLE CAMP$ \T !RE & >RE/+ #a#i4 ,H[EV]1 COMRADES GA!R \TSIDE ! JAIL1 & ! SQU>E IS SUBSEQU5TLY REOCCUPI$ BY AN EV5 L>G] & MORE 5]GETIC CR[D4 ,! ,B>CELONA 5CAMPM5T GR[S TO OV] A ?\S&4 ,AS 9 O!R CITIES1 ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY BEG9S TO CREATE COMMISSIONS TO WORK \T V>I\S 9FRA/RUCTURAL & IDEOLOGICAL NE$S2 !SE 9CLUDE 0EXT5SION10 0COMMUNICATION10 0CONT5T10 0ASSEMBLY PREP>ATION10 0F9ANCIAL10 0LEGAL10 & 0KIT*540 ,DUR+ ! DAY1 ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S C>RY \T NONVIOL5T SIT-9S 9 V>I\S BANKS4 ,HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE >E SLEEP+ 9 ! PLAZA OV]NI<T4 

,W$NESDAY1 ,MAY #a#h3 ,! 5CAMPM5T MAKES ! FRONT PAGE ( ,B>CELONA'S V>I\S FREE NEWSPAP]S1 :I* >E MORE TR5D- & CONTROV]SY-S5SITIVE ?AN ! TRADITIONAL NEWSPAP]S4 ,UP UNTIL N[1 ! LATT] HAD BE5 SIL5C+ ! EV5TS1 BUT ONCE ! CAT IS \T ( ! BAG !Y TAKE ! LEAD 9 SCULPT+ PUBLIC OP9ION ON ! SO-CALL$ #ae ,MAY OR #a#e,M MOVEM5T4 ,AT ! NI<TLY CASSOLADA 7POTS & PANS NOISE DEMO7 & ASSEMBLY1 ! CR[DS 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA REA* #e-#a14 ,MANY AN>*I/S :O HAD PREVI\SLY AB/A9$ FROM ! PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTE/1 EI!R \T ( DISDA9 OR BECAUSE O!R PROTE/S W]E HAPP5+ ! SAME WEEK5D1 SPONTANE\SLY CONV]GE 9 ! CR[D4 ,SEV]AL BR+ :ATEV] AN>*I/ FLI]S & PAMPHLETS !Y HAD LAY+ >\ND1 & !SE >E QUICKLY SNAT*$ UP BY ! CR[D4 ,AN>*I/S MAKE PLANS TO HOLD A DEBATE ON DEMOCRACY ! NEXT DAY1 )\T GETT+ APPROVAL FROM ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY4 

,?URSDAY1 ,MAY #a#i3 ,TW5TY ?\S& PEOPLE TAKE P>T 9 ! CASSOLADA & ASSEMBLY1 & DUR+ ! DAY ?\S&S MORE PEOPLE PASS ?R\<1 OR HANG \T TO MAKE MUSIC & >T4 ,9 ! EV5+1 SOME AN>*O-PUNKS HAVE SET UP A DI/RIBUTION1 :I* S]VES AS A CONV]G5CE PO9T = V>I\S AN>*I/S4 ,! FIR/ ORIG9AL AN>*I/ CRITIQUES ( ! SITUATION >E PR9T$ & DI/RIBUT$ 7SEE APP5DIX71 :ILE TIMELY TEXTS ON DEMOCRACY & NONVIOL5CE ?AT HAVE REC5TLY BE5 PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,CATALAN AN>*I/ J\RNAL1 ,T]RA ,CREMADA1 >E RE=MATT$ AS FLI]S & DI/RIBUT$4 ,9 ! LATE AFT]NOON1 WE />T ! DEBATE ) A CRITIQUE ( DEMOCRACY4 ,FIFTY PEOPLE ( ALL SORTS CR[D 9 TO P>TICIPATE1 ) GREAT 9T]E/4 ,WE USE AN OLD MEGAPHONE L5T BY ! ,C,N,T1 BUT MANY SPEAK]S PREF] NOT TO USE IT2 ?US A SMALL UPW>D LIMIT IS PLAC$ ON P>TICIPATION ON ! DEBATE1 AS NO MORE ?AN ! FIFTY PEOPLE CLOSE/ TO ! C5T] CAN HE> OV] ! BACKGR\ND NOISE ( ! PLAZA4 

,FRIDAY1 ,MAY #b3 ,AN>*I/S SET UP A T5T 9 ! MORN+1 ) A TABLE = DI/RIBUT+ FLI]S1 PO/]S1 & O!R LIT]ATURE4 ,MORE CRITIQUES WRITT5 BY P>TICIPANTS 9 ! OCCUPATION >E PR9T$4 ,A SELF-APPO9T$ REPRES5TATIVE ( ONE ( ! COMMISSIONS ATTEMPTS TO KICK \T ! AN>*I/ T5T & ANO!R T5T SET UP BY MEMB]S ( A P]=MANCE-ORI5T$ SQUATT$ SOCIAL C5T]1 ON ! JU/IFICATION ?AT SPACE 9 ! PLAZA IS RES]V$ = ! COMMISSIONS4 ,! EV5+ MEET+ IS L>GELY DOM9AT$ BY ,TROTSKYI/S & SMALL-SCALE1 LEFT-W+ ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE POLITICIANS4 ,! CR[DS HAVE SWELL$ BEYOND ! LIMITS ( ! PLAZA1 & CAN NO LONG] BE C\NT$4 ,EV5 ?\< A HI< QUALITY S\ND SY/EM HAS BE5 SET UP1 ! HALF ( ! MULTITUDE ?AT R+S ! M>G9S ( ! PLAZA CANNOT HE> ! ASSEMBLY4 ,! NUMB] ( COMMISSIONS HAS REA*$1 BY SOME C\NTS1 #a#g1 ALONG ) MULTIPLE SUB-COMMISSIONS4 ,MEAN+FUL P>TICIPATION 9 ! (FICIAL /RUCTURE BECOMES 9CREAS+LY IMPOSSIBLE4 

,SATURDAY1 ,MAY #b#a3 ,! 0,DAY ( ,REFLECTION10 A CON/ITUTIONALLY M&AT$ HOLIDAY BE=E ,ELECTION ,SUNDAY4 ,PROTE/S ( ANY K9D >E FIRMLY PROHIBIT$ ?IS DAY4 ,IF ! OCCUPATION PREVI\SLY CON/ITUT$ AN ILLEGAL GA!R+1 AS ( ,SATURDAY IT IS A FLAGRANT VIOLATION ( ! ,SPANI% ,CON/ITUTION4 ,9 G5]AL1 PEOPLE >E DEFIANT & CONTEMPTU\S ( ! LAW4 ,!RE HAD BE5 MU* TALK ( POLICE EVICTIONS1 BUT ) ! MASSIVE CR[DS1 ,PRESID5T ,ZAPAT]O & ! ,SUPREME ,C\RT HAVE DECID$ TO BE TOL]ANT4 ,NOT)/&+1 ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S 9 MANY CITIES USE ! ?REAT ( POLICE EVICTION AS AN EXCUSE TO REMOVE ANTI-ELECTION BANN]S4 ,9 ,B>CELONA !Y >E UNSUCCESSFUL4 ,HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE PASS ?R\< ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA TO WITNESS ! 0REVOLUTION40 ,EV]YONE 9 ! CITY IS TALK+ AB\T IT4 ,\T ( ! ,CONT5T ,COMMISSION1 :I* HAD PREVI\SLY BE5 TRY+ TO IMPOSE A RE=MI/ /ATEM5T ( M9IMUM DEM&S1 A 0,SELF-,ORGANIZATION & ,DIRECT ,DEMOCRACY0 SUB-COMMISSION IS =M$1 ) HEAVY AN>*I/ P>TICIPATION4 

,SUNDAY1 ,MAY #b#b3 ,C\NTRYWIDE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE = CITY GOV]NM5TS & DEPUTIES4 ,! ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY LOSES ITS MAJORITY2 BY NEXT YE> !Y WILL HAVE TO BE REPLAC$ 9 ,MADRID BY ! CONS]VATIVE ,POPUL> ,P>TY4 ,H[EV]1 BO? ( !SE TWO MAJOR P>TIES LOSE A HUGE PORTION ( !IR TRADITIONAL VOTES4 ,EXTREME RI<T & FASCI/ P>TIES PICK UP A L>GE NUMB] ( VOTES1 AL?\< !Y REMA9 RELATIVELY SMALL4 ,9 ,CATALUNYA1 LEFT-W+ 9DEP5D5CE P>TIES & O!R FR+E LEFT P>TIES GREATLY 9CREASE !IR PROPORTION ( ! VOTES & 5T] 9TO P[] 9 SOME CITIES4 ,9 ,EUSKADI1 ! REC5TLY LEGALIZ$ ,BASQUE 9DEP5D5CE P>TY ,BILDU W9S MAJOR VICTORIES & BECOMES ! SECOND L>GE/ P>TY 9 ! REGION4 ,! GREATE/ W9N] IS AB/5TION1 :I* IS ! PREF]R$ OPTION = ONE-?IRD TO ONE-HALF ( ! ELECTORATE1 DEP5D+ ON ! REGION4 ,ADDITIONALLY1 BLANK OR NULL VOTES D\BLE OR EV5 TRIPLE1 TO REA* >\ND #e.04 ,MESSI1 ,%AKIRA1 & 0MI PUTA MADRE0 GA9 RECORD NUMB]S ( VOTES4 ,9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 ! CR[DS REMA9 UNBELIEVABLY MASSIVE1 BUT CONTR>Y TO ALL PREVI\S DAYS1 ! ATMOSPH]E IS MORE LIKE A C\NTY FAIR1 AS MANY PEOPLE COME FROM ! POLL+ /ATIONS TO *ECK \T ! CURIOSITY4 

,MONDAY1 ,MAY #b#c3 ,! OCCUPATIONS >\ND ,SPA9 CONT9UE1 AL?\< !Y BEG9 TO DIM9I%4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ! CASSOLADA IS %ORT5$ FROM AN H\R & A HALF TO HALF AN H\R4 ,! G5]AL ASSEMBLY 9VOLVES #e-#a1 PEOPLE1 R\<LY ! SAME AM\NT AS ! FIR/ ,W$NESDAY4 ,A PROPOSAL CONS5S$ ON BY ! ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION SUB-COMMISSION TO DEC5TRALIZE ! ASSEMBLY & RESPECT AUTONOM\S DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES IS VOT$ ON & RECEIVES OV]:ELM+ SUPPORT4 ,H[EV]1 ?IRTY PEOPLE1 MO/LY ,TROTSKYI/S1 VOTE = 0MORE DEBATE0 & ! PROPOSAL IS S5T BACK TO ! COMMISSION1 AS DEBATE IS IMPOSSIBLE 9 ! MASSIVE G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 

,TUESDAY1 ,MAY #b#d3 ,DUR+ ! DAY1 ! 5CAMPM5T 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA IS V]Y SMALL1 BUT ALL ! PHYSICAL /RUCTURES 7COMPUT] LAB1 S\ND SY/EM1 KIT*51 G>D51 T5TS7 GU>ANTEE ITS CONT9U$ PRES5CE4 ,! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY IS ONLY HALF AS L>GE AS ! PREVI\S DAY4 ,BY ?IS PO9T1 AN>*I/S HAVE PR9T$ & DI/RIBUT$ AT LEA/ #b1 FLI]S1 PAMPHLETS1 & PO/]S1 ALL PAID = BY DONATIONS COLLECT$ AT ! AN>*I/ T5T4 

,W$NESDAY1 ,MAY #b#e3 ,! NUMB]S REMA9 ! SAME AS ! PREVI\S DAY4 ,SOME ACTIVI/S BEG9 TO BUILD H\SES 9 ! TREES ( ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA TO MAKE AN EVICTION MORE DIFFICULT4 ,9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ( ,CLOT1 ! ,SOCIAL ,ASSEMBLY ( ! NEI<BORHOOD HOLDS AN OP5 MEET+ 9 ! M>KET SQU>E4 #ae PEOPLE1 Y\NG & OLD1 COME TO P>TICIPATE4 ,AFT] 5GAG+ CONV]SATIONS1 DEBATES1 & BRA9/ORMS1 ! MEET+ 5DS ) A CASSOLADA4 ,O!R NEI<BORHOODS BEG9 TO DO ! SAME1 SOMETIMES JO9+ UP ) ! WEEKLY PICKETS HELD BY LOCAL HOSPITAL OR $UCATION WORK]S PROTE/+ CUTBACKS4 

,FRIDAY1 ,MAY #b#g3 ,AT #f3#c A4M41 APPROXIMATELY #c RIOT POLICE MOVE 9TO ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA 9 ORD] TO 0CLEAN UP0 ! PLAZA = 0HYGI5IC REASONS0 & TO REMOVE POT5TIALLY DANG]\S CLUTT] AHEAD ( TOMORR['S ,EUROPEAN FOOTBALL *AMPION%IP BETWE5 ,B>CA & ,MAN*E/]1 :I* IS TO BE TELEVIZ$ 9 ! PLAZA4 ,AB\T TWO HUNDR$ PEOPLE >E SLEEP+ 9 ! PLAZA AT ! TIME4 ,A MEET+ IS CALL$2 ?IS IS ! SAME TACTIC C]TA9 ACTIVI/S US$ TO C5TRALIZE & PACIFY #e PEOPLE 9 A MAJOR OCCUPATION 9 ,B>CELONA BE=E ! ,JANU>Y G5]AL /RIKE1 5ABL+ ! POLICE TO DETA9 & EVICT ! LOT ( !M ) EASE4 ,?9K+ !Y HAVE COME TO EVICT ! PLAZA1 T5S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE SURGE T[>DS ! C5T] & SURR\ND ! POLICE4 ,SANITATION WORK]S >E LOAD+ ALL ! MAT]IALS 9 ! PLAZA 9TO TRUCKS4 ,?IRTY-FIVE TRUCKS >E FILL$ ) T5TS1 TABLES1 *AIRS1 SLEEP+ BAGS1 COMPUT]S1 KIT*5 EQUIPM5T1 LIT]ATURE1 ! S\ND SY/EM1 & MORE4 ,PROTE/]S UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPT TO PREV5T ! TRUCKS FROM LEAV+ ! PLAZA1 PROVOK+ POLICE *>GES4 ,DOGMATIC PACIFI/S ATTEMPT TO =CE EV]YONE TO SIT D[N & HOLD SIGNS SAY+ 0NONVIOL5T RESI/ANCE40 ,!Y PHYSICALLY =CE SOME PEOPLE TO SIT D[N1 & ACCUSE ?OSE :O DO NOT ( BE+ 9FILTRATORS4 ,HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE >E BEAT5 BY POLICE :ILE SITT+ D[N4 ,OV] TIME1 MORE & MORE PEOPLE TAKE TO !IR FEET1 EI!R AS A REJECTION ( ! EXTREME DEGREE ( PACIFISM OR SIMPLY TO ALL[ !MSELVES TO BE MORE MOBILE 9 CONFRONT+ ! POLICE4 ,AS ! POLICE >E REPEAT$LY SW>M$ & SURR\ND$1 !Y FIRE RUBB] BULLETS 9TO ! CR[D AT CLOSE RANGE4 ,PEOPLE BEG9 TO ?R[ PLA/IC BOTTLES1 TRA%1 WAT]1 & JUICE AT ! COPS1 & 9 A FEW CASES ROCKS >E ?R[N4 ,PACIFI/S =M A HUMAN *A9 TO PROTECT ! POLICE L9ES1 BUT ! CR[DS EV5TUALLY PU% PA/ !M & SW>M ! POLICE1 =C+ !M \T ( ! PLAZA & CUTT+ (F ! SURR\ND+ /REETS4 ,P]HAPS FIFTY ?\S& PEOPLE OR MORE HAVE CONV]G$ ON ! C5T]1 & ! ATMOSPH]E IS TRIUMPHANT4 #aba PEOPLE HAVE BE5 9JUR$1 MANY ) BROK5 BONES4 ,ONE P]SON IS REPORT$ TO HAVE LO/ AN EYE & ANO!R P]SON TO HAVE LO/ HE>+ 9 ONE E>4 ,ONE P]SON'S LUNGS & SPLE5 HAVE BE5 PUNCTUR$ BY A RUBB] BULLET FIR$ FROM LESS ?AN TWO MET]S AWAY4 ,HE IS S5T TO ! HOSPITAL 9 CRITICAL CONDITION2 NO RELIABLE 9=MATION CAN BE F\ND AB\T HIM AFT]W>DS4 ,A RUMOR CIRCULATES ?AT A ,PORTUGUESE PROTE/] 9 ,B>CELONA HAS DI$4 

,SATURDAY1 ,MAY #b#h3 ,FOOTBALL FANS GA!R = ! ,EUROPEAN *AMPION%IP4 ,NORMALLY1 A GIANT ,T,V SCRE5 IS 9/ALL$ 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 BUT DUE TO ! CONT9U+ OCCUPATION1 ! SCRE5 IS PLAC$ AT ANO!R PO9T 9 ! CITY C5T]4 ,! M$IA WORRY AB\T CLA%ES BETWE5 PROTE/]S & FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS1 & RUMORS CIRCULATE ?AT ,NAZIS >E PLANN+ TO 9FILTRATE & ATTACK ! PLAZA4 ,PACIFI/S =M CORDONS TO BLOCK (F ALL ! 5TRANCES TO ! PLAZA4 ,NO FOOTBALL FANS >E ALL[$ 5TRY4 ,! PACIFI/S WAT* AS FANS FI<T ) POLICE1 & *E] AS !Y >E >RE/$4 ,EV5 Y\?S >E D5I$ SANCTU>Y 9 ! PLAZA4 ,! PACIFI/S ATTEMPT TO SIL5CE AN>*I/S %\T+ AT ! POLICE4 ,AFT] ?IS DAY1 MANY AN>*I/S /OP P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! OCCUPATION1 OR %IFT TO ! NEI<BORHOODS4 

,W9D+ ,D[N3 

,SUNDAY1 ,MAY #b#i3 ,9 O!R MAJOR CITIES1 9CLUD+ ,SEVILLA & ,VAL5CIA1 ! OCCUPATIONS HAVE CONT9U$1 BUT !Y HAVE BE5 MONOPOLIZ$ BY ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S2 !RE IS LITTLE OP5 DEBATE & L[ P>TICIPATION4 ,9 ! NI<TLY MEET+ 9 ,SEVILLA1 ONLY AB\T TWO HUNDR$ PEOPLE P>TICIPATE1 :ILE DUR+ ! DAY SC>CELY FIFTY PEOPLE >E PRES5T4 

,W$NESDAY1 ,JUNE #a3 ,! G5]AL ASSEMBLY 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA HAS %RUNK TO A /ABLE ?\S& PEOPLE P>TICIPAT+ EV]Y NI<T4 ,! T5TS1 KIT*51 G>D51 & S\ND SY/EM /OL5 BY POLICE HAVE BE5 REPLAC$4 ,DUR+ ! DAY1 A FEW HUNDR$ PEOPLE HANG \T4 ,9 ! NEI<BORHOODS1 OP5 MEET+S & CASSOLADAS CONT9UE TO GA9 /EAM4 ,SOME NEI<BORHOODS BEG9 TO BLOCK /REETS1 A PROPOSAL ?AT WAS ALWAYS TOO CONTROV]SIAL = ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S 9 SOME NEI<BORHOODS 9SI/ ?AT ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES MU/ BE AUXILI>IES ( ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 BUT !Y DO NOT SEEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL4 ,9 SOME CASES1 EXCLUSIVE NONVIOL5CE IS AB&ON$ AS A PR9CIPLE ( UNITY4 ,9 ,CLOT1 P>TICIPATION 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD OP5 ASSEMBLY GR[S TO TWO OR ?REE HUNDR$1 & NEW PLAQUES >E 9/ALL$ TO *ANGE ! NAME ( ! SQU>E TO 0,PLACA DE L',ASSEMBLEA40 ,OP5 ASSEMBLIES & CASSOLADAS >E C>RI$ \T 9 P]HAPS T5 O!R NEI<BORHOODS4 

,?URSDAY1 ,JUNE #b3 ,A FR+E LEFT POLITICAL P>TY SETS UP A TABLE 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 BUT AN>*I/S PHYSICALLY EJECT !M1 PROVOK+ A CONFRONTATION ) PACIFI/S4 ,PACIFI/S1 MEAN:ILE1 CONT9UE TO EJECT ,PAKI/ANI /REET V5DORS FROM ! PLAZA1 :ILE REFUS+ TO APPLY ! SAME POLICY TO ! G5]ALLY :ITE CITIZ5S :O BUY BE] FROM !M4 ,AN>*I/S BEG9 SEV]AL >GUM5TS ) !SE PACIFI/S4 ,TWO DAYS LAT]1 ! FIR/ TEXT 9 A NON-,EUROPEAN LANGUAGE TO BE DI/RIBUT$ 9SIDE ! SQU>E APPE>S4 ,IT IS A FLI] 9 ,URDU1 ASK+ ! V5DORS NOT TO SELL BE] 9 ! PLAZA1 BECAUSE IT HURTS ! IMAGE ( ! OCCUPATION4 

,SUNDAY1 ,JUNE #e3 ,COMRADES 9 ,MADRID REPORT ?AT ! OCCUPATION !RE HAS L>GELY DEGRAD$4 ,MANY JUNKIES >E %OOT+ UP 9 ! PLAZA1 POSSIBLY 5C\RAG$ TO GO !RE BY POLICE OR SIMPLY TAK+ ADVANTAGE ( ! AUTONOM\S ZONE1 :ILE ,NAZIS HAVE ATTEMPT$ TO JO9 ! ASSEMBLY & ! PROTE/ M>*ES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS4 ,! RUMOR CIRCULATES ?AT ,D,R,Y F\ND]S 9 ,MADRID >E TALK+ AB\T TURN+ !IR PLAT=M 9TO A POLITICAL P>TY BE=E ! F$]AL LEVEL ELECTIONS S*$UL$ = ! FALL4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 AN>*I/S ORGANIZE A TALK CRITICIZ+ ! IMPOSITION ( NONVIOL5CE 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA4 ,?AT EV5+1 ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO DISMANTLE ! 5CAMPM5T BUT KEEP ! 9=MATION TABLES & COMMISSION T5TS OP5 DUR+ ! DAY4 ,PLANS >E PREP>$ = A BLOCKADE ( ! ,CATALAN P>LIAM5T ON ,JUNE #a#e1 & = A MAJOR PROTE/ ON ,JUNE #a#i4 ,LEAD ORGANIZ]S PROPOSE TO HAVE A SECURITY CORDON )9 ! M>* 9 CASE C]TA9 PEOPLE />T *ANT+ VIOL5T SLOGANS4 

,! ,*>ACT]I/ICS ( ! ,OCCUPATION 

,! FIR/ DAY ,I SET FOOT 9 ! PLAZA1 ,I KNEW ,I WAS EXP]I5C+ SOME?+ UNIQUE4 ,NO ONE H]E HAD EV] SE5 ANY?+ LIKE ?IS4 ,?\S&S ( PEOPLE1 FRI5DS & /RANG]S1 CR[D+ TOGE!R1 ANN\NC+ !IR 9DIGNATION1 DEFY+ ! LAW1 CALL+ = REVOLUTION4 ,I HAD H>DLY EV] SP5T TIME BE=E 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA4 ,IT WAS JU/ A PLACE = T\RI/S & PIGEONS4 ,N[ ,I C\LD PASS H\RS H]E & HAVE CONV]SATIONS ) ALL SORTS ( PEOPLE4 ,A ,PAKI/ANI MAN ASKS ME TO HELP TRANSLATE :AT'S GO+ ON4 ,A Y\NG /UD5T COMM5TS ON A FLI] ,I'M H&+ \T4 ,TWO GR&P>5TS >GUE AB\T DEMOCRACY & ! BE/ WAY TO GO AB\T ! /RUGGLE4 

,ONCE PEOPLE SAW ?AT ,I WAS H&+ \T FLI]S1 !Y L9$ UP TO TAKE !M & SOON ,I WAS ALL \T4 ,DUR+ ! FIR/ WEEK1 EV]YONE WAS EXCIT$1 EV]YONE WAS DESP]ATE = NEW IDEAS & P]SPECTIVES4 ,9 A MATT] ( DAYS WE DI/RIBUT$ ?\S&S ( FLI]S1 MANY ( !M NEW TEXTS WRITT5 JU/ = ?IS SITUATION4 ,ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! CITY & 9 ! METRO1 ,I (T5 SAW PEOPLE READ+ \R TEXTS--NOT JU/ GLANC+ AT !M1 BUT POR+ OV] !M4 ,?AT FIR/ WEEK1 ,I C\LD GO 9TO ANY BAK]Y OR COPY %OP 9 T[N & REQUE/ FREE BREAD OR *EAP COPIES 0= ! PLAZA0 & RECEIVE AT LEA/ A SYMPA!TIC RESPONSE1 & (T5 A LOT ( FREE MAT]IALS4 

,:AT WE HAVE EXP]I5C$ 9 ,B>CELONA IS A RUPTURE--NOT SO MU* 9 ,/ATE CONTROL1 9 VIEW ( ! DEMOCRATIC =MS *OS5 BY ! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T1 BUT MO/ DEF9ITELY 9 PEOPLE'S AFFECTIVE REALITY4 ,SOCIETY LEFT ITS ISOLATION CELLS & PHYSICALLY MANIFE/$ ITSELF 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! PLAZA1 & MANY PEOPLE W]E FEEL+ ITS PRES5CE = ! V]Y FIR/ TIME4 ,!Y W]E RECOGNIZ+ H[ ISOLAT$ !Y HAD BE5 UNTIL N[1 9 ! PLAZA1 :]E !Y 5C\NT]$ A =CE1 A COLLECTIVE P[]1 WAIT+ TO BE REBORN4 ,9 !SE UNPREC$5T$ CIRCUM/ANCES1 PEOPLE C\LD BEG9 TO BELIEVE 9 ! POSSIBILITY ( SITUATIONS ?AT W]E 5TIRELY NEW4 

,BE=E1 :5 Y\ H&$ SOMEONE AN AN>*I/ FLI]1 !Y MI<T ?9K AB\T IT = A :ILE1 IT MI<T IMPROVE !IR UND]/&+ ( Y\1 IT MI<T ANNOY !M1 BUT 9 ANY CASE !Y W\LD ONLY DIGE/ IT AT ! LEVEL ( OP9IONS--BECAUSE Y\ W]E TALK+ AB\T SOME?+ HYPO!TICAL1 SOME?+ UNREAL4 ,BUT 9 ! PLAZA1 HE>+ \R CONV]SATIONS OR READ+ ! LIT]ATURE WE HAD ON \R TABLE1 PEOPLE W\LD REALLY BEG9 TO DEBATE3 0,BUT IF WE GET RID ( ALL ! POLITICIANS1 NEW ONES WILL JU/ COME REPLACE !M40 0,NO1 !SE KIDS >E RI<T6 ,WE NE$ TO GET RID ( ALL ( !M4 ,IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET RID ( ! FIR/ BAT*1 WE CAN GET RID ( ! NEXT ONES TOO60 

,PEOPLE'S ES!TICS NO LONG] M>K$ !IR POLITICAL NI*E4 ,! MO/ IMPORTANT ?+ WAS !IR BRAV]Y & S9C]ITY4 ,MANY TIMES ,I SAW GR&P>5TS B]AT+ Y\NG PUNKS = BE+ TOO PASSIVE1 OR PEOPLE DRESS$ = WORK TAK+ A MORE RADICAL POSITION ?AN ACTIVI/ HIPPIES4 ,& EV]YONE WAS TALK+ AB\T REAL POSSIBILITIES4 ,= AT LEA/ ! FIR/ WEEK1 !SE PEOPLE MEANT IT :5 !Y *ANT$ 0,AQUI COM5CA LA REVOLUCIO60 0,! REVOLUTION BEG9S H]E60 

,SO :]E DID ! SO-CALL$ ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION 5D UP8 

,I REMEMB] YELL+ TO A FRI5D1 HI< ON ! MASS EXCITEM5T ( ?OSE FIR/ DAYS1 0,?IS IS \R REVOLUTION6 ,NO B>RICADES1 NO?+ ROMANTIC LIKE ?AT1 BUT :AT DO WE EXPECT8 ,IT'S A PIECE ( %IT1 BUT WE ALREADY KNEW ?IS IS ! WORLD WE LIVE 94 ,WE HAVE A LOT ( WORK TO DO60 

,)9 ! COMPLEXITY ( ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION1 ONE C\LD F9D PL5TY TO D5\NCE4 ,= A CRITICAL AN>*I/1 IT W\LD BE EASI] TO REJECT ! :OLE ?+ ?AN EMBRACE IT4 ,=TUNATELY1 ON ! :OLE ,B>CELONA AN>*I/S REFUS$ TO TAKE ! EASY ROAD4 

,MO/ NOTEWOR?Y 9 ITS LONG LI/ ( FAULTS W]E ITS DISAPPO9T$ PRET5SIONS ( BE+ REVOLUTION>Y4 ,! ,DEMOCRACIA ,REAL ,YA ACTIVI/S DID !IR BE/ TO PLACE ! :OLE MOVEM5T 9 AN IDEOLOGICAL /RAITJACKET FROM ! BEG9N+4 ,9 ,B>CELONA 9 P>TICUL>1 !SE ACTIVI/S W]E JO9$ BY A LEGION ( M9OR LEAGUE POLITICIANS1 P>TICUL>LY ,CATALAN 9DEPES1 AS WELL AS ,TROTSKYI/S & DOGMATIC PACIFI/S1 ALL TRY+ TO GET A PIECE ( ! PIE4 ,!SE 9 TURN W]E AID$ BY A GREAT MASS ( WELL-MEAN+ PEOPLE :O W]E SIMPLY REPRODUC+ ! VALUES ( DEMOCRACY & NONVIOL5CE TAU<T TO !M BY ! SY/EM1 & NO SMALL NUMB] ( HI<LY SKILL$ & NO LESS WELL-MEAN+ ACTIVI/S ( ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION OR /UD5T V>IETY--9CLUD+ SOME AN>*I/S--:O *]I%$ ! PROCESSES ( CONS5SUS & DIRECT DEMOCRACY4 

,?IS COMPLEX AGGLOM]ATION ( PEOPLE =M$ A P[]FUL RECUP]ATION MA*9E ?AT C\LD NOT BE NEUTRALIZ$ ) ANY SIMPLE APPROA*4 ,BUT ,I'M GETT+ AHEAD ( MYSELF4 

,! PREAMBLE ( ! ,D,R,Y MANIFE/O GIVES A GOOD IMPRESSION ( !IR POLITICAL BR&3 

0,WE >E ORD9>Y PEOPLE4 ,WE >E LIKE Y\3 PEOPLE1 :O GET UP EV]Y MORN+ TO /UDY1 WORK OR F9D A JOB1 PEOPLE :O HAVE FAMILY & FRI5DS4 ,PEOPLE1 :O WORK H>D EV]Y DAY TO PROVIDE A BETT] FUTURE = ?OSE >\ND US4 ,SOME ( US CONSID] \RSELVES PROGRESSIVE1 O!RS CONS]VATIVE4 ,SOME ( US >E BELIEV]S1 SOME NOT4 ,SOME ( US HAVE CLE>LY DEF9$ IDEOLOGIES1 O!RS >E APOLITICAL1 BUT WE >E ALL CONC]N$ & ANGRY AB\T ! POLITICAL1 ECONOMIC1 & SOCIAL \TLOOK :I* WE SEE >\ND US3 CORRUPTION AMONG POLITICIANS1 BUS9ESSM51 BANK]S1 LEAV+ US HELPLESS1 )\T A VOICE40 

,DEMOCRACIA ,REAL ,YA DID AN EXCELL5T JOB ( =MULAT+ A M$IOCRE POLITICS DEF9$ BY ITS POPULISM1 VICTIMISM1 RE=MISM1 & MORALISM4 ,BY US+ COMMON1 VALUE-LAD5 T]MS SU* AS 0DEMOCRACY0 7GOOD7 & 0CORRUPTION0 7BAD71 !Y CREAT$ A DISCURSIVE TRAP ?AT G>N]$ OV]:ELM+ SUPPORT = ALL !IR PROPOSALS :ILE DEFLECT+ OR FALSELY 9CLUD+ PROPOSALS ?AT W5T FUR!R4 ,!IR /AT$ M9IMUMS 9CLUD$ REVOLUTION>Y LANGUAGE & ! HI<LY POPUL> S5TIM5T ?AT 0WE'RE GO+ TO *ANGE EV]Y?+10 :ILE (F]+ A LADD] ( DEM&S ?AT BASICALLY SIGNAL$ ! PRICES1 FROM *EAP TO EXP5SIVE1 AT :I* !Y W\LD SELL \T4 ,IT />T$ ) RE=M ( ! ELECTORAL LAW1 PASS$ ?R\< LAWS = 9CREAS$ OV]SI<T ( ! BANK]S1 & REA*$1 AT IT'S MO/ RADICAL EXTREME1 A REFUSAL TO PAY BACK ! BAIL\T LOANS4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS /RUCTUR$ >\ND DEM&S COMMUNICAT$ TO ! EXI/+ GOV]NM5T1 BUT PRETTI$ UP 9 POPULI/ LANGUAGE4 ,?US1 ! POPUL>1 AN>*I/ SLOGAN ,N+U 5S REPRES5TA1 0,NO ONE REPRES5TS US10 WAS DI/ORT$ )9 !IR PROGRAM TO MEAN1 0,NONE ( ! POLITICIANS CURR5TLY 9 P[] REPRES5T US3 WE WANT BETT] ONES :O WILL40 

,H[EV]1 TO C>RY \T ?IS BALANC+ ACT1 !Y DID HAVE TO ADOPT VAGUELY ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN ORGANIZ+ PR9CIPLES 9H]IT$ FROM ! ANTIGLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T1 SU* AS OP5 ASSEMBLIES1 NO SPOKESP]SONS1 & NO POLITICAL P>TIES4 

,PROPOSALS C5T]$ ON DIRECT ACTION OR S5TIM5TS CONTA9+ A REJECTION ( GOV]NM5T & CAPITALISM W]E EASILY NEUTRALIZ$ )9 ?IS IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK4 ,! =M] W\LD BE PAT]NALI/ICALLY TOL]AT$ AS CUTE LITTLE SIDE PROJECTS ECLIPS$ BY ! MAJOR PROJECTS ( RE=MI/ DEM&S1 & ! LATT] W\LD BE APPLAUD$1 L9K$ BACK TO ! POPUL> RHETORIC ALREADY 9 USE1 & CORRUPT$ TO MEAN AN OPPOSITION TO CURR5T POLITICIANS OR SPECIFIC BANK]S4 

,! ONLY WAY TO *ALL5GE ?IS CO-OPTATION ( POPUL> RAGE WAS TO FOCUS CRITIQUE ON DEMOCRACY ITSELF4 ,WE QUICKLY DISCOV]$ ?AT ! IDEA ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY WAS ! MAJOR !ORETICAL B>RI] ?AT PROTECT$ ! EXI/+ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 & DIRECT DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S1 9CLUD+ AN>*I/S1 W]E ! CRITICAL BRIDGE BETWE5 ! P>ASITIC GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS & !IR SOCIAL HO/ BODY4 

,BY ! F\R? OR FIF? DAY ( ! OCCUPATION 9 ,B>CELONA1 IT BECAME APP>5T 9 PRACTICE :AT WE HAD ALREADY >GU$ 9 !ORY3 ?AT DIRECT DEMOCRACY RECREATES REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY2 ?AT IT IS NOT ! FEATURES ?AT CAN BE RE=M$ 7CAMPAIGN F9ANCE1 T]M LIMITS1 POPUL> REF]5DUMS71 BUT ! MO/ C5TRAL IDEALS ( DEMOCRACY ?AT >E 9H]5TLY AU?ORIT>IAN4 ,! BEAUTIFUL ?+ AB\T ! 5CAMPM5T 9 ! PLAZA WAS ?AT IT HAD MULTIPLE C5T]S = CREATION & 9ITIATIVE-TAK+4 ,! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY FUNCTION$ TO SUPPRESS ?IS2 HAD IT SUCCE$$1 ! OCCUPATION W\LD HAVE DI$ MU* SOON]4 ,IT DID NOT SUCCE$1 ?ANKS 9 P>T TO AN>*I/ 9T]V5TION4 

,! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT GIVE BIR? TO ONE S+LE 9ITIATIVE4 ,:AT IT DID1 RA!R1 WAS TO GRANT LEGITIMACY TO 9ITIATIVES WORK$ \T 9 ! COMMISSIONS2 BUT ?IS PROCESS MU/ NOT BE PORTRAY$ 9 POSITIVE T]MS4 ,?IS GRANT+ ( LEGITIMACY WAS 9 FACT A ROBB+ ( ! LEGITIMACY ( ALL ! DECISIONS MADE 9 ! MULTIPLE SPACES ?R\<\T ! PLAZA NOT 9CORPORAT$ 9TO AN (FICIAL COMMISSION4 ,MULTIPLE TIMES1 SELF-APPO9T$ REPRES5TATIVES ( ?IS OR ?AT COMMISSION TRI$ TO SUPPRESS SPONTANE\S 9ITIATIVES ?AT DID NOT BE> !IR /AMP ( LEGITIMACY4 ,AT O!R TIMES1 COMMISSIONS1 MOD]ATORS1 & 9T]NAL POLITICIANS SPECIFICALLY CONTRAV5$ DECISIONS MADE 9 ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY1 :5 DO+ SO W\LD FAVOR FUR!R C5TRALIZATION4 ,?IS IS NOT A QUE/ION ( CORRUPTION OR BAD =M2 DEMOCRACY ALWAYS SUBV]TS ITS [N ME*ANISMS 9 ! 9T]E/S ( P[]4 

,AGA9 & AGA9 9 ! PLAZA1 WE SAW A CORRELATION BETWE5 DEMOCRACY & ! P>ANOIA ( CONTROL3 ! NE$ = ALL DECISIONS & 9ITIATIVES TO PASS ?R\< A C5TRAL PO9T1 ! NE$ TO MAKE ! *AOTIC ACTIVITY ( A MULTITUD9\S OCCUPATION LEGIBLE FROM A S+LE VANTAGE PO9T--! CONTROL ROOM1 AS IT W]E4 ,?IS IS A /ATI/ IMPULSE4 ,! NE$ TO IMPOSE LEGIBILITY ON A SOCIAL SITUATION--& SOCIAL SITUATIONS >E ALWAYS *AOTIC--IS %>$ BY ! DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/1 :O WI%ES TO IMPOSE A BRILLIANT NEW ORGANIZATIONAL /RUCTURE2 ! TAX COLLECTOR1 :O NE$S ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO BE VISIBLE SO IT CAN BE REAPPROPRIAT$2 & ! POLICEMAN1 :O DESIRES A PANOPTICON 9 ORD] TO CONTROL & PUNI%4 ,I ALSO F\ND ?AT NUM]\S AN>*I/S ( V>I\S IDEOLOGICAL /RIPES W]E UNABLE TO SEE ! CRUCIAL !ORETICAL DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! OPPOSITIONS REPRES5TATIONAL DEMOCRACY VS4 DIRECT DEMOCRACY_/CONS5SUS & C5TRALIZATION VS4 DEC5TRALIZATION1 BECAUSE ! FIR/ & SECOND T]MS ( BO? PAIRS HAVE BE5 TURN$ 9TO SYNONYMS ?R\< MISUSE4 ,= ?IS REASON1 ,I HAVE DECID$ TO REHABILITATE ! T]M 0*AOS0 9 MY P]SONAL USAGE1 AS IT IS A FRI<T5+ T]M NO POPULI/ 9 ! CURR5T CONTEXT W\LD USE & ABUSE1 & IT RELATES DIRECTLY TO MA!MATICAL !ORIES ?AT DIRECTLY EXPRESS ! K9D ( %IFT+1 CONFLICTUAL1 CON/ANTLY REG5]AT+1 ACEPHAL\S ORGANIZATION AN>*I/S >E CALL+ =4 

,AFT] VISIT+ ANO!R CITY :]E ! 5CAMPM5T HAD BASICALLY KILL$ ITSELF ?R\< BOR$OM1 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT !SE ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN CONS5SUS ACTIVI/S HAD ALSO P>TIALLY SAV$ ! DAY 9 ,B>CELONA4 ,BECAUSE RADICAL AN>*I/S >E SO EXTREME 9 \R CRITIQUE1 WE (T5 LACK SOCIAL 9TUITION2 WE HAVE A H>D TIME VIEW+ ! WORLD FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( 0NORMALIZ$0 CITIZ5S4 ,& :ILE ! _?,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION TOOK EV]YONE BY SURPRISE1 IT ESPECIALLY TOOK US BY SURPRISE4 ,ONLY A FEW ( US HAD >RIV$ BY ,W$NESDAY1 ! ?IRD DAY ( ! OCCUPATION1 & MO/ DID NOT COME UNTIL ,?URSDAY OR ,FRIDAY4 ,H[EV]1 ! CONS5SUS ACTIVI/S T5D$ TO BE AT ! HE>T ( IT FROM E>LY ON4 ,MANY ( !M W]E EXP]I5C$ MOD]ATORS1 ?ANKS TO !IR P>TICIPATION 9 ! GREAT MOBILIZATIONS ( ! ANTIGLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T1 SO !Y W]E (T5 ! ONES FACILITAT+ ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY4 ,& BECAUSE !Y FUNCTION$ AS A BRIDGE BETWE5 ! P>ASITIC GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS & ! MASSES1 !Y ALSO FUNCTION$ AS A %IELD = AN>*I/ IDEALS1 BECAUSE !Y W]E ACTORS 9 !IR [N RI<T :O HAD !IR [N GOALS1 QUITE DI/9CT FROM ! GOALS ( ! ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S OR ! ,TROTSKYI/S4 

,9 CITIES :]E ?IS ACTIVI/ CORE DID NOT EXI/1 ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S OR ,TROTSKYI/S QUICKLY HOMOG5IZ$ ! 5CAMPM5TS & VIGOR\SLY SUPPRESS$ RADICAL IDEAS4 ,!SE 5CAMPM5TS SOON %RUNK LIKE A DESICCAT$ CORPSE1 ) MORE P>ASITE ?AN HO/ BODY4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ON ! O!R H&1 AN>*I/S 5JOY$ LEGITIMACY & PRES5CE FROM ! GET-GO1 & ! GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS G5]ALLY HAD TO PAY LIP S]VICE TO AN>*I/ ORGANIZATIONAL IDEALS1 GIV+ RADICAL AN>*I/S MORE ROOM TO WORK 94 

,ONE ( ! MO/ REPUGNANT FEATURES ( ! OCCUPATION1 :I* ULTIMATELY CAUS$ MANY AN>*I/S TO /OP P>TICIPAT+1 WAS ! IMPOSITION ( NONVIOL5CE4 ,NONVIOL5CE WAS ONE ( ! ORIG9AL PR9CIPLES ( ! ,D,R,Y PLAT=M1 & 9 ,B>CELONA ! FIR/ ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN P>TICIPANTS EI!R DID NOT TRY TO OR W]E NOT ABLE TO REJECT IT4 ,NONVIOL5CE WAS NEV] DEBAT$1 BUT ALWAYS 9CLUD$ 9 EV]Y ACTION PROPOSAL1 SO ! *OICE BE=E ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY WAS ALWAYS NONVIOL5CE OR NO?+4 ,9 ! BEG9N+1 ACTIVI/S C>RI$ \T A FEW PEACEFUL SIT-9S4 ,= ,MAY #c1 ,D,R,Y ANN\NC$ AN ACTION TO BE C>RI$ \T ?R\<\T ! 5TIRE ,SPANI% /ATE3 ?AT DAY1 EV]YONE %\LD )DRAW #aee EUROS FROM !IR BANK ACC\NTS 7#a#e#e "7 #a#e-#e1 OR #ae ,MAY71 0A PEACEFUL & SUBTLE ACT1 BUT SUFFICI5TLY CONT5TI\S & ATT5TION-GRABB+ TO CLE>LY DEMON/RATE ! 9DIGNATION WE FEEL1 & ALSO \R /R5G? & COMMITM5T TO TAKE ?IS ?R\< TO ! 5D10 9 !IR WORDS4 

,BUT G5]ALLY1 !IR ACTION PLAN WAS TO DO NO?+1 TO /AY 9 ! PLAZAS1 TO PREV5T PEOPLE FROM SEIZ+ OR BLOCK+ ! SURR\ND+ /REETS1 & TO TALK AB\T ANO!R PROTE/ ON ! FIFTE5? DAY ( ! FOLL[+ MON?4 ,:5 AN>*I/S 9 ,B>CELONA DI/RIBUT$ FLI]S ON ! ?IRD DAY ( ! OCCUPATION1 !Y QUICKLY RELEAS$ A /ATEM5T1 NOT APPROV$ BY ANY ASSEMBLY1 SAY+ ?AT ! OCCUPATION WAS /RICTLY PACIFI/1 & ?AT ! POLICE W]E TRY+ TO 9FILTRATE & 5C\RAGE VIOL5CE2 !RE=E ALL ! GOOD CITIZ5S %\LD BR+ !IR CAM]AS & TAKE PICTURES ( EV]YBODY & EV]Y?+4 

,I BELIEVE IT WAS ! FIR/ ,W$NESDAY OR ,?URSDAY :5 A GR\P ( ACTIVI/S DROPP$ A HUGE BANN] FROM A MAJOR BUILD+ ALONGSIDE ! PLAZA1 READ+ 0,POLITICIANS1 ,BOSSES1 ,BANK]S1 ,C,C,O,O ,U,G,T .<! MAJOR TRADE UNIONS.> ,FUCK ,(F40 ,! CR[DS *E]$ EXULTANTLY4 ,TWO DAYS LAT]1 ANO!R GR\P BLOCK$ A /REET & CUT OP5 A SECTION ( ! GIANT BILLBO>D COV]+ ANO!R BUILD+1 TO REVEAL A L>GE SPRAY-PA9T$ SLOGAN B5EA?2 IF ,I REMEMB] CORRECTLY1 IT SAID 0,NO ONE REPRES5TS US60 ,ON ?IS SECOND OCCASION1 SOME PEOPLE *E]$1 BUT SELF-APPO9T$ LEAD]S TRI$ TO /OP ! ACTION & D5\NC$ IT AS VIOL5T4 

,:5 POLICE C>RI$ \T !IR HYGI5IC OP]ATION ON ,FRIDAY1 ,MAY #b#f1 PACIFI/S V]BALLY OR PHYSICALLY OBLIG$ EV]YONE TO SIT D[N & TO HOLD SIGNS ) ! WORDS 0NONVIOL5T RESI/ANCE40 ,! POLICE BEAT ! PROTE/]S ) GLEE1 OP5+ HEADS & BREAK+ >MS4 ,ON A FEW OCCASIONS :5 PEOPLE ATTEMPT$ TO SNAT* AWAY POLICE BATONS1 PACIFI/S RAN T[>DS !M TO BR+ !IR MESSAGE ( PEACE4 ,AS ?\S&S MORE PEOPLE >RIV$ TO LIB]ATE ! PLAZA1 !Y OV]:ELM$ POLICE L9ES & SURG$ T[>DS ! COPS 9 ! MIDDLE1 %\T+ & />T+ TO ?R[ ?+S4 ,PACIFI/S =M$ A HUMAN *A9 TO PROTECT !M4 ,POLICE W]E EV5TUALLY PU%$ BACK1 NOT )\T COMPLET+ !IR CLEAN+ OP]ATION & ALL[+ ! SANITATION TRUCKS TO DEP>T ) ALL ! MAT]IALS !Y HAD /OL54 ,EV5 ?\< ! CR[DS G5]ALLY PU%$ PA/ ! LIMITS SET =W>D BY ! PACIFI/S--& !Y C]TA9LY DIDN'T DO IT SITT+ D[N WAIT+ = ! LEGAL TEAM1 AS ! PACIFI/S HAD ADVIS$--! IDEOLOGUES ( NONVIOL5CE /ILL CLAIM$ IT AS A VICTORY4 ,!Y ALSO FALSELY /AT$ ?AT ! POLICE ATTEMPT$ TO EVICT ! PLAZA & W]E DEFEAT$4 ,ALL ?IS %\LD COME AS NO SURPRISE1 AS PACIFI/S HAVE DONE ! SAME ?+ ) ! ,>AB REVOLTS--EMBOLD5+ /ATI/S LIKE ,OBAMA TO DO ! SAME4 

,! FOLL[+ ,SATURDAY WAS ! WOR/ DAY1 :5 ! PACIFI/S =M$ HUMAN *A9S TO KEEP FOOTBALL FANS \T ( ! PLAZA & *E]$ POLICE AS !Y >RE/$ HOOLIGANS4 ,:5 !RE W]E /ILL COMRADES 9 CRITICAL CONDITION 9 ! HOSPITAL1 9JUR$ FROM RUBB] BULLETS %OT BY POLICE (FIC]S1 !SE SAME PACIFI/S PROPOS$ GO+ TO SUPPORT A RALLY ! POLICE W]E HOLD+ TO PROTE/ !IR UPCOM+ WAGE CUTS4 

,!RE W]E O!R PROBLEMS AS WELL4 ,S5EGALESE IMMIGRANTS SELL+ SUNGLASSES & ,PAKI/ANI IMMIGRANTS SELL+ BE] & S&WI*ES MOV$ 9TO ! AUTONOM\S ZONE WE HAD CREAT$ 9 ! PLAZA4 ,SELL+ ?+S ON ! /REET1 IF Y\'RE NOT RI* 5\< TO HAVE Y\R [N /ORE OR KIOSK1 IS ILLEGAL 9 ,B>CELONA1 & ! COPS (T5 AMUSE !MSELVES *AS+ IMMIGRANT /REET V5DORS4 ,5T] ! ,CONVIV5CIA 7COEXI/5CE1 LIV+-TOGE!R7 ,COMMISSION4 ,! ,C,C =M$ ) ! EXPLICIT OBJECTIVE ( NOT ALL[+ ANTISI/EMA TO COME & TAKE OV] ! PLAZA4 ,ANTISI/EMA IS A M$IA T]M ORIG9ALLY US$ TO REF] TO AN>*I/S 9 A DEPOLITICIZ$ & DELEGITIMIZ+ WAY2 IT HAS S9CE BE5 EXT5D$ TO SQUATT]S & ANYONE ELSE :O FALLS \TSIDE ! RANGE ( ACCEPTABLE DEMOCRATIC OP9ION4 ,9 POPUL> USAGE IT IS ALMO/ A SYNONYM = HOODLUM OR HOOLIGAN4 ,CONSEQU5TLY1 ! PROPOSAL TO =M ! ,C,C WON POPUL> APPROVAL 9 ! ASSEMBLY BE=E ANY DEBATE C\LD BE HAD1 & DESPITE ! FACT ?AT MANY NON-AN>*I/ P>TICIPANTS 9 ! PLAZA HAD SIGNS CRITICIZ+ ! M$IA USE ( ! T]M 0ANTISI/EMA40 

,! ,C,C POLICE SET !MSELVES ! TASK ( KICK+ \T ! ,PAKI/ANI LAT]OS 7BE] V5DORS74 ,!IR JU/IFICATION WAS ?AT 0!Y BO!R$ PEOPLE0 BY (F]+ BE]S = SALE EV]Y FEW M9UTES1 & ?AT !Y 0CREAT$ A BAD IMAGE0 = ! 5CAMPM5T 79 ! M$IA74 ,MULTIPLE TIMES1 AN>*I/S CONFRONT$ ,C,C MEMB]S1 :O (T5 W5T >\ND ) NAME-TAGS & WALKIE-TALKIES1 BUT TO NO AVAIL4 ,DESPITE ACCUSATIONS ( HYPOCRISY & RACISM1 !Y SPECIFICALLY REFUS$ TO TALK TO ! PEOPLE :O HAD ! MONEY TO BUY ! BE]1 & ONLY FOCUS$ ON PU%+ \T ! PEOPLE :OSE LIVELIHOOD WAS BAS$ ON SELL+ IT4 

,!RE WAS A HEAVY DOSE ( LEGALISM AS WELL AMONG ! LEAD+ ORGANIZ]S4 ,!Y ATTEMPT$ TO GET US TO TAKE D[N \R SIGNS AGA9/ VOT+1 CLAIM+ IT C\LD BE US$ AS A JU/IFICATION = A POLICE EVICTION1 EV5 ?\< ! :OLE OCCUPATION WAS BLATANTLY ILLEGAL4 ,AT ANO!R PO9T !Y RAIS$ A /9K :5 SOME PEOPLE />T$ AN URBAN G>D5 9 ! PLAZA2 !Y COMPLA9$ ?AT REPLAC+ ! MUL* B$S >\ND ! F\NTA9 ) PLANTS WAS 0UNCIVIC40 ,= CONTEXT1 ! CIVISME LAWS 9 ,B>CELONA HAVE BE5 AN AGGRESSIVE TOOL TO KILL /REET CULTURE & MAKE ?+S MORE COM=TABLE = T\RI/S4 ,AN>*I/S 9 ! PLAZA (T5 HAD TO >GUE AGA9/ LEGALI/ M5TALITIES2 IT HELP$ ?AT ! OCCUPATION 9 ITSELF SPRANG FROM ILLEGALITY4 ,ON ?IS FRONT1 WE GA9$ SOME GR\ND2 ! G>D51 = EXAMPLE1 WAS NOT SUPPRESS$4 

,!RE W]E ALSO PROBLEMS ) C]TA9 JUNKIES & DRUNK>DS :O HAD TAK5 UP RESID5CE 9 ! PLAZA & CON/ANTLY H>ASS$ OR EV5 ASSAULT$ WOM54 ,PACIFI/ ORGANIZ]S & ! ,CONVIV5CIA ,COMMISSION TRI$ TO PREV5T ! FEM9I/ ASSEMBLY 9 ! PLAZA FROM ORGANIZ+ SELF-DEF5SE CLASSES & TAK+ C>E ( ! PROBLEM ON !IR [N1 9/EAD PAT]NALI/ICALLY (F]+ TO PROTECT !M4 ,AN>*I/S HAD A H>D TIME DEAL+ ) ! JUNKIES & DRUNK>DS :O W]E BE+ J]KS4 ,ON ! ONE H&1 WE W]E GLAD !Y W]E TAK+ ADVANTAGE ( ! AUTONOM\S ZONE TO LIVE )\T POLICE H>ASSM5T = A FEW WEEKS4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 SOME ( !M ACT$ 9 WAYS WE W\LDN'T TOL]ATE FROM ANYBODY2 9 ANO!R CONTEXT1 ONLY RESIDUAL LIB]AL GUILT W\LD HAVE KEPT US FROM KNOCK+ !M ON !IR ASSES4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 ! SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY COMPLICAT$3 ANY USE ( VIOL5CE C\LD HAVE PROVOK$ A MAJOR CONFRONTATION ) ! PACIFI/S1 ) TOTALLY UN=ESE5 CONSEQU5CES4 ,WORSE /ILL1 IT C\LD HAVE A CONS]VATIVE BACKLA% ?AT W\LD HAVE V9DICAT$ & DEM&$ MORE ( ! ,C,C'S POLIC+ ACTIVITIES4 

,ON ! :OLE1 H[EV]1 !RE WAS MU* 9 ! PLAZA TO VALUE4 ,IT WAS AN EXT5SIVE1 *AOTIC SPACE ( SELF-ORGANIZATION :]E PEOPLE MET !IR LOGI/ICAL NE$S--SOMETIMES GO+ ?R\< ! (FICIAL *ANNELS1 SOMETIMES NOT4 ,!RE WAS A LIBR>Y1 A G>D51 AN 9T]NATIONAL TRANSLATION C5T]1 A KIT*5 ) BIG /OVES & SOL> COOK]S1 & AT ANY TIME !RE W]E A C\PLE CONC]TS1 WORK%OPS1 DEBATES1 & MASSAGE P>LORS TAK+ PLACE1 ALONG ) 9NUM]ABLE SMALL] CONV]SATIONS & 5C\NT]S4 

,& IT WAS AMAZ+ TO 5C\NT] A WID] AN>*I/ COMMUNITY !RE1 TO F9D ?AT MO/ COMRADES HAD ! SAME IDEA TO COME D[N TO ! PLAZA EV5 ?\< ! MO/ VISIBLE DISC\RSES EMANAT+ !REFROM W]E /AUN*LY SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC4 ,! COMRADES WE MET !RE W]E NOT ALWAYS MEMB]S ( \R PREEXI/+ AFF9ITY GR\PS1 BUT ALSO LIB]T>IANS WE HAD NEV] WORK$ ) BE=E4 ,ON ! :OLE1 COMRADES DEMON/RAT$ AN IMPRESSIVE COMMITM5T1 AGILITY ( ACTION1 & A NUANC$ & 9CISIVE CRITIQUE4 ,IT BECAME CLE> AGA9 ?AT ! OLD /]EOTYPE ( ! AN>*I/ <ETTO IS AT BE/ ONLY P>TIALLY TRUE4 ,AT ! FIR/ *ANCE TO JO9 A COLLECTIVITY & COMMUNICATE ) O!RS1 MO/ ( US W]E !RE1 EV5 ?\< IT WAS (T5 AN UNCOM=TABLE OR EV5 HO/ILE 5VIRONM5T4 ,! V]Y FACT ?AT WE CAN SPEAK ( AN 0AN>*I/ <ETTO0 9DICATES ?AT WE >E LESS ISOLAT$ ?AN MO/ PEOPLE4 ,?IS COMMUNALITY ?AT WE C>RY ) US MAKES US /& \T2 ! 0<ETTO0 IS =M$ LESS BY ATTITUDES ON ! 9T]IOR & MORE BY ! IMPOSITION ( A G5]AL SOCIAL ISOLATION ON EV]YBODY ELSE4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ?IS HAS BECOME TRU] 9 ! LA/ FEW YE>S1 N[ ?AT MANY AN>*I/S HAVE DI/ANC$ !MSELVES FROM ! TRADITION ( SQUATT+ = ! SAKE ( SQUATT+4 

,NOT EXACTLY ON ! TURN ( A DIME1 BUT )9 ! SPACE ( A C\PLE DAYS1 MANY DOZ5S ( US DROPP$ \R R\T9ES & ?REW \RSELVES :OLEHE>T$LY 9TO ! OCCUPATION--/AFF+ ! LIT]ATURE TABLE1 WRIT+ OR F9D+ TEXTS & PHOTOCOPY+ !M1 HAV+ CONV]SATIONS & >GUM5TS1 JO9+ ! COMMISSIONS1 & ORGANIZ+ DEBATES1 TALKS1 & CONC]TS4 ,IT WAS AN 9CR$IBLE FEEL+ TO F9D SO MANY ACCOMPLICES 9 ! MIDDLE ( A SOCIAL S+UL>ITY1 TO SP5D ! NI<T CONV]S+1 >GU+1 & ANALYZ+ ! DAY'S EV5TS1 TO SP5D ! FOLL[+ MORN+ WRIT+ ! NEXT R\ND ( ANN\NCEM5TS & CRITIQUES1 TO PASS ! SIE/A PR9T+1 & !N TO GO BACK D[N TO ! AN>*I/ T5T = AN AFT]NOON & EV5+ ( DI/RIBUTION1 MEET+S1 & ! ASSEMBLY4 

,9EVITABLY1 WE EXHAU/$ \RSELVES4 ,TALK+ ) COMRADES :O TOOK P>T 9 ! ,DECEMB] #bh 9SURRECTION 9 ,GREECE1 IT S\ND$ LIKE PEOPLE REA*$ !IR PHYSICAL LIMITS 9 ?REE WEEKS4 ,EVID5TLY1 DEBATES & MEET+S >E MORE TAX+ ?AN RIOTS & TE> GAS3 MO/ ( US />T$ TO BURN \T AFT] A WEEK OR TWO4 ,MANY ( ?OSE :O W]E MO/ ACTIVE 9 ! FIR/ WEEK W]E GRADUALLY REPLAC$ BY A SORT ( SECOND %IFT ( ?OSE :O HAD TAK5 LONG] TO BE CONV9C$ ( ! NE$ TO P>TICIPATE4 

,A ,NOTE ON ,TE*NOLOGY 

,A READ] MI<T NOTICE ?AT FROM ! VANTAGE PO9T ( ! 9T]NET1 IT SEEMS LIKE ! 0_?,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION0 WAS BAS$ ALMO/ 5TIRELY >\ND ,TWITT] & ,FACEBOOK1 VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION ?AT DOESN'T FEATURE AT ALL 9 MY ACC\NT4 ,9 REALITY1 EXCEPT = ! OCCASIONAL TE* GEEK W&]+ BY SUGGE/+ ?AT WE C\LD SOLVE ALL ! WORLD'S PROBLEMS ) VIRTUAL SIMULTANE\S 9T]NET DEMOCRACY1 ?AT P>T ( ! REVOLUTION SIMPLY DIDN'T EXI/ = ME4 

,P]HAPS ?IS IS NOT SURPRIS+1 9 ?AT ,I DON'T HAVE A CELLPHONE & DON'T USE ,FACEBOOK4 ,9 ! 5D1 !SE >E JU/ TOOLS = SPREAD+ ! WORD1 & :ILE !Y DO *ANGE ! T]RA91 FROM A C]TA9 PO9T ( VIEW !Y >E SUP]FLU\S4 ,I F\ND IT EASY TO BE 9 ! C5T] ( IMPORTANT HAPP5+S & TO /AY 9=M$4 ,TOT+ A CELLPHONE >\ND W\LD HAVE JU/ WA/$ MY TIME & LEFT LOGS ( ALL MY MOVEM5TS & COMMUNICATIONS = ! POLICE TO BR[SE AT !IR LEISURE4 ,= ! PA/ MILL5NIA1 !RE HAVE BE5 OCCASIONS 9 :I* PEOPLE GA!R TOGE!R SPONTANE\SLY 9 SURPRIS+ NUMB]S4 ,AS SOCIAL ISOLATION 9CREASES1 NETWORK+ TE*NOLOGY HELPS OV]COME ! GR[+ DI/ANCES1 BUT IT ALSO PLAYS A ROLE 9 CREAT+ !M 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,I RECALL A TALK 9 A ,B>CELONA AN>*I/ SOCIAL C5T]1 9 :I* WE CALL$ AN ,EGYPTIAN AN>*I/ 9 ,TAHRIR ,SQU>E VIA ,SKYPE4 ,%E LAU<$ AB\T ! :OLE ,TWITT] & ,FACEBOOK OBSESSION1 EXPLA9+ ?AT ?OSE TOOLS W]E USEFUL BUT ?AT !IR IMPORTANCE HAD BE5 EXAGG]AT$ BY ,WE/]N M$IA4 

,AN>*I/ ,/RATEGIES 

,AFT] DEBAT+ ! MATT] ) COMRADES NE>LY EV]Y DAY = WEEKS1 ,I ?9K ?OSE ( US :O *OSE TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! OCCUPATION ) AN AN>*I/ CRITIQUE MADE ! RI<T /RATEGIC *OICES4 ,\R ONLY ]RORS COME D[N TO A QUE/ION ( F9D+ ! RI<T BALANCE BETWE5 ! V>I\S =MS ( ACTIVITY4 

,! FEW AN>*I/S :O W]E !RE AT ! BEG9N+ W]E 9/RUM5TAL 9 BLOCK+ ! SIGN+ ( ! ,DEMOCRACIA ,REAL ,YA MANIFE/O & 9 APPROV+ ! DECISION NOT TO PRODUCE ANY UNIT>Y MANIFE/OS4 ,?IS ALL[$ ! ,B>CELONA OCCUPATION TO TAKE ON AN 9DEP5D5T *>ACT] & DEVELOP ACCORD+ TO ITS [N NE$S1 :I* 5D[$ IT ) MORE VIVACITY4 ,9 ,SEVILLA1 BY CONTRA/1 ! OCCUPATION 9 ,LAS ,SETAS SIGN$ ON TO ! ,MADRID PLAT=M FROM ! BEG9N+1 NEV] DEVELOP$ AS MU* DIV]SITY OR /R5G?1 & QUICKLY LO/ :AT IT HAD4 ,& 9 ,MADRID1 ! ASSEMBLY PASS$ A LAW E>LY ON TO ALL[ NO IDEOLOGICAL SYMBOLS OR IDEOLOGICAL GR\PS 9 ! OCCUPATION1 :I* WAS A DECISIVE FACTOR 9 PREV5T+ ! AN>*I/S !RE FROM EV] SETT+ UP !IR [N TABLE TO DI/RIBUTE PROPAG&A4 ,ACCORD+LY1 !Y HAD F> LESS VISIBILITY1 ?\< !Y MADE A MAJOR EF=T TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! V>I\S COMMISSIONS4 ,WE [E :AT WE A*IEV$ 9 ,B>CELONA 9 P>T TO ! FACT ?AT SOME AN>*I/S W5T TO ! PROTE/ & OCCUPATION AT ! V]Y BEG9N+1 DESPITE ! ODI\S DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC ?AT PR$OM9AT$2 & ?AT !Y DID NOT ONLY GO AS W>M BODIES1 BUT AS FI<T]S OR ACTIVI/S ) !IR [N SPECIFIC CRITIQUE4 

,WE [E :AT WE A*IEV$ 9 ,B>CELONA 9 P>T TO ! FACT ?AT SOME AN>*I/S W5T TO ! PROTE/ & OCCUPATION AT ! V]Y BEG9N+1 DESPITE ! ODI\S DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC ?AT PR$OM9AT$2 & ?AT !Y DID NOT ONLY GO AS W>M BODIES1 BUT AS FI<T]S OR ACTIVI/S ) !IR [N SPECIFIC CRITIQUE4 

,AFT] MORE AN>*I/S >RIV$ ON ,W$NESDAY & ,?URSDAY1 !RE WAS A DEBATE ?AT 5D$ 9 AN IMPASSE3 DO WE P>TICIPATE 9 ! ASSEMBLY & ! COMMISSIONS1 OR DO WE /AY AT ! M>G9S8 ,A C\PLE ( US >GU$ ?AT ! PLACE ( ! AN>*I/S IS ALWAYS 9 ! M>G9S1 & \R ROLE IS TO SUBV]T ! C5T] & MAKE SURE ! M>G9S >E MORE ALIVE1 MORE CREATIVE1 & MORE 9T]E/+ ?AN ! C5T]4 ,=TUNATELY1 WE DID NOT W9 ?AT DEBATE1 AL?\< SUBSEQU5T EV5TS V9DICAT$ \R POSITION4 ,9 ! 5D1 MO/ 0RADICAL0 AN>*I/S.<#a.> P>TICIPAT$ 9 V>I\S COMMISSIONS1 ESPECIALLY ,CONT5T1 :]E M9IMUM DEM&S & POLITICAL PROGRAMS W]E =MULAT$4 ,AN>*I/ P>TICIPATION BASICALLY MADE ?IS COMMISSION EXPLODE1 AS ! ,TROTSKYI/S & SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS :O PREVI\SLY DOM9AT$ IT F\ND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET APPROVAL = !IR POPULI/ PROGRAMS ) US 9VOLV$4 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 ! COMMISSION BROKE UP 9TO AB\T A DOZ5 SUB-COMMISSIONS3 !SE 9CLUD$ LABOR1 ECOLOGICAL1 & O!R !M$ ONES1 & ALSO 0,SELF-,ORGANIZATION & ,DIRECT ,DEMOCRACY40 ,?IS DID NOT PREV5T ! ,TROTS FROM SUBSEQU5TLY SPEAK+ 9 ! NAME ( ,CONT5T & TRY+ TO DELEGITIMIZE ! DECISIONS ( ! SUB-COMMISSIONS4 

,?OSE FAVOR+ SELF-ORGANIZATION 7AN>*I/S & AUTONOMI/S7 & ?OSE FAVOR+ DIRECT DEMOCRACY 7RADICAL LIB]ALS7 W]E LUMP$ 9 ! SAME SUB-COMMISSION2 ! LATT] F\ND ?IS APPROPRIATE1 :ILE ! =M] CONSID]$ ! TWO T]MS TO BE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOS$4 ,( C\RSE1 ! =M] W]E RI<T1 BUT IT WAS A GOOD ?+ ! TWO GR\PS W]E LUMP$ TOGE!R BECAUSE ?IS ALL[$ ! TWO CAMPS TO DEBATE1 SPREAD+ A CRITIQUE ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY BEYOND AN>*I/ CIRCLES & GIV+ AN>*I/S GOOD PRACTICE 9 COMMUNICAT+4 ,NOT TO S\ND >ROGANT1 BUT ! P>TISANS ( SELF-ORGANIZATION T5D$ TO W9 ! DEBATES1 AS ! DEMOCRATS HAD SUP]FICIAL IDEAS & G5]ALLY LESS EXP]I5CE 9 ANY K9D ( /RUGGLE4 

,BY P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! COMMISSIONS1 AN>*I/S A*IEV$ MULTIPLE VICTORIES4 ,9 A FEW 9/ANCES1 WE *ANG$ ! =M ( ! OCCUPATION2 9 MANY 9/ANCES1 WE HELD EFFECTIVE DEBATES1 CRY/ALLIZ$ \R ANALYSIS1 & GA9$ CONTACT ) A BROAD] ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN COMMUNITY4 ,WE ALSO BLOCK$ SEV]AL ATTEMPTS TO PACIFY OR NEUTRALIZE ! MO/ BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS ( ! OCCUPATION4 

,H[EV]1 )9 A C\PLE WEEKS MO/ ( US REALIZ$ ?AT WE HAD MADE A MI/AKE BY PUTT+ SO MU* 5]GY 9TO ! COMMISSIONS4 ,WE HAD EFFECTIVELY SEQUE/]$ AN>*I/ IDEAS 9 A FEW USEFUL BUT RELATIVELY SMALL SPACES2 WE HAD EXHAU/$ \RSELVES ) DAILY MEET+S2 & WE HAD ALL[$ \RSELVES TO BE S$UC$ BY ! (FICIAL ORGANIZATIONAL /RUCTURES1 :I* G5]ALLY PROV$ !MSELVES IMP]VI\S TO DEC5TRALIZATION FROM ! 9SIDE4 ,MEAN:ILE1 WE HAD ONLY REALIZ$ A T9Y FRACTION ( ! OCCUPATION'S POT5TIAL = SELF-ORGANIZATION4 ,?IS IS IRONIC1 9 ?AT MO/ ( US W]E BUSY TALK+ AB\T SELF-ORGANIZATION 9 ! APPROPRIATE COMMISSIONS4 

,ON A FEW OCCASIONS1 WE DEFI$ ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY & ! COMMISSIONS BY ORGANIZ+ ?+S ON \R [N1 />T+ PROJECTS 9 SMALL AFF9ITY GR\PS & WORK+ \T CONFLICTS ) O!R PROJECTS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS4 ,WE SET UP ! LIT]ATURE T5T1 ORGANIZ$ TWO OR ?REE TALKS1 TWO OR ?REE DEBATES1 HELP$ ORGANIZE A CONC]T1 & HELP$ ORGANIZE AN 0ESCRA*E0 PROTE/ AT A NE>BY WORKPLACE ?AT HAD JU/ FIR$ A WORK] = BE+ PREGNANT4 ,IF WE HAD ONLY PUT HALF AS MU* 5]GY 9TO ! COMMISSIONS1 ?OSE VALUABLE DEBATES /ILL W\LD HAVE HAPP5$1 BUT WE C\LD HAVE ORGANIZ$ T5 TIMES AS MANY 9=MAL EV5TS 9 ! PLAZA1 MAK+ IT A REALITY ?AT ! M>G9S W]E /RONG] ?AN ! C5T]4 

,AS IT HAPP5$1 )9 A WEEK ! AN>*I/ T5T HAD BECOME A PLACE :]E PEOPLE RE/$ BETWE5 MEET+S--?IS MEANT ?AT WE W]5'T HAV+ AS MANY SPONTANE\S CONV]SATIONS ) R&OM PASS]SBY4 ,! M>G9S1 ,I %\LD CL>IFY1 W]E NOT A LIFELESS PLACE WAIT+ = AN>*I/ LEAD]%IP4 ,!RE WAS ALREADY A GREAT DEAL ( ACTIVITY !RE1 MU* ORGANIZ$ BY HIPPIES1 BUT LITTLE ( IT HAD ANY EXPLICIT POLITICAL CONT5T2 ?US IT WAS LESS CONT5TI\S1 & MORE EASILY DELEGITIMIZ$ )9 A DI*OTOMY ( WORK_/LEISURE OR CULTURE_/POLITICS4 

,ON ! FIR/ ,FRIDAY ( ! OCCUPATION1 ! DAY WE SET UP ! AN>*I/ T5T ) ! LIT]ATURE TABLE1 A VITAL /RATEGIC DECISION HAD TO BE MADE UNEXPECT$LY4 ,SOMEONE FROM SOME COMMISSION CAME UP TO TELL US ?AT ! PLAZA WAS RES]V$ = COMMISSION T5TS1 SO WE HAD TO MOVE TO ! $GE1 BASICALLY A SIDEWALK >EA \TSIDE ! 5TRANCES TO ! 9N] PLAZA4 ,! GUY WAS V]Y CLEV]1 & US$ A CONV9C+ >GUM5T3 IF WE /AY$ !RE1 !N ! ,TROTSKYI/S & ,/AL9I/S & ALL !SE O!R P>TIES C\LD ALSO SET UP !IR T5TS1 & WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE = ?AT1 DID WE8 

,AT ! TIME1 !RE W]E ONLY AB\T SIX ( US !RE4 ,I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MYSELF TOO MU* ( A PROTAGONI/2 EV]YONE TELL+ ! /ORY FROM !IR [N P]SPECTIVE WILL REMEMB] ANALOG\S EPISODES1 BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL MADE H]OIC EF=TS 9 !SE DAYS4 ,BUT ! FACT ( ! MATT] IS1 ,I SOON F\ND !RE W]E ONLY TWO ( US :O OPPOS$ MOV+ ! T5T1 & ! O!R ONE WAS WILL+ TO ACCEPT ! MAJORITY POSITION4 ,I >GU$ =CIBLY3 :O C>ES IF ALL ! LITTLE ,M>XI/-,L59I/ P>TIES 9 ! WORLD MOVE 98 ,! COMMISSIONS & ! (FICIAL /RUCTURES >E F> MORE DANG]\S4 ,FUR!RMORE1 WE W]E FULLY LEGITIMATE 9 SETT+ UP ?IS T5T1 BECAUSE WE W]E NOT A PREEXI/+ POLITICAL P>TY BUT A SPONTANE\S 9ITIATIVE ?AT >OSE FROM ! PLAZA ITSELF4 ,MO/ ( ! PEOPLE 9 ! T5T AT ?AT PO9T HAD NEV] WORK$ TOGE!R ON ANY PROJECT BE=E1 & A C\PLE ( US HAD MET = ! FIR/ TIME 9 ! PLAZA4 ,NOT ONLY WAS IT \R RESPONSIBILITY AS AN>*I/S TO DEFY ! COMMISSIONS & OP5 UP ! PLAZA = ALL SORTS ( 9ITIATIVES1 BUT IT WAS A GOOD ?+ IF !Y SUBSEQU5TLY TRI$ TO KICK US \T 9 ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 ,AS AN>*I/S1 WE WANT TO MAKE EXI/+ CONFLICTS VISIBLE1 NOT AVOID !M4 ,LET !M TRY TO KICK US \T1 & !N SEE :]E ?IS DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION GOES4 

,WE >GU$ FACE TO FACE ) V>I\S COMMISSIOCRATS1 SOMETIMES BE+ NICE1 SOMETIMES BE+ \TRAG$1 UNTIL !Y W]E CONV9C$ OR EXHAU/$4 ,WE ALSO BUILT SOME COMMON GR\ND ) ANO!R T5T !Y W]E TRY+ TO KICK \T1 ONE ?AT HAD BE5 SET UP BY SOME P]=MANCE KIDS FROM A CIRCUS SQUAT4 ,IF WE HAD NOT WON ?AT LITTLE BATTLE & REALIZ$ ! NE$ TO SEEK CONFLICT NOT ONLY ) ! ,/ATE BUT ALSO 9 ! SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 :I* ALSO CONTA9 ! ,/ATE1 WE W\LD HAVE BE5 AT A SEV]E DISADVANTAGE 9 EV]Y?+ ?AT FOLL[$4 

,O!R /RATEGIC DECISIONS W]E EASI]4 ,WE ALL AGRE$ IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONFRONT ! KEEP]S ( ORD]1 SU* AS ! PEOPLE FROM ! ,CONVIV5CIA ,COMMISSION4 ,WE />T$ >GUM5TS :]E NECESS>Y1 BUT REMA9$ WILL+ TO RECONCILE & BE FRI5DLY IF !Y /OPP$ ACT+ LIKE COPS OR POLITICIANS2 ?IS ACTUALLY HAPP5$ ON A C\PLE OCCASIONS4 

,\R PROPAG&A EF=TS ALSO DIDN'T NE$ ANY DISCUSSION1 & !Y W]E MODE/LY ,H]CULEAN4 ,IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY H[ MANY FLI]S WE H&$ \T1 BUT IT MAY WELL HAVE EXCE$$ #c11 PLUS HUNDR$S ( PAMPHLETS & PO/]S4 ,SURPRIS+LY1 IT WAS ALL SELF-F9ANC$ VIA A DONATION J> AT \R TABLE4 ,ESPECIALLY 9 ! FIR/ WEEK1 PASS]SBY TOSS$ 9 HUGE QUANTITIES ( CO9S & EV5 BILLS SO WE C\LD KEEP PR9T+ \R SUPPOS$LY EXTREMI/ & ALI5AT+ PROPAG&A4 

,! F9AL /RATEGIC CONFLICT ,I'LL DETAIL 9VOLV$ CRITICIZ+ ALLIES :O W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ! C5TRALIZATION ( ! MEET+S4 ,\R CRITICISMS W]E H>% AT TIMES1 & !Y /RA9$ MORE ?AN A FEW FRI5D%IPS1 BUT ,I ?9K IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESS>Y4 ,BY WIDELY PO/+ ! ACCUSATION ?AT ! ASSEMBLY WAS BE+ MANIPULAT$ BY ,TROTSKYI/S & LEFT ,CATALAN POLITICIANS1 WE PUT !SE PEOPLE ON ! DEF5SIVE & LIMIT$ !IR ACTIVITY4 ,! SAME APPROA* WAS H>D] ) ! ,D,R,Y ACTIVI/S1 UN=TUNATELY1 BECAUSE !Y W]E PREVI\SLY UNKN[N & !Y W]E 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! :OLE ?+ FROM ! BEG9N+4 

,MEAN:ILE1 BY /RONGLY CRITICIZ+ ! CONS5SUS ACTIVI/S = FACILITAT+ ?IS MANIPULATION & RECREAT+ ! ,/ATE1 WE MADE VISIBLE AN ABSOLUTELY VITAL L9E ( CONFLICT1 DEFLAT+ ! V>I\S EXCUSES ?AT HID AU?ORIT>IANISM )9 QUE/IONS ( PROCESS & 9EFFICI5CY4 ,?IS LATT] GR\P1 ! CONS5SUS ACTIVI/S1 MO/LY HAD GOOD 9T5TIONS1 & SOME W]E 9 FACT COMRADES1 SO !Y W]E G5U9ELY S5SITIVE TO CRITICISM4 ,! RESULTS ( \R ATTEMPTS TO CRITICIZE !M WILL SURFACE 9 ! COM+ MON?S AS !Y EVALUATE !IR [N 9T]V5TION 9 ?IS PH5OM5ON & WE CONT9UE CRITICIZ+ !M4 ,IT IS NECESS>Y ?AT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE1 EV]YONE :O HONE/LY DESIRES FRE$OM RECOGNIZE ?AT DEMOCRACY MU/ BE DE/ROY$ 9 ALL ITS =MS4 

,:AT ,WE ,LE>N$ 

,WE CAN D]IVE A NUMB] ( LESSONS FROM ?IS EXP]I5CE1 MANY ( :I* >E /ILL BE+ DIGE/$4 

,= ME1 ! FIR/ IS ?IS3 !RE CAN BE NO MORE EXCUSES = MASS ASSEMBLIES MOD]AT$ BY CONS5SUS SPECIALI/S4 ,IT IS IMPORTANT = COLLECTIVITIES TO COME TOGE!R2 :5 ?IS HAPP5S1 IT IS IMPORTANT4 ,BUT ! ONLY MASS ORGANIZATIONAL =M ?AT CAN EXI/ )\T BE+ IMPOS$ IS ?AT ( AN 5CU5TRO1 AN 5C\NT]1 :]E PEOPLE SPEAK !IR M9DS OR %>E IDEAS OR ASK = HELP ON 9ITIATIVES ?AT !Y >E />T+ )\T NE$+ ANYONE'S P]MISSION4 ,)9 ?IS 5C\NT]1 !RE CAN BE 9DIVIDUALS & AFF9ITY GR\PS1 PEOPLE 9VOLV$ 9 =MAL 7NONP>TY7 ORGANIZATIONS OR 9=MAL F$]ATIONS1 OR :ATEV]4 ,! :OLE QUE/ION ( =MALITY OR 9=MALITY IS A DI/RACTION--IT DOESN'T MATT]1 IT ONLY COMES D[N TO P]SONAL TA/E4 ,FROM AN AN>*I/ VIEWPO9T1 ! ONLY NECESSITY IS ?AT !RE BE NO DECISION-MAK+ BODY ?AT HAS MORE LEGITIMACY ?AN ALL ! O!RS4 ,A SOCIAL MOVEM5T IS ESS5TIALLY AN ATTEMPT BY SOCIETY TO BE REBORN \T ( ! VOID ( CAPITALI/ ALI5ATION4 ,WE %\LD NOT HAVE TO ADH]E TO ANY S+LE ORGANIZATIONAL =M 9 ORD] TO FULLY P>TICIPATE 9 ! SOCIAL MOVEM5T1 BECAUSE EV]Y S+LE ONE WILL EXCLUDE C]TA9 K9DS ( PEOPLE4 

,9 ! PA/1 ! ,C,N,T PLAY$ ?IS ROLE4 ,TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! /RUGGLE 9 ,B>CELONA1 Y\ PRACTICALLY HAD TO WORK )9 ! ,C,N,T1 & !Y SCREW$ IT UP SOME?+ AWFUL4 ,IT W\LD BE A SIMIL> MI/AKE TO GRANT LEGITIMACY TO A MASS ASSEMBLY1 REG>DLESS ( :E!R IT USES CONS5SUS OR VOT+1 BECAUSE DEP5D+ ON ! TIME & LOCATION ( ! MEET+S1 H[ LONG !Y LA/1 :E!R !RE >E *AIRS TO SIT 9 OR :E!R ! SPACE CAN BE ACCESS$ BY H&ICAPP$ PEOPLE1 SOME PEOPLE WILL BE EXCLUD$4 ,EV5 IF Y\ C\LD DESIGN ! P]FECT MEET+ =M & REW9D CAPITALI/ DEVELOPM5T TO RECREATE A PROLET>IAT ?AT ALL W5T TO WORK & W5T TO B$ AT ! SAME TIME1 !RE W\LD /ILL BE EXCLUSION1 BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JU/ DON'T DO MEET+S1 :ILE O!RS HAVE L>GE CR[DS & SPEE*MAK+ 9 !IR BLOOD4 ,! ONLY ANSW] TO ?IS IS TO RECOGNIZE A WEB ( DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURES & ORGANIZ+ =MS ) EQUAL LEGITIMACY1 DE/ROY+ ONCE & = ALL ! DIVIDE BETWE5 PUBLIC & PRIVATE4 

,SECONDLY1 WE LE>N$ AGA9 :AT MAKES A GOOD 9T]V5TION3 PRES5CE PLUS CRITIQUE4 ,PRES5CE MEANS BE+ !RE1 BUT IT ALSO MEANS P>TICIPAT+1 BECOM+ A MAT]IAL & 9TEGRAL P>T ( :AT IS GO+ ON4 ,CRITIQUE MEANS NOT LEAV+ Y\R BRA9 AT HOME BECAUSE Y\ ?9K Y\'RE GO+ TO SC>E PEOPLE (F ) Y\R AN>*I/ IDEAS2 IT MEANS EXPRESS+ Y\RSELF1 & ALSO LI/5+1 & EVALUAT+ Y\R [N BEHAVIOR4 

,I HAD A *ANCE TO COMP>E \R EXP]I5CES ) A FAIL$ AN>*I/ 9T]V5TION 9 ANO!R CITY ?AT CONFIRMS ?IS PO9T4 ,SOME COMRADES W5T TO ! 5CAMPM5T !RE JU/ AS W>M BODIES1 )\T CRITICISM4 ,O!RS W5T PROVOCATIVELY1 SNUBB+ EV]Y?+ & EV]YONE & LEAV+ :5 !Y GOT A BAD REACTION1 DECID+ NOT TO COME BACK BECAUSE IT WASN'T A COM=TABLE SPACE = !M4 ,IT /RIKES ME ?AT !SE TWO OPPOSITE APPROA*ES >E COMPLEM5T>Y4 ,BO? >E BAS$ ON AVOID+ P]SONAL DISCOM=T4 

,SOME FUR!R LESSONS3 

,PEOPLE >E SITUATIONAL1 NOT SOV]EIGN4 ,?IS SAME IDEA SEEM$ TO BE CONFIRM$ BY ! ,GREEK EXP]I5CE4 ,) ! POSSIBLE EXCEPTION ( A FEW ,NIETZS*EAN SUP]BE+S1 PEOPLE >E NOT SOV]EIGN 9DIVIDUALS :O LIVE ACCORD+ TO !IR OP9IONS4 ,RA!R1 PEOPLE RESPOND TO !IR SITUATIONS4 ,ACCORD+LY1 ! SAME P]SON :O HAS LITTLE TIME = AN AN>*I/ TEXT ON A NORMAL DAY ( ! WEEK WILL /OP & READ IT & FANTASIZE ) Y\ AB\T OV]?R[+ ! ,/ATE IF Y\ HAPP5 TO MEET !M 9 ! UNEXPECT$ T]RA9 ( A SPONTANE\S COLLECTIVITY4 ,! NEXT QUE/ION TO EXPLORE IS TO :AT EXT5T WE CAN PLANT SE$S1 9 ! BOR+ MOM5TS1 ?AT WILL /AY ) PEOPLE & HAVE ! *ANCE TO SPR\T :5 ?OSE PEOPLE 5T] ! UNPR$ICTABLE T]RA9 ( A RUPTURE4 

,COLLABORATION BETWE5 ! V>I\S SECTS ( LIB]T>IANS WAS VITAL4 ,P]HAPS AFF9ITY GR\PS >E OV]RAT$3 9 ! 5D IT DID NOT MATT] SO MU* :E!R A FELL[ AN>*I/ AGRE$ ) Y\ ON ! QUE/ION ( ! EXI/5CE OR NONEXI/5CE ( ! PROLET>IAT2 IT MATT]$ MORE :E!R WE C\LD GET ALONG & COMMUNICATE4 ,IT WAS A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO HAVE MANY DIFF]5T P]SPECTIVES MIX+1 DIFF]5T /RATEGIES BE+ DEVELOP$1 & DIFF]5T PEOPLE BE+ DRAWN TO P>TICIPATE 9 DIFF]5T WAYS4 ,! AN>*O-SYNDICALI/S MADE A GREAT EF=T TO BE PRES5T 9 MANY ( ! COMMISSIONS1 & IT WAS FUNNY & 9/RUCTIVE SEE+ !M P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! SAME POPUL> DEBATES ) NIHILI/ & 9SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/S4 ,!Y ALSO BR\<T ) !M ! IMPORTANT TRADITION ( ! ,C,N,T1 :I* GRANT$ LEGITIMACY TO AN>*I/ P>TICIPATION ON ! :OLE4 

,DEC5TRALIZATION IS NOT ! SAME AS DISP]SAL4 ,A MASS GA!R+ PO9T SU* AS ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA CAN GIVE US A S5SE ( COLLECTIVE /R5G?1 :I* DISP]SAL W\LD DISSIPATE4 ,DEC5TRALIZATION MEANS NOT UTILIZ+ A UNIT>Y ORGANIZATIONAL /RUCTURE ) C5TRAL NODES4 ,IT IS A QUE/ION ( MODE1 NOT SCALE4 ,MANY PEOPLE1 9CLUD+ SOME AN>*I/S1 MISUND]/OOD ! AN>*I/ PROPOSAL = DEC5TRALIZATION AS A PROPOSAL TO %IFT ACTIVITY TO ! NEI<BORHOODS4 ,:ILE ?IS WAS 9 FACT P>T ( :AT MO/ AN>*I/S W]E PROPOS+1 IT IS EQUALLY POSSIBLE TO TRANSPLANT C5TRALIZ$ /RUCTURES AT A SMALL] SCALE TO ALL ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES4 ,=TUNATELY1 ! ,B>CELONA NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 :I* =M$ >\ND ! ,SEPTEMB] G5]AL /RIKE1 HAD ALREADY DEFEAT$ AN ATTEMPT TO C5TRALIZE !M )9 ! UMBRELLA ORGANIZ+ /RUCTURE ?AT >OSE >\ND ! /RIKE4 ,!Y PREF]R$ !IR AUTONOMY4 ,AS SU*1 !Y W]E A FAVORABLE T]RA9 = AN>*I/S1 ESPECIALLY :]E WE HAD ALREADY BE5 P>TICIPAT+ 9 \R NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLY4 ,IT WAS H>D] = GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS TO TAKE !M OV]1 & H>D] TO IMPOSE AN IDEOLOGICAL UNITY1 BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD A PO9T ( UNITY3 WE LIV$ 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD TOGE!R1 & WE HAD NO PRET5SIONS ( ALL ?9K+ ! SAME WAY4 

,:5 WE EXPRESS AN>*I/ IDEAS HONE/LY1 HUMBLY1 & PASSIONATELY1 IT CAN REVEAL ?AT MANY ( ?OSE :O REMA9 SIL5T >E ALREADY P>TIALLY ON \R SIDE4 ,9]TIA & COMMON VALUES WORK AGA9/ US & FAVOR ! POPULI/S & DEMOCRATS1 BUT AN>*I/ IDEAS ALMO/ ALWAYS W9 A DEBATE BECAUSE !Y SPEAK TO AN 9ALI5ABLE IMPULSE T[>DS FRE$OM ?AT EXI/S 9 EV]YONE :O /ILL HAS A HE>T4 ,! IMPORTANT ?+1 !N1 IS TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! DEBATE1 AS LONG AS ?AT DEBATE DOES NOT LEGITIMIZE (FICIAL POLITICAL *ANNELS BUT TAKES PLACE BETWE5 ORD9>Y PEOPLE4 ,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT ! DOGMATIC PACIFI/S BOYCOTT$ ! DEBATE WE ORGANIZ$ AB\T NONVIOL5CE4 ,!Y'RE NOT 9T]E/$ 9 A DEBATE1 BUT 9 IMPOS+ !IR PRACTICE4 

,NONVIOL5CE IS NOT A CULTURAL PECULI>ITY1 BUT A REAL DANG] EV]Y:]E DEMOCRACY EXI/S4 ,I ?\<T ?AT ) ITS ,M$IT]RANEAN CULTURE & ITS LONG1 LIV+ HI/ORY ( =CEFUL /RUGGLES1 ,SPA9 W\LD NEV] HAVE A PROBLEM ) NONVIOL5CE4 ,BUT 9 A P]IOD ( A FEW YE>S1 IT HAS APPE>$ ) A /R5G? ?AT C\LD RIVAL ! PACIFISM 9 ! ,U,K OR ,U,S4 ,& !SE PACIFI/S DO NOT G5]ALLY EM]GE FROM A TRAJECTORY ( ! HI/ORICAL NONVIOL5T /RUGGLES 9 ,SPA91 SU* AS ! ANTIMILIT>I/ MOVEM5T4 ,RA!R1 !Y HAVE BE5 CREAT$ \T ( :OLE CLO? BY ! DEMOCRATIC CONTEXT ITSELF2 ! GR\ND WAS PREP>$1 9 MY M9D1 BY ! TOL]ANCE ( LEFTI/1 DEMOCRATIC1 RI<TS-BAS$ DISC\RSES 9 ! ANTAGONI/IC SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ( ! LA/ C\PLE DECADES4 ,PEOPLE :O ID5TIFY AS PEACEFUL %\LD BE HE>TILY 5C\RAG$ TO MAKE !MSELVES AT HOME )9 \R /RUGGLES4 ,NONVIOL5CE1 ON ! O!R H&1 MU/ BE TREAT$ ) CONTEMPT UNTIL IT IS MADE SYNONYM\S ) C[>DICE & SNIT*+1 & DEC5T PACIFI/S AB&ON %IP TO NEV] AGA9 BE CONFUS$ ) COP-LOV]S4 ,BY CONT9U+ TO USE ! DI*OTOMY ( NONVIOL5CE & VIOL5CE1 & >GU+ :E!R OR NOT \R ACTIONS QUALIFY AS VIOL5T1 WE >E ONLY EMP[]+ !M4 ,VIOL5CE DOES NOT EXI/3 IT IS A VAGUE & MORALI/IC CATEGORY4 ,ONLY NONVIOL5CE EXI/S1 & IT MEANS SELL+ \T1 RUNN+ AWAY1 & C5SOR+ O!R PEOPLE'S /RUGGLES4 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS JU/ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY ON A SMALL] SCALE4 ,IT 9EVITABLY RECREATES ! SPECIALI/S1 C5TRALIZATION1 & EXCLUSION WE ASSOCIATE ) EXI/+ DEMOCRACIES4 ,)9 F\R DAYS1 ONCE ! CR[DS EXCE$$ #e11 ! EXP]IM5T 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY WAS ALREADY RIFE ) FALSE & MANIPULAT$ CONS5SUS1 SIL5C$ M9ORITIES1 9CREAS+ AB/5TION FROM VOT+1 & DOM9ATION BY SPECIALI/S & 9T]NAL POLITICIANS4 

,9 A /ORY WOR?Y ( ,KAFKA1 WE W]E TRY+ TO S*$ULE A DEBATE & WE WANT$ TO LET ?OSE AT ! ,ACTIVITY ,COMMISSION KN[4 ,! KID AT ! TABLE LOOK$ D[N AT HIS =M1 A CRAPPY LITTLE PIECE ( PAP] WRITT5 UP 9 BALLPO9T P51 & TOLD US WE C\LDN'T HAVE \R EV5T 9 ! SPOT :]E WE WANT$4 0,:Y80 ,I ASK$1 GETT+ READY TO GO BALLI/IC4 ,! RESPONSE WAS F> MORE PA!TIC ?AN ,I HAD EXPECT$4 0,BECAUSE \R =MS >E DIVID$ 9TO DIFF]5T COLUMNS1 SEE1 ONE COLUMN = EA* SPACE 9 ! PLAZA1 BUT ?AT SPACE OV] BY ! /AIRCASE1 WELL ?AT'S NOT AN (FICIAL SPACE40 0,?AT'S OKAY1 WE DON'T M9D1 JU/ WRITE IT D[N40 0,BUT1 BUT1 ,I CAN'T4 ,!RE ISN'T A COLUMN = IT40 0,WELL1 MAKE A COLUMN40 0,UM1 ,I CAN'T40 0,OH ,*RI/1 LOOK1 :I* ONE'S OP5--LOOK1 H]E1 ',P9K ,SPACE1' JU/ WRITE \R EV5T D[N = ! ',P9K ,SPACE' & :5 ! TIME COMES WE'LL JU/ MOVE IT40 ,)9 TWO WEEKS1 )\T ANY PRIOR TRA9+1 ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION HAD CREAT$ P]FECT BUREAUCRATS6 

,SOME RADICAL AN>*I/S PUT TOO MU* TRU/ 9 ! COMMISSIONS4 ,!Y W]E ONLY USEFUL AS SPACES = DEBATE & AS SPACES TO SUBV]T4 ,= EXAMPLE1 9 ! BEG9N+1 ! ASSEMBLY DECID$ NOT TO RELEASE UNIT>Y MANIFE/OS SPEAK+ = EV]YONE4 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 9 ! COMMISSIONS1 AN>*I/S HAD TO FI<T PROPOSALS = M9IMUM DEM&S & MANIFE/OS EV]Y S+LE NI<T4 ,F9ALLY1 !RE WAS A COMMISSION MEET+ ) NO AN>*I/S PRES5T1 & ! M9IMUMS W]E PASS$ ?R\< ! COMMISSION & SUBSEQU5TLY RATIFI$ BY ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY1 :I* RATIFI$ NE>LY EV]Y PROPOSAL PASS$ BE=E IT4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! AN>*I/ PROPOSAL TO DEC5TRALIZE ! ASSEMBLY WAS VOT$ ON TWICE1 & EA* TIME A*IEV$ OV]:ELM+ SUPPORT1 BUT CURI\SLY WAS DEFEAT$ ON TE*NICALITIES BO? TIMES4 ,?IS ACTION DEMON/RAT$ ?AT WE W]E RI<T1 WE HAD LOTS ( SUPPORT1 & ! ASSEMBLY WAS A %AM--?AT1 9 ITSELF1 WAS A VICTORY4 ,BUT DIRECT DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE RE=M$ FROM )94 ,IT HAS TO BE DE/ROY$4 

,9 ANO!R EXAMPLE ( ! UNSUITABILITY ( !SE ORGANIZATIONAL =MS1 ! ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE A SIMPLE DEBATE AB\T NONVIOL5CE ALMO/ FAIL$ BECAUSE ! ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION & ,DIRECT ,DEMOCRACY ,SUB-,COMMISSION NE$$ DAYS TO DEBATE & CONS5SE ON EXACTLY H[ !Y WANT$ TO DO IT4 ,9 ! 5D1 TWO PEOPLE DECID$ TO IGNORE ! COMMISSION1 & JO9+ ) ANO!R AN>*I/ :O WAS NOT P>TICIPAT+ 9 ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION1 ! ?REE ( !M ORGANIZ$ A SUCCESSFUL TALK & DEBATE 9 JU/ A DAY1 ACCOMPLI%+ :AT A GR\P ( FIFTY PEOPLE HAD FAIL$ AT OV] ! C\RSE ( A WEEK4 

,F9ALLY1 WE LE>N$ \R [N LIMITS4 ,AFT] TWO WEEKS ( MEET+S1 DEBATES1 & GRASSROOTS BUREAUCRACY1 SOME ( US W]E READY TO %OOT \RSELVES4 ,WE W]E EXHAU/$1 & WE HAD MADE ! GRAVE ]ROR ( DROPP+ ALL \R O!R PROJECTS & ACTIONS4 ,?IS DEMON/RAT$ A NECESS>Y FLEXIBILITY1 BUT IT ALSO MEANT ?AT DUR+ !SE MO/ CRITICAL MOM5TS1 RADICAL AN>*I/ ACTIONS W]5'T HAPP5+ 9 ! /REETS4 ,IT ALWAYS FELT VITAL TO BE 9 ! MEET+S1 9 CASE SOME?+ %\LD GO WRONG1 BUT WE C\LD HAVE MOD]AT$ \R P>TICIPATION & DEVOT$ SOME 5]GY ELSE:]E4 

,9 ?IS RESPECT1 IT BECAME OBVI\S ?AT WE LACK PEOPLE :O >E COM=TABLE ) PUBLIC SPEAK+4 ,?IS IS A VITAL SKILL WE NE$ TO DEVELOP COLLECTIVELY4 ,(T51 PEOPLE ) ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN CRITIQUES MADE UP A L>GE PROPORTION ( A MEET+1 BUT WE JU/ SAT ?R\< IT ALL & LI/5$ TO BULL%IT BECAUSE NONE ( US WANT$ TO TAKE ! MICROPHONE4 ,9 ! SECOND OP5 ASSEMBLY 9 ! ,CLOT NEI<BORHOOD1 ,I />T$ TO GET DEPRESS$ BECAUSE IT WAS EXHIBIT+ NONE ( ! ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN S5TIM5T AS ! FIR/ ONE4 ,POPULI/ 9]TIA WAS /EAMROLL+ US4 ,F9ALLY1 ,I TOOK ! MIKE & LAUN*$ 9TO A T5-M9UTE SPEE* URG+ A FOCUS ON LONG-T]M REVOLUTION>Y GOALS & SELF-ORGANIZATION1 & SLAMM+ RE=MISM1 PACIFISM1 & ATTEMPTS AT A HOMOG5\S UNITY4 ,A HUGE P>T ( ! CR[D *E]$1 & AFT]W>DS MORE PEOPLE W]E MOTIVAT$ TO GET UP & EXPRESS SIMIL> S5TIM5TS1 %IFT+ ! DIRECTION ( ! :OLE MEET+4 ,AT ! 5D1 HALF A DOZ5 PEOPLE1 FROM GR&MO!RS TO /UD5TS1 ?ANK$ ME = MY CONTRIBUTION1 :ILE O!RS CAME OV] TO />T >GUM5TS ?AT 5D$ ) !M EI!R CONV9C$ ( OR AT LEA/ RESPECT+ ! AN>*I/ POSITION4 ,I DIDN'T 5JOY SPEAK+ OR RECEIV+ COMPLIM5TS--IT MADE ME FEEL N]V\S & SELF-CONSCI\S--BUT ,I WOND]3 IF ,I HADN'T1 W\LD ! MEET+ HAVE RUN ITS C\RSE ) ! UN9T]RUPT$ ILLUSION ( A RE=MI/ MAJORITY8 

,N[ ?AT ! ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA OCCUPATION IS DISAPPE>+1 ! /RUGGLE WILL CONT9UE 9 ! NEI<BORHOODS1 9 ! RADICAL UNIONS1 9 PREEXI/+ AFF9ITY GR\PS1 & 9 ! NEW RELATION%IPS ?AT HAVE BE5 =M$ DUR+ !SE DAYS4 ,TIME WILL TELL1 BUT ,I SUSPECT WE HAVE MADE A GREAT LEAP =W>D BY P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 MEET+ NEW ACCOMPLICES1 & W9N+ \RSELVES A GREAT SOCIAL VISIBILITY 9 SPITE ( A HO/ILE DEMOCRATIC 5VIRONM5T4 ,! REAL REVOLUTION IS A LONG TIME 9 COM+1 BUT ITS SPUTT]+ ATTEMPTS TO COME TO LIFE >E PLA9LY VISIBLE 9 !SE SURPRIS+1 PA!TIC1 EXHAU/+1 BEAUTIFUL MOM5TS1 AS LONG AS WE HAVE ! =TITUDE TO BE !RE4 

,APP5DIX3 ,TRANSLATIONS FROM ,ORIG9AL ,TEXTS 9 ,CATALAN & ,SPANI% 

0,:Y ,WE ,DON'T ,LAY ,CLAIM TO ,DEMOCRACY0 

,POSSIBLY ! FIR/ AN>*I/ TEXT TO COME \T ( ! OCCUPATION1 ?IS WAS PUBLI%$ ALONGSIDE 0,& AFT] ,SUNDAY1 :AT !N80 

,WE P>TICIPATE 9 ! /RUGGLES AGA9/ HOME REPOSSESSIONS1 AGA9/ EVICTIONS1 AGA9/ ! CUTBACKS & ALL ! ABUSES WE SUFF] DAILY4 ,WE CREATE SOCIAL C5T]S1 LIBR>IES1 NEWSPAP]S ) C\NT]9=MATION & ANALYSIS1 COMMUNITY G>D5S1 & SPECIFIC EV5TS4 ,WE PRACTICE DIRECT ACTION1 ATTACK+ ! SYMBOLS ( \R OPPRESSORS SU* AS ! POLICE1 ! POLITICIANS1 & ! BANKS4 ,= ALL !SE REASONS1 WE DO NOT LAY CLAIM TO DEMOCRACY4 

,WE BELIEVE ?AT IT IS ONLY NECESS>Y TO LAY CLAIM TO FRE$OM1 )\T E/ABLI%+ LIMITS TO \R DESIRES4 ,FREQU5TLY IT IS ?\<T ?AT 0FRE$OM0 & 0DEMOCRACY0 >E SYNONYMS1 BUT DEMOCRACY ALWAYS LEADS TO AN EV5 /RONG] SOCIAL CONTROL--IT IS DICTATOR%IP ) O!R WEAPONS1 IT IS ! ,/ATE ?AT TRICKS US 9TO P>TICIPAT+ 9 \R [N DOM9ATION4 ,!RE IS NO S+LE DEMOCRACY 9 ! 5TIRE WORLD :]E ! PEOPLE >E FREE1 & ?IS IS NOT A QUE/ION ( CORRUPTION BUT RA!R ( ! NORMAL FUNCTION+ ( DEMOCRACIES4 

,LIKE ALL K9DS ( /ATES1 DEMOCRACY IS BAS$ ON C5TRALIZATION & ! MONOPOLIZATION ( DECISION-MAK+4 ,IT DOESN'T MATT] IF WE ALL P>TICIPATE 9 !SE DECISIONS1 BECAUSE MASSIVE ASSEMBLIES >E EASY TO MANIPULATE4 ,! P]SON ) ! MICROPHONE1 ! PEOPLE :O WANT TO LEAD1 WILL ALWAYS BE )9 ! MAJORITY & ! M9ORITY WILL ALWAYS BE SIL5C$4 ,9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA WE >E CREAT+ A REAL DEMOCRACY & ?IS IS \R GREAT MI/AKE4 ,WE >E REPRODUC+ ! SAME ROLES ?AT EXI/ 9 P>LIAM5T1 WE >E CREAT+ ! PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS ( TOMORR[4 

,WE IMAG9E A ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA ) A DIV]SITY ( ASSEMBLIES1 :]E EV]YONE CAN />T 9ITIATIVES )\T PASS+ ?R\< A C5TRALIZ$ & CUMB]SOME ASSEMBLY1 ?US GIV+ EV]YONE ! EXP]I5CE ( P>TICIPAT+ 9 A PROCESS ( AUTOGE/ION 9/EAD ( BE+ SPECTATORS4 ,WE CAN ORGANIZE MILLIONS ( 9ITIATIVES ) GREAT] FLUIDITY )\T HAV+ TO PASS ?R\< ! COMMISSIONS1 :I* >E EASILY DOM9AT$ BY SPECIALI/S4 ,WE DON'T NE$ O!RS TO TELL US :AT WE CAN DO4 

,WE >E NOT SATISFI$ ) ! S+LE VOICE ( ! C5TRALIZ$ ASSEMBLY1 BECAUSE IT'S H>DLY ANY BETT] ?AN ! DAILY SIL5CE ( CAPITALISM4 ,WE WANT A PLAZA FULL ( VOICES1 ( ASSEMBLIES1 ( CONV]SATIONS4 ,WE'RE TRULY 9T]E/$ 9 CREAT+ L9KS BETWE5 ALL ( US1 BUT WE'D LIKE TO DO IT 9 ANO!R WAY3 ?R\< SOLID>ITY BETWE5 ! /RUGGLES & NOT ?R\< ! HOMOG5IZATION ( \R IDEAS4 

,LET'S DE/ROY DEMOCRACY & SPREAD FRE$OM6 

0,& ,AFT] ,SUNDAY1 ,:AT ,!N80 

,9 ,TAHRIR ,SQU>E1 AFT] BR++ D[N ! DICTATOR%IP1 PEOPLE REALIZ$ ?AT IT WAS ONLY ! BEG9N+4 ,EV5 ?\< NONE ( IT APPE>$ 9 ! M$IA1 AFT]W>DS !RE WAS A :OLE S]IES ( /RIKES & OCCUPATIONS 9 FACTORIES & O!R PLACES4 ,BR++ D[N ! DICTATOR%IP WAS JU/ ONE /EP =W>D = OP5+ ! /RUGGLE & KEEP+ ! ,/ATE FROM %OOT+ !M ALL D[N4 

,9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 IF WE BR+ D[N ! MONOPOLY ( ! POLITICAL P>TIES & ! ELECTORAL F>CE1 :AT WILL WE HAVE ACCOMPLI%$8 ,NO?+ MORE ?AN TO OP5 NEW POSSIBILITIES TO /RUGGLE & A*IEVE :AT WE REALLY WANT3 ! AUTOGE/ION ( \R LIVES & ! 5D ( EXPLOITATION & SOCIAL HI]>*IES4 

,WE WANT TO COLLECTIVIZE ! SOCIAL WEAL?1 AS \R GR&P>5TS DID 9 ! REVOLUTION ( #a#i#c#f1 & 9 ! 9SURRECTIONS ( ,FIGOLS1 ,CASAS ,VIEJAS1 ,A/URIAS1 & ! ,HOSPITALET ,COMMUNE 9 ! YE>S BE=E4 ,! DICTATOR%IP DE/ROY$ !SE /RUGGLES1 BUT NOT \R DESIRE = FRE$OM4 ,LAT]1 ! DEMOCRACY HAS MA9TA9$ & 9T5SIFI$ ! SOCIAL & ECONOMIC *ANGES MADE BY ! DICTATOR%IP4 

,IF WE 5D ?IS CIRCUS ( POLITICIANS1 WE WILL HAVE ! OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE \R DREAM ( SELF-ORGANIZATION & COLLECTIVIZATION4 ,)\T A D\BT1 !SE IMPLIES A H>D /RUGGLE ) MU* DET]M9ATION1 RESPONSIBILITY1 & P]SEV]ANCE IF WE REALLY WANT TO SOLVE ! PROBLEMS WE SUFF]4 ,!Y WILL CALL US VIOL5T1 !Y WILL REPRESS US1 !Y WILL TRY TO ASSIGN US LEAD]S & NEW POLITICIANS4 

,!RE=E IT IS 9DISP5SABLE3 

NEV] TO PACT ) ! RI* & P[]FUL 

TO SUPPORT ! PRISON]S CREAT$ BY ! REPRESSION 

TO RESPECT DIV]SE PA?S ( /RUGGLE 

TO SEIZE ! /REETS1 & ! RESPONSIBILITY TO SU/A9 \RSELVES ?R\< MUTUAL AID 

,IT IS NOT EASY1 BUT IT IS POSSIBLE4 ,! PA? IS LONG & AS LONG AS \R DREAM ( LIB]TY REMA9S ALIVE1 WE WILL BE MORE ALIVE ?AN EV]4 

0,GRAVE ,]RORS ( ! ,PROTAGONI/S ( ! ,C5TRAL ,ASSEMBLY0 

,?IS FLI] APPE>$ ON ! FIR/ ,FRIDAY ( ! OCCUPATION4 

0,PATI5CE1 PATI5CE - ?IS ISN'T EASY40 .<,WORDS (T5 SPOK5 BY ! MEET+ MOD]ATORS.> ,! =MS & /RUCTURES TAK5 BY ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY >E NOT SOME?+ NATURAL1 BUT RA!R A SPECIFIC *OICE T[>DS C5TRALIZ$ 9/EAD ( DEC5TRALIZ$ /RUCTURES4 ,EV5 ?\< MANY ( ! ORGANIZ]S >E SURELY REPRODUC+ :AT !Y ALREADY KN[ 9 GOOD FAI?1 ! EFFECT & ! PURPOSE ( C5TRALIZATION IS TO CREATE A /RUCTURE 9 :I* ! MAJORITY CANNOT P>TICIPATE1 !Y CAN ONLY WAT* & VOTE4 

0,WE >E CREAT+ A SPACE = EXPRESS+ \RSELVES40 ,LIES4 ,) A C5TRAL ASSEMBLY1 !Y >E SIL5C+ #i1#i#i#i SPACES = EXPRESS+ \RSELVES1 REPLAC+ !M ) ONE S+LE SPACE4 ,DIDN'T !Y NOTICE ?AT 9 ! H\RS BE=E ! ,C5TRAL ,ASSEMBLY !RE WAS A MULTITUDE ( MEET+S1 CONV]SATIONS1 ASSEMBLIES1 & 9ITIATIVES NOT CONTROLL$ BY ANYONE8 

0,EV]YONE AGREE8 ,GOOD1 CONS5SUS40 ,IT IS EVID5T ?AT 9 ! MAJORITY ( VOTES 9 ! ,G5]AL ,ASSEMBLY1 IT IS ! AB/A9+ VOTE ?AT W9S4 ,ONLY F\R DAYS ( REAL DEMOCRACY & WE'VE ALREADY REPRODUC$ EV]YDAY DEMOCRACY & MASSIVE APA?Y4 ,!Y >E KILL+ ! REVOLUTION ) BOR$OM4 

0,!RE'S NO TIME TO DEBATE H]E1 ?IS HAS TO PASS ?R\< ! COMMISSIONS40 ,BUT :5 !RE >E ?\S&S ( PEOPLE 9 ! PLAZA1 :5 9 ! MEET+S ONLY ! PEOPLE CLOSE/ TO ! SPEAK] CAN HE>1 :5 SOME COMMISSIONS LA/ UNTIL FIVE 9 ! MORN+1 !RE IS NO POSSIBILITY TO DEBATE 9 ! COMMISSIONS EI!R4 ,A /RUCTURE HAS BE5 CREAT$ 9 :I* DELEGATION IS NECESS>Y4 ,! DEMOCRACY ) :I* WE >E ALL F$ UP HAS BE5 REPRODUC$4 

,H[ TO ,MANIPULATE AN ,ASSEMBLY 

,= HE :O HAS ! MICROPHONE & ANN\NCES ! PROPOSAL1 IT IS EXTREMELY EASY TO G5]ATE ! DESIR$ CONS5SUS4 

-,ALWAYS PROPOSE ! DESIR$ OPTION 9 ! FIR/ POSITION4 ,E4G4 0,! PROPOSAL IS TO DO A SIL5T M>* TO ,PLACA ,SANT ,JAUME4 ,EV]YONE 9 FAVOR80 ,NO ONE WANTS TO BE 9 ! M9ORITY1 SO ?OSE :O >5'T 9 FAVOR WILL AB/A9 FROM VOT+1 SO !RE WILL BE ! APPE>ANCE ( CONS5SUS4 

-,AVOID DEBATE ON Y\R IDEOLOGICAL F\NDATIONS4 ,E4G4 0,! PROPOSAL IS TO C>RY \T A NONVIOL5T ACTO9 AGA9/ ! BANKS40 ,NONVIOL5CE IS NEV] DEBAT$1 BUT IMPOS$1 BY MAK+ EXCLUSIVELY PACIFI/ PROPOSALS SO ?AT ! OPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE DO+ NO?+1 OR DO+ SOME?+ NONVIOL5T4 ,Y\ CAN'T BE A FUTURE POLITICIAN IF Y\ DON'T KN[ H[ TO CONTROL ! RAGE ( Y\R FLOCK4 ,?IS IS :AT DEMOCRACY IS ALL AB\T4 

-,:5 Y\ MONOPOLIZE ! MICROPHONE TO MAKE SPEE*ES & SWAY ! MASSES1 IT'S BE/ IF Y\ DON'T USE ! EXACT SAME GE/URES AS ,L59 DID1 SO AS NOT TO REVEAL Y\R TRUE 9T5TIONS4 

-,NEV]1 UND] ANY CIRCUM/ANCES1 ALL[ DEC5TRALIZATION OR SPONTANEITY TO FL\RI%1 BECAUSE !N Y\R LOYAL MASSES W\LD BE REPLAC$ ) A MULTITUDE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$1 CREATIVE1 & LIB]AT$ PEOPLE4 

,CONCRETE ,PROPOSALS = A ,SELF-,ORGANIZ$ ,PLAZA 

-,REPLACE ! MONOPOLY ( ! COMMISSIONS ) A MULTIPLICATION ( ORGANIZ+ GR\PS4 ,MULTIPLE KIT*5S1 MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION & EXT5SION GR\PS1 ) MORE AUTONOMY1 MORE FLUIDITY1 MORE POSSIBILITY TO DEVELOP DIV]SE =MS = DIV]SE TA/ES1 MORE SPACE = EV]YONE'S P>TICIPATION )\T CREAT+ SIL5C$ M9ORITIES4 ,!SE GR\PS W\LD COMMUNICATE AMONG !MSELVES1 COLLABORAT+ :5 !Y CONSID] IT OPPORTUNE4 

-,CONV]T ! ,C5TRAL ,ASSEMBLY 9TO A G5]AL 5C\NT] = EX*ANG+ 9=MATION & RES\RCES1 & G5]AT+ A COLLECTIVE 5VIRONM5T & CONSCI\SNESS4 ,H]E ONE C\LD MAKE PROPOSALS 9 ORD] TO SEEK SUPPORT & ALLIES1 BUT )\T OBLIG+ EV]YONE TO SIGN ON4 ,IF WE DON'T HAVE SPOKESPEOPLE1 WE DON'T NE$ UNIFI$ TEXTS EI!R4 ,IF WE DON'T HAVE LEAD]S1 WE DON'T NE$ HOMOG5IZ$ ACTIONS4 ,:AT UNITES US IS ! FACT ?AT WE >E H]E & WE >E SELF-ORGANIZ+ \R RESI/ANCE4 

,D[N ) C5TRALIZATION6 ,UP ) SELF-ORGANIZATION6 

0,! ,GREATE/ ,VIOL5CE ,W\LD ,BE ,RETURN+ TO ,NORMALITY0 

,?IS FLI] APPE>$ AB\T A WEEK 9TO ! OCCUPATION4 

,9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA WE >E ALREADY ?\S&S4 ,WE HAVE TAK5 ! C5T] ( ! CITY4 ,WE HAVE MADE IT \RS1 & ) \R DET]M9ATION WE HAVE OP5$ A FAULT L9E ( 9DIGNATION 9 ! WALL ( CONS5T & SOCIAL RESIGNATION4 

,N[ WE ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS3 ALL[ ?IS CRACK TO CLOSE UP1 LOS+ A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY = A V]ITABLE SOCIAL *ANGE1 OR OP5 IT AS MU* AS WE CAN1 WID5+ IT UNTIL IT REA*ES ! V]Y F\NDATIONS ( \R MIS]Y & EXPLOITATION4 

,IF WE WANT TO GET SOME:]E1 IF WE WANT EV]Y?+ ?AT WE D5\NCE & DISDA9 TO DISAPPE>1 WE MU/ EXCE$ ! LIMITS ( ! PLAZA4 ,WE MU/ EXCE$ ! LIMITS ( ! V]Y LEGALITY :I* YE/]DAY TOLD US WE C\LD NOT OCCUPY IT1 & TODAY TELLS US WE CANNOT LEAVE IT1 ?AT WE CANNOT T\* ! NORMALITY ?AT SURR\NDS IT4 

,WE MU/ DISOBEY ! VOICE ( ,P[] :5 IT TELLS US ?AT BLOCK+ A /REET IS VIOL5T :ILE IT BLOCKS HUMAN LIVES ) LAY(FS & EXPLOITATION1 :5 IT TELLS US ?AT CONFRONT+ ! POLICE IS VIOL5T :ILE !Y TORTURE IMMIGRANTS & & DISSID5TS 9 !IR JAILS1 :5 IT TELLS US ?AT ATTACK+ A BANK IS VIOL5T :ILE IT LEAVES :OLE FAMILIES ON ! /REET = NOT PAY+ ! MORTGAGE4 

,WE MU/ DISOBEY1 BECAUSE NO REVOLUTION HAS EV] BE5 C>RI$ \T :ILE RESPECT+ ! LAWS ( ! P[]FUL4 ,WE MU/ DISOBEY1 BECAUSE ! GREATE/ VIOL5CE W\LD NOT BE TO CONT9UE TO ACT ILLEGALLY1 BUT RA!R TO PASS UP ! OPPORTUNITY TO 5D ONCE & = ALL ! ABUSES & ALL ! MASSIVE VIOL5CE ?IS SOCIETY PRODUCES4 

,WE MU/ TAKE ! /REETS1 WE MU/ EXT5D ! REVOLT TO ALL ! NEI<BORHOODS & EV]Y FIELD ( LIFE4 

,WE DON'T WANT JU/ A PLAZA1 WE WANT ! :OLE CITY4 

0,ASSEMBLIES1 ,DEMOCRACY1 & ,CAPITALISM0 

,?IS TEXT APPE>$ ON A PO/] PRODUC$ AB\T A WEEK 9TO ! OCCUPATION4 

,! DEMOCRATIC =M IS ! MO/ P]FECT$ POLITICAL SY/EM ?AT ,CAPITAL HAS 5C\NT]$ = ITS DEVELOPM5T & UNIV]SAL IMPLANTATION4 ,!RE IS NO PRACTICAL CRITICISM ( DEMOCRACY )\T A CRITICISM ( CAPITALISM4 ,TO ACCEPT OR ATTEMPT TO RE=M CAPITALISM IMPLIES ACCEPT+ OR TRY+ TO RE=M ITS MO/ APPROPRIATE POLITICAL =M4 ,DEMOCRACY SEP>ATES POLITICAL DECISIONS FROM ! RE/ ( SOCIAL LIFE4 ,IT FOM5TS ! ILLUSION ?AT WE >E EQUALS BE=E ! LAW & ! 9/ITUTIONS1 :ILE OBSCUR+ ! FACT ?AT :ILE IT (F]S !SE POSSIBILITIES !Y WILL ONLY BE A REALITY = ?OSE :O CAN EMPLOY !M4 ,?IS SEP>ATION AVOIDS CLASS ANTAGONISM OR G5D] DIFF]5CES1 R$UC+ CONFLICTS TO AN APP>5TLY NEUTRAL SPH]E 9 :I* IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO A*IEVE EQUALITY VIA DISCUSSION & CONS5SUS AMONG ! AFFECT$ P>TIES4 ,& IT IS ?IS ME*ANISM ?AT BR+S ) IT A G5]ALIZ$ DEMOBILIZATION1 9 :I* ANY MOVEM5T ?AT IS OPPOSITIONAL 9 ! BEG9N+ CAN BE 9TEGRAT$ ?R\< DIALOGUE BETWE5 REPRES5TATIVES4 

,NONE!LESS1 ! CRITICISM ( DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE R$UC$ TO ! MANN] 9 :I* DECISIONS >E MADE4 ,DEMOCRACY1 :E!R DIRECT OR REPRES5TATIVE1 IS ! SUPREMACY ( MEANS OV] 5DS1 & ! DISSOLUTION ( POT5TIALITIES 9TO ?AT :I* IS PURELY =MAL4 ,IF A MOVEM5T ADVANCES & CONFRONTS ,P[]1 IT IS NOT DEMOCRATIC4 ,BUT IF ! CONFLICT OR ! MOVEM5T CAN BE COMPATIBLE ) >BITRATION & CONCILIATION1 !N IT IS NORMAL ?AT =M & PROC$URE %\LD BE ! MO/ IMPORTANT CONSID]ATIONS4 ,ORGANIZ+ AN ASSEMBLY ACCORD+ TO ! PROP] NORMS BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT ?AN :AT ! ASSEMBLY DECIDES4 ,?OSE :O PRIVILEGE PROC$URES ( ADM9I/RATION >E CONDEMN$ TO CREAT+ AN ADM9I/RATIVE APP>ATUS1 9/EAD ( RESITUAT+ DISCUSSION )9 ! CONT5T ( \R EXP]I5CE1 \R WORDS & \R ACTIONS4 ,REALITY IS 9V]T$1 & IT IS =GOTT5 ?AT REVOLUTION IS NOT ONLY A QUE/ION ( =M4 ,IT IS ! NATURE ( ?IS *ANGE WE MU/ 9SI/ UPON4 ,TO CREATE A WORLD )\T MONEY1 )\T ! EX*ANGE ( COMMODITIES1 )\T ! BUY+ & SELL+ ( LABOR1 )\T COMPANIES AS COMPET+ POLES ( VALUE ACCUMULATION1 )\T WORK BE+ SEP>AT$ FROM ! RE/ ( \R ACTIVITIES1 )\T ! ,/ATE1 )\T A POLITICAL SPH]E ?AT IS SPECIALIZ$ & ISOLAT$ FROM \R SOCIAL RELATIONS4 

0,IMPORTANT ,9=MATION ,REG>D+ A ,POSSIBLE ,EVICTION ( ! ,PLAZA0 

,?IS WAS ! (FICIAL TEXT PUT ON ! 5CAMPM5T WEBSITE ON ,MAY #b & H&$ \T AMONG P>TICIPANTS4 

,REG>D+ POLITICAL & ELECTORAL PO/]S3 REMOVAL ( PO/]S ?AT URGE VOT+ = ANY POLITICAL OPTO9 .<9CLUD+ BLANK OR NULL VOTES.> WILL N[ BEG9 .<9 ORD] TO COMPLY ) ,SPANI% LAW REG>D+ ! 0,DAY ( ,REFLECTION0 BE=E ,ELECTION ,SUNDAY.>4 

,9 ! CASE ( POLICE 9T]V5TION1 WE WILL ALL SIT D[N 9 ! PLAZA4 ,IT IS \R DUTY TO %[ \R ,I,D & \R RI<T TO POLITELY ASK = ! BADGE NUMB] ( ! POLICE (FIC]4 ,I,M,P,O,R,T,A,N,T3 ,ONCE SEAT$ ON ! GR\ND 9 ! PLAZA1 MAKE USE ( ! ,L,E,G,A,L ,T,E,A,M1 ID5TIFI$ BY !IR REFLECTIVE JACKETS1 TO ACT AS M$IATORS BETWE5 ! PLAZA & ! POLICE4 7,! ,L,E,G,A,L ,T,E,A,M IS A DEF5SE COMMISSION BELONG+ TO ! ,B> ,ASSOCIATION74 

,WE DEF9E \RSELVES AS A GA!R+ .<TO ATTEMPT TO DODGE ! LAW PROHIBIT+ PROTE/S 9 ! DAYS BE=E ! ELECTION.>4 

,9 ! CASE ( >RE/ ,N,E,V,] MAKE A /ATEM5T 9 ! POLICE /ATION4 ,WE >E PROVID+ ALL ( Y\ ) ! PHONE NUMB] ( ! ,L,E,G,A,L ,T,E,A,M SO !Y CAN GIVE Y\ LEGAL AID4 

.<#a.> ,I USE ?IS T]M SIMPLY TO SEP>ATE US FROM ?OSE ( ! CONS5SUS_/MOD]ATION CR[D & ?OSE :OSE P>TICIPATION WAS NOT OP5LY AN>*I/4 

7,S\RCE3 HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#a#a_/#f_/#h_/FIRE-EXT+UI%]S-&-FIRE-/>T]S-AN>*I/-9T]V5TIONS-9-!-SPANI%-REVOLUTION-AN-ACC\NT-FROM-B>CELONA47 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#c1 #bbb 3 ,FIRE ,EXT+UI%]S & ,FIRE ,/>T]S -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/