Anarchist Black Cross: An Introduction
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% Anarchist Black Cross an introduction History Tho Anarchist Red Cross was started in Tsarist Russia to organize id for political prisoners caplured by the police. and to organize self-defense against poliical rads by the Cossack Army. During the Russian civi war ey changed the rame 1 the Black Cross in orde to avoid confusion with the Red Cross who were arganizing rellet in the country. Afer the Bolsheviks seized power the Anarchist movement moved the ABC offices to Beri and continued to sid prisoners of the new regime, as well as victims of talia fascism and ers. The Black Cross fel apart during the sion due 10 the incrediible demand for its services and a decline in financial aid. But in the late 1960s the organization resurtaccd n Britain, where i irst worked (0 ald prisoners of the Spansn resistance, which had not infact died after the civlwar and e fighting the dictator Franco’s police. Now it has expanded and warks in several areas, with contacts and other Black Cross groups in many countres eround the world. The North American section started in the cary 1 The ABC has sought to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners, with an emphasis on Anarchist and class war prisoners; and, through contact with and information about prisaners, inspire an Anarchist resistance and support movement on the outside. We fund-raise on behalf of prisoners or defense commitees in need of funds for legal cases or otherwise, and organize demonstrations of sofidarity with imprisoncd Anarchists and other prisoners We believe, as most Anarchists do, that prisons serve no useful function or the bencfit of the ruling classes) and should be abolished
along with the State. We difer from fiberal prison reformists and groups fike Amnesty International in two main ways: frstly, we believe in the abolition of both the prison system and the soclety which crestes i, and we initiate ol our actions with that in mind; secondly, we believe in direct resistance to achiove a / statcless and classless sociely. Groups fike Amnesty International - balk at supporting anyone: accused of so-caled violont acts, thus insinuating that anyone who %3 fesists oppression and takes up arms in sell-defense, or during o revolutionary insttection, is not j worthy of support. The message is ¥ cloar: do not resist. Our message Is cxactly the opposite, and this ts what we work to support. We share a commitment to revolutionary Anarchism a5 0pposed o liveraiism and individuaiism or legalism, Outside of prison work, ABC groups are committed to the wider resistance in which many of these prisoners are engaged. We sce a real need for Anarchists to be mitany organized I we are o cffectively meet the organized repression of the State and avold defeat, What s also nesded is commitment 0 revolutionary polits. We sce the setting up of Anarchist defense organizations, such as the ABC, as a necessary part of the growth and development of an Anarchist resistance movement, not divorcing ou- sélves from the revolutionary struggle and then just fighting for prison reform As Anarchists we believe in the promotion of direct action and collective organization in the workplace, the schools, the community and the streets, as a means of regaining power over our own lives and creating a society based on mutual aid and cooperation. Working Towards Libe: n We believe that prisons serve no function excopt to presenve the ruling classes. We also belleve that free society must find altemalive, effective ways of dealing with antl-social crime. But 8 decrease in anu-social cime is only likely to happen (and therefore prison abolition can only be 3 realistic: option) accompanied by a dramatic change in our cconomic, sodial and politcal systems. Those conditons e a the oot of both anti-social crime and the reasons for a prison system. Our primary goal i to make these fundamental changes. We work for a stateless, cooperalivelclassiess society free from privilege or domination based on raco or gender. But i’s not enough to build the grassroots movements necessary to bring about
these changes in society, we must atso be able (o defond them. The ABC defends those who are captured and persecuted for carmying out acts on behal of our movemens. Support for Imprisoned Activists The ABC aims to recognize, expose and support the struggles of prisoners in general, and of anarchist and class war prisoners in particular. The form our solidarity Lakes depends on each individual’s. situation. To some we send financial or material aid. With others, we keep in contact through mal, make vists, provide poltical litcrature, and discuss strateqy and tactcs. We do whatever we can to prevent prisoners bocorring Isolated from the rest of the movoment, We fundralse on behaf of prisoners orther defense committees for logal cases or other needs, and organze cemonsirations or publi campeigns of solldaity with prisoners we SUPporL We regord prisoners as an active pertof our movement and seek to mai 1ain thei past and potential cortributions by acting a5 a Ik back to the continuing strugge. Increased communication between activiss both insice ang outside prison inspires resistance on both sides of the prison walls. We hope that we can encourage other activsts by providing assurance that even f you are persecuted for your actvtes, the movement wil not aban- don you: we will Lake care of our own. Thiough the ABC, we are building oxganizational support for esistance. Defending Resistance We sec anecd to be highly organized f we are to effectively meet the organized repression of the State and avoid defeat. When power is challenged, be it in South Africa, occupied Palestine, Chile, kreland or ‘Canaca, i nevitably tums 10 vilent repression and politcal impisonment to maintain iself. Remember: We’re Still Here Verious ABC groups decide what prisoners to support and what work we wil o on case by-case basis. These groups put prioity on the cases of poiiical/poliicized prisoners and POWSs as this corresponds 1o our commit- ment to building resistance. Athough imprisonment is in ftself“poltcal’ such prisoners are being held specifically for their bellfs or actions. Unlike Amnesty International, we Gon’t place judgements on what are vaiid and invald expressions of resistance: non-violence is not a criterion for support, Unlike other organizations supporting poliical prisoners, we include those who. wiere "poiticized” by the prison experionce and have since become organizers inside pson. Many "poliicized” prisoncrs face increzsed harassment Join the Anarchist Black Cross movement Get involved with your local Anarchist Black Cross group o start one!
Start an Anarchist Black Cross collective Get a way to contact you. Geta post office box and a voicemall An emall address Is aiso good, but make sure you can check it weeklyl 5, 2. Geta computer as soon 23 you can afford it Using a computer makes t easy 0 gt and sy orge. nized. 3 Edu- yoursell, Witers ke Chvstian Paren, Ward Churchi, Angelo Davis, Masiyn Buck and many others have writen extensively onrefevant topics. 4. Loam about your area, Become famiar whth the people and faciltes in your area. Keep the names and adresses of good resources for oasyreference. Pace yourse. You do not overextond yourselfIn biaze of glory, only 0 burn out nsix months. Think carefuly abou how youre going to schece activism o your daly routine. Choose issues? Think sbout choosing the issues Uhat mean the. most 10 you. Your energy and enthusiasm around topics you have the most interest i willshov: Connoct!Ifyou would ke to afiate an exsting or new Anarchist Black Cross collectiv with the Anarchist Black Cross Netwark, please crop an email 10 abe- net@anarchistbackcross.org or mail Austin ABC (below) Au PO. Bor 19733 Austin, TX 78760-9733 = Phiadeiphia ABC 4722 Batimore Ave. Phiadelphia, PA 19143 Philyabc@yahoo.com Houston ABC PO, Box 667614 Houston, TX 772657614 ite: i Houstonabe.org housionabc2@hotmal com Dallas/F. Worth ABC PO, Box 202846 o Arington, TX 76006 webs OFW, get organizingb www.anarchist! W geocites.comlronin0582/index | ABC U.S. Anarchist Black Cross Groups New York Clty ABC PO. Box 20449 Tompkins Square Station %, New York, NY 100099991 nycbiackcross @hotmaicom Claustsophobia ABC PO. Box 1721 Battmore, MD 21203 clausiro@chamnet /IS, Ciicago ABC Zine Distro. PO. Box 721 Homewood. L 60430 . Greonvilo ABC Greenvle, North Carolica ppiteration@yahoo.com materials at: lackcross.org

% Anarchist

Black Cross

an introduction

History
Tho Anarchist Red Cross was started in Tsarist Russia to organize id for
political prisoners caplured by the police. and to organize self-defense
against poliical rads by the Cossack Army. During the Russian civi war
ey changed the rame 1 the Black Cross in orde to avoid confusion with
the Red Cross who were
arganizing rellet in the country.
Afer the Bolsheviks seized
power the Anarchist movement
moved the ABC offices to Beri
and continued to sid prisoners
of the new regime, as well as
victims of talia fascism and
ers. The Black Cross fel
apart during the

sion due 10 the incrediible
demand for its services and a
decline in financial aid. But in
the late 1960s the organization
resurtaccd n Britain, where i irst
worked (0 ald prisoners of the
Spansn resistance, which had not
infact died after the civlwar and
e fighting the dictator Franco’s police. Now it has expanded and warks in
several areas, with contacts and other Black Cross groups in many countres
eround the world. The North American section started in the cary 1

The ABC has sought to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners,
with an emphasis on Anarchist and class war prisoners; and, through
contact with and information about prisaners, inspire an Anarchist
resistance and support movement on the outside. We fund-raise on
behalf of prisoners or defense commitees in need of funds for legal cases
or otherwise, and organize demonstrations of sofidarity with imprisoncd
Anarchists and other prisoners

We believe, as most Anarchists do, that prisons serve no useful function
or the bencfit of the ruling classes) and should be abolished

along with the State. We difer from fiberal prison reformists and groups
fike Amnesty International in two main ways: frstly, we believe in the
abolition of both the prison system and the soclety which crestes i, and we
initiate ol our actions with that in

mind; secondly, we believe in

direct resistance to achiove a /
statcless and classless sociely.
Groups fike Amnesty International -
balk at supporting anyone:

accused of so-caled violont acts,
thus insinuating that anyone who %3
fesists oppression and takes up

arms in sell-defense, or during o
revolutionary insttection, is not j
worthy of support. The message is ¥
cloar: do not resist. Our message Is cxactly the opposite, and this ts what
we work to support. We share a commitment to revolutionary Anarchism a5
0pposed o liveraiism and individuaiism or legalism,

Outside of prison work, ABC groups are committed to the wider
resistance in which many of these prisoners are engaged. We sce a real
need for Anarchists to be mitany organized I we are o cffectively meet
the organized repression of the State and avold defeat, What s also nesded
is commitment 0 revolutionary polits. We sce the setting up of Anarchist
defense organizations, such as the ABC, as a necessary part of the growth
and development of an Anarchist resistance movement, not divorcing ou-
sélves from the revolutionary struggle and then just fighting for prison reform

As Anarchists we believe in the promotion of direct action and collective
organization in the workplace, the schools, the community and the
streets, as a means of regaining power over our own lives and creating
a society based on mutual aid and cooperation.

Working Towards Libe: n

We believe that prisons serve no function excopt to presenve the ruling
classes. We also belleve that free society must find altemalive, effective
ways of dealing with antl-social crime. But 8 decrease in anu-social cime is
only likely to happen (and therefore prison abolition can only be 3 realistic:
option) accompanied by a dramatic change in our cconomic, sodial and
politcal systems. Those conditons e a the oot of both anti-social crime
and the reasons for a prison system. Our primary goal i to make these
fundamental changes. We work for a stateless, cooperalivelclassiess
society free from privilege or domination based on raco or gender. But i's
not enough to build the grassroots movements necessary to bring about

these changes in society, we must atso be able (o defond them. The ABC
defends those who are captured and persecuted for carmying out acts on
behal of our movemens.

Support for Imprisoned Activists

The ABC aims to recognize, expose and support the struggles of
prisoners in general, and of anarchist and class war prisoners in
particular. The form our solidarity Lakes depends on each individual's.
situation. To some we send financial or material aid. With others, we keep in
contact through mal, make vists, provide poltical litcrature, and discuss
strateqy and tactcs. We do whatever we can to prevent prisoners bocorring
Isolated from the rest of the movoment, We fundralse on behaf of prisoners
orther defense committees for logal cases or other needs, and organze
cemonsirations or publi campeigns of solldaity with prisoners we SUPporL
We regord prisoners as an active pertof our movement and seek to mai
1ain thei past and potential cortributions by acting a5 a Ik back to the
continuing strugge. Increased communication between activiss both insice
ang outside prison inspires resistance on both sides of the prison walls. We
hope that we can encourage other activsts by providing assurance that
even f you are persecuted for your actvtes, the movement wil not aban-
don you: we will Lake care of our own. Thiough the ABC, we are building
oxganizational support for esistance.

Defending Resistance

We sec anecd to be highly organized f we are to effectively meet the
organized repression of the State and avoid defeat. When power is
challenged, be it in South Africa, occupied Palestine, Chile, kreland or
‘Canaca, i nevitably tums 10 vilent repression and politcal impisonment
to maintain iself.

Remember: We're Still Here

Verious ABC groups decide what prisoners to support and what work we wil
o on case by-case basis. These groups put prioity on the cases of
poiiical/poliicized prisoners and POWSs as this corresponds 1o our commit-
ment to building resistance. Athough imprisonment is in ftself“poltcal’
such prisoners are being held specifically for their bellfs or actions. Unlike
Amnesty International, we Gon't place judgements on what are vaiid and
invald expressions of resistance: non-violence is not a criterion for support,
Unlike other organizations supporting poliical prisoners, we include those who.
wiere "poiticized” by the prison experionce and have since become organizers
inside pson. Many "poliicized” prisoncrs face increzsed harassment

Join the Anarchist Black Cross movement
Get involved with your local Anarchist Black Cross group o start one!
Start an Anarchist Black Cross collective

Get a way to contact you. Geta
post office box and a voicemall An

emall address Is aiso good, but

make sure you can check it weeklyl 5,
2. Geta computer as soon 23 you can

afford it Using a computer makes t

easy

0 gt
and

sy
orge.
nized.

3 Edu-
yoursell, Witers ke Chvstian Paren,
Ward Churchi, Angelo Davis, Masiyn
Buck and many others have writen
extensively onrefevant topics.

4. Loam about your area, Become
famiar whth the people and faciltes

in your area. Keep the names and
adresses of good resources for
oasyreference.

Pace yourse. You do not
overextond yourselfIn biaze of
glory, only 0 burn out nsix

months. Think carefuly abou how
youre going to schece activism
o your daly routine.

Choose issues? Think sbout
choosing the issues Uhat mean the.
most 10 you. Your energy and
enthusiasm around topics you have
the most interest i willshov:
Connoct!Ifyou would ke to
afiate an exsting or new Anarchist
Black Cross collectiv with the
Anarchist Black Cross Netwark,
please crop an email 10 abe-
net@anarchistbackcross.org or
mail Austin ABC (below)

Au
PO. Bor 19733

Austin, TX 78760-9733 =

Phiadeiphia ABC
4722 Batimore Ave.

Phiadelphia, PA 19143
Philyabc@yahoo.com

Houston ABC
PO, Box 667614

Houston, TX 772657614

ite: i Houstonabe.org
housionabc2@hotmal com

Dallas/F. Worth ABC
PO, Box 202846 o
Arington, TX 76006
webs
OFW,

get organizingb
www.anarchist!

W geocites.comlronin0582/index |

ABC U.S. Anarchist Black Cross Groups

New York Clty ABC
PO. Box 20449

Tompkins Square Station

%, New York, NY 100099991
nycbiackcross @hotmaicom

Claustsophobia ABC
PO. Box 1721
Battmore, MD 21203
clausiro@chamnet

/IS, Ciicago ABC Zine Distro.
PO. Box 721
Homewood. L 60430

. Greonvilo ABC
Greenvle, North Carolica
ppiteration@yahoo.com

materials at:
lackcross.org