A-Infos (en) Ireland, Anarchist journal, Workers Solidarity #94 - Anarchism and the WSM

The Workers Solidarity Movement is an organisation of working class 
anarchists who have come together to maximise the impact of anarchist 
ideas. Pooling the resources of many people allows us to distribute over 
6,000 copies of this paper every two months, and 1,000 copies of our 
twice yearly magazine, Red & Black Revolution. It allows us to discuss 
the best ways to advance working class interests, and prioritise 
particular activities rather than be so widely dispersed as to have 
little effect. Among our recent activities was the ‘Change Not Chaos’ 
mini-festival organised by a Derry WSM member. Saturday September 30th 
saw the Dunlgoe Bar play host to a day of anarchist talks, films and music.
Gregor Kerr, Secretary of the Federation of Dublin Anti-Water Charge 
Campaigns, kicked things off with a discussion on how the water charges 
were defeated in the Republic and the role anarchists played in that 
struggle. The current campaign in the North to defeat the tap tax was 
discussed with updates on the campaign provided by a comrade from the 
Belfast-based anarchist group Organise! and Eamonn McCann of the SWP. 
Julia Doherty of the WSM then gave an introductory talk on Anarchism, 
covering history, theory and practice and a lively debate ensued over 
violence, white-male dominance of anarchism and republicanism.

Stalls by Just Books, WSM and Mujeres Libres Derry were on hand stocking 
everything from pamphlets and books to flags and t-shirts. The Mujeres 
Libres (Free Women) had the most creative stall offering t-shirts 
commemorating Free Derry, the Paris Commune, Spain 1936 and the Limerick 
Soviet as "temporary autonomous zones", with cool front and back logos.

Ramor Ryan, author of "Clandestines gave a reading of his book to a 
packed upstairs room with a discussion afterwards and a Swiss comrade 
put on a "comedy" show about police violence. It was very informative 
and gruesome although this writer didn't really see the comedy aspect. 
The dangers of baton rounds, tear gas and other "less lethal" weapons 
were explained and the gory reality of the damage these weapons cause 
was projected on a six foot screen.

A benefit gig for Belfast's Just Books collective finished off the night 
with Anti-State and Tin Pot Operation playing to a packed bar. Hundreds 
of stickers and anarchist papers were distributed to the crowd as well 
as leaflets detailing the Justice for Terence Wheelock campaign.

This was the WSM’s second public event in Derry and the positive 
reaction we received from many people attending was encouraging. 
Although anarchism is still a very small political current in Ireland it 
is growing and we need a strong, organised and united working class to 
get beyond the dead end of both republican and loyalist ideas.
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This article is from Workers Solidarity 94 Nov/Dec 2006
Download the PDF file of WS 94 http://struggle.ws/pdfs/ws/ws94.pdf
Read the other articles from WS94 online http://www.wsm.ie/story/1660
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