When most people think of anarchists, they probably envision the color black or the hordes of protesters crowding the streets of Washington, D.C. — as they were this weekend protesting the IMF World Bank.
About 5,000 protesters marched through downtown Washington on Saturday to protest globalization while the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund were held behind barricades and lines of helmeted police.
In sheer numbers, the protest fell short of the first major demonstration against the World Bank and IMF in Washington in April 2000, when an estimated 20,000 people took to the streets and 1,200 were arrested.
Organizers said their movement remains energized, but in smaller local efforts, such as lobbying local city governments to stop investing in World Bank bonds. However, recent changes to the anarchist movement might inspire people to begin seeing the color green.
Anarchist activist John Zerzan helps create a local publication called Green Anarchy, which represents pockets of the movement who are developing an interest in environmentalism that coincides with their anti-big business, anti-big government philosophy.
“Anti-globalization is now an anarchist movement,” Zerzan said.
He said that the classic definition of anarchy is changing as the group’s focus changes. In the 19th century sense of the word, he said that the movement was almost entirely about fighting the government.
“Now the roots of the problem are deeper than just government,” Zerzan said. “It even involves anti-technology and anti-civilization.”
Zerzan said anarchy is not about primitivism, but instead about self-management, carrying ideas similar to that of libertarianism, but with less of a respect for private property.
However, the anarchists also have peaceful ways of reaching the general public.
This summer through September, local anarchists screened movies every Sunday after dark at Cozmic Pizza’s outdoor venue located at 1433 Willamette Alley. The anarchist group that provided the showings called its presentations “Subversive Pillow Theatre,” and presented a selection of movies in August such as “The Ghosts of Attica,” which is about the 1971 Attica prison uprising, and “El Norte” (“The North”), which is about a brother and sister who flee Guatemala to pursue the American dream.
Cozmic Pizza Venue Manager Halo Casey said that the films revolve around the theme of government injustice or institutionalized oppression.
Casey said that the anarchist movement is more than anti-government, it is about acceptance and a sense of self.
“They just don’t want to be policed,” he said was the most common comment of those in the movement.
The Eugene anarchist movement has captured world wide interest for its unusual philosophy.
A Swiss film crew came through Eugene this summer to film a TV special on the local anarchist/anti-globalization movement, and the BBC also came to town to study the movement.
Insurgent member Christina Delgado said anarchists are returning from a national summer tour.
The tour, called Destroying Civilization on this Stolen Land, took them all the way to Maine, so a lot of the group has been out of town for months, but will probably put on more activities again in the fall.
Zerzan also noted that one of the two cars on the tour broke down, so several of the forums and music events they planned were canceled.
Two anarchists recently purchased The Shamrock House, which was previously the hub of anarchist activity, with a library and representative members.
Zerzan said that anarchists have held fewer protests this year because of Sept. 11, but they are still active in other ways in the community.
However, Zerzan said anarchists were expected at the Washington, D.C. rally over the weekend and they are planning to visit Colorado for an anti-Columbus Day celebration on Oct. 12.