Where have all the anarchists gone?

well, it's been confirmed. all the seattle trouble was caused by "self-proclaimed anarchists" breaking windows. what a crock. sure, the boys in black were out there breaking windows, but the seattle cops were out of control attacking non-violent demonstrators. they were inappropriately clad (looking like the cops in the movie "brazil"), inappropriately armed (armed personel carriers, stun grenades, rubber bullets, etc.) and used inappropriate tactics. they, not the anarchists, created the "violence."

i got a call last night from someone who had talked to the detroit @ crew in seattle which had been arrested along with about 400 other people and were being held on a police bus. at last word, they had barricaded themselves in the bus and were refusing to come out. there'll be a dinner friday, dec. 10 at the xicano development center where a report will be given on the events; details soon. hope as many of you as possible will attend.

seattle cops attacked a mumia demo last night far away from the wto scene with the same weaponry causing several injuries. just interviewed a mainstream type guy from a trade organization who witnessed cops chasing demonstrators down to douse them with pepper gas or shoot scatter pellets at them at close range. also, any of you who chafe at the description of "self-proclaimed anarchist" which repeatedly appears in the press, as denigrating, the next issue of the fifth estate will contain a card you can carry in your wallet which will OFFICIALLY designate you as an anarchist which can be shown to the press or police.

peter werbe
editor Fifth Estate