WHAT: Anarchist Discussion with CrimethInc. ex-Workers’ Collective

WHEN: 8pm, Friday, June 17th, 2016

WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)

NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.

COST: Free



We are starting a very full weekend with a discussion of the distinction between anarchy and democracy, freedom and oppression. Central to this weekend is the party/fundraiser organized by our buddy Daniel McGowan. He is fresh off paper, no longer under supervised release, and as free as any of us can be. Of course Daniel couldn’t simply celebrate, so he’s organized the party into a benefit for his imprisoned co-defendants. Get all the details by clicking here. To end the weekend, we will be tabling at the 2016 Punk Island— a free, DIY, all day punk festival on Governor’s Island. Now back to how we are kicking it off…

What’s the difference between democracy and anarchy? In an election year, the failings of the political system are obvious enough. But is the problem too little democracy, or too much?

From the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to David Graeber and Noam Chomsky, nearly everyone claims to be democratic. In this provocative presentation, we will discuss what ties all these different understandings of democracy together and what sets anarchism apart. Reviewing how the movement of the squares, Occupy, Nuit Debout, and other recent upheavals have been shaped by democratic rhetoric and practices, we’ll discuss other ways to understand what we are doing together when we make decisions.

This discussion builds on a series exploring the anarchist critique of democracy, recently published by CrimethInc. To make this a more developed discussion, consider reading the following:

http://www.crimethinc.com/blog/2016/03/16/series-the-anarchist-critique-of-democracy

http://crimethinc.com/texts/r/democracy

Directions:

Getting to The Base is simple:

From the M Train:

Central Avenue Stop: Walk east on Myrtle Avenue (away from Hart Street, toward Cedar Street). We’re about two blocks down on the south side of the street.

Knickerbocker Avenue Stop: Walk west on Myrtle Avenue (away from Harman Street, toward Himrod Street). We’re about three blocks down on the south side of the street. From the L Train:

DeKalb Avenue Stop: Walk south on Stockholm Street (away from Wyckoff Avenue, toward Irving Avenue). We’re about four blocks down, at the intersection of Stockholm Street and Myrtle Avenue. From the J Train:

Myrtle Avenue Stop: Transfer to the M train and follow the above directions.