Statement of Solidarity: Free John Bowden
A few anarchists | 05.07.2007 10:44 | Repression | Social Struggles | World
If it is already pathetic that the state cries "terrorists!" when it is reminded of anarchism, then it is too much too bear in the case of John Bowden, a long-term prisoner sitting in isolation.
The ridiculous nature of the UK state calling anyone "terrorist" is still not lost on us. Despite the repression and monitoring of free political opinion in this country and the terror committed abroad under the name of the crown, not one of us has decided to blow ourselves up on public transport or drop "smart" bombs from the comfort of a fighter jet on men, women and children. Anarchists have always denounced both as mass murder and we won't be changing our opinion any time soon.
The state seems to think if it keeps Bowden incarcerated it is preventing disorder. All we see around us is the widespread disorder of modern life: poverty, exclusion, racism, war and tyranny - How many more people will have to face prison and death to perpetuate the routine?
To see through all this is enough to be labelled "terrorist", let alone act on it. The state will always chase the shadow cast by its own image when it writes up new legalistic maneuvers on its own behalf, anarchists won't find a definition of themselves in the laws of statist terror.
Bowden might have been released if he hadn't been politicised. It is not a stretch of the imagination to believe the state never changes after a mere 25 years. For the individual the expectations are much higher and the wait more grave. A year ago John was allowed home leaves and was not regarded as a "risk to the public". What has changed? Nothing it seems. What could 25 years locked in a box mean to the arrogant beaurocrat who decides John dangerous on the basis of his ideas? We doubt this has anything to do with "rehabiliatation" and more to do with the inevitable - attacking the opposition.
Let's be clear - the state is afraid of resistance inside and outside the jail walls. They are afraid because they have filled the jails to bursting and turned society into an open prison. There is literally not enough cells for all the laws passed in recent years. Something has to begin.
Hi-tech surveillance, house arrests, behaviourial control orders, new prison building schemes - this is the infrastructure of an authoritarian project that is using new techonological developments to attempt to control all movement, thought and freedom across the globe. The state will always use any means possible to decieve, isolate and murder for its own goals. We don't expect any less from the capitalist system, that is why we think this deceitful exploitation must cease.
The problem of social control is one of alienation and inequality, that's why we will always struggle for a world of mutual aid, solidarity and voluntary co-operation.
For the abolition of prisons, borders, hierarchies and capital.
The state seems to think if it keeps Bowden incarcerated it is preventing disorder. All we see around us is the widespread disorder of modern life: poverty, exclusion, racism, war and tyranny - How many more people will have to face prison and death to perpetuate the routine?
To see through all this is enough to be labelled "terrorist", let alone act on it. The state will always chase the shadow cast by its own image when it writes up new legalistic maneuvers on its own behalf, anarchists won't find a definition of themselves in the laws of statist terror.
Bowden might have been released if he hadn't been politicised. It is not a stretch of the imagination to believe the state never changes after a mere 25 years. For the individual the expectations are much higher and the wait more grave. A year ago John was allowed home leaves and was not regarded as a "risk to the public". What has changed? Nothing it seems. What could 25 years locked in a box mean to the arrogant beaurocrat who decides John dangerous on the basis of his ideas? We doubt this has anything to do with "rehabiliatation" and more to do with the inevitable - attacking the opposition.
Let's be clear - the state is afraid of resistance inside and outside the jail walls. They are afraid because they have filled the jails to bursting and turned society into an open prison. There is literally not enough cells for all the laws passed in recent years. Something has to begin.
Hi-tech surveillance, house arrests, behaviourial control orders, new prison building schemes - this is the infrastructure of an authoritarian project that is using new techonological developments to attempt to control all movement, thought and freedom across the globe. The state will always use any means possible to decieve, isolate and murder for its own goals. We don't expect any less from the capitalist system, that is why we think this deceitful exploitation must cease.
The problem of social control is one of alienation and inequality, that's why we will always struggle for a world of mutual aid, solidarity and voluntary co-operation.
For the abolition of prisons, borders, hierarchies and capital.
A few anarchists
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