Punks and "Rioting scumbags"

Anarchist | 20.08.2011 14:10 | August Riots

Riot analysis c/o North London punks.

Last weekend's North London Punx Picnic was cancelled because the "anarcho-punks" organizing it were scared they'd clash with "scumbag" rioters! We wouldn't want politics getting in the way of a good piss -up would we? Incredibly, had it taken place, the event was supposed to be a benefit for prisoners!

Full statement from the "anarcho-punks" here:

http://actforfreedomnow.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/statement-from-the-north-london-pux-picnic-collective-09th-august-2011london-uk/

Anarchist
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Comments

Hide the following 17 comments

..

20.08.2011 17:04

Maybe remove the "Anarcho" before punks in future where this lot are concerned?

assembly x

no

20.08.2011 19:43

it's worth considering that this may be the work of a lone dickhead, rather than the whole collective. what we need to build now is unity between various groups, not divisions. if somebody doesn't understand the riots, talk to them. try and try again. if they still don't understand, move on.

Antifascists

20.08.2011 19:57

Anyone who knows the antifascists referred to in that statement would know they would find it offensive. It's bad enough that these punks hold these stupid and reactionary views, but don't link them to people who would not share them.

Joe

The 'lone dickhead' theory

20.08.2011 20:10

Maybe. But if so why is the stupid statement up on the site and linked to from a site that claims to be supporting antifash prisoners? Must have taken at least one more 'dickhead' I reckon.

Antifa
Homepage: @

yes, they suck

21.08.2011 00:54

i think the statement's on the actforfreedomnow site in order to publicise the idiocy of it, rather than as support for their views

actforfreedom

21.08.2011 08:29

Would like to think so, but the site doesn't give that impression and there's no negative comment about it.

Antifa
Homepage: @

P

21.08.2011 09:00

That's wishful thinking P. Either actforfreedom now didn't bother to read the statement before putting it up or they agree with it. Either way it's stupid, they bring shame to the prisoners, and they should remove it.

Link is here so people can see what is said:

http://antifascistprisonersupportuk.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/punx-picnic-benefit-cancelled/

How are we supposed to win support for the prisoners with stupid shit like this? Idiots.

A friend of the prisoners

Punks

21.08.2011 10:24

Thats a pretty disgusting position to take - hypocrites. Picnics usually full of posing wankers anyway. They obviously know which side of the barricades they really belong on.

Spirit of 77

misunderstanding?

21.08.2011 11:09

"it is after all Micks livelihood and even the remotest chance of bringing any heat down on him (from either the scumbag rioters or the scumbag police) is too much.this is not the 1980’s. these riots are not the same as in the 1980’s."

Maybe they don't mean that all rioters are scumbags? They could just mean there could be trouble from the tiny minority of people that used the riots to engage in anti-social behaviour like mugging ordinary people or burning ordinary people's homes down.

I agree it is badly worded though, nd subject to ambiguous interpretation.

anon

"misunderstanding"

21.08.2011 11:39

That's one interpretation anon - not one I share, I think it's obvious what was meant by those unpleasant comments - particularly bearing in mind the people who wrote it also cancelled the event. In these situations, and with little input from anarchists, its inevitable that a 'tiny minority' will engage in stupid or anti-social acts. However, there are thousands locked-up for doing what we only talk about, bearing the full weight of state repression. In these circumstances, there can be no room for ambiguity, nor for revisionism, and certainly not for siding with the state and the reactionary right-wing press.

@narcho

ActForFreedomNow does not support that statement

21.08.2011 11:55

from Actforfreedomnow:

ACT FOR FREEDOM NOW SHOWS THIS STATEMENT AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW REACTIONARY AND CONSERVATIVE THE NORTH LONDON PUNX PICNIC COLLECTIVE ARE IN TAKING THIS POSITION.
POST THIS STATEMENT.
SOLIDARITY WITH THE RIOTERS, THE ACCUSED AND THE IMPRISONED.

http://actforfreedomnow.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/statement-from-the-north-london-pux-picnic-collective-09th-august-2011london-uk/

also fucks sake just look at the actual ActForfFreedomNow website to see what the score really is, dont be lazy with your opinions.

scumbag rioter

fair enough

21.08.2011 12:30

it probably wouldnt have made any difference, but it shows some intelligence that the organizers have at least shown some concern about the recent riots.

punk fan

Wise after the event

21.08.2011 14:13

Well done for taking that position AFFN. Still not changed here though -

http://antifascistprisonersupportuk.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/punx-picnic-benefit-cancelled/

@narcho

Why should punks support rioting, looting arson and fighting police?

22.08.2011 11:19

Why should punks support rioting, looting, arson, destruction of property and fighting the police? Why were those riots good? Over a hundred people made homeless, hard working people lost their jobs and businesses, people lost their cars which were burnt, five people were killed, and hundreds of millions of pounds worth of damage was done! What good has all that violence and destruction done - NOTHING!

Real punk

What a bunch of wankers

22.08.2011 12:35

http://antifascistprisonersupportuk.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/punx-picnic-benefit-cancelled/

Not only is this shit still in place, but they are blocking comments. You bunch of wankers really should pack it in, you've brought shame to those who are locked-up.

Antifascist

@Real Punk

22.08.2011 15:45

I think you misspelled your name there - shouldn't it be Real Hippie! ;-)

anon

middle class wankers

23.08.2011 10:21

aye, well almost all the punks I have met in the past 5 years (its not the 80s anymore) have been middle class posers.
They go on a few demos and maybe use the money their parents were saving to give them for a mortgage down-payment to buy themselves a nice shiny van which they use to go on perpetual holiday in spain, where they might have a riot adventure or two, being shot at with plastic bullets in the basque country for example (how exciting!).
These people are not realistically able to empathise with the working class 'scum' who haven't read crimethink.
"what you mean you haven't read crimethink?"
oh darling you simply must....
sorry i just really fucking hate the punk thing, its only slightly better than being a goth.
The revolution is not a fashion parade!

stan collymore