Announcing Two Events in Honor of the Haymarket Martyrs and an Anarchist Holiday

ANNOUNCING TWO EVENTS IN HONOR OF THE HAYMARKET MARTYRS AND AN ANARCHIST HOLIDAY
and to benefit Rob Thaxton's release from a 7 year prison sentence

At the request of Rob 'Los Ricos' Thaxton, a prisoner who has spent nearly 7 years incarcerated as a result of a Reclaim the Streets protest against capitalist globalization in Eugene, OR, in June of 1999, we have answered the call for a new holiday in honor of the Haymarket Martyrs. The Martyrs (Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolph Fischer, George Engel, and Louis Lingg) were executed on November 11th 1887 for being associating with the radical labor movement. These Martyrs were anarchists, against the State and Capitalism. Their struggle was sparked by a general strike on May 1st in 1886 where protests where broken up by police batons and responded to by an unknown bomber. This date, and the execution of the Martyrs, is now known as International Workers' Day other than in the United States honoring the struggle for the 8 hour work day. In the United States there is still the need for a holiday to honor the struggles of the past and those who strive for social transformation today. This anarchist holiday, in honor of the Haymarket Martyrs, will be November 11th the day they were hung from the gallows by the governor of Illinois Richard Oglesby. His act, in the knowledge that he was executing people for their political beliefs, is held by anarchists to be the type of action that any politician is capable, and empowered, to make. The loss of the Martyrs is an understandably tragic affair that is to be celebrated in that it vindicates the spirit of resistance, and opposition, to statist authority and the spirit of life that these Martyrs represent.

This first year of celebration is particularly important because it will benefit Rob Thaxton who will be released from prison in the spring of this upcoming year and faces great uncertainty beyond his incarceration. We intend on a two part celebration of our holiday.

Friday November 11th we will be showing the movie Fight Club. While this movie has arguable political content, it is inarguably an engaging story of dissatisfaction and modern desperation. The movie will be shown at 8 pm. To determine the location of the event you will need to call 510.287.5917 on the 11th. We will be discussing the implications of the movie at its conclusion and will be accepting donations for Rob.

Sunday November 13th we will be preparing and sharing a meal at the Long Haul (http://thelonghaul.org/) at 7 pm. 3124 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley Ca. Phone (510) 540-0751. There may be music proceeding the meal.

Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed (http://anarchymag.org/) is celebrating 25 years of publishing the most challenging, creative, vibrant and critical strains of anti-authoritarian thought. Our newest issue examines the relationship both antagonistic and not between anarchist and democratic thought. Rob 'Los Ricos' Thaxton is a frequent contributor to Anarchy Magazine.