Obama Endorses the Brutalizing of Cops

I can't help myself, it's very rare to hear a U.S. president celebrate a moment of violent rebellion against cops, or any manifestation of the state (has it ever happened before?...i'm thinking maybe the John Brown rebellion?). I am in no way deluded into thinking that Obama is even tacitly a supporter of liberatory riots, nor am I now hopeful that the man will lend his support to GLBTQ community in any real way.

I just think it's cute.

President Obama welcomed about 200 LGBT leaders from around the country, including three local activists, to the White House June 29 for a reception to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, during which the president reiterated his support for LGBT-rights issues.

Obama spoke to the crowd for about 15 minutes, encouraging LGBT and ally individuals to continue the fight that began in New York City 40 years ago the previous day, when hundreds of LGBT people fought back against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, spurring what is considered the birth of the modern LGBT-rights movement.

Riot Art

Sylvia Rivera, Stonewall Vet by. S. Tooley


Post 'White Night Riots' Poster

Stonewall Heroes

Outhistory.org has released NYC police reports from June 28, 1969, the beginning of the Stonewall Riots. The records reveal new, exciting information about the spark that spurned the "gay revolution". Such gems include:

• the vicious participation of women who "did shove and kick" police officers
• a police officer "being bitten on the right wrist by a Stonewall rebel"
• a resistor using a rolled up newspaper to strike a officer "in the left eye" causing the cop "to fall to ground sustaining a fractured left wrist”
• Straight ally, and folk singer David Van Ronk assaulted an officer and was arrested as well

Let's give our highest adoration to the mighty Stonewall rioters on the 40 anniversary of the rebellion that flaunted to the world that queers too will strike back with demands for respect, justice and equality.

Iran is Burning

On the election riots in Iran...

From Jewbonics: hundreds of thousands–perhaps millions–of Iranian Mousavi supporters are out in the street, agitating for reform. They are politicized. They think their votes weren’t counted. They know that they are banned from demonstrating. And they know that the Islamic Republic has authorized the use of live ammunition (there have already been civilian deaths, which may lead to further strengthening of the movement).

An energized populace in Iran, willing to defy illegitimate state edicts, can only lead to good, fraud or no fraud.

Iran isn't the only country rioting

" "

People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.
James Baldwin

Water Riots

Water riots occurred in Hargeisa, Somaliland for the fourth time this week because ordinary citizens feel helpless and hopeless as a result of finding no means to achieve their legitimate demands.

With the authorities showing lack of perspective planning and failure to deal with the incessant water problems letting parts of Hargeisa, the capital city, reel under severe water crisis, residents have resorted to staging agitations as the only ultimate weapon to get a solution.

The Fashionable Rioter

Please allow me a moment to give props to the riotous fashionistas. Good fashion is a privilege, and perhaps a shallow pursuit being that global capitalism is strangling millions to death. But, one of this blogs' aims is to promote the riot aesthetic. So today we celebrate those who, despite their desperate situations, took a moment to look good--damn good.


Soweto, South Africa (update)


Paris 68'

Weatherman/Days of Rage


Mexican Revolution


Lawyers in Pakistan


G20


Paris?

* Pardon the over representation of men here, I had a hard time scavenging the diversity of riot pics that I know exists somewhere...

Blog post on Fashion and the Black Block and the place I harvested a few of these images, The Boulevardier (thanks)