This is a solidarity Statement For Rojava from an old group that is reviving itself
somewhat: Neither East Nor West-NYC August 2015 ---- STATEMENT FOR ROJAVA ---- We in
Neither East Nor West-New York City (NENW-NYC) support the struggle of the truly
freedom-fighting Kurdish and allied forces in Rojava. ---- We view this as a continuation
of our work in the 1980's and early '90's, when we networked for mutual solidarity between
anti-nuclear and anti-militarist etc. activists on the East and West sides of the Cold War
divide. ---- That was the main world issue in those days. ---- We also supported Nigerian
freedom-fighting anarchists (anarchists meaning those who believe in an extreme amount of
freedom, equality, direct governance in political/economic/and all matters, economic
democracy such as cooperatives that are run by the workers/community themselves and
coordinate amongst each other, and ecological concern for instance), Cuban ecologists, and
freedom-fighting people in China and Hong Kong (the term "dissidents" was/is often used
for state-Communist freedom-fighters).
We intersected with Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW, '67 until now) who were for
the first time in U.S. history, a radical veterans group who opposed the war they fought
in, while it was still in progress, and supported the "Enemy"! In the Vietnamese fight for
independence from the U.S. during the 1960's to 1970's. VVAW had tens of thousands of
members and were very important. They wanted to work with our peace contacts in the East
and Soviet veterans. (One of our members is an "Honorary" VVAW member. THIS ISN'T AN
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY VVAW ONLY SOME OF OUR HISTORY WITH VVAW).
We and others across the world have many examples of how we helped each other.
In just one instance we and allied groups from around the world held pickets at Nigerian
Embassies or Consulates to demand the release of four members of the Nigerian anarchist
Awareness League we had an alliance with. They were political prisoners held under an
emergency decree- all were released after our demonstrations.
We had chapters across the US, as well as in Toronto, Canada, and Mexico City, and
published the journal On Gogol Boulevard (named after Moscow's radical
youth/artists/freedom-fighters avenue) to network like-minded struggles around the world.
Since the end of the Cold War, our group has mostly existed in name, but we have again
come together to raise our voice in support of the revolutionary struggle in Rojava.
We reject dogmatism; we are made up of different currents, but we all share an
anti-authoritarian/freedom-fighting, humanist spirit, believe in equality for women,
lesbians and gays, etc., and always have had a natural consensus on the issues that
motivate us. The fight in Rojava has inspired us, and we are ready to assist in what small
ways we can from New York City.
To all the humanitarians, democracy-lovers, anarchists, those who fight for equality for
women, lesbians, gays, minorities etc., those who seek a third path outside of capitalism
and state-Communism, to your militia (we are always against forced conscription) and
collectives, we offer our heartfelt wishes for
ALL THE LUCK
AND PEACE AND FREEDOM!
NENW-NYC, August 2015
Signatures so far from our old group (and David Christian who was associated with us)
/8-29: Bob McGlynn, Ann Marie Hendrickson, Alexander Rubchenko (an exile from the
anti-nuclear Moscow Trust Group), Tom Maurer, Neil Farber (also from the New York/New
Jersey Chapter of the Workers Solidarity Alliance [NY/NJ Chapter of WSA]), Mike Harris
(also of NY/NJ Chapter of WSA), Bill Weinberg (also of World War 4 Report), Ivo Skoric
(exiled from Croatia, also of BalkanPage), David Christian (Atlanta, Georgia, WSA), Lucy
C. McAllister,
(We may get more signatures from old or associated members, things are moving fast. Half
of us are woman that we haven't found. All were active in stopping oppression in the
West/3rd World/4th World [Indigenous, "tribal peoples", nomads etc.] but also against the
state-Communist countries too for over 35 years. The many, many, [including exiles or
visitors from state-Communist nations] that were in NENW-NYC, [or predecessor groups] are
long gone and impossible to find after all this time).
bobnenwogb@aol.com
daddyo55@optimum.net
(Email bobnenwogb@aol.com for the full Statement that is longer and gives examples of how
we did concrete things to support each other East, West, and Nigeria.)
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/28466
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