Interview with former Black Panther Ashanti Alston in Ireland

international | anti-capitalism | news report

Monday March 02, 2009 12:03

by Andrew Flood & Ashanti Alston - WSM (personal capacity)

wsm_ireland at yahoo dot com

US Anarchist Ashanti Alston who is speaking at the Anarchist Bookfair in Dublin this March 7th has spent that last few days speaking at meetings in Cork and Galway and hanging out with anarchists in Dublin. In this interview recorded last night in Kilmainham he talks about his visit to Ireland, the post Seattle anarchist wave in the USA, the formation of Anarchist People Of Color (APOC) the current capitalist crisis and the need to seize the moment.

Ashanti speaking at Jericho demonstration in Philly

Ashanti is a former members of the Black Panther Party and former soldier in the Black Liberation Army in connection with which he served 14 years in prison in the US.

The interview/discussion is about 30 minutes long, here are some rough notes of what is talked about

A general impression of anarchism in North America following the Seattle wave
The inspiration of the Zapatistas and meeting with international anarchists in Chiapas
The growing number of people of color interested in anarchism and the formation of Anarchist People Of Color (APOC)
Building communication and networking between anarchists on the American continent
Bringing struggles together to build them into a powerful movement.
Continental organisation and the potential of Love & Rage
First impressions of Ireland - 'Like a dream come true'
The build up towards the March 30th strike - people are upset, people are frustrated, the rich folks ain't never gonna take no pain
Impressions of the anarchist movement in Ireland
For anarchists this is a moment we haven't had since the Spanish Civil War - Seize the time, seize the moment
The global nature of the anarchist movement today and the connections with indigenous movements that don't self define as anarchist
The internet and the need for face to face contact

Ashanti's website is at http://www.anarchistpanther.net/

Ashanti is speaking in Belfast on Tuesday night, see - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/91232
Ashanti is speaking at the Dublin anarchist bookfair on Saturday, see http://www.wsm.ie/blogs/bookfair09/?page_id=25

Note: This is part 1 of a two part interview, part 2 will be added as a comment to this thread when its ready.