Portland – Kerry Cunneen, a self described (A)narchist, refused to cooperate when subpoenaed to testify before the Pacific NW federal Grand Jury Inquisition allegedly investigating the Seattle May Day street violence last year.
The following communication from Kerry Cunneen and article was recently posted by the Committee Against Political Repression (CAPR):
Portland (A)narchist Kerry Cunneen has announced her refusal to cooperate with the grand jury investigating the May Day attack on the Nakamura federal courthouse in Seattle. Kerry’s subpoena, which was delivered on December 14th, stated that she was required to appear just 5 days later on the 19th. Her lawyer successfully got the date pushed back until January 3rd, when Kerry declined to even enter the grand jury room. Kerry has stated that she will never, under any circumstance, cooperate with this or any state in persecuting herself or others:
I have been subpoenaed to the grand jury in Seattle investigating Anarchists in the Pacific Northwest. I was called to testify on January 3rd at 9:00 a.m. I did not appear before the grand jury. I will not cooperate with this grand jury, nor will I, in any way, aid the state in its efforts to imprison people.
I stand firmly in solidarity with the actions taken against Seattle’s Nakamura federal court house during the [2012’s] May Day demonstration and all action taken against the state and capital toward the goal of a more liberated society.
I am in solidarity with the May Day ‘5’; with Maddy, Matt and Kteeo, or anyone else who has met repression with resilience. To all whose solidarity has come in some form of action, it is inspiring and must continue.Never surrender!
-Kerry Cunneen-
CAPR supports Kerry’s bold refusal to even enter the grand jury room. Although, for some, resisting a grand jury may be a display of commitment to civil liberties, free speech [at least for (A)narchists], or freedom of association, it can also be a method to further the spread of insurrectionist tactics. To be blunt, it is easier to break windows or act against the state in other ways which are necessarily illegal [breaking unjust laws to change/eliminate them] when there is a culture against snitching among (A)narchists. We oppose the state in its entirety – we are against its courts, its prisons, its judges, its prosecutors, and every manifestation of the law and its [in]justice. The Committee Against Political Repression is encouraged by attacks against the existing [repression], including the May Day attack on the [Seattle] Nakamura federal courthouse.
The May Day anti-capitalist march in Seattle signaled a broad and growing antagonism to hierarchy and domination, along with the state’s heavy-handed response to it (three house raids in Portland, at least nine grand jury subpoenas, as well as the three people currently sitting in prison [Sea-Tac federal detention facility] for refusing to testify) signals just how dangerous the state perceived it [resistance/direct action] to be. As an anonymous author writes in We Are Contagious: a gift to those who desire social revolt:
What was special about May Day wasn’t the black bloc, impressive as that was in its coordination and preparation. What was so special was the hundreds of people clustered around the black bloc likely had a good idea of what was going to happen when the anti-capitalist march left Westlake [plaza]…and they liked it! They stayed close [to] the bloc anyway; a few even joined in on the fun. Others screamed in joy. Some, who only months ago might have tried to prevent the property destruction or would later have denounced it, simply smiled to themselves and moved on down the road. Perhaps most importantly, a fair number of these [same] people will return to the streets, better prepared to act themselves.
Broken windows are an easily replicable tactic capable of rapid generalization. Although broken windows are certainly not the (A)narchist end-goal (there is no single (A)narchist end-goal), the tactic of breaking windows is a way for people to directly attack (and cause financial damage to) institutions to which they are opposed, and build affinity in the streets. The state, logically, must do whatever it can to control, disrupt, recuperate, or liquidate that which presents a threat. While we are angry about this grand jury (all grand juries, and the existence of the state, period), it also shows (A)narchists have been doing something right – (A)narchists are posing a threat that can’t be ignored.
We can respond to this and all instances of repression by strengthening and escalating our projects of resistance. Kerry has stated the best support she could ask for is action of some sort in resistance to state and capital. Indeed, this is the only way we’ll come through to the other side stronger than before.
While CAPR airs unique and provocative perspectives, they’re hardly a bastion of free speech or accuracy. e.g. The site squelched a well taken comment observing the assertion Seattle’s May Day street demonstration was non-violent or only targeted corporate/government assets was a fiction. In fact, photos can be found on this blog showing privately owned parked cars with their windows smashed out and accounts of injured journalists requiring medical attention due to the assaults of self styled violently inclined (A)narchists. Many local (A)narchist sites have ‘fatwas’ against journalists urging they be assaulted/attacked.
But these sites, as well as the CAPR, are loathe to print the entire truth about the street violence on May Day in Seattle or the actual assaults against journalists urged by the above mentioned sites. Thus, the reason news of the same, comments, and invitations to comment are published here. Ironically, free speech is one of their core arguments criticizing the Grand Jury Inquisition.