Ferguson protesters in Berkely can separate themselves from the Black Bloc.

The actual "Ferguson protesters" are a mix of races and they are focused on the ISSUES--police brutality, the obvious disparity in treatment based on race, the whole "enough is enough" sense that most of us feel.

The black bloc crew are smash-and-grabbers, troublemakers, rabble rousers.

‘Black Bloc’ anarchists emerging as a force amid unrest in Brazil

Wearing black clothing, scarves and ski masks, so-called “Black Bloc” anarchists have taken a starring role in Brazil’s social unrest, using violent tactics to target symbols of capitalism.

Black-clad anarchists infiltrate protest demonstrations to carry out acts of vandalism against capitalist symbols such as McDonald’s restaurants or banks.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/black-bloc-anarchists-emerging-as-a-force-amid-unrest-in-brazil/


“We don’t talk to media but we are black bloc”

In early 2012, when Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges called “black bloc anarchists” the “cancer of the Occupy movement,” his remarks were swiftly condemned by many. First and foremost, critics were swift to point out that “black bloc anarchists”are not a group — the black bloc is a protest tactic, which has often been employed by anarchists, involving the collective donning of unidentifiable black clothing and masks so as to move through the streets as a unified, anonymous mass.

What better proof that there is no one black bloc group or organization than the emergence in recent days of black blocs in Egypt’s protest-filled streets? As the AP reported, “youths with faces hidden under black masks have appeared among stone-throwing protesters in clashes with police around Egypt the past five days in the wave of political violence that has shaken the country. During protests in Cairo on Monday, masked youths celebrated around a police armored vehicle in flames in the middle of Tahrir Square, waving their hands in V-for-victory signs.” http://www.salon.com/2013/01/29/we_dont_talk_to_media_but_we_are_black_bloc/

who show up at peaceful demonstrations and start smashing windows aren't "truther/tinfoil hat imaginary beings." This isn't the first time we've seen these little shits, either. They turned Oakland into a complete mess with their violence at City Hall and elsewhere. They need to be arrested, charged, convicted and locked the fuck up. What they do isn't just "vandalism" -- it's far, far worse than that. Had Occupy Oakland repudiated them at the outset, that effort wouldn't have ended so ignominiously.

were reportedly from out of town, too (from cities ranging from Berkeley and San Jose to Fresno), which begs the question: why do they always have to come here to tear up stuff whenever there is a protest? Tearing up a city that is trying to rebound from its struggles and costing us money.

They think they're "cool" but what they are is shitheads.

a thing of beauty to watch these things unfold from nothingness.

rather than any kind of committed anarchists.

but the notion that they might be covering for police black-ops?
poppycock and tinfoil they say.

but somehow people wish to conflater bloc'ers as tinfoil conceits instead of admitting
that cops instigate the ugly.

At least, only they gain from these activities.

Anarchists have been some of the most vocal critics of police brutality and racism, so saying they don't care is just silly. They are simply using a different tactic than the so-called 'non-violent' protesters. In my opinion, their tactics have more of an impact than a bunch of people sitting around holding hands and waiting to be tear gassed.

do they have a voting process?

assholes. I don't think they give a crap about any cause.

People know about black bloc from acts of vandalism and violence against police, but the majority of what a black bloc does at protests is defensive; resisting arrest, cutting zip-ties and other binds used to arrest protestors, countermeasures against tear gas, etc.

I know because that's what the black bloc I ran with in Chicago during NoNATO did.

cafe Ole Chip works his lap top at and repeatedly explained the tactics and dynamics of the Black Bloc folk. I've seen them in action at protests since the first Gulf War protests when they broke windows with newpaper vending machines in the financial district. they're easy to spot since inorder to assert their anarchistic way they all dress the same way every time. Black Clothing with black kercheifs covering their cowardly faces.

way to go Chip, sometime you should hop on Bart or the NL or F transbay busses and actually make it over here.

He seems to hate everything about the city he lives in and covers for the Bay Area's major daily. Why doresn't he just move to the 'burbs, for crying out loud?