Haymarket Riot, 1886 (Granger)

“Anarchism: a philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made laws; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary.”
–Emma Goldman

Did you know that bands of “anarchists” have been running riot in the streets of NYC and all across the U.S.? Well, that’s what the New York Post says. Apparently, they started their dastardly plan to destroy the holidays prior to Thanksgiving. By golly, they are worse than the Grinch!

“Anarchists plotted on Wednesday to disrupt the Thanksgiving Day Parade – feeling emboldened after cops allowed them to run free on major roadways like the FDR Drive and the West Side Highway . . .  .”

But they were no match for blow-up Snoopy and Woodstock—the parade continued as planned. Phew! I chalk it up to the journalistic integrity of the Post, owned by Fox News CEO, Rupert Murdoch. Thank you, Rupert!

Call me old-fashioned, but when I think “anarchist,” I think Haymarket Riot, bombs, Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman.

Chicago’s famed Haymarket Riot of May 4, 1886 was a direct response to police brutality during a strike for 8-hour workdays at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company the previous day. On May 4, several of the better-known labor leaders and anarchists addressed a crowd of sympathizers from the back of a wagon pulled into an alley near the Haymarket, a popular meeting place and square. August Spies spoke, followed by Albert Parsons, who also spoke almost an hour denouncing the capitalist system, and quoting statistics, as he had on numerous other occasions. Parsons’ speech was followed by a speech by Samuel Fielden, another well-known activist. As Fielden was concluding his address, Inspector Bonfield and more than 170 armed other police officers ordered the crowd to disperse. An unknown person threw a bomb into the crowd. Seven policemen and an unknown number of civilians were killed during the confrontation; eight anarchist labor leaders, the “Haymarket Martyrs,” were arrested and convicted of inciting violence and conspiring to commit murder. Four of the eight were hanged as a result of their involvement in the riot.

“The public and the mainstream press called for vengeance, the anarchists claimed sabotage, and a wave of popular sentiment against anarchists and labor organizers swept through the city and the country. In Chicago a secret organization of prominent businessmen and employers was formed to counteract the labor activism. Many were arrested, illegal searches were conducted, and rights of free speech and assembly were drastically curtailed. Some labor organizations and activists also protested the violence and supported the government’s response to the bomb throwing. In the meantime, no one knew who threw the bomb or if it had originated in Chicago.

In short order a specially constituted grand jury indicted ten defendants, most of whom were prominent labor organizers and activists, as accessories before the fact to the murder of Officer Matthias Degan by the bomb.”

December 3, 2014 New York City (Nathan Congleton)

Protests in response to the grand jury’s failure to indict Officer Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner have been mostly peaceful; no bombs were involved. 20 people were arrested for blocking the FDR Drive and for disorderly conduct. “Die-ins” were staged at Grand Central Terminal, an Apple store on Fifth Avenue and in Macy’s at Herald Square.

You might believe the protests were quite violent if you read the Post’s interpretation, however:

“Protesters chanting ‘No justice, no tree!’ tried to storm Rockefeller Center on Wednesday to disrupt the annual lighting ceremony following a grand jury’s decision not to indict an NYPD cop in the death of Eric Garner. 

‘F**k the tree!’ the mob bellowed as cops held them at bay along Sixth Avenue near Radio City Music Hall.

Hundreds of frustrated anarchists then trekked to the West Side Highway, where they vaulted barricades and clashed with cops in riot gear.”

After reading this report, I’m wondering why the “anarchists” are so “frustrated.” Any thoughts? As we have observed, nothing can stop the tree lighting, not even the death of an unarmed man selling loose cigarettes on the streets of Staten Island. 

Only time will tell if the “anarchists” can truly stop Christmas from coming.

*For clarity’s sake, please be advised that I do not believe the protesters to be anarchists.