The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) is an international class struggle
and anarchist prisoner support group. We believe that prisons serve
no function except to preserve the ruling classes. We also believe
that a free society must find alternative, effective ways of dealing
with anti-social crime. But a decrease in anti-social crime is only
likely to happen (and therefore prison abolition can only be a
realistic option) accompanied by a dramatic change in our economic,
social and political systems. These conditions lie at the root of
both anti-social crime and a reason for a prison system and our
primary goal is to make these fundemental changes. We work for a
stateless, classless, co-operative society, free from privilege or
domination based based on race or gender.
But it is not enough to build the grass roots movements necessary to
bring about these changes in society, we also have to defend them.
The ABC defends those who are captured and persecuted for carrying
out acts on behalf of our movements. The ABC aims to recognise and
expose the struggles of prisoners in general, and political
prisoners and prisoners of war in particular. We regard prisoners as
an active part of our movement and seek to maintain their past and
potential contributions by acting as a link back to the continuing
struggle. Increased communication between activists both inside and
oustide inspires resistance on both sides of the prison walls.
Although imprisonment is, in its self political, political prisoners
of warfare being held specifically for their beliefs or actions.
We don't place judgements on what are valid or invalid expressions
of resistance; non-violence is not a criterion for support. We hope
that we can encourage activists by providing assurance that even if
you are persecuted for your activities, the movement will not
abandon you: we will take care of our own. Through the ABC we are
building organisational support for resistance.
Brief History Of The ABC
The origins of the Anarchist Black Cross date back prior to the Russian
Revolution. An Anarchist *Red* Cross was formed in Tsarist Russia to
organize aid for political prisoners and their families, and self-defense
against political raids by the Cossack army. During the Russian Civil War,
the organization changed its name to the Black Cross in order to avoid
confusion with the Red Cross who were organizing relief in the country.
After the Bolsheviks seized power the Black Cross moved to berlin. It
continued to aid prisoners of the Bolshevik regime, as well as victims of
Italian fascism and others. Despite the increasing demand for its
services, the Black Cross folded in the '40s due to a simultaneous decline
in available finances. In the late '60s the organization resurfaced in
England, where it initially worked to aid prisoners of the Spanish
resistance to Franco's fascist regime. In the 1980's the ABC expanded and
now has groups in many different regions of the world.
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