>The strategy of the black bloc is, quite simply, to provide solidarity and mutual aid on the the streets for radical protesters, most often anarchists. When the police attack demonstrators simply for exercising their basic rights and otherwise make efforts to outlaw forms of dissent, the black bloc is a group statement of solidarity for dissent and against repressive police tactics.
As I said, the other protestors are the target audience of the black bloc. There's apparently no interest whatsoever in the wider aims of the protest.
>The objectives of the black bloc are partially reflected in what I just explained, but different black blocs have different objectives in addition to doing direct action for the right to dissent. Black blocs typically have some kind of statement or call which explains the objectives of each black bloc. Black blocs also exist to promote more militant tactics and attitude.
Yes. It seems we don't have any disagreement about the basic facts. The promotion of "more militant tactics and attitude" by other protestors is what I said. Obviously it would be pointless for a black bloc to stage a stand alone protest, the whole strategy as Chuck explains it only makes sense in the context of a larger protest comprised of people from other tendencies. It would seem silly to stage a protest merely to promote "more militant tactics and attitude" by yourself, or to "provide solidarity and mutual aid" to your own people.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas