Metropolis Film Now Available on YouTube!

METROPOLIS (2012):
233 min – Drama | Society | Survival – 16. December 2012 (Seattle)

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interviews, commercials, news broadcasts, and original footage shot over the course of 2012 weave a frenetic web of associations that definitively end the myth of the green and sustainable city – Seattle.

[][][] an anti-commercial.

[][][] a negative production.

[][][] a showcase of the shadow that exists beneath the green grid of the Seattle metropolis.

[][][] revealing the inner workings of the major corporations.

[][][] detailing the hierarchy of the state.

[][][] exploring the daily human interactions that take place on the city streets.

Highlighting the Sound Transit train and lightrail network, housing and commercial development, water and sewer system, food importation system, the electrical system, the national guard, the state, Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Starbucks, Brightwater, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the workers, the intellectuals, the rulers, and the underground.

A Letter To Kteeo

(Sent via email to Tides of Flame)

Kteeo,

I am sorry for not writing you sooner, but I have thought of you very much. I remember you asking for books on the Basque struggle when you went into prison. At the time, I was only making 300 dollars a month and my rent was 250. Pretty common these days to be so poor. But since I was unable to get your books, I have composed this letter, written in while I am in Euskaria.

I came to a little town called Santurtzi, just down the river from Bilbao. It is nearly the same size as Olympia, roughly 50,000. It used to be a small fishing village until the dictatorship. As you know, the Basques were the only Catholics to fight against the fascists, and for this they were labelled traitors and suffered intense repression for the next decades. As part of their punishment, Franco started a process of industrialization along the river. Now, the town is host to a super port and an oil refinery.

Of course you know how a refinery increases the cancer rates of those living nearby, and I am sure you know of all the capital that moves in an out of all major ports. The mere existence of a super port causes the immediate area to fill with industry and bleakness. This is all very sad, but there is light hidden within the small proletarian city.

Goodbye!

Alright, everybody, we’re all done here. It’s been a thrill. We’ve learned a lot, seen a lot, and had our minds blown a couple times. But to be honest, we’re largely displeased with the Seattle we live in today. The best of us are stuck in the webs of work, alcohol, madness, and confusion. The worst are bloated with money, loving their new condos and the fancy restaurants that come with them, watching in wonder as Ballard or Capitol Hill are cleansed, homogenized, made perfect for investment, progress, and capital.

We think capitalism is shit, and if you love it, so are you. If you hate what’s happening to your neighborhood but find yourself powerless to stop it, the first step would be to understand who is taking your power away from you. Are you resigned to being stripped of your dignity and agency? Or can you imagine a way out of the institutionalized humiliations and penalties you’re forced to endure? Our bet is that you can figure out exactly what the sources of your problems are, eventually, one day. Hurry up, though, huh?

Anyway, moving on. Seattle sure has shown us its dark and nasty underbelly. But much to our surprise, that underbelly wasn’t hidden at all. It was always there, most people just did a swell job of ignoring it. Ever since SPD cop Ian Birk murdered John T. Williams in the summer of 2010, the public has slowly become a bit more aware of the corruption, psychosis, and brutality that permeates the local police force. Unfortunately for us and everyone else who is poor and sad, all of that was old news to us and things are basically still the same. The cops just have shorter leashes now.

Last summer, the police raided a house where dozens of people from Seattle were having a party. But the dumb cops had no idea they had stormed into a gathering of psycho witches and spirits from hell. Even though they were able to beat and imprison some of them, the cops never escaped the curse that followed their foolish efforts. It fell all over them like lightning, from every direction. Perhaps the SPD will look back on 2011-2012 as the time the first shovels full of dirt began landing on their dead organization. Just before the rest of their gang goes mad with despair, we hope that they remember just what disgusting fuckers they were to the people they policed.

But you know what else happened in the last year and a half? Everything! It was like a hyper-dimensional object passed through the dull hum of the city. We have so many fond memories, but what about the building that was taken over on 10th and Union last December? Do any of you remember that? All those crazies climbing on the roof and building barricades and painting on the walls and blasting music? Yeah, well, that didn’t last; some shitbag yuppie who works at Neumos frantically called the police, and a SWAT team arrived to clear the building. Yeah, that sounds pretty fucking stupid, right? Well, right after you go spit on the bastard at Neumos who has no imagination and no spine, go walk around the corner and you’ll see what’s there now: condos rising into the air.

Sometimes, when we’re desperate and sad, we’ll go crazy at some party or on the sidewalk, we’ll drink too much or get too excited and make a scene that is so abrupt it will make us happy again. But it is best when it happens with hundreds of us, thousands of us, all together, no longer just crazy and sad but also joyous, rebellious, and free. This is best.

And let us assure you, chickens, once enough people are able to muster the courage to act together and get rid of the entities that rule over them, the destructive frenzy will be followed by some panting, some laughter, an intense feeling of love and connection with each other, and the desire to do it all again. And the reason you’ll want to do it again is because there is so much to destroy and it is only when the world is healing that our lives will be whole again. In between these frenzies there will be creation because we all will do what we can to take care of those we love and manifest a world that does not resemble this one, something we are all capable of, every day.

We’ll be honest, we didn’t grow up here. Only a handful of the contributors did. Most of us have lived here off on and on for a while. Some have settled down. All of us are generally tired, angry, and waiting for any cracks to appear in the walls. But let’s be real for a second. These aren’t our neighborhoods. Why aren’t you all defending what you love? Do you love money? Do you love stupid architecture? Do you love the idiots you vote into office? Is your boss really your friend? Are you really going to be passed around all your life to whoever is feeling generous enough to buy your time and body? Maybe it’s love that is the issue, then? Maybe they’ve stolen that from you as well. Maybe you’ve just forgotten.

Well, we’re clearly the people to tell you what is, huh? No, sorry. But we do know that once you feel it again, you’ll know how to fight, to keep what you love free and safe. We know how hard it is, how hollow it can make you, but trust us, it gets better when you realize what you have to do and set about doing it. So long, thanks for everything, keep it real, keep it going, never stop, spread chaos, live freely, love your body, and be there next time.

Forever yours,
The witches and spirits of Tides of Flame

THANK YOU <3

In no particular order, we would like to thank everyone who read Tides of Flame and found something worthwhile inside its pages; Matt, Kteeo, Maddy, Steve, and every other Grand Jury resister and non-cooperating prisoner of the social war; the Seattle Commune for materially and psychologically supporting us in our efforts; Brendan Kiley of The Stranger for being a good man and a fine writer; the CCEJ and Bent for obvious reasons; Left Bank Books; the former residents of Turritopsis Nutricula and all Seattle squatters; the Seattle Solidarity Network for pissing off landlords and bosses; all the various writers who have contributed to the newspaper over the last year and a half—your words have made this possible (and sorry for the edits you got mad about way back when); Ed Mead, Mark Cook, everyone who still fights, still resists, still struggles after all the heartbreak, broken promises, and shattered dreams; the Highline for getting us drunk and holding anarchist events; the Cockpit for allowing anarchist debauchery and madness a couple times; the wage slaves of Bauhaus and Hot Mama’s for not throwing out all of our magazines; The Wildcat for being what it is; UMOJA Peace Center; Omari for keeping us in the loop; Puget Sound Anarchists dot org for keeping everyone up to speed; Christopher Frizzelle of The Stranger for giving us a positive review once; GLITUR; the Grrrl Army, the Oakland Commune for inspiring us; anyone who ever printed and distributed this paper just because they liked it; all of the fantastic nighttime rebels (stay wild & free!), our comrades, our families, and each other.

FUCK YOU

Everyone who voted for the tyrannical and murderous system we still live under; The Stranger for encouraging its readers to vote yes for a new condo/jail on 12th and for encouraging mindless consumerism and distraction; every single facet of governance in Seattle, especially the corrupt and vile employees of the SPD; every stupid liberal who legitimizes police terror and violence with their inane words and shallow thinking; every right-wing psychopath that cheers when the state kills someone; Mayor Mike McGinn for being a worthless, lying maggot; the city council for sniffing his ass while he shits on everyone; The Seattle Weekly for being a worthless pile of crap; Jonah Spangenthal-Lee and Sean Whitcomb for being disgusting pig lovers; the architects of the Capitol Hill Seattle blog for promoting and encouraging gentrification; Central District News; all of the developers that have destroyed Capitol Hill; all of the rich idiots that allowed them to; loss prevention agents and rent-a-cops in general; all snitches everywhere, especially those who incriminated people now facing charges for May Day; Phoenix Jones and his pathetic stooges; and YOU if you’re an asshole.

On Witches

As it turns out, many people I know wept when they watched the video Leah-Lynn Plante made just before she was taken to a federal holding facility. It made a lot of people burst and begin to let out some of the sadness, so deep and heavy that the world is exposed, the beauty and the nothingness posed in stark contrast to one another.

 
When I walk around on the streets and look into peoples’ eyes I wonder if they know what is going on. I ready myself for bad news, become numb when it arrives, and slowly learn to accept the reality we all live in. Our enemy could come at any moment, just as they always could have, but now I know they are coming and that we are stronger than they are. On the bus, waiting in line at the store, or drinking in the bar, I wonder about witches.

 
How did it get this way? Have we really been fighting the inquisitors for this long? And what is it that our opponent actually fears? Because it is most certainly not just broken windows, spray paint, and newspapers like this one. Whenever they come after us, their first move is always to isolate us, to quarantine us from the public who are meant to be terrified by images on the nightly news of evil demons appearing out of the ether.

 
If I had to explain it simply, I would say that our enemy is afraid of what we do say, consistently and always to whoever asks. All too often, especially in the social world, what we say cannot be listened to for very long. Most people just want to enjoy what they can, think of the small stuff, etc. But there are all those who I keep meeting who are down for anything that isn’t this, people who get that no one should be living within these straight lines and that the world should be free. When we all begin to gather, those of us who think this way, when there are more and more of us, it is like what’s written in the books. This is what the rebellion is: the contagion, the frenzy, and the joy. Always and forever, this is what our enemy fears.

 
If I had to tell you something, I’d say this: we need to get the fuck out. There’s too many people in this city, everyone has to pay in order to exist, and the sooner we abandon the rulers who think they can own everything, the sooner they’ll have nothing and we’ll have everything. I know that sounds simple, but it gets even more so. All we have to do is leave, as many of us as possible and as quickly as we can. And not just leave but also to figure out how not to live like we have been, dependent on things we do not understand. To learn how to forget the languages of money and control, to live from what the land freely gives, to receive rather than take. We have to leave this old world behind, and the only way to do so is to forget it, completely.

 
But there are powerful people who won’t let us forget. They remind us every day that this is the way things are. When they burn us, torture us, or imprison us, they aim to make us live according to their laws of fear and cowardice. But we have never been able to live in that world, and this has lead us into endless trouble. They’ll never beat us because we just keep popping up, despite their best efforts.

 
Basically, this all was to say that witches are witches and the world is the world and nothing can stop the flood that is streaming around our bodies and pushing us forward into the same future that even our enemies cannot avoid. This is all going to end.

 
By the way everyone watching the debates and elections: anarchists aren’t gonna destroy everything. They are. And you are voting so they can do it. Congratulations on your last vote for the last president in the last days of the last sad gasps of this old and vanquished empire.

Keep Smiling – Keep Struggling: Letter from Imprisoned Grand Jury Resister Kteeo

October 17, 2012

Hey y’all,
I want to thank all of you for your support; it is all too often that support work gets overlooked—but it is important that people know that I wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing without the support of all of you and without the hard work of support teams as well as my friends and family. So another huge thank you.

I am doing fine thanks in large part to all of you—but in saying that I am reminded of what every moment on the inside reminds me, that every prisoner is a political prisoner. Hopefully one day we will build the necessary networks so that all of the incredible women that I am in here with (and other people in the same situation) are afforded the same type of support that you all have given me. Not only as a way to strengthen their resolve but also to benefit their children. I say that because in here you learn quick that jail/prison does not only effect the incarcerated.

Anyway, with all of that said I want to be clear that I am very grateful for all of the support that I have received, just sharing some thoughts.

So thank you all again—and a big shout out to my family and their unwavering support.

Keep Smiling – Keep Struggling

In solidarity,
Kteeo

P.S. I apologize for how long some of you have had to wait for replies on letters. Postage is a bit of an issue—but I treasure every letter.

WRITE TO KTEEO:
Katherine Olejnik #42592-086
FDC SeaTac,
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

SEND BOOKS (PAPERBACKS ONLY):
Kteeo is specifically interested in news and information about the Basque region, and reading material related to post-colonial linguistic theory.  You can send her books through any large bookstore (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc)–simply use the address above as the shipping address.

DONATE TO HER COMMISSARY:
To add funds directly to Kteeo’s commissary so she can buy more stamps (etc), see the directions posted here.

AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT MATT:
Matthew Kyle Duran #42565-086
FDC SeaTac
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

Free KteeO, 2nd Grand Jury Resister Imprisoned

It is with an extremely deep sadness that we report that another silent one has been kidnapped by the state for refusing to cooperate with their witch-hunt.

Katherine Olejnik #42592-086
FDC SeaTac,
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

—-

For me choosing to resist a grand jury is about humanity – I cannot and will not say something that could greatly harm a person’s life and providing information that could lead to long term incarceration would be doing that.

For me choosing to resist a grand jury is about freedom of speech and association – I cannot and will not be a party to a McCarthyist policy that is asking individuals to condemn each other based on political beliefs.

The reasons above are why I am choosing to not comply. I apologize to those in my life who my being incarcerated is going to burden, and I thank you for understanding my decision.

For those unaware the folks being subpeonaed are being incarcerated for refusing to answer questions about others’ political beliefs.

In Solidarity With All Those Resisting the Grand Jury,
Kteeo Olejnik

Noise Demo For Six Escapees

On the evening of September 25th, a group of over thirty people assembled in front of the King County Juvenile Detention Center on 12th Ave. They began making noise with whistle, pots, and drums so that everyone inside the jail could hear them.

Less than a week earlier, six young men had escaped from a different facility in Snohomish County. Unfortunately, they were captured and sent to the King County facility, a place the authorities believe is harder to escape from. The noise demo was called after it was learned the escapees were being transferred.

People stood outside the southern wall of the jail for a little over an hour. A few encouraging speeches were given over a megaphone and the prisoners banged on their windows, showing their excitement. There were many new faces at the demo, all in full support of the young men trapped inside.

While the forces aligned against us may be strong, we have comrades across the entire planet and as we watch the thousands of people fighting in the streets of Athens and Madrid, we take heart and encouragement from all we see and learn.

Let us never forget our place in the international struggle against capitalism or the value of even the smallest of our actions. Let our actions be great. Never stop.

Noise demo at Kordiallos Prison, Greece:

VIDEO0005 from fylakes on Vimeo.

Since September 13th, 2012 inmates in Greek prisons carry out yet another mass mobilization, which concerns legal regulations as well as the living conditions within the hellholes. Resistance includes prison food abstention and other forms of protest. In some facilities prisoners are in total strike, abstaining from day’s wages, while they conduct partial labour strike in others. In addition, in certain prisons the inmates’ participation in the mobilization is universal, whereas partial in others.

On Sunday evening, September 23rd – shortly after the solidarity rally from family members, friends and supporters, which had been called for 17.00pm outside Koridallos men’s prison –inmates rebelled, fighting not only for their dignity, but also for basic survival needs. Especially in the E wing, where prisoners refused to go back into their cells until at least 22.00pm, MAT anti-riot squadrons stormed the buffer zone (that separates the prison from the surrounding residential area) firing tear gas and stun grenades.

Earlier in the afternoon, approximately 50 people gathered in solidarity and stayed at the park on Grigoriou Lambraki Street for some time, before managing to reach a location close to the C prison wing (which we see only from a distance on New Year’s gatherings). Once the prisoners felt the presence of supporters, they began to chant slogans, banged the bars and doors, and burned objects that they threw out the windows.

Specifically, the solidaritarians went up an alley to the opposite side of the women’s prison, turned to the right and left the soccer fields and the school behind, until they stood only 50 meters away from the external fence. A police squad did not stop the march, so people protested in an elevated position, having almost direct eye contact with the prisoners in combat. Inmates set fire to clothes, sheets, blankets, etc., clenched their fists from inside the cells, sang and whistled really loud the entire time supporters chanted slogans for freedom. Five to six heads per prison cell were visible (one must wonder how they even manage to sleep or move in such a tight space). The rally remained in the same place for half an hour, and when solidaritarians started to leave the prisoners were still burning sheets and shouting slogans, and raised their fists in salute. It seemed as though they would dismantle the prison bars with their own bare hands.

By 19.30pm the mutiny in Koridallos prisons was spread, with large sections of the B and C wings up in flames, and a fire in the A wing’s yard. Initial negotiations between some prisoners and the administration followed, but the situation was already very tense. Shortly after, a host of repressive forces arrived in the area (anti-riot squadrons, motorcycle units, patrol vehicles, paddy wagons, etc.), as the police were on alert awaiting a prosecutor’s order to intervene.

At about 20.00pm guards closed the doors of the D wing and around 21.00pm the A wing was locked as well. In the latter, prisoners had stayed an hour longer out of their cells, because the administration attempted to lock the doors an hour earlier than provided, and several inmates resisted factually at the time. At 21.40pm the men in the B and C wings were forced to go back to their cells, too.

However, unrest prevailed in the E wing, with the strike action continued. The prisoners trashed and smashed almost everything within that ward. They even slipped into the buffer zone and started throwing a rain of stones that fell on the street, outside the prison fence. Dozens of humanguards with batons and helmets ran to suppress the riot. At 21.30pm the alarm had already sounded. According to unconfirmed rumors that circulated at the time, and since many Arabic speakers are incarcerated in the E wing, the rage may have been triggered by the news of prior repression against a protest of Muslims at noon in Omonia, central Athens (in fact, a religious protest against anti-Islam movie filmed in the US that ‘offends the Prophet Muhammad’). Soon, the first tear gases were fired by the cops and resounded in the area. Anti-riot units that were deployed in the buffer zone of the prison unleashed violent attacks, in order to stifle the rebellion of prisoners in the E wing, from which it has also been said there were escape attempts.

From 23.00pm until 01.00am, both the neighbourhood (that was equally overwhelmed with chemicals) and the prisons were under a state of siege by heavy police forces, while several prisoners shouted ‘SET FIRE TO EVERYTHING…’ Within the outer perimeter of the facilities, there were all sorts of cops who repeatedly tried to inflict panic to the residents: every time people were standing out on their balconies, the pigs kept yelling at them, saying that the prisoners would come out and kill them, that there would be disturbances, that their homes would be damaged, and so forth.

Several residents remained on the balconies of nearby buildings despite intimidation. At 03.00am, people heard gun shots: prison guards that patrolled outside fired about 10 shots into the air. Soon thereafter, the rioting ended. But the prisoners’ struggle continues…

Next solidarity rally outside Koridallos prisons
Sunday, September 30th, at 17.00

Immediate fulfillment of prisoners’ demands

Solidarity with the State’s hostages in this fight
Freedom to all imprisoned men and women from the dungeons