Shee-it, Clementine. I read Jay's piece yesterday and this today. I am so impressed with the clarity and maturity of your response. That shit sucks. You are amazing. Glad your people have your back. You are doing great work. Thank you.
“The fact that I am a woman and a survivor does not deter these people from threatening and intimidating me, because I am not the type of woman or the type of survivor who deserves safety. I am the bad kind, because I disagree with them. I am the bad kind because I challenge THEIR abusive behaviour and I’m only supposed to challenge the abusive behaviour of the bad evil abusers not the righteous anarchist kind.” Yes, exactly this.
“The stalkers in Portland who drove through the streets looking for my car, slashed my tires, and poured shit in my air vents, and the masked coffee pourer in Montreal, have more in common with domestic abusers than they do with cop car burners, rioters, or those who damage capital’s infrastructure.” Again, exactly.
These people are such massive hypocrites.
I’m so glad you had people to rally around you and that you managed to make the money back. Your courage is absolutely awe inspiring and always has been to me. Keep at it.
You are incredible and inspiring. Thank you for not being crushed by this relentless bullshit. It means the world to read of you surviving all of this, and then writing so beautifully and powerfully. It brings me hope for what might be possible within me.
I'm really sorry this happened to you Clementine. It absolutely is violent abusive behaviour and nothing justifies it.
I used to be really involved in leftist spaces for about 6 years, I eventually left because of how much infighting there was. People were more interested in policing each other and attacking each other than working on constructive solutions to oppression. It was deeply depressing.
I wonder if part of the vitriol is inherent to the nature of anarchist spaces? People can be drawn to them for noble idealistic reasons, but they can also be drawn to them because they feel anarchy allows them to get away with abusive behaviour easier?
While I agree that sometimes violence as a last resort is necessary, I've seen "anarchists" who seem to fantasize about violence to an unhealthy degree. Who are drawn to the political ideology because it often validates and even glorifies destructive behaviour and makes it seem morally righteous.
I start to wonder whether the "firebombing a Starbucks" rhetoric is really appealing because Starbucks is a harmful company, or rather because "explosions are epic, fuck the system, breaking things feels good when I'm angry".
I really appreciate the painstaking breakdown of violence as a concept. I think you make it very clear that what happened to you at this book fair is wrong, and violent, and not strategic. And really difficult to deal with even though you are clearly handling it like a boss.
Mostly, I agree with others here that your work, with this piece as a shining example, is impactful and important. I am grateful and lucky you feel compelled to persist in doing your work. And when people comment here that your work is inspiring, I think we mean more than that it gives us a nice feeling in our gut when we read it. I think we mean we are INSPIRED (motivated, inclined, encouraged, spurred on) to behave like you: to stretch ourselves to be clear and principled and most of all persistent, even when trauma or other barriers or just some bullshit makes it really, really hard to do that.
Shee-it, Clementine. I read Jay's piece yesterday and this today. I am so impressed with the clarity and maturity of your response. That shit sucks. You are amazing. Glad your people have your back. You are doing great work. Thank you.
I’m so sorry this happened to you, Clementine.
“The fact that I am a woman and a survivor does not deter these people from threatening and intimidating me, because I am not the type of woman or the type of survivor who deserves safety. I am the bad kind, because I disagree with them. I am the bad kind because I challenge THEIR abusive behaviour and I’m only supposed to challenge the abusive behaviour of the bad evil abusers not the righteous anarchist kind.” Yes, exactly this.
“The stalkers in Portland who drove through the streets looking for my car, slashed my tires, and poured shit in my air vents, and the masked coffee pourer in Montreal, have more in common with domestic abusers than they do with cop car burners, rioters, or those who damage capital’s infrastructure.” Again, exactly.
These people are such massive hypocrites.
I’m so glad you had people to rally around you and that you managed to make the money back. Your courage is absolutely awe inspiring and always has been to me. Keep at it.
You are incredible and inspiring. Thank you for not being crushed by this relentless bullshit. It means the world to read of you surviving all of this, and then writing so beautifully and powerfully. It brings me hope for what might be possible within me.
Sorry this happened to you, these clowns are definitely not anarchists!
I'm really sorry this happened to you Clementine. It absolutely is violent abusive behaviour and nothing justifies it.
I used to be really involved in leftist spaces for about 6 years, I eventually left because of how much infighting there was. People were more interested in policing each other and attacking each other than working on constructive solutions to oppression. It was deeply depressing.
I wonder if part of the vitriol is inherent to the nature of anarchist spaces? People can be drawn to them for noble idealistic reasons, but they can also be drawn to them because they feel anarchy allows them to get away with abusive behaviour easier?
While I agree that sometimes violence as a last resort is necessary, I've seen "anarchists" who seem to fantasize about violence to an unhealthy degree. Who are drawn to the political ideology because it often validates and even glorifies destructive behaviour and makes it seem morally righteous.
I start to wonder whether the "firebombing a Starbucks" rhetoric is really appealing because Starbucks is a harmful company, or rather because "explosions are epic, fuck the system, breaking things feels good when I'm angry".
I really appreciate the painstaking breakdown of violence as a concept. I think you make it very clear that what happened to you at this book fair is wrong, and violent, and not strategic. And really difficult to deal with even though you are clearly handling it like a boss.
Mostly, I agree with others here that your work, with this piece as a shining example, is impactful and important. I am grateful and lucky you feel compelled to persist in doing your work. And when people comment here that your work is inspiring, I think we mean more than that it gives us a nice feeling in our gut when we read it. I think we mean we are INSPIRED (motivated, inclined, encouraged, spurred on) to behave like you: to stretch ourselves to be clear and principled and most of all persistent, even when trauma or other barriers or just some bullshit makes it really, really hard to do that.
LET'S GO!
Clementine, thank you for your writing a work. I learn so much from you and appreciate how much you give to the community at cost to your safety.
Am inspired to work towards building anarchist spaces which are safe, kind and transformative.
Thank you for refusing to submit to violent intimidation. It’s one more important example you set.
Humbled by you once more. So sorry you have to face this shit, glad you know you're supported. Keep going xx
I'm so sorry someone did this to you. thank you for writing about it with such clarity and emotional content. deeply resonant.
Really glad you keep powering on. As others have said, you are an inspiration. I deeply admire your courage and endurance.