112.-where-do-we-go-from-here.pdf
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Where Do We Go
From Here?



| KUWASI BALAGOON

“where do we go from Here?” is first and foremostaa strategy for
building collectives from the macrial basis of will. tts an attempt to
Point out a path of thinking and zction that leads from ore stege to
‘another or one position to another, by cultivating the collective process
within any small determined group offthres of more peuple and rraking
the best use of time, space, and whatever spectfic available resources
to influence others to join the process, contribute, and exercise a
‘measure of cantrel consistent with theit particiaation immediately. The
basis of this process is agreement, and since collectives are guided by
Popular one person, one vote, the strategy is an anarchis: strategy and
this work is an anarchis* organizing mana)

The collective process is more torn fun 3 large treasury, cache
of arms, or throngs of people shouting your name, because to do
anything inthe socal arena that determines the conditiors for liberty
and wealth, the spending and the investing of wealth must be orgenizee
If it does nothing but si it does no good, ifone person or a few spend
itas those few decide; while it was in ‘act the fruits of the labor of
mary, it only reinforces the exist structures that are responsible
already forthe genocide of entire peoples and the literal murder of
the biosphere, andi sts spent pell me! it will rly bring temporary and
partial reief and problems. large cache of arms inthe hands ofa few
doesnt translete into much more than a weapon apiece unless it can
bbe sold tw someone who can be counted cn to at the very least not
Use the arms to take back the money, and, of course. there's problems
attendant with security with 90th money and arms, i! wouldn't be wise
to simply pass out arms to everyone who's bees kicked in the ass,
because one traitor fearful of being kicked out of existence or glad of
pleasing his or her masters or to receive awards would immediately
pt yout and all you had armed in perl To carry on a war, many pecple
united in purpose and organized into small manageable tits must

bbe present. White smply arming those who wish to and deserve to

be armed would infeed be a service in a giant step towards self and
community defense it must be borne in mind that the enemy has an
ineahaustbte supply of both arms and ammunition and is continually on
the attach, and so in order for people ‘0 really practice
defense, they mus: practice offense if only to force the enemy tohave
10 be on guard

Masses of people who helieve in the cause isthe greatest asset a
‘movement can have, and even that doesn't bring you and them “out
Of the woods Sympathy is NOK Support Actions must be charnecled
‘and coordinaied with other actions that interrelate and transiate into
Ooffensives that cannot be stopped. To do this people must attend to
[practical matters in measureble groups to ensure that there arc in fact
‘enough peope to-complete tasks, and that things that must be done at
different places cen be deak with at the maximam efficiency and the
cast amount of time, effort, and resources being wasted or ide.

Who willlead these collectives? Who is the most qualified? Those are
questions for the collectives to cecide Allthat can be decided on a

‘one person, ene vote basis should be decided that way, At the same
‘ume, at different points, on different matters, particular Individuals

‘will clearly be more knowleidgeaole than others, but this too should

be decided collectively, Obviousiy, a mechanicin a collective earaze
‘would know more about what tools snould be bought first, how to
‘obtain the best atthe test rates, and the approximate amount of time
‘that may be requited for certain work and would therefore practically
be a leader liowever, st the some time o collective shouldn't establish

4 garage if there’s not at least erough mezhanes to do a large portion
‘of collective transportation work, anc its the collective who decides

if, when,and where. Acditionally, an auto repair collective would have
other members, basedin some aspeets of auto repair and maintenance,
‘such as changing tires, batteries, jump starts, eic, and wuld be required
to leammore through on the job traming.

Besides this, there are ollie’ things attenchnt to operating a collective
‘garage of any other collective project. The obtaining and stocking

‘of supplies and parts, the allocation of funds for light and hest,
propaganda, the national procurng of office supplies and lunch,
‘maintenance of the building, scheduling of shifts, classes and,
‘meetings, security. services, and interactidns with the commenity

(On the ideology front, who isto decide what isto be stusied in each
collective which is also a study group? Who is to determine the mess
line and be certain thatit's consistent with le ergarizational Ine
There is simply no single person qualified No invidual knows what's
best collectively. Only the collective can solve i's ideological needs
through collective participation and it the collective who has to the
responsibiity for its propaganda, cultivation, and ete

Buthow can a maze Of seperate colletives\Gonnect nto 8 mass
orgenization? Firstly, by aligning with other collectives whose purposes
and rules ure in alignment. rurther, once @ number of collectives oF the
same collectives agree to work together. they simply lla congress to
further coordinate thet efforts. The propaganda at that points decided
by that congress, father than a group of filleer people siruggling 10
Put out a paper, a portion ofthe federatior of collectives is channeled
‘into that end, while the reminder do collective work that now
translates into a larger organizational work

‘Should a collective be concerned fundamentally with establishing
anarchy where itis it groups with other collectives, reorganizing

its organizational efforts. Should a collective be concerned with
liberation ofa territory to achieve mdepenilenee for colonialized
nationals, it should group with other collectives. reorganizing its
organizational efforts. Three or more collectives become a federation.
Aneighborhood organized becomes a vommmunity, commune

‘or federation of communes. Because armed struggle and mass
propaganda alone will not develop into mass movements and signiican
irregular and regulsr forces necessary to overthrow the USA, mass
organizing must be the main focus of a revolutionary program. If these
{Federations of collectives and communes choose to institute « republic
and this s the mandate of the masses (that is determined through
referendum), then itis the task of the organization to aid 1 translating
the will oF the people in:o realty. IF at the same time the federation of
collectives and communes
chooses to continue anarchy on a natonal territory, and this is the
‘mardate of the masses, determined through referendum, then itis the.
task of the organization to translate that will nto realty.

{tmust be bore in mind tht all he suggestions as to enterprises, ete
{do not beg {abe folloved and that many times it may be opportune
to atte objectives the later phases, and perhaps come back o
‘thers or omit them altogether, it depends on particular conditions
ad predilections, Many would shun af clections as » matter of course,
and many would deal with moss organizing alone, more than tkely the
bulk of collectives wil and since thats in fact what s needed most
that should prove more than eneugh. The Ine between open work and
clardestine work should be respected, because to rocteim a cause

in the open and then do military workts overly risky youbecome
{00 easy to be found The sate will watch publec organizations whle.
looking for candestine organizations. anditis best that they have to
Start with no dea 3s to parteipants in military acts.



‘At the same time, an undergrourd movement simply cannot wait
‘nti mass movements complete heir tasks beore building itself and
beginning its program of action, People applying for federal firearm
licenses should nat be idenifiable as movement figures, and at the
same time they should belong te a collective and consequently to

‘a study group. Not aligned with the public movement, visibly, and
prepared to buy weapons yholesale and in bul transfer them,
distribute them, and jon an underground military cellective, with the
training and preperation necessary to be ¢ class-one people's soldier.

Colectives who infiltrate comrades into correctional departments,
‘security frm, poice departmerts, and the armed forces should be as
careful @ 1 sli wids public movements. Bull a reasury, procure
‘weapons, and establish and maintain communications with atleast

but not necessarily mere than one urderground formation through @
representative ofa coleetine ora representative ofa federation, This
representative should rave no police record and


should have no direct involwement with the underground ot public
‘organizations, and courdinaing in that line should have a straight
‘honsensitive job and the appearance f a reaular worker.



‘These people should be wel studied, disciphined, and known and
checked out or instance, if a Camrade cant make meetngs for @

‘year and participate in a study group, they shouldn't be approached

te take on the tasks of revolutionary epies or ordinance personnel
Except in instences where a regular group operating underground picks
‘members with straght jobs and fecords for one ofthese tasks, the
procedure should be intated by enllstives who choose that task, are
not yet pubic, and choose as'wel to develop amiltay collecive, "hat
‘way only hove responsible pay for mstakes and shoddy security

“The regular army is the immediate army that carries on irreguar
‘actions while the mass movement is being bull and iltias are beng
formed. This army is also made up of collectives formed in prisons,

the us. armed forces, and anywhere that a collective of people come
together and decide thot that is what they want to'do. Like every

other collective, it isa study group as well,and ike erdinence and

spy collectives, security 1s of the utmost importance Asice from.
meetings and study sessions, the inderground must conduct security
checks, obtain electronic detection devices, weapons, explosives,
‘apartmeris, lofts and warehouses for hospitals, presses, and fronts,
[and] among other things, carry on armed actions. such as bombings,
arson, assassinations, exprogriations, and kidnappings. To do this an
underground military collective must establsu people's academy
‘where books on these subjects can be stucied and where training and
testing cen be giver, along with ideological cuvation. t must develop
the means to supply identification to all members and develop codes
and procedures to change addresses and locations quickly when a
‘member knowledgeable of thems captured, as wellas devise objective
methods of detecting weaknesses in members that could eventually be
Used agaist memters of the army, as wellas supporters.
oastful, vice ridden, vindictive, petty, and weakwilled people, as well
‘as “ug eaters.” people who storm out of meetings when they cannot
have ther way, should be eliminated hefore they are suspected of
going over to the side of the enemy, just as bullies and people who,
talk of violence and are overly fearful Cheracter, strength of wil,
leer thinking, and physical Miness, along with truly cemucratic selle>s,
principles are the elements a guerrilla must pit azairst superior mobility,
firepower, methodological intelligence, and the principle of command
‘andr covrcion thet the poice empley to enlist the cooperation of
citizens and colorial subjec's. if a member of a military collective finds
at any point the traits needed wanting} in his or herself or any other
‘member its time to make new arrangements. At the same time when
andif a guerrilla dscovers that he or she can't make scate, they sould
bbe able fo say so and should be allowed to leave the collective and be
respected for their honesty.



|wity all he fundamentals in check, a collective should consist of two
teams, wit from five to seven memters in each team. Have Iwo drivers
armed with sdearms, one automatic rifleman or woman or shotgunner
also anved with a sidearm, and other meribers with ieartns.As

soon as possible these arms should be minimized and all members
should cbtain bulletproof vests and grenades, either manufactured or
homemade. Likewise, each group should have slectronie detection
equipment, and any member should be able to call strip serch to
ccheck for wires a: any meeting, Additionally, esch group should employ
sniper rifles, bombs, in providing weapons and fires as they S2e fil 10
‘monopoly cxpital, defense industrial complex targets, police stations,
businesses that contribute ‘0 rewards, and any opportune enemy
targets that can be reconned. studied, and ascertained to present

the leas risk The key is to consistently be on the attack when not
Preparing Wallach, wal tensining victorious, even when the vietories
are smal, ike a small police station, sportng goods shop, an unarmed
government agercy, armored car, a bank, landiord or marshats office,
clectric, gos, or phone monopoly bllng offices. After each action, the
‘group sould hold a ertique, keeping in mind that simply because no


problems were encountered or problems ‘were overcome, those facts:
do not incicate that either the plan or execution was Nawless; i: only
indicates that the plan and execution was passable under the particular
set of corditions present

The most important tasks wil be the assassnations of clear enemies
such as police, traitors, landlords, and the liberation of captured
uerillas:ofttimes this vill take no more expertise or execution thar
an exoropriation, All actions should be considered not only on the basis
of value but also in cerms of ability (0 co, A contnuous thoroughly
developec reconnaissance program wil make clear weak spots in

the enemy's defense area, where small portions of them are isolated,
‘exposed, nd vulnerable. Likewise, inks with captured guerrilas who
sre not celebrated but are infact dedicated solders sould yield easier
escapes than known revolutionaries held under extra deep extra-tight
security. Again, every action shoul ake into accout the risks involved
in order to minimize them, as we have no soldiers to sand over or
trade, and small victories that incu no losses are indeed victories
revertheless Its the insurgents who choose whon ard where



“The first and hardest task of eny revolutionary army is to avoid getting,
“nipped at the bud” and to bezome established in the mings of the
‘people as a force that will not be stopped, The second task is to grow
and develop inly a force that's responsible for consistent military
politcal acts, that establishes in the mind of the reople that a war is
early in progress. The values of tre revolutionaries must 2¢ reflected
through the conduct and propaganda of the revelutionaries. When the
masses of people conscientiously choose revolutionary values over
reactionary values, to the point where they support revolution end
refisse to collaborate in any way with reaeticn, the balance of power
will shift (all people is truy of the peop)

‘Once the movement perceives that a balance of power has in fact
evolved, the final offensive begins. The “regular” people’s army units
become commando irregular units attached to the peopl


rmiltias, who are in and therefore within the consensus of the mass,
party. Destruction of monopoly capital begins in earnest, with the
‘ovcupation of teritories ard puslic executions of those who profit,
from exploitation and oppression.

GENERAL STATE OF THINGS

Perceptions—Experiencing and Building an Experience
Rather Than Allowing the Media to Describe Our Lives

‘When we examine, where do we go from Here’ itis clear from the
onset that ta discuss or address that question we have to talk about
Here. Where this particular Here is inrelation to everywhere else. In
terms of our health ard living conditons. Socially, im (ern of how other
people are doing and where they are. Our dealings with other people
individually and ir terms of whatever institutions they have bult to serve
Lin pus poses, and of course mentally, how we experience things and
‘what we recall atout the events or processes that brought us or made.
Us decide to come Here.

We" is plurl, meaning more than one. Appropriate because as
incividwls we interact with other individuals and, regardless of our
designs do 904 ve in a vacinum Since that i he case, who we are

‘with s part of the answer fo where we are, and the answer to what we
are domg with wo we are with is part ofthe answer 10 where we ure
‘20ing, Where we might be ata particular time and who we may be with
ata particular time can be answered without the resulting illamination
lighting the way very far Tor mstanes, one can leave here for work, get
‘oa iain ard ask oneself that question, and itis obvious that you are
‘Boing to work. Ifyou were in a desert aided by a map which showed

4 water hole that youwere standing near, thal would be part of the
answet 10 where you were, If you were there with others and it appears
either that there was enough water for al or that tere wast't enough
for alto drink their flo for alt take rations of ito sustan them until
they got ou: of the desert or to another water hole, then thet would
‘err into the question of where you were
So itwould serve us better to ask that question in regards to where we
five. We can agree ihat we live ona planet ealled Earth, ard go on to
say in the northern herrisphere, and for some of our purposes what is
presently the United States

When we advence further on that question in relation to where we

live, we may examine ourselves in regards to our health. vestigate
how we feel a the moment and most ofthe time. What does our diet
Consist of? Are our dwellings safe? Do we share these dwellings with
‘others? Who are they? Who & in the inmeciate area’ Who occupies the
surrounding areas? How do we feel about sis, 3 well as the people
closest to us?

{everyting appears to be satisfactory and what you do every day
insures you satisfaction, ther this manual and suggested egenda wil
only serve as a poor diver sin. tf, On the other hand, you are not
satisied with things, are trying to decide wrat to do of if you should
leave wherever you are and cake your chances elsewhere this will
hopefully aid you aad those who come in contact wily you

It you feet that the house you livein is not safe or not worth the time
You spend in it and that its not werth the money you pay to live there!
If you fee! that those who inhabit your surroundings are in a similar
ondition, that the money you pay for food and clothing takes up too
_reat a portion of what you make even afier budgeting, that what you
do each day, how you are employed, does nothing to change these
matters, perhaps itis time to consider nother course,

If ontop of this you perceive decisions that shape these and other
aspects of your life are out of your hands and influcnce, as well us out
of the hands and influence of those in the environment you share, tren
itts te to sit down and talk with your neighbors; if not af of them,
then some of them

‘Out of the issues that affect you and them directly, dscussion can
disclose new insigh's and confirmations: Where the basies of living are
the issue, they should be dealt with an¢ listed first. f stretching
‘morey or gesting money in the first place are probloms; ving in a
suitable domain oF your own, abuse f-om iaw enforeement personnel,
landlords, and other community eriminals are a problem, then a
program must be built and maintained to change ths situation or
‘eradicate these problems,

‘There isa ane at



mn individual can perform that can change these
thirgs in an instant and notting (nat a smal group of pecple can do
except begin 0 create ways of defending themselves and, more
importantly, organize end initiate ornanizing of large groups of people
in the neighborhood and area; as in al the neighborhoods and areas.

The main thing is to focus on your Ines collectively. rather than accept
the definitions and descriptions of otvers. The things that you can
confirm through your experiences must be more creditable than those
things that you cannot if you cannot make hide or hair of what the
government's economic forecasters issue you, you can disregard il At
the same time, there is no book that will lberate anyone A book may
sive ideas, but it takes people to apply, adapt, and if they don't work
disregard and develop and find new ones.

A Revolutionary Agenda

‘Atthe point where a group of people finc themsehes agreeing to the
fact tar they have the same prablems, where their decsions hold no
‘weigh, as wall a any fluence they mayhave on the government in
charge, the question is then to cecide ifthe government isthe source
‘of the problem, or a souree. When thx is perceived to be So, then the
Solitons ultimately wil he changing that government, overtrowing
that government and replacing t wth a new one; overthrowing,

the government and replacing it with anarchy seceding from the
‘government andin the waxing of a war of liberation by colonized
people, that isto say] people exploited for their land and labor and
‘controlled by a separete nation of people.
Organizing—Collectivizing and

Revolutionizing Our Lives

None of these solutions canbe brought about by decree or by sinply
deciding on the part of a small group of people or even a large group.
the society and, in fact. the world fs organized a certain way that
results in people having probleme basic taliving arch of course, have to
be organzed another way, to rearrange the situation ina real way.



Before the revolution is organized a movement must be organized,
and before a movement canbe organized a revolutionary organizetion
‘mus: be organized that will enmpuwer people to distribute power and
‘wealth ina free egalitiang manner.

Befere revoluionary organizations can be buill people who kiow in
theirhearts that only a drastic change will be suitable must cutivate
‘their thinking and actions into the thoughts and actions that brig about,
the changes they seek.

they must accept the consequences of their actions in the event the
state and the estabishrrent forees prevail and know in their hearts

that these forces must be contesied, in any event, for a worthisile
‘chargeirevolurion to be established, and yet never make a needless
sacrifice. that is, a revolutionary must strive to minimize the possibilty
Of defeats, and yet act in accordance with the game plan that wil lead
to the overthrow of the government and the retaking of power by

8 revolutionized mass organization that car set matters right. n this
regard a revolutionary’s private life cannot cun contrary to collective
‘esponsibility, and tre desire for this change within one’s self should
stem from love of people and the desire to aid the evoluton of society
where people can Ive completely with both bread and liberty. The
more our lives fit into this revolutionary context, the more revoluticnary
we become, to the poin: that we do simply wha we conclude the
revolution requires, cognizant of what that means and clear as to why.




Acmss these ited States in every large city there are New Afrikan
colonies, as well asin towns too numerous to rame.n the mitile of
the night when the streets are deserted ore can stil yee that these

are the areas where New Afrikan people live. The actual real estate
belongs 1o someone outside the colony. The services that are a matter
Of course elsewhere ure wile, apar nent baldings and public
buildings from schoolsto storefronts are boarded up. In the ight of
day unemployment is edmittedly 50 percent according to the US.
‘goverment Police patrol and hsrass but do ct protect residents
they shoot residents; any dey's reading, of a newspaper will recourt

an incident where a New Afikan man, woman, or child was kiled or
brisalized. Atthe same time these conditions that are ripe for rebellion
have not been organized inio a revolutionary mass movement

Hispanic colenies that are often bordering New Afrian colories suffer
‘the same conditions. Puerto Rican, Mexicano, and New Afrikan migrant
\workers pick the bulk st Americe's tables and are orly pei erough

to Ive to produce new generations of migrant workers, While Native
‘Americans are isolated on reservations and oppressed in cities and get
the same range of work thet other Third Wiorld people gst; hospital
workers, nursing home workers, factory workers, and employment that
‘make of them a menial class and casies, and employment thet brings
Jess salary for the same work as whites, but there has been no real
‘mays movement inside the colonies.

‘The whie working class su‘Ters with wages, unemployment, job-
related injures that could be avoided, draits, wage ireezes, inflation,
‘emnironmental potution in water, ar, and ground, utity hikes, and zt.
‘that the Third World colonies suffer, as well as being organized by the
‘tate and ruling class to combat the liberation of Third World colonies.
Anantinuke movement to prevent the immediate destruction of the
‘world appears from time to time, along with anti-draft movements

However, there is no revolutionary rrass movement within the white
‘working class Ths isnot to say that there are not ay pubic
revolutionary organizations or that there are not revolutionaries Wo
clearly understand that the genocide of Thid World people and the
"manipulation and explotation ofthe working classes will not cease unt
there is revolution. Nor does this absence of a mass movement imply
that there are no revolutionaries among ary ofthe captured rations
(oF of the white working class win have not historcelly or presenthy
showed themselves to he truly heroic and deliberstely revolutionary
in their dealings. But it does mean that the need to organize a mass
‘ovement has not been appreciated to 8 large extent and thatthe
formulas for doing this have not 2een developed.

Moke no mistake about it, without a mass movement there is no
‘revolution. An army without a mass movement ean rever achieve @
balance of power necessary to defeat a government or build a mass
"movement to organize the people. A mass movement, of the other
hhand, can organize the people and set the conditions for the building
Of real people's armies, which wil not only have the power to carry on
protracted war but [il build the forces strong cnough to sweep the
‘government ard ruling class out of power..

Why the Collective First?
SMALL IS POSSIBLE ...

No one individual can carry out @ revolution. if there were thousands
of people gatherec to carry out the revolution in any one place, these
people would have to be organized to carry onin a coherent fashion
Within a sirategic framework to fulfill he tasks of the revolution; they
woukl have to be organzed into companies, clubs, communities, or
some type of political military or economic formation in tune with
other formations. and it would take an organization to do this. It would
take an organization as weil 1o organize smaller groups of pecple end
indivduals, Thetis, 10 share a basis of understanding with them as to
your objectives and means


to carry them out and the reasors why these elforts are worthwhile
Moreover, it would take an orgarization to actualy coordinate efforts
by individuals into a means of doing practical and actual work. as viell,
98 coordinating efforts by this work into a coherent and consistent
program that brings people collectively to the goals desired, while
‘maumizng the effect of small actions and efforts and securing the
progress made,

A collective that is (Fors three lo fifteen peuple is a starting point
‘and functional uni, where these terms can be developed, where
understandings can be confirmed, and where the potential of individuals
canbe manitnized A mass of people can be organized irto a network
Of collectives, and a few people can build and expand a collective,

‘Once there are too meny pzople to easily coordinate their actions,
‘collectives can spit in wo, and tasks and programs can be coordinated
betweer collectives. More mportantly a collective has the greatest
potential of maintaining a democratic one person, one meaningful vote
process and can demonstrate clearly the power of organized people. A
Suggestion might be (o keep the numbers in collectives odd, that way
there are no tied votes.

The Collective
GUIDELINES, MEETINGS,
RULES, AGENDAS, DISCIPLINE

(nee you have farmed a group. it's time to change that group into a
poltical entity, a collective if there are three or more people You can
Seta list of things you collectively agree are pruritic aud make note
Of the things that you can deal with, 1o whatever extent, immediately,
keeping in rind that you will have to work on matters for along period
of time and that, as you expect the collective to grow, you collectively
establish guidelines,
Fer insiance, even though you consst of a relatively small group of
people, you would want the group to be self-eliant and yet responsive
to the issues before you, You will want ly eslablsli ways for members
tocomact each other. A methed of stickng with and following up on
tasks once started. Criteria for recruiting new members, and standards
for dealing with each other, potential friends and cllies, and with

You wil have to set meetings at regular imes to éeal with matters on
your agends, Decide what type of propezanda you may employ, share
information with the group that may result ina collective advantage nd
advance for the struggle, and check in on projects, as well es setting.
aside time for group study and exercise.

‘Meetings should star on ime and end en time and should cover the
rratters on the agenda and updates on work done before moving on to
enteral discussion. They ean be at homes on @ rating basis, in aublis
parks, or at sites where tasks are being performed. Each callective
should get two lbosedeaf notebooks for the gathering of political

‘and economies intelligence, wih dividers between each topic, and
notebook paper with ads,news clippings, and other priteditems as a
storehouse of information to be used in tuture research. That way when
individual members mm across informaton of value. the colective Bets.
the opportunity to review it and gan by its storage. Itis always @ good
‘cea rather than everyone buying the same newspapers to vollestivey
buy them and collecivety choose books and magazines. Particular
imemters pick up particular publicetions at diferent meetings to share



Rules should be within reason but definite. For instance, no member
should be allowed to assault another member and yet continue 10

bbe a member. No member should have drugs or alcohol in is or her
possessior while at @ project site er be under the influence of drugs or
‘alcohol when doing collective tasks or representing the collective. No
member should live off the proceeds of prostitution or sell hard drugs.
‘Agentas are necessery both ir meetings and away from meetings,
sitee they aid the collective in focusing input. At each meeting. an
agenda should be se: and followed At the close of each meeting the
‘agende for the period between tha: meeting and :he next should be set,
and every agenda should have an automatic re-check of tasks assigned
‘or volunteered for from the next.

Dscipline sould be clear in regards to infractions. in relation torules,
for mstance, i stcomes to a collectve's attention that » member sold
heroin or was an informer that member would have to g0. Obviously,
a member who was late at meetings or who nad failed to attempt a
{ask or joinin callective work wouldn't be subject o the same fete
However, ifa member actually missed exoush furctions the collective
‘would rave to proceed asf that member wasnt there and under the
circumstances decide the corrzet way to deel with miror problems. For
instance, when a meriber misses a regular meeting he'she misses the
‘opportunity to vote en whatever issues are before the collective, and
ifthere is no adsanee notice of any particulatly important matter, this
cannot equal to being absent ata collective function where a task has
been decided upon. Since all members are required to keep in touch
ard informed of meetings and collective tasks, the excuse of missing
a task through ignorance by massing a meeting is not valid, There will
‘more than ikely be meetings missed and tasks for different reasons
from tine to time which the collectve will have to pass judgement on.
More than likely some members will drop out and retum from time to
time ifthat & permitted. As sume drop out at only stages you should
be as happy’as you are when you recruit a new member and unless

a member fas committed a serious offense against the collective, or
Fagainsi] the people vile in the collective, they should be considered
‘When a member drops out due to commitment or differences they
may reexarrine their practice ance away from the collective and renew
their efforts once back in.



‘A collective mus: not be a group of vindictive individuals ready to take
sides against anyone for petty reasons At the same time for offences
that fall between being late or absent from @ meeting,
or task and assault, thet, drug possession or sale there sheuld be not
only a collective disciplinary proceeding and a punishment deemed fair
by te rajrity bt an extra task An indnidual undo dscipine should
hheve to write an essay on where his or her aetion or actions were
‘wrong, The reasoning or their motive in she particular matter. Refusal
{o do this shoulé result in expulsion anda serious offenses should
include permanent expulsion 1a collective finds out later that it was
‘wrong. the members who voted for the expuision, which should be

4 matter of record, should write an apology and sefeiticism tothe
individual ir question justas the individual would be expected to write.
Inman cases itmight be a good icea for members of the collective (0
vite an essay before joining as to ther aims and Feelings.



Resources
PEOPLE, TIME, UNUSED SPACE

Starting ou: small and broke, the first objective of a collective is not to
get in debt, either in terms of money or in te-ms of any patrons who
‘ay wish for any reasons to bankroll the organization The desire ta
rent an office when in fact meetings can be held im homes, schools,
parks, vacant lots, and in favorable conditions storefronts that can be
teken over and occupied

‘he task isto organize people through services that the government
(oF comorations cannot perform, if they had the intentions, as well

as the people themselves The task before the collective is to intiate
services ard meintain self-reliance. Propaganda of the deec and mouth
to mouth, 2s well as posters, graffi, letters to the editors, and leaflets,
can accompany but cannot take the place of actual work and actual
corganzing The desire to put out a paper which must be funded by a
broke collective usually without an established system of dstribution

is crazy, and at the beginning s only an expressed view of small
organizations,

A collective treasury should be designed before the details of money
become a question, and by collective what is meant 1s that all funds
brought into it are ccllectve funds, and all funds leaving it do so after
bbeing accounted for collectively. fa bank account is set up then at least
{wo members should have the power to willxiraw funds only when at
least both members are present When funds are not held in banks and
are held in safes, the safes should be in the homes of members who

ddo nat know the combination and should only be attended to by utlers
‘wien a vote has been taken, Wien commercial banks and safes are not
Used, the money raised callectvely should be distributed after meetings
have decided what should he the aim orneeds to be taken care of



kot as unused space in terms of a meetng places a resource, lime is
a resource, Viembers are therefore required to invest time other than
‘meeting-time into the organization, whether employed or unemployed.
Investigation into resuurves should 9¢ made, as well as possible
Services to che community For instance, it may be profitable anc a
‘good means of conducting propaganda to be in a babysittirg se-vice or
to liberte an im-court lot and crarge for purking or to develop a craft
info a fight industry and save the proceeds until a used car of a van can
be bought to begin a gypsy car service.

At the same time, some investigation can be made into the
‘whereabouts of recycling plants Atleast one day a week a collective
‘can converge on a vacant lot, hag alumiram and sieel cans, bottles,
‘nd clear the particular lot of trash. At the same time, spraypainting or
ostering the area with the message you intend to get lo people.

People seeing yeu at work get io wonder who you are and why you
‘are doing, what you are doing. At the saine lime u steady source of
income enters the treasury to be saved until bigger source of eapitel
‘ca be obtained If, for instance, you buy.a used car and start a car
service where members of the collective alternate shifis, the moriey
‘208 back into the treasury and the collective continues the process of
accumulating colective capital,
‘Once the weatker is Favorable you plan: Vietory Gardens in the

vacant lots close to members where they can water them straight

trom the building they ive in, i possible. You invite the community

to help you clear more vacantlots and turn them into gardens. After
investigating what would be wisest and easy 10 grow and as vegetation
Fipens, Youset up stands in areas peuple pass through and sell produce
ala reasonable price; after dividing the produce between people in the
collecive and/or organizing garders for peosle in the eommunity to do
with as they see fit

‘Once you are known and recognized throughout the community and
‘more than enough money is Coming i, tis tme, f you cannot simply
liberate a place, to rent one and buy a press, evenif just a hand crank
model

‘Arrangements should be made to have a public phone instilled, which
will not only be cheaper but discourage hours of sap rap. Then you
‘can start turning out leaflets with a phone number to be contacted

by and an address which should be occupied from noon to at least 8
pm. s0 people can stop in after werk as well a: during the day. This
place should be used for more than a contact and for meesings. A
book exchange can now be intiated, where anyone can bring a book in
and trade it far another book A clothing exchange, likewise, could he:
initiated so.as to not only serve people but tring them in contact with
the organization on the basis of needs.

‘when profitable and no ether use can be made of the rented space,
political movies, decided upon by the collective, and plays should be
staged, Dances, likewise, with no alcoholic beverages sold, on a weekly
basis can be hed, At the same time, periodicals from organizations
Friendly tous, as well as any periodicals thought appropriate to put out
collectively, can be distributed

However at this stage the collective organizational goals include buying,
and teking an entire building tig enough to cover all organizaticnal
functions. But not right away, unless someone donates a building,
knowing that this organization wants things
but never favors, then the regular publishing of a newspaper can be
included,

‘Al the same time this point, or early points, should mark the beginnings
ofrent strike organizing when its clear that ‘here are enough people
to see the entire process through. Everyone who comes in contact with
any of the collectives should be informed a to the woals ard principles
of the collective and “ules of memtershp, if they are potential friends

PART TWO

though this is written n parts ands a suggested agenda, his is not
tosuggest every suggestion in Part One mus! be faken up before
moving {0 the suggestions in Part Two, or that equal or better ways
‘reach people and be sefreiant are not o be Found, Success must
be measured in terms of Fow many people have heen nrganizec

and participate fully m terms of developing and iternaionalizing,

the ideology of the group. Success must also be measured by the
relationship with the community and area residents and the degree of
seffrelance and freedom from counterrevolutionary fluences,

Inorde- for a revolutionary colective or organization to grow into a
evolutionary mass organization certain requirements must de met,
‘wshich incluce:

|The aceeptance of the organization by the people the
‘organization intends to organize into an organization which is on their
side and which places their interest before the interest of any incividual
oF group of individuals. People must accept that the organization is
theirs and intends to address ard does address their needs,

2. People must know that the ergarization is firmly rovted and

not a “fly by night” group. that the principles and programs are sound
‘and that the organization is guided in an intelligent manner


that doesnt allow or tolerate corruption in any form

People must feel that the goals of the organization ean be reached
‘and that the gouls are worthwnile and deserve their perticipation and
support.

Building and Aiding the Building

of Other Collectives
SUGGESTING LINES ALONG

FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER

A collective, besides carrying out is program and proving its program
‘can work, must encourage the formation of other collectives. As new
members are recruited, they must he gven the apportunity t0 join a
collective arocess, whether its one new member or cne thousend,
Having a lst of names ma book doesn organize people oF transform

‘ group of peoale into an organization Having people enter colectives,

participate in study and ciscussion groups, attend meetings, vote
‘on issues, do organizational work snd paricipate in collective tasks,
ir their ideas, and organize other people, transforms people into
revolutionaries and :ransforms groups of people into revolutionary
collectives

New embers should join old collectives ard form new collectives
and be aided both in terms of encouragement and in terms of material
support, For instance, fa collective already formed has tools and
'srrtusing them on a particular day, they could lend therm a vey
formed collective, [in] the case of sticks with nais for picking trash,
any collective would loos for suiteble sticks when cleaning a lot, and
{ts cheaper to buy nails by Ue pound, also, different collectives should
help each other plow plots and harvest and look for other suitable
vacant lots and aress. Food, herbs, or even green grass, cloves, and
andstions look better than trash-illed spaces between buildings. Spray
painting on the walls of abandoned
buldings, fogs, trash bards for debris, for those who would
otherwise litter, painted with the symbol of the organization is constant
Propaganda A knowledge of the planting seasons for different
‘vegetables carries thic on from May until November

‘Special attention should be made fo id squatters who lve in
abandoned tuildings. They should be encouraged and oded to tun
the lots adjacent to their dwellings into Vistory Gandens, because

they have begun ‘o literally take back the land already. Collectives of
squatters may be formed in the heginning of warm weather, equioped
‘with camping gear and bulking skills As squatters are many times
‘unemployed. the vestments of time and ernployment by their own
ceolectives may be the actual material basis of the sunerseding society





‘One of the objectives is to plant So Piany gardens that it becomes
impossible to go through what were before ghost owns (without
seeing them transformed] into areas where the best aspects of city
anc country ining merge. Church groups, clubs, gangs should be
‘encouraged as well to take over plots, as well as coordination for the
Purposes of trade between groups and forming of a “People's Market”
‘where each group and collective can trade and sell their produce and
carry on their own business independently

At the point where there are a number af collectives in» given arsa
attempts should be mede of forming communes. Fst where buildings
are taken over ina given arcu und where buildings are bought. Sold
structures should be investigated for the purposes of establishing foo
co-0ps.

Note of this shoud be deat with as ends unto themselves but as means
to propagancize and organze tke mass movement Propaganda in front
of structures, as well 3s bulletin boards outside and in, should aler all
‘who enter to programs, activities, and mectings of the organzation,



Possible employment outside af organizations for certain members
may be investigated, n the ways of Veterans seeking loans end
‘moneys from the government to buy houses and open businesses and
goverrment programs where houses can be bought fer 2 dolla and
repaired,

These ongoing programs arc td continue year in year out with the goals
‘of revoluticnizing squatters’ urions and organizing regional land banks,
where groups of collectives pool resources to buy large tracts and
connecting tracts of lands in given areas around and away from where
the organization began, and most imporiantly untd neighborhoods are
transformed into commun-commun-e-ties, This # not only t9 initiate
people's control over thei ives and show the power of organization
bbut to demonstrate the logic of socialism and justice and the desirability
‘of revolution

PART THREE

During ths time, alternative energy sources that give independence
from monopoly capil should be carried oul and developed to 2s great
{an extent a3 possible Wood burning stoyes should be built and installed
in buildings taken over by squetters as quickly as possble, and there
shoule be no inhibitions from collecting wood from structures less
habitable

(Offices should set a fund aside for the buying and instaling of windmills
and selar beating equipment, this not only frees the organization

‘of monthly bills, bt demonstrates to a public that no donations are
accepted without a good or service rendered, that the orgenization
takes steps to be independent and cuts overhead so as to be able to
serve more and better.

A building owned and propagated as being owned by a colective or
an organization with visible and independent sources of power and
independence, ia permenent piece of propaganda



‘A clothing exchange is a service that merely calls for the alucation of
space and cadre to deal with the public.A food co-op is clearly an
‘operation existing or the prinaple of buying bulk at the cheapest price
and distributing at the cheapest price a wide range of wholesome
foods, beverages, and herbs. To make a donstion to see a movie, attend
a dance, pley, or reciall of revclutionary content in such a place is to
know that money is going into a revolutionary process.

Every member should have access to wrolesile food and clothing,

and have tasks that include organizing and propagandizing, and,
‘community service. Members not employed elsewhere may opt to join
‘8 manufacturing collective or 6 service collective Tor example, niutiey
‘generated froma gyosy cab service, movies, dances, end open-air
‘markets could be reinvested in collective capital, such as more gypsy
‘cabs, etc

‘Other capital investrrents may include machines and matenal for
clothing production, videotapirz of plays. canning of commune:erenan
foods,ete.

‘The task being to become free of capitalism and to better serve
lumpen protetaran and proletarian people by the cultivatior of
revolutionary ideology through theory and practice ona mass scale.
‘The building of éliernative economic structures along socialist lines and
building the grounds for the two classes to interact in a progressive
manner by nitiating the means for the two cheses to interast along
principled lines and adopting to a degree the role of the revolutionary
profetariat

PART FOUR

By the time an o-ganwzation advances this farin one area certain
[processes should have been iniated in other areas, through members
‘moving to ther area: an¢ initiating collectives but also through
example which a revclutionary organization should be clear in both
setting and explaining, especially with mess level participation. Once

a federntion af collectivesis established in ore areo and progress is
noted, the most progressive elemerts of other


teas should be invited to witness and formuls should be stared as
ths is not a competition. When an o-ganization takes on the practices
and guiding theories of another it becomes the organization. When
‘neighborhood becomes a cormmune, members should ad in buiting a
{ederacion of communes, ust 2s collectives aid in building a federation
of collectives

A Word on Collective Business

Sevings from individual callectves through enterprises that the
‘members a'e engaged in, funds from 2 rotating basis from programs
jointly carried out by collectives, and pooling resources are the

‘means used to generate collective capita. No collective willreceive
‘government funding, except the case of veterans from the US.
armed services demanding their benefits The onganization shoud
‘work with Third world anc antiimperalist veterans’ groups, not ony in
aking them to fight for their rights to benefits buf to form electives
and be a part ofthe federatior. Howeves funds from different
‘government departments will aways have stings attached and tend to
<drecl inerierenve from dhe US. government under the justification of
protecting the American taxpayer. likewsse, money from corporations
‘abo leads to intervertion, aiirg to investigate the resources of a given
collccive and later the federation, ax iweastigations, fishing expeditions
into what is being done with the money. Worst of al, these grants make
the entire organization suspect to those who it serves,

Tre primary purpose of collective business besides building the
infrastructure for a supersedirg society's of course to serve the needs
of people we incend to aid, and in those regards rot be a burden or

a source of competition, except in cases where capitalist businesses
fiuin peop who live outside or inside the community take advantage
Of conditions to exploit the community.

For instance, if there is only one laundromat in the area, which is

‘exploiting the people, a g-0up of collectives may pool resources and
cestablsh another laundromat that may merely come out even.
‘we will encourage people to eat in family-owned and operated
restaurants rather than chain fast-fhod enterprises or =xpensive
restaurants. as well a5 small stores, to pool resources and uy in greater
bulk Wu make their prices cheaper.

‘A: the same time, we will open food co-ops io give people the
‘opportunity to be a part of an uperation that helps then and to be able
{to get foods that are cheaper and of more variety than at estabfshec
locations. We will not open a liquor store and at the same time will
promote buying from community stores if you drink and taking, your
‘wn wines, whiskeys, and beers. We will not open a video o- pinball
parior or otherwise engage in an enterprise whose motives are not
Clearly seen as practical filfillment of needs



Al the same time, some vacant lots may be converted into picnic areas,
flower gardens, playgrounds, small parks for the playing of checkers,
cchess, darts, horseshoes, etc

‘When a cer-ain strength is reached some collectives should ope
daycare Centers, revolutionary cultural centers, and when possible
school.

Every advancement on our part must be seen as an advancement

fon the people's part Rather then taking over communitios we rust
initiate the reorganization of communities; reorganization, because
‘communities are already orgarized, but not tor the purpose of
bettering the condition of the inhabtants or for thait lberaton Our task
is to revolutionize and neutralize all we come in contact with





Organizing Block Associations
and People’s Militias

Block associations are very important, and when members of
ecllectives Ive ir blocks that already have block associations, they
‘should join, and collectives should take care to consider block.

x meetings when scheduling collective and commune


‘meetings, so that members can attend both;

tthe same time collectives should help to organize block essociations
whenever they conduct rent strikes or imtiate Vietory Gardens or any
type of mass werk ina given area. If there is already a block association
where a rent strite is being organized, tenants should be encouraged
{ojoin in rather than set up a rival association, as well as when a Victory
Garden is being nitiaced.

Candicates for recruitment into collectives should be esked to join ard
be fariiarized with the programs and rules: This keeps the organization
‘on ground level a touch with people who are familiar with what the
‘organization is doing and “wakes a lot of work easier.

For instance, landlords often count on people not showing up for court
and fing forms to contest evetions or conditions, anda particular
tarant may indeed beve to: work or be al the hosptol or otherwite
be indsposed on a particular day. tn that case an organizer who may
represent people in court may have to get arother tenant instead of
the particular tenant 1 file a form, atthe same time, 2s many tenants
‘may have the same date in court from the same building, and many
‘F these people may have to work they may be replaced by people’
from other builéings who may need the same type of standing at a
court date for arent strike they are involved in. Ths is easier to arrange
‘when an organizer can simply walk to the next bulding und talk
‘another tenant. This way no court days are forfeited, and landlords are
contested every inch ofthe way. The more delay tacties are used the
rwore money is withheld by the tenants,

ach time the landlord canceces the power, the tenan’s’ urion grows;
each time a landlordis forced to give up a building and the organized
tenants take it over cirecty, this should be noted and “celebrated.” As
the “city” the landlord in many cases, actions should be sustained in
an effort ta force the city to give in. When through a crooked court
landlord receives a raling in his favor, an organization fully prepared to
‘make court dates should
ropagandize the struggle anc appeal to civil court eeving the landlord
‘0 pay two sets of lawyers, the lower and higher eourt, while organizers
‘ain other tenants tc be orgarizers and target other buildings of the
seme landlord with enough vielations to initiate rent stakes and court
actions,

With colleccive members involved in tenant uniows an block
associations consolicating mass power within the community, knowing.
that these organizers do in fact have organizational backup, former
{asks that sil have to he carried out become easiar and advance
becorres possible.

Collecives have a responsibility to protect patros whn come to
dances, movies, and other organizational functions. From time to
time members will volunteer lo serve as security 10 prevent assaults,
stop alcohol and drugs from entering premises, searck out electronic
‘eavesdropping devices, etc. Those found to he salisfactory should be
‘encouraged fo be militia end perhaps rearesent the Pevple’s Miltia
‘while dealing with security

Inthe same view, members of collectives who have fo-med people's
cer services and have shown themselves to be of the taits of
™ilitiamen/women should be harmonized with each other, as well as
those living in the neighborhood Their cars and radios give them the
‘means to report enemy and criminal movernents and transport militie
{0 given areas quickly,

Aninteligence network can be established and a Peopk’s Militia with
members being known for ther political practice over a petiod of time.

Neighborh
(ENDS HERE, DOCUMENT UNFINISHED BY
AUTHOR)


“Where do we go from
Here?” is first and foremost
a strategy for building
collectives from the

material basis of will. It is
an attempt to point out a
path of tl ing and action
that leads from one stage to
another or one position to
another, by cultivating the
collective process within
any small determined group
of three or more people

and making the best use of
time, space, and whatever
specific available resources
to influence others to join
the process, contribute,

e a measure

of control consistent
with their participation
tely. The basis of
this process is agreement,
and since collectives are
guided by popular one
Person, one vote, the
strategy is an anarchist
strategy and this work is
an anarchist organizing

E14 manual.
DISTRO