The spokes council is called for the following week at the union hall. The hall was built over half a century ago to be used as an organizing space, and over the years it has allowed activists to plan numerous events, marches, and social justice campaigns. From the civil liberties and ban the bomb marches of the 1960s to anti-WTO rallies in the early 2000s the union hall has always acted as a central organizing hub for people who see injustice in the world and want to do something about it. It was a good choice to hold the meeting in such a historic location as it provides everyone in attendance with the opportunity to be inspired by past victories, to learn the lessons from past defeats, and to reflect on the history of the movement while we plan its future.
The hall itself contains numerous offices and one large conference room that can accommodate hundreds of people. It is almost halfway full, which is impressive when you think that each person represents an affinity group of a dozen people or more. It’s loud inside the hall. The sound of a hundred different conversations all blend together like water over pebbles into a great droning river of conversation. Accordingly, there are a half dozen microphones placed throughout the hall so that people can address the crowd without losing their voice. With a low hum and a faint squeal of feedback, the chair powers up the PA and the meeting begins.
“Hello everybody, welcome. It’s good to see so many people here today. Before we get started here I think we should acknowledge the fact that the land we are on was taken by fraud and by force from the indigenous peoples who lived here for hundreds of years without claiming ownership of it. Now, within a few short decades, there are multinational corporations that claim to own this land. Their claim of ownership is only validated through a system that was imposed on indigenous people by European settlers. Many of the comforts that we are accustomed to come at the expense of other peoples sovereignty. So let’s try and keep that in mind as we hold our discussion today.”
A spokes council is a place where representatives, or spokespersons, from various affinity groups gather to discuss strategy. For security reasons, representatives will often refrain from mentioning specific plans beyond generalities such as: there will be an action on said day and the action will follow the principles of non-violent civil disobedience (NVCD). The purpose is to co-ordinate actions so that they can be more effective and to promote co-operation between affinity groups. This being said, decisions at the spokes council are recommendations more than they are binding agreements. Adherence is voluntary since, at the end of the day, all affinity groups are autonomous and will follow their own conscience anyway. The spokes council can no more enforce decisions than it can compel groups to attend. Nonetheless, it is a useful mechanism for creating voluntary, non-coercive, and mutually beneficial agreements between groups that would otherwise act alone.
“Are there any proposals from the floor for topics we should add to our agenda today?” asks the chair over the PA.
There is a volunteer at each microphone that manages the line of people who wish to speak. The chair acknowledges which mic has the floor.
“Are we going to pick a specific date for the day of action so that we can all co-ordinate together, or should we leave it to the affinity groups to make their own schedule?”
Before the chair can respond or add anything else to the agenda another person steps up to the mic to debate this topic.
“Given how everybody has their own work and personal obligations, I think it would be prudent for each group to decide for themselves when to plan their action within a week of a police raid on the blockade.”
A strange thing happens next. All over the hall people raise their hands to about eye level and wiggle their fingers like you were at a giant beat poetry event.
“What’s going on?” you ask with a little chuckle.
“It’s called twinkling,” says the person sitting next to you.
“Twinkling?” You laugh even harder.
“Yeah, it is a bit ridiculous, I know. But since spokes council decisions are non-binding, there’s no need for consensus or even voting. However it is useful to get a rough idea of how many people agree with what’s being said. Twinkling is how you show your support for an idea without having to vocalize it.”
You smile. It may be silly but it does get the point across. In no time at all the chair has moved on.
“Seems like we can pretty much agree on that. Is there anything else people would like to talk about?”
There is a lineup at each mic, so the chair simply picks one that hasn’t had a turn yet.
“Thank you,” the speaker pauses to collect themselves, it’s obvious that they speak with a stutter. “I propose that all affinity groups refrain from using violence during their action. We oppose the violence in the system. It would be hypocritical for us to use violence to achieve our goals.”
“Does anyone care to respond to that?” asks the chair.
Another speaker steps forward and raises their hand in a clenched fist.
“That’s Bullshit!” they exclaim, pointing an accusational finger. “What you’re saying only supports the hierarchy. When violence comes from the top down it’s to be expected, but when it comes from the bottom up we can’t accept it? If you’re opposed to militant tactics, don’t use them. But don’t tell others what they can and can’t do. We’ve got enough cops as it is!”
“May I respond to that?” asks the speaker with a stutter. “The police are going to react as though we are all one unified group. If you escalate the level of confrontation, that will have an effect on every other group whether they’re peaceful or not. By using violence you are jeopardizing other peoples’ safety who don’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Let’s take a look at who’s being violent. If the police have raided the blockade, they have already chosen to be the aggressors. If the police use violence on peaceful protesters, shame on the police, no shame on the protesters who choose to defend themselves.”
“Could we hear another voice on this topic?” asks the chair. “You on mic three, go ahead.”
“I agree with the first speaker. If we use violence we run the risk of alienating people who may otherwise take our side. We need public support and we won’t get that by threatening people.”
“Does anyone else care to speak to that?” the chair asks.
“I sure do. Can I ask you what your definition of violence is?” The speaker is angry, trembling as if triggered by this discussion. Perhaps their argument is informed by personal experience with the police. “Is it having your homeland invaded by foreign corporations and gun toting pigs? Because that is exactly what is happening to our indigenous comrades. Let’s bring the war home folks, and let people know what it feels like to live in occupied territories.”
The whole hall is in an uproar. This conversation has really struck a nerve with people. Many have had firsthand personal experience with violence and have strong opinions on the subject. It looks like the whole meeting is about to break up when the chair steps in and restores order.
“May I remind everybody that we are only here today to try and discover ways we may help each other. If we can’t do that, nobody is going to force anybody to do something they don’t want to do. Ideally we can find a way to work together, but it is all voluntary. Spokes council recognizes the autonomy of all affinity groups and respects a diversity of tactics.
So far we have discussed possible responses to a police raid that will hopefully never happen. Does anyone have any ideas or actions we could do before a police raid?”
Another speaker approaches the microphone with a bounce in their step and takes the floor.
“My name is Sunny. I’m from Beat the System collective. We invite all affinity groups to participate in a march of solidarity with Indigenous land defenders. By participating in this march you will be making a public display of your commitment to carry out further direct action. We want to send a message to our comrades on the front lines that they are not alone. And let the authorities know who they’ll be messing with if they even think about taking down that barricade!”
It’s hard to imagine a more polarized response from the last conversation. The hall is in an uproar again, but this time with enthusiasm. It’s good to see the spokes council bringing people together by allowing us to see what we all have in common, rather than exposing the differences that keep us apart.
Original photo by: kevgillan