Anarchism in Wyoming
From Infoshop OpenWiki
The popular slogan "We Are Everywhere" rings true when even in the most sparsely populated state there has at times been visible anarchist activity. The stories of resistance to hierarchy sometimes take on a less spectacular tone in Wyoming but nonetheless remain important in understanding our movement and acknowledging that even in relatively isolated, conservative places we do exist.
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[edit] Radical Environmental Movement
Some of the more visible activity to take place in Wyoming has been the work of Earth First!ers. In fact, two of the original founders of the group, Bart Koehler and Howie Wolke left their Wyoming environmental non-profit jobs in frustration in turn inspiring them to create a radical alternative.
Much of the new group's activity in fact took place in northwest Wyoming. The first rendezvous was held in the Absaroka Mountains, and the third took place at Little Granite Creek southeast of Hoback Junction. Edward Abbey, attended that gathering, which helped rally support against oil and gas exploration in the Gros Ventre Range.
In 1986, three of the five founders Mike Roselle, Dave Forman and Howie Wolke, were sentenced to six months in Sublette County Jail in Pinedale, Wyoming, for "de-surveying" a road that Chevron was about to bulldoze into the Grayback Ridge roadless area. While in jail, the road was re-de-surveyed by a group going by the name of "Barmaids for Howie." [1]
In 1998 radical environmental action returned to Wyoming. In June of that year activists were blamed for snipping 260 sections of barbed-wire fence the Wyoming Stock Growers Association was meeting in protest of the widespread cattle grazing on public lands. [2]
On October 10, 1998 Earth First!'s slightly more militant counterpart Earth Liberation Front took credite for an action in Rock Springs, WY. The locks were cut off horse pens at a BLM corral, freeing about 40-100 wild horses. Failed incendiaries are found next to a pickup truck and a building. The ELF and the ALF took joint responsibility for the action. [3]
In July 2001, Earth First! returned twenty years later to hold a Rendezvous in Bridger-Teton National Forest, 20 miles northeast of Alpine, WY. While mainstream media whipped up hysteria of thousands descending upon the area, 400 to 500 people passed through by the end of the gathering.
On July 16, 2001 40 protesters took over the BLM office in Pinedale, Wyoming. The front doors to the office were locked shut by two women who used bike locks to secure their necks to the door handles. A third person locked to a structure in the center of the office. The BLM employees tried to ignore us; but thanks to a few talkative folks, musicians and guerrillas, the staff was unable to concentrate on their work. The local cops were present along with reporters who stated that they had never covered a story like this before. This small Wyoming town was caught off guard by the convergence on the office.
After about three hours of hell-raising and discussions, the field manager and activists reached common ground-an arrangement that allowed the EF!ers to walk free of charges, and the BLM read and signed a statement drawn up that stated: "We agree that the long-term environmental health is more important than economic gains. We agree that development of environmentally sensitive energy sources is a priority, and we are willing to work together toward these goals." Symbolism and lip service notwithstanding, we got the BLM employees to step beyond rhetoric so commonly exported by people in government. [4]
[edit] Wyoming Anarchists Insurrectionists and Lovers (W.A.I.L.)
In January 2002, several anarchists and radicals organized the Wyoming Anarchists Insurrectionists and Lovers (W.A.I.L.). The collective organized in hopes of starting an infoshop, spreading anarchist ideas to the area as well as have a radical presence at events and within activist movements. They ended up forming a book club to critically read and discuss the book Days of War, Nights of Love published by the Crimethinc collective. Eventually, WAIL developed into the Laramie Food Not Bombs Chapter.
[edit] Anti-Racist Action Protests World Church of the Creator
IN 2003, anarchists in Wyoming helped coordinate a contingent of Denver ARA members and other radicals to support and participate in a march led by students from the local Native American high school to protest the World Church of the Creator, a white-supremacist group working under the auspices of a church led by racist Matt Hale. The WCOTC planned to move its headquarters from Illinois to Riverton, WY a town located within the borders of the Wind River Reservation.
Church leaders, students and community members marched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to express their disgust with the WTOCT attempted move to the town as well as a celebration of the town's multicultural identity.
[edit] Womyn's Group
Two anarchist womyn formed a womyn's group in 2003. The collective was made up of a diverse group of women, everything from a conservative republican to radical anarchists. Despite running the gamut of political beliefs, the group successfully created a safe space where womyn were able to confront issues such as body image, womyn's health, and other issues related to patriarchy. The group served mostly as a support group but did participate in activities such as pad making, film nights and study sessions.
[edit] Laramie Food Not Bombs
Laramie Food Not Bombs came together on May Day 2002, making it the first known Food Not Bombs chapter in the state of Wyoming. In its first years the group held weekly servings [5] and engaged in small yet meaningful campaigns in the community such as petitioning to get a public restroom in Depot Park.
On September 27th 2002, the group also held a "people's buffet" with other peace groups to protest a fundraising dinner attended by Dick Cheney. Over 100 people gathered to protest Cheney, a strong presence in a typically quiet small town. [6]
In 2003, the group worked with the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless to put on the annual Wyoming Memorial Day in Cheyenne. The event is held to honor the homeless who have died in the streets and to those still living without shelter. FNB served food and coffee at the event.
A year later in 2004 Laramie FNB hosted a May Day celebration with egg games, bike parade arts and crafts and other fesitivities.
For various reasons the group dissolved for some time. The group then regrouped exactly three years later, again on May Day. They returned to holding regular picnics at a public park as well as redistributing food from the local co-op to a food pantry for low-income folks.
Like the old group, the new members also engaged in political activism- they helped organize the Caravan to Cuba stop in Laramie where an independent media workshop was held as well as a free dinner and presentation by activists working to break the blockade of Cuba. [7] The caravan consists of several biodiesel buses driving across Canada and the United States raising awareness of the blockade as well as collecting aid that is currently banned by US sanctions. They then cross the border illegally and deliver the materials to those in need on the island.
Soon after the Caravan to Cuba, FNB participated in a similar effort- Wheels of Justice (http://justicewheels.org/). Food Not Bombs played a more supportive role, helping with promotion and providing snacks for the event. The night featured talks by a Palestinian man, a female officer recently returned from Iraq and a lively exchange during the question and answer session between Zionists and the presenters.
Recently Laramie FNB helped organize a Rocky Mountain Caravan of aid for Katrina and Rita victims with FNB chapters from Colorado. This was just a small part of a much broader mobilization from FNB groups around the country.
[edit] Anarchist Parenting
From 2002 to 2006, many of the resident anarchists were raising children. They came together on an ad-hoc basis to share skills, support one another and create a community young, free kids. As well as working with one another, anarchist parents also participated in community-wide parenting issues such as the construction of the local community recreation center and a breast-feeding awareness march. Parents were also involved in the general anarchist parenting movement by writing and contributing to zines such as I Used to Be an Anarchist Traveller, But Now I Just Feed Them and Rad Dad.
[edit] Anarchist Social Retreat
In the summer of 2005 the Anarchist Social Retreat was held in Del Norte, CO. Much of the event was organized by anarchists in Wyoming. The goal was to encourage networking in a laid-back, kid-friendly environment. The event began well with bands, food, games, and hanging out. Unfortunately, the event turned ugly when controversy arose between organizers about agreed upon rules regarding alcohol and maintaining a safe space. Attendees were not able to fully recover from the drama and most left early.
[edit] The Rockymountain Resister
Despite the dissapointment of ASR, anarchists in Laramie still sought to facilitate more dialogue and organizing in the region. That desire materialized in the Rockymountain Resister collective. The group was able to put out a paper issue featuring articles from people in Wyoming and Colorado. They also put together a website which features news, opinion and announcements from radicals in the Rockymountain region.
[edit] May Day 2006
On May 1st, 2006 Laramie saw one of its largest political demonstrations. Over 200 students from the high school and middle school walked out of class, taking to the streets alongside over 100 community members to denounce the anti-immigrant bills being propose in Congress, particularly HR 4437. The event was organized primarily by the youth and immigrant community though local anarchists did offer support for the event. One activist was invited to speak at the high school rally and talked about the origins of May Day, Anarchism and the Haymarket Martyrs and their relevance to struggles today. Another activist served as media outreach and was able to bring in several newspapers and tv crews to cover the event.
All in all the event was very positive. The march had a great amount of energy, the youth led an unpermitted march through the streets and the day culminated with a very engaging teach-in.
[edit] The Future
Almost all the anarchists who were once involved in activity in Wyoming have moved away and the remaining few plan to move soon as well. The future of radical, liberatory activity in the state is quite uncertain but as is true everywhere, where there is oppression there is resistance. While the actions of anarchists in the state have certainly been small in comparison to lareger anarchist hubs, in a historically conservative state of only 500,000 the little activity done by radicals in the area has still contributed to the political landscape even if in subtle ways.
