Other Group

CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective

Website:

crimethinc.com/

Type:

Anarchist Network

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CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective is a U.S.-based decentralized collective of anarchist activists that claims to be opposed to the existence of governments, capitalism, and authority structures. While lacking a centralized authority, group members anonymously produce and distribute literature while hosting podcasts and conferences. 1

CrimethInc has been accused of promoting violence at its gatherings, with several having been dispersed by police. In the past, CrimethInc’ website has claimed, “we have to make these decisions for ourselves, using whatever power is at our disposal to maximize the freedom and wellbeing of all who share this world.”  2 3

Ideology

The CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective describes itself as a “think tank” dedicated to the propagation of “crimethink,” a concept it claims is a rebellion against the “structures or order of society.” The group has characterized “crimethink” as “the “persistent sense that things could be otherwise, that there is nothing natural or inevitable about the prevailing social order.” 4

In an FAQ from 2016, CrimethInc argued for the complete dismantling of governments as a concept, claiming the, “existence of government and other hierarchies does not protect us; it enables those of ill intent to do more damage than they could otherwise.” 5 In their place, the group further advocates for the establishment of mutual aid groups, claiming that, “if we were powerful enough to overthrow one government, we would be powerful enough to prevent the ascendance of another…[w]hat should take the place of the government is not another formalized power structure, but cooperative relationships that can meet our needs while keeping new would-be rulers at bay.” 6

According to its website, CrimethInc appears to oppose political concepts and societal institutions from both the right and left including national borders, capitalism, the police, prisons, democracy, white supremacy, and anti-suicide laws. 7

The CrimethInc website advocates against the usage of certain concepts such as “intersectionality,” with it linking to editorials that claim, “traditional conceptions of intersectionality do a dis-service to liberatory processes and struggle.” 8

According to its 2016 FAQ, CrimethInc claims to question the idea of society denouncing violence as “illegal force.” The site further states that, “rather than letting the laws determine what forms of action are legitimate, we have to make these decisions for ourselves, using whatever power is at our disposal to maximize the freedom and wellbeing of all who share this world.”  9

Criticism

A 2006 essay published by an anonymous anarchist criticized CrimethInc for its lack of organization, characterizing the group as a “sub-cultural cult… who mix anarchism with bohemian drop-out lifestyles and vague anti-civilisation [sic] sentiment would have you believe that capitalism is something from which you can merely remove yourself by quitting work, eating from bins and doing whatever ‘feels good.’” 10

Activities

As “a decentralized network pledged to anonymous collective action,” the CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective operates to network anarchist individuals and group rather than a centralized structure. The CrimethInc website provides articles, books, and podcasts commenting on anarchist philosophy and current events. 11 For example, one article on the website claimed former President Donald Trump was a “white supremacist” not  a “fascist.” with the author concluding the latter. Its article authors are always anonymous. 12

CrimethInc writers occasionally post news stories concerning anarchist-aligned events, such as a “Mass Fare Evasion” protest in the New York City subway in September 2024 to protest the police shooting of a knife-wielding man in the subway. 13 14

During a member conference in 2007, which the group calls “convergences,” that took place in Athens, Ohio, police were eventually called to disperse the crowd after attendees barricaded a street, “chanted, climbed light poles, banged on objects and fire danced.” 15

In 2015, CrimethInc launched the “To Change Everything US Tour” in which members organized two-month panels in U.S cities to discuss political upheaval around the world. 16

According to its website, members of CrimethInc-connected networks have previously toured with “punk rock bands” and handed out anarchist literature at music events. 17

The CrimethInc website has an online shop that sells anarchist-themed merchandise such as posters. 18

Twitter Ban

In November 2022, the Twitter (later rebranded “X”) account of the CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective was banned following public accusations from journalist Andy Ngo that CrimethInc was “making propaganda & training material to radicalize militants toward violence.” 19

CrimethInc responded to the ban with a statement in The Intercept claiming that it had received an email from Twitter after the ban claiming the content being reported was, “not subject to removal under the Twitter Rules” despite the ban. 20 The story continued by claiming, “[Elon] Musk’s goal in acquiring Twitter had nothing to do with ‘free speech’ — it was a partisan move to silence opposition, paving the way for fascist violence.” 21

References

  1. “About CrimethInc.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/about.
  2. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  3. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  4. “About CrimethInc.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/about.
  5. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  6. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  7. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  8. libcom. “Insurrections at the intersections: feminism, intersectionality and anarchism – Abbey Volcano and J Rogue.” LibCom, April 11, 2013. https://libcom.org/article/insurrections-intersections-feminism-intersectionality-and-anarchism-abbey-volcano-and-j
  9. “The Secret is to Begin.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/09/28/feature-the-secret-is-to-begin-getting-started-further-resources-frequently-asked-questions#faq.
  10. “Rethinking Crimethinc.” The Anarchist Library. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/w-rethinking-crimethinc?v=1633960421.
  11. “Homepage.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/.
  12. “Does Trump Represent Fascism or White Supremacy?” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2016/12/13/feature-does-trump-represent-fascism-or-white-supremacy.
  13. ““Live Free, Ride Free, Fuck NYPD”.” CrimethInc. September 23, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2024/09/23/live-free-ride-free-fuck-nypd-a-report-from-a-mass-fare-evasion-in-new-york-city.
  14. Moshtaghian, Artemis. “Protests Erupt after NYPD Shooting of Man Armed with Knife That Also Injured 2 Bystanders.” CNN, September 22, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/21/us/nypd-brooklyn-subway-shooting/index.html.
  15. “Athens, Ohio: Police attack Crimethinc conference.” InfoShop News. July 30, 2007. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20110523102836/http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2007073009151431.
  16. “To Change Everything US Tour.” CrimethInc. June 15, 2015. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://crimethinc.com/2015/06/15/to-change-everything-us-tour.
  17. Patterson, Jesse. “Punk show rocks Student Union.” The Daily Campus. October 8, 2022. Updated January 18, 2010. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://archive.ph/20110708221434/http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2002/10/08/Focus/Punk-Show.Rocks.Student.Union-292057.shtml#selection-865.0-865.29.
  18. “Store.” CrimethInc. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://store.crimethinc.com/.
  19. Diamond, Jonny. “Elon Musk listens to professional troll Andy Ngo and bans anarchist publisher from Twitter.” Literary Hub. December 1, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://lithub.com/elon-musk-listens-to-professional-troll-andy-ngo-and-bans-anarchist-publisher-from-twitter/.
  20. Diamond, Jonny. “Elon Musk listens to professional troll Andy Ngo and bans anarchist publisher from Twitter.” Literary Hub. December 1, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://lithub.com/elon-musk-listens-to-professional-troll-andy-ngo-and-bans-anarchist-publisher-from-twitter/.
  21. Diamond, Jonny. “Elon Musk listens to professional troll Andy Ngo and bans anarchist publisher from Twitter.” Literary Hub. December 1, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://lithub.com/elon-musk-listens-to-professional-troll-andy-ngo-and-bans-anarchist-publisher-from-twitter/.
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