Century Films Mark Kennedy Documentary
ABC Annares | 04.04.2011 21:03 | Climate Chaos | Other Press | Repression | World
This is an attempt at a polite request about infiltrators and the media.
Please do not talk to the media any more about PC Mark Kennedy, PC “Marco Jacobs” and PC “Lyn Watson”.
Please do not talk to the media any more about PC Mark Kennedy, PC “Marco Jacobs” and PC “Lyn Watson”.
It has come to the attention of the entity known as ABC Annares that a documentary company, Century Films, is contacting a number of people through their personal emails asking for comments for an upcoming documentary to be made about PC Mark Kennedy. We think that they may have been given these addresses by the ex policeman himself.
During the Guardian and Newsnight created hype earlier this year. ABC Annares decided to start compiling a list of the movements of the 3 known infiltrators. We undertook this task not because we wished to create a time line for the purposes of “building a story” ,we did this because we were aware that we have a debt of honour to our comrades world wide. ABC Annares joins the vast majority of people affected by the 3 known infiltrators who sees solidarity as overriding a need to talk to the press. We would like to highlight the clear statements made by Saving Iceland, ABC Berlin , Cardiff Anarchist Network and the more recent joint international statement as ways of communicating a point without prostituting oneself.
To those of you who are thinking of talking to the media further, ask yourselves this. Can you actually think of some way in which your campaigns can possibly be advanced by talking to the media at this time?
Kennedy has teamed up with “PR Guru” Max Clifford. Just as two wrongs don't make a right two liars does not make the truth.
Do you think that Kennedy should profit further out of the career he made off our backs?
The three cops have caused pain and suffering that still continues. There are those who have been to prison because of these scum and there are those who may still. Do not further your own career on their backs!
And let us be clear we are not surprised that we have been infiltrated by Britain's political police. Why? Because the state is our enemy. Those of you “climate activists” who fail to see that you are just a small part of a wider movement as opposed to “The Movement” should remember that all of these police were involved in other “issues” and for the most part were almost entirely focused on the activity of those of us who are proud to stand by the label Anarchist.
And those of you who do not hold this label consider this....
If these (and the RTS and GR) infiltrations have taught us anything it is that if we centralise, the police will infiltrate the centre. Without a centre only the edge can fall victim. Anarchism is both a practical organising method as well as an ideology.
There is not a clique somewhere that has a better line in media communication than you and you do not understand the media better that the rest of us.
We are asking you to not talk to the media about this any more because you have nothing to gain and a lot to loose from further feeding them.
There are many people who have been emotionally scarred by these cops actions. They will continue to be scarred whilst the media bonfire continues. This media fire that Kennedy wishes to stoke needs oxygen. Do not feed the fire, starve him of oxygen.
During the Guardian and Newsnight created hype earlier this year. ABC Annares decided to start compiling a list of the movements of the 3 known infiltrators. We undertook this task not because we wished to create a time line for the purposes of “building a story” ,we did this because we were aware that we have a debt of honour to our comrades world wide. ABC Annares joins the vast majority of people affected by the 3 known infiltrators who sees solidarity as overriding a need to talk to the press. We would like to highlight the clear statements made by Saving Iceland, ABC Berlin , Cardiff Anarchist Network and the more recent joint international statement as ways of communicating a point without prostituting oneself.
To those of you who are thinking of talking to the media further, ask yourselves this. Can you actually think of some way in which your campaigns can possibly be advanced by talking to the media at this time?
Kennedy has teamed up with “PR Guru” Max Clifford. Just as two wrongs don't make a right two liars does not make the truth.
Do you think that Kennedy should profit further out of the career he made off our backs?
The three cops have caused pain and suffering that still continues. There are those who have been to prison because of these scum and there are those who may still. Do not further your own career on their backs!
And let us be clear we are not surprised that we have been infiltrated by Britain's political police. Why? Because the state is our enemy. Those of you “climate activists” who fail to see that you are just a small part of a wider movement as opposed to “The Movement” should remember that all of these police were involved in other “issues” and for the most part were almost entirely focused on the activity of those of us who are proud to stand by the label Anarchist.
And those of you who do not hold this label consider this....
If these (and the RTS and GR) infiltrations have taught us anything it is that if we centralise, the police will infiltrate the centre. Without a centre only the edge can fall victim. Anarchism is both a practical organising method as well as an ideology.
There is not a clique somewhere that has a better line in media communication than you and you do not understand the media better that the rest of us.
We are asking you to not talk to the media about this any more because you have nothing to gain and a lot to loose from further feeding them.
There are many people who have been emotionally scarred by these cops actions. They will continue to be scarred whilst the media bonfire continues. This media fire that Kennedy wishes to stoke needs oxygen. Do not feed the fire, starve him of oxygen.
ABC Annares
Comments
Hide the following 36 comments
2 more things
04.04.2011 21:53
2.If we discover that the email addresses were given to Century films by someone other than Mark Kennedy, then Mark Kennedy will not be alone in having to watch their back.
ABC Annares
Contacted
04.04.2011 22:41
Anarchist
By any means necessary
04.04.2011 22:55
I agree that the political consequences of these "infiltrations" are dealt with by those that are involved. Don't forget that WE may not be surprised by the actions of the state but those that have little or no dealing with antagonistic and confrontation anti-state politics WILL be surprised and that is the reason for "liberal" engagements that happened.
anarchist
Attn "anarchist"
04.04.2011 23:07
Fuck off!
anarchist
04.04.2011 23:25
Black Flag
Good statement
04.04.2011 23:42
@
@ @
05.04.2011 08:49
The name ABC Annares was chosen at the height of the media whirlwind as a name we would use to try and focus minds on compiling public information about the infiltrators rather than commenting on what was happening in the “mainstream press”. It was chosen to highlight the historic support role that ABC groups have performed for the last 100 or so years. We are not a “real” ABC group we are a “virtual” ABC though we support our “real” world cousins completely. Annares is the name of a fictional Anarchist world, so as we were not “real” we decided to use the name of a fictional place. As we were attempting to compile a full story of the infiltrators we realised that the press would be very interested in our “access”. As you may gather from our statement above we are not interested in being contacted by the press.
But seriously now
If you think you might be on lists etc. That might have people who been contacted by Century Films please point them at this statement (or write your own) we are trying to be as polite as possible to those who might talk to the Kennedy/Clifford team but are aware that they may not read Indy regularly and are very likely to move in slightly different circles to ourselves. So if you have some media loving “friends” please engage them and ask them to stop.
Incidentally we are only asking people to stop talking to the media about Kennedy (or any of the other infiltrators) we are not entering into either a debate about media policy in general or picking over the coals of what happened earlier in the year.
ABC Annares
To 'anarchist'
05.04.2011 09:01
Black Bloc
@ anarchist (little a)
05.04.2011 09:18
What do you stand to gain from talking to the press other than fame?
ABC Annares
ABC Anarres
05.04.2011 09:19
@
Recalim the streets infilrator
05.04.2011 09:21
ivor-had-enough .com
pity about the pompous idealogical rants
05.04.2011 11:50
But I also don't support you shoving all climate activists and careerist media lovies together, as if all are the same.
Oh, if you're still wondering about Anarres, it's out of an Ursula Le Guin book called The Dispossessed. Read it.
That said, I do repeat your conclusion - Do not feed the fire, starve him of oxygen.
@ and climate activist
MK and media-scum - parasites
05.04.2011 12:11
Approaching from London Bridge underground
Take the Borough High Street WEST exit, coming out in front of the NatWest bank. Turn right and walk straight down Stoney Street until you come to the end, then take a left onto Clink Street. Clink Street Studios entrance is just past the left-hand corner of Clink Street and before you go past the Clink Museum.
Approaching from Southwark Bridge along the south side of the River Thames
Turn right past The Anchor pub and then immediately left to get onto Clink Street. Go under the railway bridge, and, once you’ve come out from under the bridge, you’ll see the entrance to Clink Street Studios on your right.
Century Films
Studio 32
Clink Street Studios
1 Clink Street
London SE1 9DG
E-mail:
Phone: +44 (0)20 7378 6106
Fax: +44 (0)20 7407 6711
To be added to our distribution list and be notified by email of all Century transmissions, send an email to:
Century Films London details
Thanks for the intelligent debate
05.04.2011 12:28
anarchist
"anarchist"
05.04.2011 15:08
Fuck Off!
Hope this helps clarify
05.04.2011 15:33
We apologise if the original post seemed pompous. The metaphysical entity that is ABC Annares is also both anarchist and climate activists. If you can think of a different approach to encouraging people to blank the Kennedy/Clifford extravaganza then please please do it.
We have not actively omitted any group of people we are not trying to analyse the past (well not that much anyway).
The reason why we said the “proud to stand by Anarchism” comment is because we believe that, as Kennedy implies in Guardian Weekend, he is trying to exploit the good protester bad protester perception. He highlights how good some aspects of climate activism are (which he of course didn't want to disrupt) and he was just there to catch the baddies. (I.E the A's)
If there is some truth in this then it was us (the A's) who were being targeted. So people who do not identify as A's may wish to take a deep breath before talking to the media about how “their” movement was infiltrated. Watson was the accountant at Leeds' Autonomous social centre, Jacobs was mainly involved with Cardiff Anarchist network and Kennedy was even on the German payroll to infiltrate Berlin ABC and AntiFA. All three of them initially infiltrated Dissent! Jacobs and Kennedy were active in Dissent! meetings throughout europe up until 2009.
The point were trying to make is that non (A) Climate Activists need to be aware that they are not alone in being affected by the infiltrations but to date have been almost alone in talking to the press about it. They certainly cannot speak for the vast majority of people affected who are staying silent. (fuck never thought we would be in a “silent majority”!)
We may be making assumptions but we suspect that non (A)climate activists are the people most likely to talk about this (as they are already in CiF pieces) we are actually trying to appeal to them.
We know the talking to date has only been by a tiny minority.
That said we are aware than in the case of Jacobs and Watson the Guardian provided the final confirmation so proved useful. We are also aware than some of the leaks regarding Kennedy came from the CPS of all places. We are not irrationally trying to promote an anti media agenda.
We are trying to convince people that there is no good that can come from talking to Century Films.
Irrespective of what has happened in the past.
@anarchist (small a)
If you are the same poster who posted near the beginning you are not having a “great debate”
Other than mis-quoting Malcolm x and introducing the word “liberal“ in the context of your own position you haven't said anything at all!
We challenge you or anyone else to say on here what they feel they might achieve by talking to Century Films.
ABC Annares
To Mr Off
05.04.2011 18:03
anarchist
@ABC Annarres
05.04.2011 18:40
What I do object to is vague threats by unknown people on the internet.
Anyway, I'm done with this little "debate".
anarchist
Debate
05.04.2011 18:57
Like many other people though I'm thoroughly sick and tired of the random non constructive abuse that gets slung about on here, especially with regards to this issue. I'm not surprised people won't put forward a point of view as it turns so nasty here so quickly. Reading the 'debate' on here around the infiltration issue has made me wish the newswire would close. I think sometimes it does more harm than good.
Sick and tired
time to be a bit smarter?
05.04.2011 19:20
Publicising the actual documentary company gives free advertising, to exactly the community they want. Now maybe some fame-seeker who didn't know Kennedy will now contact them.
Even if it doesn't provide a person, this thread may end up in the documentary (just as past indymedia comments ended up in the national press), to show how 'scared' he is etc.
Its clear that Kennedy is desperate, and this post is helping him find someone.
Less silly circle-A posturing, and more thought please.
irony
A few points
05.04.2011 20:19
anon
wondering about documentary
05.04.2011 20:20
Seems to me it would be a pretty dry talking head film anyways with some disjointed direct action news footage around. So it will be a pretty bad documentary anyways, another reason to boycott participating in it.
Well, have to say the first interview with Mark Kennedy in the Daily Mail was kind of a good read but the one in the Guardian did just seem like an extended repeat and with the PR agent involved it was kind of getting so boringly dishonest and so wanting-to-please-everyone and wanting-to-make-money-out-of-it.
Mark Kennedy is being "Jade Goodey-ified", looking forward to seeing him in the likes of Heat Magazine, "I am a Celebrity get me out of here" and "Celebrity Come Dine With Me" now that the professional Big Brother series isn't anymore!
ab
A 'celebrity'?
05.04.2011 21:47
Mac
lol
05.04.2011 21:53
Cry me a river. If you think that is emotional scarring then you really need to get out more in the real world.
total joke
How will they do the documentary?
05.04.2011 22:07
Mac
Differentiate. Educate.
05.04.2011 22:13
I also think people should also be very wary of being seen to shut down any debate on this. That just makes those people who were close to Kennedy before his outing look very self-protecting, and leads to suspiciousness, such as the 'boys from the grassy knoll' piece.
It is important to let the wider public (including the working class) know how the state operates.
Having said all that, this Century Films thing looks like a vehicle for Kennedy, and one to be avoided.
sensible observer
How will they film it?
05.04.2011 22:13
ann archy
Differentiating between media
05.04.2011 22:42
Black Hand
Sensible observer
05.04.2011 22:55
Anon
Not investigative journalism
05.04.2011 23:35
Anarchist
@anarchist (little a)
06.04.2011 11:16
No vague threats have come from ABC Annares (unless you supplied the email addresses which we doubt) we are trying to have a reasonable discussion, one we have repeatedly asked you to join.
ABC Annares is not responsible for any postings other than those using the moniker ABC Annares.
The fact that some people other than us got angry might indicate how raw this subject still is to people and why we need to actively starve the oxygen of Kennedy's media fire.
And hang on... if you or anyone you know hasn't been contacted and you and any one you know wouldn't talk(blimey hive mind is it?), what the hell were you on about in the first place. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage anyone we know or don't know, friend or otherwise to not talk to Century Films, so welcome on board (there's room for all your mates too!)
ABC Annares
A response to our detractors using polysyllabic words and no circled A's
06.04.2011 12:09
We are specifically trying to reach out to people we may not know but may have been contacted by Century Films. Whilst this means that all our comments are read by PoliceandPress we believe that this is a worthwhile sacrifice for reaching other activists.
Whilst mudslinging exists on Indymedia we believe that its virtues of being both (relatively) public and (relatively) anonymous mean it is potentially a more constructive forum than for example a closed email list. Surely a situation such as the Climate Camps or RTS where the police did know what was happening (because they were in the closed groups) and the majority of activists didn't is the worse possible situation. This is possibly the key tactical lesson to be learnt from the infiltrations.
Whilst being aware that the PoliceandPress will use comments posted on Indy. There is little of a “story” here, “anarchists won't talk to journalists/still not loving the police” is hardly hold the front page stuff.
But if somebody replies positively to Century Films approach then they may be able to create the illusion of “balance” this will make the documentary far more marketable. Like battery chickens the “mainstream media” lives of its own shit. If Kennedy drops some Clifford constructed titillation into the documentary then the whole feeding frenzy will start again. By actively working to make the documentary as lopsided and boring as possible we hope to abort it.
We would be very surprised if serving cops talk to the film company (“ongoing operational matters do da do da”) we doubt that the security consultants would talk to the press (“nothing to do with us mate we don't even exist honest”). which means if the activists don't talk to the documentary, it will be a very very boring film,comprised entirely of the mutterings of a broken man pretending he used to be a monk.
ABC Annares
Yet more waffle from ABC Annares
06.04.2011 13:11
Speaking as a working class activist I think that “anon” and “sensible observer” are both making assumptions. Though I do recognise the point that it is the activists who seemed incredulous that we are infiltrated that might need more educating in the nature of the state, than for example other members of our class imprisoned for “criminal” activity.
Also I hope “sensible observer” can see that stifling debate or dismissing the media out of hand is not our intention here. We know full well the role that the Guardian played in the outing of Watson and Jacobs, but ultimately it was merely the final 1% proof to activists who already ”knew”.
I think we are trying to differentiate between different media approaches. In the original statement we highlighted CAN's role as an example of ways the media can be handled. As far as I can see they gave the Guardian one not very exiting story , Issued a measured political statement through Fit watch and successfully outed a cop, who as far as is known isn't currently engaged in a kiss and tell arrangement with Max “ate my hamster” Clifford.
Irrespective of what has happened so far with regards Kennedy (who was revealed on Indymedia) It is my belife is that it is in our interest to stifle the media so as to allow the various debates that need to happen to happen out of the media glare. The “mainstream media” is not a good forum for debate though “in public” might be.
TA
Shevek
ABC Annares (Shevek cluster)
were trying to move this thread
06.04.2011 18:26
minus the "anarchist" argument
The we love talking to ourselves ABC Annares
Keep it together
06.04.2011 22:52
A comrade
where is the anarchist media?
16.05.2011 18:01
and, what ever happened to "awareness raising"? how is anyone outside our tiney group of friends supposed to hear about this sick police repression scandal, if no one makes demos, no one makes lectures, no one builds a campaign (except thanks to No Police Spies), and no one makes their own documentary.
first there was lots of slagging of the media, and then i thought there would be activist media on this topic. but, there is almost nothing but slagging like the whole rant above.
so, what is the strategy we have to communicate our message? so far, i see nothing but slagging, and that doesn't make our movement any stronger.
how have past movements successfully dealt with repression? by threatening anyone who speaks to liberal or left media?
get real
another anarchist