Our main purpose is to provide an organizational framework to carry out an effective, focused anarchist strategy in Salt Lake City. We have been involved in many initiatives where contradictory theoretical elements have led to the weakening of revolutionary class politics, lack of direction, and group stagnation. We wish to avoid this roadblock by following three concepts: Theoretical Unity, tactical unity, and collective responsibility.
1. Theoretical Unity
We wish to promote a clear anarchist theory which can provide a basis for informing and shaping our actions in relation to class struggle. Through discussion, the production and distribution of literature, organizing educational events, and a clear delineation of our principles and points of unity as a group, this can be accomplished. Theoretical unity is not set in stone and will evolve with the group’s experiences.
2. Tactical Unity
The effectiveness of an anarchist group is dependent upon a unity of tactics. By taking collective action as a cohesive body, our effect will be much stronger than acting as individuals. However, we still support broader organizations like coalitions being based around a diversity of tactics.
We share a common set of tactics based around the following:
•We are committed to tactics that increase our capacity to build a revolutionary movement against all forms of oppression.
•We favor direct action methods as opposed to appeals to those currently in power.
•We incorporate the principles of solidarity and mutual aid into all our actions.
•We participate in social movements as a way to show solidarity with struggles against oppression, as well to develop within the masses anarchist ideas, principles, and strategies.
•We are committed to tactics that build autonomous and decentralized counter-power
3. Collective Responsibility
Our economic, social, and political lives are collective in nature. [our name’s] activity in these areas must be based around a collective responsibility. By this we mean that individuals who freely associate with the organization agree to uphold the policies and positions formed democratically by the group. This only applies to positions the group has decided upon. Members can take position on issues that the group has not formed a position on, but should make it clear that they are taking that position as an individual, not on behalf of the group. As the General Union of Anarchists pointed out in their platform, “The union as a whole is answerable for the revolutionary and political activity of each member of the union; likewise, each of its members is answerable for the revolutionary and political activity of the union as a whole.”