awhile back, i posted a letter i sent to the Earth First Journal in response to some blatant racism that has been going on within Earth First. They printed the letter (although cutting it in size a bit… but it was a long letter) a couple issue back. Well, in the newest issue, “john conner” replies directly to my letter in a brief letter to the editor.

if you read my original letter, you’d know that i was upset about the reactionary response of some well-known Earth Firsters to a letter challenging the groups to critically analyze how racism and privilege plays out within Earth First. I’m a firm believer that the first thing people with privilege can do when being challenged on their privilege is not to react. Usually, that initial reaction is defensive and self-serving. And certainly does nothing to challenge anything.

well, john conner (whom i know) decided not to heed this suggestion and just lash out in a spat of self-defense. he started by explaining that Earth First had, indeed, not scheduled on top of the APOC, Anarchist People of Color, conference (which he states is my “anarchist gathering” when i had nothing to do with the organizing of the event) because Earth First always has their camp-out on solstice. What he failed to mention was why Earth First decided to move the solstice campout to a week after solstice (months after APOC organizers had already scheduled the conference). Must have overlooked that tidbit.

He then explains that KEF, the southern appalachian faction of Earth First, has not engaged in just two kkk counter-protests, but nine. i was only aware of two in the past three years, but its possible that i was not made aware of others. then again, its possible he was going back further than three years. but that’s beside the point.

Nine symbolic actions, rather over the span of three years or nine, does very little to challenge an individual’s role in the institutionalized White Supremacy. Especially if those actions are against ten klan members in the middle of the appalachian mountains (i mean how many people honestly believe that under those masks are Senators or Governors passing racist legislation?). The klan is the least of our concerns in the fight again institutionalized oppression! But john conner is not interested in understanding how systems of power work. He is interested only in convincing himself and others that he is the more revolutionary, non-racist member of society.

Oh, and another thing, john conner finishes his letter letting us know that no one else was organizing these counter-rallies, just KEF. Funny, because i attended a couple of these demos with mr. conner (before we were officially introduced). i remember seeing a lot of people there, mostly people of color, who had nothing to do with Earth First. Most of them were high school students who had come with their own organization. In fact, i wasn’t there with Earth First. I had gone with a small group of high school students under the banner of Education In Action. But maybe the only people that count are the small handfull of White Earth Firsters.

Well, as a friend assured me this morning, “Earth First has a long history of excluding people of color and continues to alienate White allies who try to bring up the topic of racism. They aren’t going to listen.” I’ve said my piece. I know how powerful and blinding privilege is. I wish i cared enough about these people to keep putting forth the effort, but no effort has been shown on the other end, so I’m done with Earth First. I hope a major shift does happen and Earth Firsters do start to talk openly and honestly about how privilege and power shapes its activities and limits its possibilities. Until then, i’m moving on.