Montreal: “I Support My Comrades and Their Vandalism”
Download and Print Poster Here
In 2016, upwards of 20 yuppie businesses were vandalized in
Hochelaga. At a loss for how to stop these direct actions, the city and
businesses have recently rallied together for a public relations
campaign, with the slogan #isupportmybusinessesagainstthevandalism.They’re trying to make us believe that ‘revitalization’ (a pretty
word for gentrification) benefits everyone; that more cops harassing us
on the street, more evictions, and more luxury boutiques is actually for
our own good! They want to turn us against all those who are taking
matters into their own hands by refusing to let capitalism make this
neighbourhood even more miserable. Of course, keeping Hochelaga
profitable for business is the only real priority behind a politician’s
smile.We see things differently. These yuppie businesses only serve to make
the neighborhood more attractive for developers, whose grand schemes of
ugly, expensive condominiums make life harder on the eyes and the
pocketbooks of everyone except themselves. Those who take direct action
against these types of targets serve as a reminder that, while
capitalist projects of development push forward, they are not
invulnerable. Yuppie gentrifiers do not have to be tolerated. It is not
only possible, it is necessary, to fight back. Let’s continue the
struggle!“I would like for the police to be afraid of being attacked when they
patrol Hochelag, for small yuppie businesses to hesitate before setting
up shop here because their insurance premiums will be super expensive,
for people to think about how if they park their luxury cars in the
neighbourhood overnight, they’re risking waking up to them being
trashed, that as soon as graffiti or posters are cleaned, they’re back
up.” – an anarchist participant in Hochelaga vandalism
QueerAnarchism 
