There was an attack on the Autonomous Zone, an anarchist info shop and
community center in Chicago, and one of its collective members, by 5
self-proclaimed 77 Street Punks, a violently homophobic and racist
gang with ties to organized white supremacist hate groups.  The
estimated age range of the attackers is late teens to early
twenties.  Four males, three blondes and one brown haired, as well as
one brown haired woman.  These were not skinheads.  

The confrontation began with the yelling of anti-gay epitaphs, such
as "Faggots!"  When hearing this, the collective member stepped
outside in order to investigate.  The nazi punks then questioned
whether the Azone was "a bunch of anarchists or something?" When
politely told that "some of us are" one of the males punched the
collective member in the face, only slightly injuring them since they
were able to move back in time to avoid a true collision. The other
two blond men began breaking the azone windows. At that point the
collective member ran into the A-zone space and was pelted with milk
crates that had been holding free books.   As the A-zone member went
further into the space looking for a self-defense weapon; they were
charged at by 3 or 4 of the 77 Street Punks.  The A-zone member then
picked up a big orange chair and was able to swing, hit and push all
the attackers out the front door.  During the attack two of the large
front display windows were broken.  A police squad car passing by at
the time arrested three of the five attackers for vandalism and
assault.  

We believe the Autonomous Zone was attacked for being anarchist and
supporting the Queer Liberation struggle, as well as having openly queer
collective members.  The Azone has actively made the connection
between Queer Liberation and Anarchism.  

The Autonomous Zone hosts a weekly Queer Space every Wednesday
night 7PM-Midnight.  All events are free and open to all gender
expressions and sexual orientations.  Queer Space is organized by
Queerzone, a subcollective of the Autonomous Zone.  Queerzone is a
multi-racial, multi-gender, class-conscious, queer and genderqueer
affinity group run on anti-authoritarian principals, such as
consensus decision making.  Queer Space is intended to be used for
building community, fostering a radical queer culture, bridging the
gaps between the many different queer, genderqueer and Trans
communities.

Queer Space events in the past have included film nights, multimedia,
music, a Bi/Pan/Omni Night, a nonleather fetish night, political
discussion on topics such as radical nonmonogamy, a history lesson on
1982 pride parade.  Future events include Queer Space Unplugged, a
Queer Hip-Hop Show, Trans Night, Safer Sex Workshops and STD/AIDS
awareness free school, Art & Propaganda Gallery.

The Autonomous Zone will not back down. We will continue to host
queer events, struggle for queer liberation and fight against
homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, misogyny, racism and other
forms of bigotry.  We will defend ourselves and our communities.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. We are having an emergency benefit on Saturday,
August 31st @ the Autonomous Zone located at 2129 N. Milwaukee Ave.  
$5 or more, absolutely no one turned away for lack of funds.  The
money will go towards fixing the window as well as A-Zone rent.  
Public Transportation: Western or California Blue Line stops,
Milwaukee Bus or the Western Bus (which actually runs all night).
Our new phone number is:
(773) 235-7370, or email the collective at:
collective (at) azone.org