Metal and Anti-racism

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[Acolyte]

This is not a flame thread, but I understand that Metal has strong connections to ARA and other such subversive, violent communist groups here in Toronto, to the point that several innocent and totally unsuspecting individuals have been harassed and even hospitalized by multiple assailants in the past.  I have heard of ARA having some presence in the Chicago metal scene (I use this word for lack of a better one), but I was wondering what it is like in other parts of the world, especially the US.  The ARA have a monopoly here in Toronto, with Inertia entertainment dominating the city and slandering friends of mine for silly, totally unfounded and devious reasons that have to do with, I believe, maintaining their monopoly of Toronto metal.  I do not ask this from the perspective of a racist individual or even somebody who has been harassed by ARA, but just because I was curious about how ARA metal works around the world.  Please do not let this degenerate into a flame war on either side of the coin or else my curiosity will go unsatisfied.     

[DeadlyBlessing]

In Italy there's nothing similar, the politically militant communists are more linked to punk/hardcore and hip hop subcultures here
The Italian Metal "scene" (assuming that such thing really exists) looks definitely apolitical to me

[Sargon the Terrible]

Well, it's easy in my home state: there is no metal scene.  At all.

[Brewdog]

I've heard about pro-fascist metal, so I suppose there could be pro-communist metal. I'm not really that familiar with the ARA, but I suppose that for those in that scene, Rage Against The Machine and maybe System Of A Down come to mind.

[pink razor]

I live in Toronto and am well aware of the trials and tribulations and such.  In my home country of Russia, however, the NS crowd is of a different ilk.  They are a force to be reckoned with, and any metalhead that has his or her head screwed on will think twice before deciding to fuck with them.

Imagine a bunch of beer- and vodka-swilling, bomber-clad soccer hooligans armed with bottlenecks and ready to fuck shit up - just for the fuck of it.  They will gang up on anybody regardless of race, skin color, etc.  If you're white and appear to be a student, you're shit out of luck unless you can name about 30 NS bands right off the bat.  If you can't, you're in for a beating of your lifetime.  I think things have calmed down a bit lately, but that's the way it was five-six years ago.

Ideologically, they're the opposite of ARA, but I guess they serve the same purpose of harrasing innocent people, albeit more efficiently.  

The problem here is very simple. There are a lot of great NS bands out there, but they always attract the wrong crowd.  That is why any sensible Russian metalhead will save to see Obituary or Testament, or even Marduk for that matter, rather than toss in some rubles to see a local or famous NS band only to end up in a hospital.
  

[Mark666]

I live in Toronto and am well aware of the trials and tribulations and such.  In my home country of Russia, however, the NS crowd is of a different ilk.  They are a force to be reckoned with, and any metalhead that has his or her head screwed on will think twice before deciding to fuck with them.

Imagine a bunch of beer- and vodka-swilling, bomber-clad soccer hooligans armed with bottlenecks and ready to fuck shit up - just for the fuck of it.  They will gang up on anybody regardless of race, skin color, etc.  If you're white and appear to be a student, you're shit out of luck unless you can name about 30 NS bands right off the bat.  If you can't, you're in for a beating of your lifetime.  I think things have calmed down a bit lately, but that's the way it was five-six years ago.

Ideologically, they're the opposite of ARA, but I guess they serve the same purpose of harrasing innocent people, albeit more efficiently. 

The problem here is very simple. There are a lot of great NS bands out there, but they always attract the wrong crowd.  That is why any sensible Russian metalhead will save to see Obituary or Testament, or even Marduk for that matter, rather than toss in some rubles to see a local or famous NS band only to end up in a hospital.
 

  Dude! That sucks!

[Mike604]

Could someone give me some background info on ARA? Like... what it stands for, and what they believe in etc.

[Only_Ash_Remains]

Here in Kentucky, we've got a small grindcore and black metal scene. Since heavy forms of music are still shunned by many people here, the hardcore and metal scene have "united" in a way, which means the "straight edge" mentality is present in many metal bands here, which means anti-racism among some of the ideas they practice. It's very suprising for this state to have anti-racial bands, as pro-racism is still big in some parts of the state.

 Amon Amarth - "Bastards of a Lying Breed"

[Acolyte]

Could someone give me some background info on ARA? Like... what it stands for, and what they believe in etc.

It stands for Anti Racist Action, and they are basically a group of hooligans who go out of their way to rob people's rights to free speech, combat social order common decency and just try to find semi-legal and often illegal ways to give people a hard time, claiming that they are against Fascism, Nazism, racism, homophobia, sexism, etc.  They have attacked free speech demonstrators, innocent non-racist people and they praise the notion of beating people up simply because of ideological qualms, or even because they happen to have more money than them (the ARA toronto website says that they like to beat up yuppies just because they are rich).  Oftentimes, the violent acts they commit involve significantly higher numbers of ARA than whomever else.  Sadly, this organization recieves money from our Municipal government and from the NDP (a political party in Canada), which is ironic and hyppocritical because they consider themselves anarcho-communists.

Yes, I have heard of such Russian insanity, but I did not think it was that severe.  That too is absolutely inexcusable behaviour...and if anything, does nothing to support the idealogies they claim to love and adhere to.  But I understand that the NS scene over there is huge, with bands like Nokturnal Mortum recieving radio play and other such things.

[Mike604]

It stands for Anti Racist Action, and they are basically a group of hooligans who go out of their way to rob people's rights to free speech, combat social order common decency and just try to find semi-legal and often illegal ways to give people a hard time, claiming that they are against Fascism, Nazism, racism, homophobia, sexism, etc.  They have attacked free speech demonstrators, innocent non-racist people and they praise the notion of beating people up simply because of ideological qualms, or even because they happen to have more money than them (the ARA toronto website says that they like to beat up yuppies just because they are rich).  Oftentimes, the violent acts they commit involve significantly higher numbers of ARA than whomever else.  Sadly, this organization recieves money from our Municipal government and from the NDP (a political party in Canada), which is ironic and hyppocritical because they consider themselves anarcho-communists.

Stupid Jack Layton. I always wonder what kind of idiots vote for the NDP... I'm guessing mostley hobos who want more wellfare.

[pink razor]

Yeah.. a close personal friend of mine is a big fan of Jack Layton and his trophy wife.  I wonder if her pussy is slanted....only Jack knows.

Anyways, back to the subject at hand.  How do we stop these bastards?  Our constitution does not grant us the right to hate.  But I hate ARA, at least by proxy,  because someone I know was hunted down and persecuted for wearing a Burzum shirt.

Where is justice goddamit?

[Acolyte]

Stupid Jack Layton. I always wonder what kind of idiots vote for the NDP... I'm guessing mostley hobos who want more wellfare.

Rather people who soak up socialistic delusions and feel as though the liberals arent left enough for them.  I myself will be able to vote this year, and I just cant decide between the Canadian Communist Party and the Marxist-Leninist Party....

Kidding.  Anyway, here is the website of these fools for any interested.  
http://www.aratoronto.net/
How do we stop them?  I plan on writing a letter to someone, I have to write a letter to some MP about a world issue so I might as well pick this one.  Beating them up in the streets is certainly not the answer.

[pink razor]

Oh boy...I can't believe they have a functional website. Let's make some prank calls or flood their mailbox with spam. That's about all we can do right now.  A letter to MP might work - I know this first hand. 

[Brewdog]

Let's make some prank calls.

THE JERKY BOYS!!!!

 Viperine- "Heartblood"

[wolverine666]

Layton is practically my next door neighbour.  hehe.

As for ARA and Inertia dominated scene, after having attended some of the shows in T.O. recently, I have to say that the guy is definitely not doing a good job keeping NS material out of the scene.