Arm the Spirit: A Woman’s Journey Underground and Back

399 Pages·2009·37.792 MB·English

by  Diana Block

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E62 Advance Praise for Arm the SPirit
.BL
2009
,,Diana Block elaborat€s a true definition of solidarity-both in words and in deeds. As
Arm the Spirit: A Woman's fourney Underground and Back a life-long Puerto Rican independentista,Ihave struggled with many North Americans
by Diana Block over this essential concept. This is a story ofvictory and the will to confront a difficult life
without remorse or victimization, Block offers a snapshot of many pains, sufferings, and
ISBN: 978 I904859 87 t challenges, but most importantly, she articulates a powerful lesson: life is most fully lived,
when lived for others," -Jos6 E. L6pez, Executive Director, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center,
Library of Congress Number: 2008927316 Chicago
,,Arm the Spiril is a tour-de-force through the revolutionary 1970s and turbulent 1980s,
a 2009 Diana Block to our troubled state today. Poignant and personal, passionate and political, it demon-
This edition @ 2009 AK Press strates Block's enduring commitment to solidarity as a mechanism for liberation: of
women, queers, colonized nations-the fury and future of all who are oppressed. This
Book Design & Layout: Brian Awehli book is an eloquent testimonial to the lessons learned from a life in the struggle. Written
with an urgent yet reflective beauty, it is an unforgettable story by an irrepressible radical."
Cover Design & Layout: Suzanne Shaffer -Dan Berger, a utltor of Outl,aws of America: The Weather [Jnderground' b the Poktics of Solidarit2
,,Diana Block's memoir Arm The Spiritis a riveting personal and political story by one of
Front cover photo "March in support of Inez Garciat freedom in downtown San the founders of San Francisco Women Against Rape who went underground for over a
Francisco, t97 4i' by Cathy Cade, www.cathycade.com decade with two of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" and came back to tell the tale. Di-
anats odyssey transports us into the midst ofsan Francisco's radical and revolutionary
AK Press movements from the 1970's to the present day. Her clear and powerful voice provides
the reader with invaluable insight into the debates and activities of the relatively little
674-A 23rd Street
known, but remarkably dynamic, movements of those who carried on the struggle for
Oakland, CA94612
self-determination in the wake of the 1960's. But this is also the powerfully poignant
www.akpress.org story of a mother balancing political commitment with raising children, knowing while
[email protected] underground that arrest and imprisonment could terminate thejoys ofparenthood in
510.208.1700 a heartbeat. This is a must read book that brims full of life, politics,love and poetry'"
- Robert Meeropol, Executive Director, Rosenberg Fund for Children
AK Press U.K.
PO Box12766 ,,Diana BIock's Arm the Spirit is a stunning piece of work with pitch-perfect voice and
Edinburgh EH8 9YE strong writing. She gives voice to many of us who took up the vocation of revolution
and have remained true to the vision of a radically transformed world. Arm the Spirit is
Scotland
honestly self-critical without renouncing the continuing long struggle to end capitalism'
www.akuk.com
imperialism, exploitation, and oppression, which Diana Block remains an integral part
[email protected]. co. uk of, a role model for us all. -Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz,author of OutLaw Wonzan
0131.555.5165
,,Arnt the Spiril is one woman's tale of wanting a better world, struggling to bring that
vision to fruition and then literally having to flee for her life. It is a story ofinternal exile
that holcls lessons for us all, particularly in these times when a 'war on terror'has so often
Printed in canada on 1007o recycled, acid-free paper by union labor. become a war against our own best citizens. Block's telling is helped by beautiful poetry
and resistance to dogma. This is truly a story for every reader." -Margaret Randall, author
of Stone Witness and Sandino's Daughters
E
E62 Advance Praise for Arm the SPirit
.BL
2009
,,Diana Block elaborat€s a true definition of solidarity-both in words and in deeds. As
Arm the Spirit: A Woman's fourney Underground and Back a life-long Puerto Rican independentista,Ihave struggled with many North Americans
by Diana Block over this essential concept. This is a story ofvictory and the will to confront a difficult life
without remorse or victimization, Block offers a snapshot of many pains, sufferings, and
ISBN: 978 I904859 87 t challenges, but most importantly, she articulates a powerful lesson: life is most fully lived,
when lived for others," -Jos6 E. L6pez, Executive Director, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center,
Library of Congress Number: 2008927316 Chicago
,,Arm the Spiril is a tour-de-force through the revolutionary 1970s and turbulent 1980s,
a 2009 Diana Block to our troubled state today. Poignant and personal, passionate and political, it demon-
This edition @ 2009 AK Press strates Block's enduring commitment to solidarity as a mechanism for liberation: of
women, queers, colonized nations-the fury and future of all who are oppressed. This
Book Design & Layout: Brian Awehli book is an eloquent testimonial to the lessons learned from a life in the struggle. Written
with an urgent yet reflective beauty, it is an unforgettable story by an irrepressible radical."
Cover Design & Layout: Suzanne Shaffer -Dan Berger, a utltor of Outl,aws of America: The Weather [Jnderground' b the Poktics of Solidarit2
,,Diana Block's memoir Arm The Spiritis a riveting personal and political story by one of
Front cover photo "March in support of Inez Garciat freedom in downtown San the founders of San Francisco Women Against Rape who went underground for over a
Francisco, t97 4i' by Cathy Cade, www.cathycade.com decade with two of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" and came back to tell the tale. Di-
anats odyssey transports us into the midst ofsan Francisco's radical and revolutionary
AK Press movements from the 1970's to the present day. Her clear and powerful voice provides
the reader with invaluable insight into the debates and activities of the relatively little
674-A 23rd Street
known, but remarkably dynamic, movements of those who carried on the struggle for
Oakland, CA94612
self-determination in the wake of the 1960's. But this is also the powerfully poignant
www.akpress.org story of a mother balancing political commitment with raising children, knowing while
[email protected] underground that arrest and imprisonment could terminate thejoys ofparenthood in
510.208.1700 a heartbeat. This is a must read book that brims full of life, politics,love and poetry'"
- Robert Meeropol, Executive Director, Rosenberg Fund for Children
AK Press U.K.
PO Box12766 ,,Diana BIock's Arm the Spirit is a stunning piece of work with pitch-perfect voice and
Edinburgh EH8 9YE strong writing. She gives voice to many of us who took up the vocation of revolution
and have remained true to the vision of a radically transformed world. Arm the Spirit is
Scotland
honestly self-critical without renouncing the continuing long struggle to end capitalism'
www.akuk.com
imperialism, exploitation, and oppression, which Diana Block remains an integral part
[email protected]. co. uk of, a role model for us all. -Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz,author of OutLaw Wonzan
0131.555.5165
,,Arnt the Spiril is one woman's tale of wanting a better world, struggling to bring that
vision to fruition and then literally having to flee for her life. It is a story ofinternal exile
that holcls lessons for us all, particularly in these times when a 'war on terror'has so often
Printed in canada on 1007o recycled, acid-free paper by union labor. become a war against our own best citizens. Block's telling is helped by beautiful poetry
and resistance to dogma. This is truly a story for every reader." -Margaret Randall, author
of Stone Witness and Sandino's Daughters
I
CoNTnNTS
PABT TWO
Now I Can Tell You I
Wrrn Evns Nor Ynr BonN
Introduction 6
Acknowledgments 10
6eCI_t
America's Most Wanted f 83
PART ONE
Risking a Somersault in the Air 199
Cr,Eru No E.tsy VrcronrEs No Hay Camino 217
With Eyes Not Yet Born 231
c.re_t
I
Interrogating Surrender 25
Escape l3
Return 269
Fugitive Deconstructions 3 I Light Will Always Be Showing 285
New World Coming 47
Reconstructing Memory 301
Riding the Tempest 65
The Fire Inside 319
A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire 8l
Can'tJail The Spirit 333
Venceremos 97
Claim No Easy Victories I l5 A Luta Continua-Epilogue 357
Chimurenga 135 Notes 366
Repression Breeds Resistance 147 Bibliography 380
This Is the Time 163 Index 390
I
CoNTnNTS
PABT TWO
Now I Can Tell You I
Wrrn Evns Nor Ynr BonN
Introduction 6
Acknowledgments 10
6eCI_t
America's Most Wanted f 83
PART ONE
Risking a Somersault in the Air 199
Cr,Eru No E.tsy VrcronrEs No Hay Camino 217
With Eyes Not Yet Born 231
c.re_t
I
Interrogating Surrender 25
Escape l3
Return 269
Fugitive Deconstructions 3 I Light Will Always Be Showing 285
New World Coming 47
Reconstructing Memory 301
Riding the Tempest 65
The Fire Inside 319
A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire 8l
Can'tJail The Spirit 333
Venceremos 97
Claim No Easy Victories I l5 A Luta Continua-Epilogue 357
Chimurenga 135 Notes 366
Repression Breeds Resistance 147 Bibliography 380
This Is the Time 163 Index 390
Now I Can Tell You
To Tony
Now I canbegin to tellyu
the tales that were loched uP
all these 2:ears;
How we left the house unloched'
it
with eaer2thingin
infour and a half hours.
LejI yur two-weeh old crib,
the carcful@ chosen changing table,
and, all the blue
I had, just trimmed
in lour room.
How I pached two bags
rtnfftd,with diapers, bears and, tin2 onesies,
but that was still too much
and I had to dump one in a dumPster
so we could, traaellight
through the huge L.A. heat.
yu
Now I can picturefor
how we left the howe
unloched;
knowingthe2 would, come in
and tahe oaer everything -
strafe white detecting d'ust
oaer the plants and,batihs,
Now I Can Tell You
To Tony
Now I canbegin to tellyu
the tales that were loched uP
all these 2:ears;
How we left the house unloched'
it
with eaer2thingin
infour and a half hours.
LejI yur two-weeh old crib,
the carcful@ chosen changing table,
and, all the blue
I had, just trimmed
in lour room.
How I pached two bags
rtnfftd,with diapers, bears and, tin2 onesies,
but that was still too much
and I had to dump one in a dumPster
so we could, traaellight
through the huge L.A. heat.
yu
Now I can picturefor
how we left the howe
unloched;
knowingthe2 would, come in
and tahe oaer everything -
strafe white detecting d'ust
oaer the plants and,batihs,
I
yu
thefuh and, the cat; Now I can lct myself hear
rifle our record,s, screaming in 2our car seat
brand our books, as we d,rove round and round,
pirating their proof, escaping cars
constracting their clues - real andphantom
who are the2 reall,2, that were circling and taunting,
how d.id thel thinh until I left the car, the car seat, the extra baggage
and, where d.id, they go? and should,ered, yu in 2our snugli,
cradling2ou within
Now I can begin to name the great pend,ulousfear of it all,
that huge L.A. heat, walhing the downtown streets,
ris ing from t he flo orb o ards, another mother and her bab2,
iffikrating the w in d,ow s, out for a lifesauing stroll.
enaeloping the house
with bugs and, uoyeurs, Now I canremember
ut atching, listening, fabricating how we wandered, the malls
our acts and, our uiews. pretending to be shoppers
That huge maleaolent heat hauling their newbor"n
that was insinuatingitself into our liaes, in their hungerfor mnll-made things,
frui"g our dreams, and all the other lt)omen, mothers
until we uncoaered, would gaze at you and sigh -
and brohefrom it. such a little bab2; such a tin2 bab2 -
Driaing awa1, and, after each polite encounter
leauing everlthing I had to ran to the bathroom,
butyu conuuked, with sobs
behind.
I
yu
thefuh and, the cat; Now I can lct myself hear
rifle our record,s, screaming in 2our car seat
brand our books, as we d,rove round and round,
pirating their proof, escaping cars
constracting their clues - real andphantom
who are the2 reall,2, that were circling and taunting,
how d.id thel thinh until I left the car, the car seat, the extra baggage
and, where d.id, they go? and should,ered, yu in 2our snugli,
cradling2ou within
Now I can begin to name the great pend,ulousfear of it all,
that huge L.A. heat, walhing the downtown streets,
ris ing from t he flo orb o ards, another mother and her bab2,
iffikrating the w in d,ow s, out for a lifesauing stroll.
enaeloping the house
with bugs and, uoyeurs, Now I canremember
ut atching, listening, fabricating how we wandered, the malls
our acts and, our uiews. pretending to be shoppers
That huge maleaolent heat hauling their newbor"n
that was insinuatingitself into our liaes, in their hungerfor mnll-made things,
frui"g our dreams, and all the other lt)omen, mothers
until we uncoaered, would gaze at you and sigh -
and brohefrom it. such a little bab2; such a tin2 bab2 -
Driaing awa1, and, after each polite encounter
leauing everlthing I had to ran to the bathroom,
butyu conuuked, with sobs
behind.